Resurrection: I wonder what got them up and out of bed. The Bible tells us it was dawn on Sunday. There is no record that indicates to us that the disciples ever really understood the claim Jesus made that the would raise on the 3rd day. Luke tells us the woman that woke up at dawn on Easter morning were going to the tomb to bring spices to prepare the body for proper burial because of the haste Jesus was buried in on Long Friday. Matthew simply tells us that the women, Mary and the other Mary, went to look at the tomb to see where he lay.

While they were at the tomb there was a great earthquake, and the stone on the tomb was rolled away. Angels came to the women and said "he is not here, he is risen". In their surprise they ran off to tell the disciples that Jesus was risen but they weren't believed because it sounded like nonsense. Peter got up and ran to the tomb where he saw the strips of cloth that had once held the remains of Christ's broken body. He walked away wondering what had happened.

It wasn't until several days later when Jesus began to appear to the disciples (both the 12 as well as others) that they were able to grasp the idea that their Lord lived. They had the facts; the empty tomb, the visit from the angel, the strips of burial shroud but they did not see. The evidence was dependent on the revelation.

In Christ's extreme love for his friends he began to reveal himself to them. In his intense love for us Acts 1 tells us that Jesus showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. Convincing proofs we can still hold to today.

I don't want to miss the point of the resurrected Christ. The relief, the freedom, the shock the disciples must have felt to learn that their Lord truly was the son of God. That even the grave could not hold the man they followed. What Jesus claimed was true! He did it!

HE IS RISEN!

I also don't want to miss the insistence of Christ to reveal himself to men and women today in ways that they will embrace and believe. Christ desires to reveal himself to us; he is drastic about it.

JESUS CHRIST is RISEN!