Sunday 1 Apr 2018

April 1: Matthew 28:1-8

Key Verse: Matthew 28:6
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

Devotion:
How many times does someone have to tell you something incredible before you believe them? Jesus had told the disciples of the incredible things that were about to happen, yet their faith was not yet strong enough for them to believe He would actually be able to raise Himself from the dead. After Mary and Mary had discovered the tomb to be empty and had returned to the disciples telling them the news, they still had trouble believing it. We don’t have to have trouble believing it because it is all written down now that we can have the proof!

I can just imagine the confusion, excitement, hope and even terror which followed from this first visit back to the tomb. First the initial confusion about just what had happened to Christ. Had His body been stolen? Had someone done the unthinkable? Where could He be? The excitement as they started putting things together to realise just what Christ had achieved! The excitement that He was alive! The hope given to all people who believe in Him; the hope we too will be able to conquer death through Him. And then the terror of all those who had done things against Jesus. If He was capable of this, what could He do to them!

Christ rose on the third day, just as He had promised. This is the day we celebrate that the Lord rose; Sunday, the day after the Jewish Sabbath day. This is the day we now observe as our day to remember what Christ has achieved for us. This is the day He defeated death for us so we may have eternal life with Him. This is the day which has given us all that we need to be happy in Jesus. This is the day we need to be giving Him all the honour and all the praise, showing Him that we believe, trust and obey Him.

He is alive! Come and worship our risen Saviour!

Points to Ponder:
What extraordinary things have people done in your life?

Who but Christ has died for you and then risen for you?