HE IS RISEN

Proclamation:

“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.  They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of The Lord Jesus.  While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.  In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?  He is not here; He has risen!  Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'"  Then they remembered His words." Luke 24:1-8 (NIV)

Explanation:

After His death by crucifixion, the body of Jesus was taken down from the cross, wrapped in a clean linen cloth and placed in the tomb of Joseph of Arimathema.  The entrance to the sepulcher was closed with a large stone and a Roman guard was posted there as ordered by Pilate, to prevent the disciples from stealing the body of Christ. (Matthew 27:57-66)  When the women came with spices to anoint the body of Jesus, He was not there, for He had risen.  His earthly body had been resurrected.

Application:

"Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He is risen!" (Luke 24:5-6)  The only thing for us to do today is to accept or reject the account of the resurrection as presented in The Bible, The Holy Word of God.  The crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, The Christ, is recorded in all four of the gospels. (Matthew 27:26 to 28:8; Mark 15:15 to 15:8; Luke 23:23 to 24:9 and John 19:16 to 20:10)  It was predicted more than four hundred years earlier by the prophet Isaiah. (Isaiah 53:5-6)  After His resurrection He appeared for man to see Him on more than forty different times before He ascended to heaven. (Matthew 28:9-10 and 28:11-20; Mark 16:9-20; Luke 24:13-50; and John 20:11-29 and 21:1-23)  His ascension to heaven was witnessed by the disciples. (Acts 1:9)  The Word of God says it and that settles it.  He is risen.