Happy Easter! On this Easter Monday, let us rejoice! We have been redeemed. He is alive! Jesus is alive!
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“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:55-57 – ESV
This world is full of darkness. Read a newspaper or watch the evening news. Darkness permeates the headlines. Greed, avarice, oppression, injustice, selfishness, jealousy, betrayal, addiction, despair…the world is full of these things. Like a thick dark cloud hovering over us, we feel the darkness wreaking havoc upon this earth.
It was dark then too. In the backrooms of Jerusalem, jealous men plotted to kill an innocent teacher, a harmless rabbi. Threatened by His words, they sought to silence Him. Entrenched in self-righteous legalism, they justified their desires and riled up the crowd.
There was darkness in Pilate’s court, darkness in the jeers of the blood thirsty mob. There was darkness on that hilltop where three crosses stood. The sky grew black. The ground trembled. The light was lost as Jesus took His last breath. They laid Him in a tomb, a damp, dark tomb; rejected, forsaken, alone.
Just like today, the darkness seemed to win. The disciples hung their heads in despair. Hope was lost. Their teacher, their friend, their Messiah was gone. It was over. They were alone.
But it wasn’t over. The story wasn’t finished, the battle wasn’t lost. On Sunday morning, everything changed.
Dawn broke and dispelled the darkness. Dawn broke and Christ awoke. The dark tomb was empty, the grave cloths abandoned. Jesus was alive!
Light had overcome darkness. The grave could not hold Him. Jesus defied the darkness, claimed victory over death. The Light of the world had come, once and for all, and this Light can never be extinguished.
Darkness can threaten, but it can never truly win. It sneers. It jeers, but it is powerless against the mighty Hand of the Resurrected Jesus. His Light illuminates the darkness and it cannot be extinguished. It shines over us and in us, as we place our trust in Him. He is with us now and forever.
Friends, hear the Good News of Easter. Alleluia! The Light has come. Jesus is alive! He is risen, He is risen indeed!
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When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
John 8:12 – NIV
PRAYER
O King Jesus, all glory and honor to You this day! For You gave Your life that we might have eternal life with You. You defied the darkness. You conquered death. You brought light to this dark world, and Your Light will never be extinguished. Oh, how we praise You. Oh, how we rejoice in You! Thank You, Lord!
Faith Beyond Sight 