Part 4 – Easter Sunday: The Resurrection
To accompany the glorious news of the Resurrection of Jesus we are playing the third movement from Torelli’s Etienne concerto.
The shepherds heard the voices of angels singing the night Jesus was born at Bethlehem. Can you hear them now? Can you hear the skies ringing with their praise and worship as He rises from the dead?
As the two Marys made their way to the tomb there was a violent earthquake, as an angel of the Lord came down from Heaven and rolled back the stone that had been placed in front of the tomb. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
“He is not here,” the angel declared as he sat astride the stone. “He is risen from the dead, just as He said He would!” (Matt. 28:2-6)
We heard with our ears and we worshipped, our hearts filling as we dared to hope, then overflowing with ever more joy as it all sank in. And then Jesus Himself was there in our midst. “Greetings,” He said. We came to Him, clasped His feet and worshipped Him. “Peace be with you,” Jesus breathed, and our whole being leant into the power of that peace.
Jesus hasn’t let us down – He’s set us free from the grip of grief’s captivity. He is risen from the dead – and all is possible! Never again will we be called unloved, abandoned, lost or rejected. We are redeemed and saved, forgiven and restored: loved with a love that will never let us go. That which we thought we had lost for ever has been returned to us, for death itself has been defeated and the way into the holy of holies made open.
It is finished – and there is nothing we can add to what He has accomplished. It is only for us to yield in surrender and to worship the One whose testimony shakes the heavens and the earth. Through the victory won at Calvary we too will one day be one in spirit with Him as He reunites our spirits with our new heavenly bodies forever.
You were dead, Lord Jesus, and now behold You are alive for ever and ever – and You hold the keys of death and Hades. Thank You, Lord, for the bread and wine – Your body and Your blood – broken and poured out for me.
It is my deepest desire to do all that I do for love of You; to abide in Your resurrection power, and to rise afresh with You each day in all that I am and seek to do, in the power of Your victory.