Dear Saints,

The Easter story detailing the crucifixion, burial, and miraculous resurrection of Jesus Christ has been told all around the world countless number of times over the last two thousand years. Those who hear the story naturally fall into two categories i.e. those who believe it’s true and celebrate and those who reject it as a legend or some kind of fairy-tale. Those who deny the story as being a true reality do so primarily because of the resurrection part. History reveals the fact that Jesus was indeed crucified and buried, but from the very beginning his resurrection from the dead was deliberately questioned and denied by the religious rulers of the day.

In Matthews account of the resurrection of Jesus he describes the religious rulers planning for their worst-case scenario by going to Pilate the Roman governor saying, “Sir, we remember that the deceiver said, while he was yet alive, after three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulcher be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal his body away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so that the last error shall be greater than the first.” Although Pilate refused to play their religious game he told them to post their own guard at the tomb which they did.

On Sunday morning God dealt with the guards at the tomb as Matthew goes on to say, “And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightening, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake and became as dead men.” When the guards recovered from their fear and paralysis they reported what had happened to their superiors who immediately bribed the guards who were there with a huge amount of money to say, “His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.” Matthew elaborates on this first religious coverup saying, “So they took the money, and did as they were taught, and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day”.

Despite the overwhelming evidence of the resurrection of Jesus there are those who yet doubt the truth. It has been said that there is actually more evidence of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead than that George Washington was our first president. Yet the natural, religious mind of humanity continues to coverup the truth by choosing to trust in and depend on their own understanding and power rather than the wisdom and power of God for their lives. The only way to know beyond all doubt that Jesus rose again from the dead is to experience his life personally by his grace through our faith.

When you admit to God that you need Him to do for you what you can’t do for yourself and believe that he has done it all through Jesus, the Spirit of the resurrected Christ will make the living Jesus alive to you and in you. As you personally experience the love, acceptance, and forgiveness of Jesus you will know that he has indeed risen from the dead!

Have a blessed Easter.

John