~RESURRECTION DAY~

I know that everyone celebrates Easter, but do you truely understand the real reason to celebrate this day? Well, on this page, I will tell you the real reason for Easter, which is the reason that I consider this a real important event, after Christmas, of course! If you don't celebrate Easter in this way, I hope after seeing this page, you will go away changed and see Easter as not just a day to have candy in baskets; egg hunts;, pretty, new clothes; bunny rabbits and chicks. I hope you see it as Resurrection Day, a day that would change your whole life.........

It is important to know that Jesus was beaten, crucified on the cross, was buried in a tomb, a large stone was placed in front of the tomb and guards were placed there. This all takes place in Matthew 27:32-66. Where I want to take up is starting with Matthew 28 because if what happened in this chapter hadnt happened, then the death of Jesus would have been in vain; we wouldnt have had salvation, forgiveness of sins, or the hope of life in heaven forever, with Jesus. So, this is the part I want to tell about.....

'After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was the lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.'

If you were there while this was happening, how would you have reacted? I think I would have been afraid, not knowing what was going on!!! I probably would have stood there in shock! Alot of things would be going through my mind! How about you? Let's see what happens next!!

'The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

So let's see where we stand so far: An Angel says that Jesus isnt there and that he has risen from the dead! How many other people do you know that has done this? I dont know of anyone who has died and came back from the dead and walked around, much less anything else! I dont know if I would have believed this if I had been there and hadnt been a follower of Jesus or believed his teachings. Let's see what happens next.....

'So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

So what has happened now? Jesus has appeared to these two ladies and they realized who he was and fell at his feet! They were filled with joy and worshiped him and that he was alive and not dead! I think I would have been filled with awe and joy to see Jesus alive! Considering it was with sorrow that they watched him die and buried him. This was a miracle! Let's see what happens now.....

'While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything tht had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large some of money, telling them,"You are to say,'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

Now, we see that the chief priests couldnt explain the disappearance of Jesus and the Angel saying that Jesus was alive, so they paid off the soldiers to keep quiet; but too many people had seen Jesus and there wouldnt have been enough money to pay off everyone into silence!! I am so glad that there were enough witnesses to tell the true story of the body of Jesus being missing from the tomb! Let's go on and see what happens that continues even today....

'Then the eleven disciples (Judas, who betrayed Jesus to be crucified, had hung himself in shame, so that left the remaining eleven)went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they say him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said,"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I hav commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'

The book of Matthew ends here, but in Mark 16:19-20, it goes on to say,'Afterh the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and donfirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.' In Luke 24:46-48, Jesus told them that prophesy had been fulfilled: He told them,"This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things."

So, in the end, Jesus went back to heaven to prepare a place for them; he also told them to be witnesses and to preach about repentance and forgiveness of sins, so that others would come to be saved. Even today, the main purpose of christians is to tell others about Jesus and what he sacrificed for them so they, too, can be saved by accepting Jesus into their hearts and being baptized. The real reason I celebrate Easter is because it reminds me that Jesus is not dead, he is in heaven, and he will return to earth one day! I know that since I am a christian, I have the hope that when this body is dead, I will still live on, because the death of Jesus gave me victory over death, so a grave will not keep me! My spirit will live on forever in heaven with God! Amen!

Do you know Jesus as your Savior? If not, or if you are not sure you are saved, I invite you to click on the link below...

"Ready For The Rapture?"

Thanks Linda Owen, for this beautiful award for my Easter Page--April 2, 2001

Thanks S.I.N.G. Sisterhood, for this award in the Easter Page contest! I was really surprised!--April 8, 2001

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