LUKE 24; 3-6 ‘And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass.., two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen’
DAILY READING; 2 Corinthians 1:1-2:4; 2 Kings 14; Micah 4:1-5:1
Westminster Abbey in London is renowned, because in it rests the bodies of English nobles and notables. Buried at Westminster Abbey are 30 English kings and queens starting with King Edward the Confessor whose magnificent shrine stands just behind the High Altar.
Similarly Arlington cemetery in Washington, D.C., is revered, for it is the honored resting place of many outstanding Americans, including some American Presidents. .
The pyramids of Egypt are famous because they contained the mummified bodies of ancient Egyptian kings.
However, the most notable burial place of all is a Garden Tomb, located outside the walls of Jerusalem. This tomb is famous not because of who is buried within, but because it is empty!
The Garden Tomb is historically believed to be the possible location for the burial and resurrection of Christ Jesus.
In the Gospels we read that “at the place where Jesus was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no-one had ever been laid” (John 19:41).
Archeological evidence, including an ancient winepress, suggests the Garden tomb is the one described in the Gospels.
According to the Scriptures, Jesus was crucified in a place named “the Skull” or ‘Golgotha’ in Aramaic. Today there is a rocky hill near the garden Tomb which indeed physically resembles a skull.
In the mid-19th century, several Christian scholars suggested that this hill could indeed be the place of the Messiah’s crucifixion because of its noted proximity to a main city gate and its association with executions according to local tradition, which all fit the descriptions from the Gospel.
Perhaps the most convincing aspect of the Garden Tomb as the burial place of Jesus is the fact that it is empty!
2000 years ago, on a Friday afternoon on April the 3rd, 33 A.D, Jesus was crucified and buried in a tomb.
On Sunday morning, some of the disciples came to the tomb and were amazed to find it empty! The body of the Lord Jesus was no longer there.
As they stood greatly perplexed, two angels appeared and said to them, ‘why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here but is risen.
‘He is Risen!
These words which rang powerfully in the hearts of the disciples that Resurrection morning, will today echo on the lips of millions of Christians across the world.
‘Christ is risen!’
These amazing powerful three words changed the world forever!
The Resurrection of Jesus became the eternal game-changer that turned humanity’s worst day into our best day.
There is no Christianity without the Resurrection. It is the core of everything we believe, receive and experience.
Jesus came into the world through a virgin’s womb, and he left through an empty tomb!
The tomb of Jesus is empty because death and the grave could not hold Him bound. He broke the chains and arose and now He ever lives to make intercessions for us.
Because of the resurrection, we don’t have to fear death because Jesus now holds the keys of hades and death. All power belongs to Him.
Therefore the forces of wickedness have no more power over you.
Every chain that still tries to hold you bound was shattered on the Resurrection morning.
Whatever negative situation, you may be facing today, Jesus died to give you the victory over them. On the cross, Christ paid our debt in full. Therefore refuse to live a defeated life. Choose today to live in victory.
Because Christ lives, we shall live also.
He is risen indeed and is alive forever more!
PRAYER; Father, Please help me to begin to live in the victory Christ has won at the cross for me. Please enable me to be a partaker of the goodness and redemptive package He won at Calvary. Indeed on this resurrection day, I receive a positive change of story in every area of my life in Jesus’ Name.
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God is preparing you for the season He prepared for your breakthrough. WORDBITE 222.