He Isn’t Here! He Is Risen | Northstar Church

“When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”- Mark 16:5-7.

Every year, pastor’s all over the world struggle to help people soak in the significance of Easter and to fully appreciate the gift Jesus gave to us when he walked out of that dark tomb. While we can never do justice to the resurrection, it is our aim to draw attention to and exalt the person and work of Jesus Christ on Easter and every day. It is a daunting task. Is there anything that we should esteem more than the resurrection of the Savior? Easter is the most glorious and infinitely wonderful reality that could ever be celebrated. There is nothing close throughout history. Easter means I have a friend who understands long, lonely nights filled with questions. There is Jesus in a dark Garden of Gethsemane, facing an impending, horrific death with tears. He was desperate for friends to stay close, to help him stay strong; but they couldn’t even stay awake. He had a night of lonely prayers and tough questions. There are many of us that can relate. When we have a sleepless night, we can be assured that God understands and is with us. God will not fall asleep.

Easter means I have a Savior who knows the agony of physical pain. So when I have pain in my life I remember the Son of God endured inhumane physical suffering by choice. Even more astounding, He did it for you, and for me, so those who suffer would know they are not alone.

Easter means I have a Savior who faced death so I would no longer need to fear it. Most people fear death. Many of us are too young to think about death. But as we grow older, and the fear of death creeps up on us, we should remember the Savior who left heaven for one reason: to defeat death once and for all. We will all face death but Easter means Jesus went first, and He beat it. Jesus’ victory over death enables those who have accepted Him as Savior to spend eternity with Him.

Easter means I have a Savior who will never leave, who will hold my hand through whatever may come. Behind every twist and turn in the Easter story, behind the long night in the garden, the horrible trial, and the climb up Golgotha to the cross, is the Son of God who rose from the dead and sits at the right hand of the Father.

Discussion Questions:

Do you ever ponder what Easter means? What does Easter mean to you?
Who can we invite this week to hear the Easter story?