Stage 6: Sunday

The Bible says:

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So, she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!" So, Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally, the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 'Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"

Thinking He was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, 'I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God. " Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that He had said these things to her. John 20:1-18

• On Sunday, a stone got rolled away, death lost its sting, and the grave lost its victory.
• On Sunday, hell was defeated, the tomb was empty, and Jesus had risen again from the dead.
• On Sunday, sin lost, shame died, and love won.

And now, because of Sunday, we have the Holy Spirit that lives inside of every Christian. We are never alone. His power and His presence are with us to guide us, to strengthen us, to help us, no matter what this world might throw our way.

Romans 6:5-6 says, 'When Jesus was raised from the dead, it was a signal of the end of death as the end."

Don't you love that sentence? "It was the signal of the end of death as the end."

Whatever pain you are facing, whatever dream has died, whatever is your disappointment, whatever your greatest regret, trust in the resurrection power of Jesus. Don't quit, don't waver, hold on with white-knuckle intensity to the One who will never let go of you.

The great news of Easter is that our sins have been washed away, our home is in heaven, and one day, He will make that which is wrong right again. One day, our faith will become sight, and we will be in a place where there is no more death, no more suffering, no more pain, no more goodbyes. We will be reunited with those who have gone on before us.

We will see our Savior who gave up His throne in heaven to walk on streets of dirt, who gave up the praises of angels to hear the cursing of man. We will see the One who laid down His life for us so that we could have eternal life.

“Thank you, Jesus, for defeating death. Thank you for the promise of heaven. Help me to never take your journey to the cross lightly. Give me the courage to share the hope I have in you. In Jesus’ name, amen.”