He is risen. Photo courtesy of Mark Mallett.

Mark 16:3-8

King James Version (KJV)

3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. 5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. 8 And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

The above passage is so surreal that its gives me goose bumps every time I read it! What an experience, and what an evidence of the power of the son of God over life and death. At that moment the mountain standing between mankind and salvation was suddenly found to have disappeared into the sea of forgetfulness. To the amazement of the visitors the envisaged impossibility of rolling away the heavy stone from the sepulcher suddenly became a none issue; they had entered into a new dimension of experiencing the mystery of their new victory over the heavy burden of sin, sickness and death which had hitherto put them in bondage.

The first word spoken to them by the angel of God was “Be not affrighted”.  Another victory was there and then established. The women came with great fear of the guards and greater fear of the heavy stone covering the sepulcher, they were oblivious of a mission already accomplished in heaven; Jesus Christ the crucified son of God was already risen far above the imaginations and machinations of the rulers of this world.

History was changed as all things became new and old things passed away. A new dispensation was released in heaven as the angels heralded the victory of man over the accuser of brethren. Satan had been defeated to raise it’s ugly head no more! The status of man also became elevated as he rose with Christ from the corruption of spiritual death; the sting of death had been removed forever.

The women were promptly encouraged by the angel of God, not to focus on the crucifixion but the glorification of the son of God, since the battle was already over and they were a new generation of conquerors; No more weeping, no more sorrow, no more pain. The next mandate given to the women was to spread the good news across the alleys, valleys and upon the mountains. The disciples, apostles, gentiles and Jesus’s accusers must hear the astounding news of His resurrection which must be celebrated on earth as it was being celebrated in heaven.

The graves poured out their contents as they could contain them no more and all things that were dead received the new spirit of life in Christ Jesus.  Mankind became translated from the kingdom of darkness into the eternal light of Christ Jesus; with the power to rise up with wings as the eagles; they were now to run and not be weary, walk and not be fainted. They were given the liberty to be above always and never be beneath, from generation to generation.

How does this chronicle of events apply to us? It is all about an inheritance bequeathed to us; it is a beautiful inheritance which has made us priests and kings. We are no more slaves, the blood of Jesus was used as a ransom to set us free from everything that does not come into alignment with the true nature of God. Through Christ Jesus we received a rebirth and a brand new nature. We are now victors and not victims. It’s a new dawn and a new season; it calls for great celebration. Happy Easter!