“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.’” (Matthew (28:5-6)

At the birth of Jesus an angel appeared to the shepherds. “An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:9-12)

At the resurrection of Jesus two angels appeared to a few women, who had come with spices for the body of Jesus. When the women came to the tomb, they found the stone rolled away, and inside they did not find the body of Jesus. Then two angels announce to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” (Luke 24:5b-7)

So begins the proclamation that Jesus Christ has risen from the dead. This message has been sounded now for two thousand years. The message; He’s Alive! Don Fransico in a song with that title tells what it means in the verse, “He’s Alive and I am forgiven, heavens gates are open wide. He’s Alive.” Paul would express, “He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” We are forgiven and now through Jesus Christ, justified before God. We not only are justified, but we will be glorified. Heaven’s gates have been opened for us. “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.” (Philippians 3:20-21)

Now because we have been forgiven and heaven awaits us, we are to live this life following the one who rose from the dead. We are to be actively joining in the continued proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. In a world filled with hopelessness, the resurrection gives us a message of hope. We must be ready to give our answer because of this hope. “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (1 Peter 3:15)

Paul would challenge the church to give themselves fully to the work of the Lord, all because of the life we receive through the resurrection.

“’Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” (1 Corinthians 15:54-58)

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block