The world will never be the same. He is NOT dead, He is alive! 

At first they did not believe them, the women, when they returned with the news that the tomb sat empty. It could not be, it was too good to be true. They must have been mistaken or overcome with grief. Perhaps they had just been “seeing things” – wanting desperately for it to not be over. 

So they ran, first Peter, and then John to the tomb to see for themselves what they couldn’t believe. And there, in the dim light on the open grave, sat the clothes that He had been wrapped in – neatly folded and placed where He had laid. Nothing else, no one, no body. Could it really be true? 

Back to the upper room they ran, now filled with emotions they did not know they had – to tell the others what they had seen. It must be real – there had been angels – and Mary had SEEN him, TALKED to Him – He had called her by name! The evidence was mounting now – they could feel things changing – if only there was proof – and then suddenly there was. 

Luke 24:36–49 (ESV)

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

It all made sense now. All that He had taught them, told them – every time He had touched their lives – they were seeing in new light. In a single moment, everything they thought they knew had changed. Even death itself could not hold Him. Every promise He had made, was true. He was indeed who they thought He was, who He had claimed to be. King of kings and Lord of lords, chosen One, the Christ, the Messiah, the Risen Son of God. O death, where is your sting? Oh grave, where is your victory. He has triumphed over everything. He is alive – and the world will never be the same.