‘What a Difference that Day Made’
It is exciting to be in church on Easter morning! It’s better than being Irish on St. Patrick’s Day or a child on Christmas morning or Tiger Woods at the Master’s
But of course, the main reason we get excited on Easter Sunday is because we once again get to hear the greatest story ever told. The story about Jesus’ empty tomb which happened 2000 years ago. New Testament scholar C.H. Dodd said, “The resurrection is the epicenter of belief.”
What a difference that day made.
In Matthew 28:1-10 we find the Mary’s arriving at the tomb of Jesus just as an angel of the Lord rolls away the stone and tells the women “Do not be afraid.” Jesus is not here; He has risen as he said He would do. Go and tell the others.”
The angel’s proclamation announces Jesus’ victory over death. The empty tomb assures those of us who follow Jesus can have peace knowing that we are not going to end up in a cemetery somewhere. We will live in a home not made with human hands that was prepared just for us.
When Jesus arose, on that first Easter day he blazed a path into eternity for us. I will see my mom again, and some sweet day I will dance with my wife in the streets of gold which lie just beyond the crystal sea. Easter was God’s confirmation of Jesus’ saving activity on the cross. We now know that when we reach the doors to eternity, our sin record will be sealed and stamped “Paid in full at Calvary”. Oh, what a difference that day made.
The life, death and resurrection of Jesus also gives us a preview of how world history is going to end. The winner was revealed on Easter morning. When the final curtain of world history falls, no system, ideology, nor government will reign supreme. Jesus alone will be revealed high and lifted up. As Philippians 2:11 professes, “every knee shall bow…and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” Oh, glory alleluia, ‘What a difference that day made.
The four gospel accounts of the resurrection differ slightly concerning the details. But all four agree on the one vitally important fact of Easter morning: the tomb was empty. Jesus’ dead body was literally, physically revived! He has risen. He had risen indeed.
When the women arrived there at the tomb, they ...
