Matthew 28:1-20 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.
11 Now when they were going, behold, some of the watch came into the city, and shewed unto the chief priests all the things that were done.
12 And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers,
13 Saying, Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept.
14 And if this come to the governor's ears, we will persuade him, and secure you.
15 So they took the money, and did as they were taught: and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.
16 Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, into a mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And when they saw him, they worshipped him: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

I went searching this morning for the Continual Scripture Study verse, where it speaks no one rose again until Christ resurrection. It easy to look at these two bottom verse as happening at the time of the cross when Christ is still hanging because of the earthquake. Earthquake is what caused the bodies to come up out of the ground, but it still took Jesus resurrection to bring them alive to go into Jerusalem and declare they were alive. Now I be honest when you see that it took money to bribe the soldiers to lie, you have to wonder how much money did they pay those soldiers to lie. Where they so afraid of the power they would loose if the government did not believe the lie of theft of Christ body. Two things the religious leaders had going for them was their title or papers that declared their authority and the fact they were an old religius institution dating back to the time of Moses. Who are you going to believe, the old insitution or the new institution of faith arising. Paul would take it to Rome, but the lie was taken first.

Something occurred the first Easter morning that shook the world. Jesus rose from the grave, a quake did happen, and angel descended to roll back the stone. Soldiers appeared like dead men. Women went in the tomb and found it empty. Let's shake, rattle and role. We can declare the lie or the truth, but the truth is the only thing that can set you free. To understand people of old walked into Jerusalme to declare the resurrection to these leaders and they still denied it all. The testimony of Christ evident as others walked in to Jerusalem coming before him in triumph over the grave. Christ made his appearance to his disciples after his orignal ascension into heaven. Mary seeing Jesus in John 20, found she could not touch him until he ascended to the Father. No doubt that where those risen were going after presenting themselves to the priesthood. With no evidence of the resurrection to show Rome it was easier for them to produce a lie. Jesus returned to his disciples and taught them forty days to ascend once more to his Heavenly Father, with a promise to return some day.

We can get caught up with the easy solution in what we see at present to what we know God has done for us. If you sitting in a church this morning and hearing up from the grave, are you still wondering. I seen a sign this past week that made me mad. It said Christ died, but the bunny lived. I have to ask what is wrong with the picture on the sign. The problem with the picture is it makes the bunny look invisible. In truth I never seen a rabbit that i did not think he would look good in a stew pot. Yet a wild rabbit will escape a tame one is usually in a pot somewhere by now. See what is your aim the bunny or the resurrection for Easter. If it is the rabbit he left behind some eggs as evidence he or someone that loves the bunny story left eggs behind to help recreate his legacy to laying eggs. Which we all know bunnies do not lay eggs. What we know is that without evidence many loose their hope and joy because they believe not right after Easter.

Why believe in the resurrection after almost 2000 years. Why believe without the evidence of the cross, the nails, the real tomb of Jesus being empty. Yes some even try and prove a body exist in Jerusalem even today that is Christ. The markings on the grave being evidence they use. Christ was buried outside of Jerusalem same location he was on the cross in. Is there evidence of a quake of that time period, I suspect if they did a dig it would prove one in the area. However would that be enough for skeptics, I suspect not. What I suspect is no amount of evidence that could be presented would make Jesus any more alive for them. So why believe?

Our evidence is more then Christ coming into our heart but the change within the believe from the outcast to made whole. The restoration of human life without the aid of man. The change of the heart that is seen with action. The evidence of Jesus healing power still in function today by prayer and request to God in situations impossible. It the impossibility of human origin that causes faith to arise and continue. It not the story alone, for if that was the case many would believe in Brave Heart, or many other hero's of the last two centuries and no one does. Something happens as God draws us to himself. He speaks directly to our hearts about our sin, about our inperfection, because of his holiness; and his love for us while we were found by him in this condition of the heart. He speaks to that heart of just come on confess it, tell me about it. Not the minister but just tell it to Jesus. When people do there is a life change within them. It no long a myth or legend of a man that resurrected is a story of the Savior lived. Something transforming the human heart, with or without the repetition of lyrics. I glad I did not get saved inside a sanctuary. Though many songs have touched my heart, I know without a doubt my salvation came without a mind altering condition of psychology. For me faith came without pressure from the world in which I lived, it came with learning of the Bible, but not with pressure.

I figure most that read my site know where the how to be saved button is and know how to explore the page on their own. I do not feel i need to coherse, beg, plead, or reason with someone to come to know Jesus. I figure if they desire to know Jesus they will come by learning who he is. To know a innocent man went to the cross and was slain and resurrected on the third day. The lies of the religious leaders and Roman soldiers could not keep Jesus in a grave. The truth of his resurrection grew with only 500 witnesses to spread it, left on earth.

If you received Jesus Christ as Lord why are you not sharing it with someone, your family, your friend or a neighbor. Is it because you lack faith to do so, or lack faith in the one that can change one life. It is because Christ lives we can face tomorrow, It is because lives that our fear of death is gone. It is because he lives, we know our hope is rest assurec. What you believe should be a reflection of your faith and something worth allowing others to know about it so they to can have the hope you have in Jesus.

Dear Heavenly Father, move the mountains of unbelief in the lives of even your people. Open their eyes to their own coversion that caused their belief. Help us to celebrate the resurrection to day because he lived and not the bunies and the eggs. Bunnies to die, but your Son lives. In Jesus precious name, Amen.

Continual Scripture Study: Matthew 27:52-53 KJV
52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,
53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

John 20:16-17 KJV
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.