He Is Risen

"Have you ever sat in silence so heavy, you could feel it pressing down on you? Maybe in a hospital waiting room… or after getting bad news… or even lying in bed in the middle of the night when your mind won’t stop racing.

That kind of silence is what Saturday must’ve felt like for the followers of Jesus. All the noise of Friday, the shouting, the weeping, the nails, the thunder… it was gone. Now, only silence.

But here’s the thing about God: A lot of times He does His best work in the silence.

On that silent Saturday, while the world was weeping, Heaven was preparing a song. And when Sunday morning came, the silence gave way to victory.

He is not here… He is risen."

The Stone Was Rolled Away – God Moves What We Can’t

(Matthew 28:1–4) After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The women came early … faithful, grieving, and expecting death. What they didn’t expect was an earthquake, a blazing angel, and a stone rolled away.

These women didn’t know how they were going to move that massive stone, but they went anyway. That’s faith… Sometimes we don’t have all the answers, just a desire to honor Jesus. And God meets us in our faithful steps.

The stone was certainly a physical barrier … And it symbolized everything they were up against grief, despair, fear.

But God moved it… Not for Jesus to get out, He was already gone... The stone was moved so the women could see and believe.

What are some stones in your life… obstacles that you can’t move. Maybe it’s a marriage on life support. Maybe a son or daughter you’ve prayed for until the words ran out and the tears ran dry. Maybe its financial difficulties, or maybe it’s guilt or shame that’s followed you like a shadow.

Easter says: God can handle what you can’t.

What stones are you facing today? Don’t let them stop you from coming to Jesus. Even if all you can do is show up, do that… Because God is already at work on the other side of that obstacle.

The Tomb Was Empty – Death Doesn’t Get the Final Word

(Matthew 28:5–7) The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

The angel’s message was clear: “Do not be afraid. He is not here. He has risen, just as He said.”

The angel didn’t just give them facts … he gave them hope.

Fear ruled the weekend. Friday crushed their dreams. Saturday buried their hope. But Sunday turned everything upside down.

The angel invited them to “come and see”… because God never asks us to believe blindly.

Jesus had predicted this moment… prophecy had become reality.

The resurrection wasn’t just a spiritual idea. It was a real, bodily, powerful event that changed time itself.

The empty tomb is God’s way of saying, “I meant what I said… sin is forgiven, death is defeated, life wins, the victory has been won.”

Some of us are living like Jesus is still in the tomb… trapped by fear, shame, or maybe even spiritual deadness.

Easter is the reminder that your past doesn’t define you, death doesn’t defeat you, and fear doesn’t control you!!! If the tomb is empty, anything is possible!!!

The Message Was Urgent – The Good News Is Too Good to Keep

(Matthew 28:8–10) So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

The women ran from the tomb, “afraid yet filled with joy.” And in their obedience, they met the risen Jesus.

There’s something powerful about that phrase: afraid yet filled with joy.

Sometimes obedience feels like that …your knees are knocking, but your heart is full…And right in the middle of their mission, Jesus meets them and confirms everything.