I hope you will join me this morning for a virtual Easter Sonrise Service. It won’t be a streaming service but I pray that the light that Resurrection Morning will stream into your hearts.
I assume that the disciples sat alone and afraid in their homes honoring the Sabbath following the crucifixion but now it was the first day of the week. What would the days ahead hold for them?
The women had a plan. They would go to the tomb and finish preparing Jesus body for his burial. They left early – about sunrise and headed to the tomb where He had been laid. They were almost at their destination when there was a great earthquake. An angel appeared to roll away the stone from the opening and when the soldiers who were there guarding the tomb saw him they fainted dead away.
The women arrived to this strange scene. They were afraid. The angel spoke to them and told them that Jesus had been raised to life again. He invited them to look inside and see that the tomb was empty and then he gave them the honor of delivering the glorious message to the disciples.
“‘Now hurry! Tell his disciples that he has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee. Go there, and you will see him. That is what I came to tell you.’ 8 The women were frightened and yet very happy, as they hurried from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples.” Matthew 28:7-8 CEV
This is really special to me. The first ones to preach the message of Jesus’ resurrection were women.
As the women were leaving the garden and heading back to tell the disciples that Jesus was alive, Jesus appeared to Mary in the garden. He called her by name.
“Jesus spoke to her, “Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for?” She, thinking that he was the gardener, said, “Mister, if you took him, tell me where you put him so I can care for him.” 16 Jesus said, “Mary.” Turning to face him, she said in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” meaning “Teacher!” John 20:15-16 MSG
He called her by name – that impacts me every time I read it. All through His ministry Jesus reached out to them in a personal way. Here in the garden, Jesus appears as the resurrected Son of God, in all His glory, and He hasn’t changed. He is still involving Himself personally into the lives of those who are hurting and afraid.
He called Mary by name. He knows each one of us by name too. He speaks to our hearts on a daily basis, sometimes we’re just too busy to hear Him.
I hope you will take time to listen today. Let Him speak to your heart and calm your fears. Let Him wrap you in His love. Receive forgiveness for your sin and be reconciled to the One Who died for you.
Celebrate Easter at Sonrise! Let Him rise to a place of honor in your heart.