After Jesus died and was buried, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to his tomb. There they were given a wonderful surprise that was explained this way: “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. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you” (Matthew 28:5-7). What a wonderful surprise this must have been. Not only was Jesus not in the tomb but an angel of the Lord told them that he had in fact risen from the dead and they should quickly go and tell the disciples this wonderful news.
We celebrate this great surprise today and commemorate it as Resurrection Sunday. The Bible tells us that Jesus “Himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness” (I Peter 2:24). Jesus’ death satisfied the penalty for our sin which he voluntarily paid for all mankind. By faith and trust in Him we can enjoy and experience everlasting life – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). By believing in Jesus and receiving him by faith we become part of God’s forever family. “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).
No wonder the songwriter (Alfred Henry Ackley, 1933) wrote the music and these words that express that Jesus is a living Savior. “I serve a risen savoir, he’s in the world today. I know that He is living whatever men may say. I see his hand of mercy; I hear his voice of cheer. And just the time I need him, he’s always near. He lives. He lives. Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me and talks with me, along life’s narrow way. He lives. He lives. Salvation to impart. You ask me how I know he lives; He lives within my heart.”
Any individual can personally apply this surprise of the ages to their own life by simply believing in Jesus and putting complete trust in Him. All of this takes place because of God’s grace. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). The part we play is to simply believe and receive this wonderful gift. “Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life” (I John 5:10-12). Allow Jesus’ resurrection, the surprise of the ages, to impact your life.
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