Saturday, April 7, 2012

April 8, 2012

"As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him."  Mark 16:5-7

When was the last time that NOT finding something was exciting for you?

You were having such a great lunch with a few friends and the conversation was so engaging that you walked out and left your I-Phone at your table. By the time you realized it and frantically went back to retrieve it - it wasn't there. Not finding it........NOT GOOD!

Busy working around the house you realize it has been over an hour since you let your not-quite-trained puppy out in the backyard. Going to the back to call him in you see a hole under the fence but you don't see your best friend. He is gone! Not finding him........NOT GOOD!

After a quick trip to the mall to grab a few things that were on sale, you hurry back to the parking lot to transport your treasures home. Just to be sure that you have no trouble finding where you parked you wisely jotted down the row number and counted how many spots from the end. Feeling very good about your deals you just captured and your foresight to mark your parking spot you make a beeline across the freshly seal-coated parking lot.

There's your row! Yes!

And there's your spot! Yes!

But there is no car! NO! NOT GOOD!

Feeling all pumped and energized from your work-out, you hurry out of the gym to get to the job. As soon as you plop into the drivers seat you notice something feels different. Instantly you realize you do not have your wallet in its customary hip pocket.

In a panic you sprint back toward the gym trying to visualize where you left it. A clear mental picture emerges in your mind and you arrive there as soon as humanly possible. Your already pounding heart goes turbo and then stops momentarily when you realize it is not there. NO WALLET! NO GOOD!

Maybe that is one of the reasons why Easter is so special to us. It is the one time we don't have to stress over something that is not there but we can celebrate it!

Jesus' bloodied, beaten, and lifeless body was placed in a tomb and very carefully sealed with a boulder and even more carefully guarded by Roman soldiers. Both the Romans and the Jewish leaders wanted to be sure it was there!

Early Sunday morning while the dawn was breaking, the ladies who loved Him most were hurrying to the tomb to care for His body. They were fully expecting to find Him while at the same time grieving over what they would find.

Arriving at the tomb they made the discovery that changed history - HE WAS NOT THERE! GOOD! VERY GOOD! The soldiers were gone, the boulder was rolled away, and an angel stood where they expected to find the lifeless body of Jesus. That angel announced, "HE IS NOT HERE! Take a look for yourselves!"

They did!

He wasn't!

THAT'S GOOD!

HAPPY EASTER!