And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 

Matthew 28:2-4

What a glorious morning! Early did the women rise and go to the tomb. But they were met with a very different scene than they were expecting. This was not just any other day. This was an earth shattering day. An earthquake and an angel from heaven, a rolled back stone and comatose guards at the crack of dawn as this is the morning Jesus Christ emerges from the grave victorious.

On Saturday, Christ is laid to rest from the redemptive work which he had done. On this wonderful morning, the first day of the new week, he bursts out of the grave in glorious light, never to die again. He is the firstborn of this new creation. Adam failed in Eden, and all his descendants with him. This failure, death and destruction was transmitted from father to child from that day on. Until there came a child not born of a father, but born of the Heavenly Father, just as the first man was. It was in the garden that the first father failed receiving a death sentence, it is now in a garden where our Savior emerges victorious and pronounces a death sentence on death itself. This is where we who were dead in trespasses and sins according to our father Adam who failed in the first garden are now made alive in Christ as he walks and is seen in a new garden. 

The beauty of this resurrection is the contrast where we see the first and second Adam. The first, came from earth, the second came from heaven. The first was a man made alive by God, the second is God who makes dead men come alive (1Cor 15:45-47). This climactic event in history had such amazing build up and drama. The climax does not disappoint. Upon a glance upon the rolled back stone and empty grave that it is apparent, he is not there, he is risen. Indeed this is good news. 

The disciples in their grief are found bewildered at this good news. The women who had seen the empty tomb reported, and they remembered his words. This was part of the plan. Their grief was because Jesus’ death was only temporary. He is the one who wipes tears away, keeps his word, and makes dead things live. Jesus, upon his appearance to the apostles, “Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures.” And he commissioned them to go tell others until the whole world hears the good news of this gospel. Jesus Christ is alive! 

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57  

As Jesus now lives to die no more, all those who believe in him are given eternal life through him. If you are his, rejoice in that today, his resurrection from the grave means your sins have been cast from you as far as the east is from the west. If you have not believed, the retelling of the story of Christ beckons you to come, repent of your sins and receive eternal life through Jesus Christ. He is the only way, the only truth, and the only life, and by believing in him, you shall live with him and in him forever. So come, and welcome to Jesus Christ.