Jesus Has Risen (Mark 16: 1-8 NIV)

¹ When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.
² Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb
³ and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
⁴ But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.
⁵ As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
⁶ “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.
⁷ But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
⁸ Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
      This Easter Festival we celebrate once again the fulfilment of the prophecy that Jesus made that has such a bearing on the life of every Christian, and is available to everyone, no matter what their faith, or even if they have no faith at all. How can this be? Easy! When Jesus became the Sacrificial Lamb he did so for all of mankind, believer and non-believer. The opportunity is there for all who care to believe and accept, to repent and be renewed, for the gift of salvation and reconciliation to God the Father is one which everyone has the opportunity to accept or reject. Of course, many will reject the opportunity, but that is their decision, albeit in the eyes of every Christian a wrong decision.
      The problem for many people, even many of those who attend church services, is that Jesus is just an historical figure. They believe that He died on the Cross at Calvary, but do not believe that He was resurrected. They look at matters in terms of human logic, and are like Thomas the Doubter. If they cannot see with their own eyes and touch with their own hands they will not be convinced, when what is needed is the eyes and hands of faith.
      I pray that this Easter many more will have their eyes opened to the reality of the Living Christ, and commit their lives into His hands, seeking to be as much like Him as they can in their lives, and seeking to follow Him as far as He calls them to.