Matthew 28:1-10 KJV
1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.
2 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.
3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.
8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him.
10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

Some might wonder if I get to a place at times, to go over a story is hard in the since of repetitiveness, I will tell you yes, and I tell you when Easter and Pentecost is over I like moving to the Old Testament or further into the New Testament. I will also til you I like the challenge of looking at scripture from another angle, to think on things from a different concept every year. I thankful for a 4th vaccination for Cov-19 at the same time tired of it all at the same time. Just like Bible can get repetitive the up from the grave he rose can get repetitive and at the same time joy fills my soul. The very foundation of faith reshared to be able to share it with others. To reshare it and reexamine the Gospel stories, knowing how it ends and is played out and how the story continues even on today. How does one get to the joy part after years of repetitiveness it knowing Jesus without his resurrection our faith is in vain. Without the resurrection our faith has no value. Without His promise of a return the story has no purpose beyond a story from the ancient world past on. Until we understand the importance of what the resurrection means, it only a nice story. If God was not willing to leave his Son buried, but to raise him up, will he not raise all his children up in newness of eternal life? If we are joint heirs with Jesus, do we not have the same hope Christ had when he went to the cross, that is Father would bring him home. His obedience to God the Father brought him death because of sin against humanity and their laws, not against God. The reality it is better to obey God then man comes to the heart in full strength and power of the greatness of our God and the hope eternal we truly have with the knowledge and belief of the resurrection. Without the resurrection people are back to the old Mosaic laws trying to obey them in hopes of salvation and not tasting or experiencing the freedom that comes through obeying God. What do I mean?

Obedience to God did mean to obey the laws, but the law was changed by who the priesthood, or Roman law. The Priesthood sought to crucify him by Roman law. The law they wanted to obey to be able to enjoy their religious faith. Priesthood become compromised God's law for another law. With that thought you can say the Christian world walks a tight rope when being model citizen of whatever country and obeying God sometimes. If we put faith first then obedience to another law would be second. By obeying God fullfills most other laws written by man. With that thought you see the struggle of Christian world after the Holy Spirit empowers them to obey God rather then man, despite persecution. Persecution can be part of faith building, but in the world today most would say it is about character building, because it happens in many fields of work, and daily living, no longer a religious thing but more of a Cliquish event by those who like bullying others for whatever reason. A crime against humanity for most without the up from the grave experience.

Where do we go with this lesson to the empty tomb. The woman headed toward the grave when earthquake happened, maybe it was like an after shock or just a second earthquake happened on Sunday after the one on Friday. we in truth will never know that answer on this side of heaven, but we can understand that huge stone was to big for the woman to role back on their own. Were the woman weak, perhaps, maybe their age, for after all Jesus was 33 and Mary was probably close to early fifties and no one knows the age of the other Marys but I suspect they were closer to Jesus' mother age or Jesus' age. what they could lift or move would depend on their regular work they did for income, or as a spouse. A lot of factors why these woman could not roll away the stone, but an angel came and rolled away the stone. An angel that descended from heaven when the earthquake happened. The angel sat on the stone he rolled away from the mouth of the cave entrance. He tells the woman, "Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay". He tells them to go tell the disciples and tell them he goes into Galilee(home).

Jesus seems to have two places he headed, one to Galilee and one to his eternal home with his heavenly Father. If you read John 20 in today continual scripture study below you find he his held by his feet by Mary Magadelene. She is told not to touch Jesus yet because he had not ascended to the Father. Christ had to ascend to lead those captive at the grave yard that walked into Jerusalem homeward. Those people that were raised to life in the grave yard headed to the temple where the veil had been torn. Nothing keeping them from seeing God.

In Matthew accound the woman run into Jesus and bow and holds him by his feet. No mentioning of his ascension to the Father, so perhaps his trip took little time. Jesus appears also to the disciples after they too seen the empty tomb recorded in other Gospels. With twelve disciples no way to keep up with all directions they would of traveled in, but they did all see Jesus in the upper room but Thomas. Jesus is herding his disciples to Galilee where he teach them for forty days more, before his final ascension into heaven til the day of his return. Jesus made it clear to his disciples he was really alive. Take time to read the last chapter in all the Gospels but John. In John you find it in the 20th chapter through the end of the book, the accounts of Jesus after the grave.

Why do Christians shout and sing on Easter/resurrection Sunday, because it is a memory the believers hold dear too, knowing Christ did not remain in the grave. Christ cared for his disciples and did not leave them to grieve over the cross. He instead loved them and gather them together to continue to teach them in Galilee. Jesus continues to teach the believer today by his Spirit.

Christ has not forsake us, but he left us behind in the physical but not spiritual since to continue the work he started, empowering his disciples with and by the Holy Spirit. With his ascension after forty days with his disciples came the day of Pentecost, the day of empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Gospel message did not stop at his resurrection but continues on today. We know by Christ's Spirit the testimony of faith that are true if we heed God's Spirit. If God speaks to our hearts to listen then we need to yield. If God speaks to our hearts this story is true of faith, then we know God is moving among his people. If the events happen to ourselves, we know it is true. God's word is marching on.

Let us celebrate, sing and praise the Lord this morning Christ is risen from the grave. The grave could not hold our Lord. Let us celebrate his resurrection. Let us celebrate the truth of faith keeps marching on. Hold tight to the word of God. It is true, from begining to end. Keep sharing the Gospel so it will keep marching on.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for sending your Son to die for the world including me. Thank you that he did not remain in the grave, but rose again to ascend into heaven. Thank you that the world power can not hold Jesus in the grave. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: John 20:13-17 KJV
13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.