Over 2000 years ago these words must have been the sweetest, most exciting words ever heard. They give hope for now and for the future. They bring peace to the soul and joy to the heart. I’m sure these two words have brought these emotions to many, as doctors spoke them about their loved ones. We see these emotions when Jesus gives life to Lazarus, or when the widow’s son was brought back to life in Luke chapter 7. These feelings were also felt in Matthew chapter 9 when Jesus brought Jairus’ daughter back to life. But to me, as a Christian, these two words mean everything. “He’s alive” brings my thoughts to the greatest day in history, when Jesus resurrected from the grave to prove that there is life after death and that He has power over death. Let’s look at what happened on that glorious day.
Early on the first day of the week, the women who were closest to Jesus gathered their spices to return to Jesus’ tomb to anoint His body. They were not allowed to do this at his death because the Sabbath started Friday evening. Mark tells us Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went to the tomb. Luke reveals that another one with them was Joanna and then mentions there were other women. They were all perplexed when they first arrived and saw the stone rolled away. They had been talking along the way, and one had said: “Who shall roll away the stone.” Imagine their amazement to find the stone was gone and the soldiers laying as if they were dead men. Their eagerness to get to Jesus, even though they thought He was dead, was more important than a plan to move the stone. All they cared about was being with Him. What a challenge for us!
Mark 16:3 “And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?”
As they approached, they quickly realized things were not the way they had thought it would be. An angel spoke to them and told them not to be afraid. The angel proclaimed to them Jesus had risen from the dead.
Matthew 28:5-6 “And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”
Mary Magdalene must have left before the others, and before the angel spoke to them. Next, we see her running to inform Peter and John that the body is gone.
John 20:2 “Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid him.”
The angel had appeared to the other women, but they did not go immediately to tell the disciples for fear, and because they were perplexed. Mark gives us insight into their response. They were confused and unsure of what was going on. These events were not normal. What would your response be to the supernatural?
Mark 16:8 “And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulcher; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they anything to any man; for they were afraid.”
Finally, they gather their courage and go to the disciples. In the meantime, Peter and John are on their way to the tomb with Mary Magdalene, probably in a hurry, they leave her behind. We know that John outruns Peter, but he stops at the door. And when Peter arrives, he goes in first. When they leave, John believes Jesus has risen, but Peter is still not sure what has happened.
After they left, Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb to look in, and she sees two angels, one at the head and the other at the feet of where the body had been. They begin to speak to her and ask her why she is crying. She has a short conversation and turns to see someone standing close by. She thinks it is the gardener and begins to talk to Him. She still does not know it is Jesus – until He says her name! At that moment she knew this was her Lord and Master. He was alive! Mary heard Jesus call her name, her eyes were opened, and she responded. Do you hear Him when He speaks to you? Are you so busy you don’t recognize his voice when you hear it? Do the things of this world drown out His voice?
John 20:11-16 “But Mary stood without at the sepulcher weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.”
The Christ, the God Man, the Master of the universe, Redeemer, Savior, the Son of God, is alive today and forevermore. What will you do with this knowledge? This truth brings hope for all who believe in Him and repent of their sins. This truth brings comfort as He ministers to our soul, as His words ring in our ears, telling us that He has gone to prepare a place for us. When I think of all that His resurrection encompasses, it makes my soul sing “How Great Thou Art,” it makes me want to climb to the highest mountain and shout, “HE’S ALIVE!”
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