He is Risen!!

“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

John 2:19 B, KJV.

Three days.

Three days since the darkest day in all of history.

Since Jesus was betrayed by one of His own disciples. For thirty pieces of silver.

Christ, the Savior of the world was handed over to those plotting His death.

He was scorned, mocked, beaten beyond recognition. A crown of thorns was placed upon His head, piercing his flesh, a Roman mockery of the King of the Jews.

Nailed to a cross and suspended above the people, with a robber on each side, all hope seemed lost.

His disciples wept as they watched. How could the Messiah die? They watched as He hung, gasping for each breath, head bowed as He took on the sins of all people.

The sins of everyone.

For God so loved the world, he sent his only Son. For us. Every mistake, every horrible choice, weighed down upon the Son of God. Every sin–past, present, or future–He took upon Himself and endured God’s wrath and punishment for us all. The Perfect Lamb sacrifice.

And then…He died. He was placed in a tomb, the entrance sealed and a guard posted to keep His followers away.

Three days.

Three days since He died. The disciples hid away, terrified, crushed by Jesus’s death. He was dead and hope was gone.

The story was over–or so they thought.

But…it wasn’t.

Because three days later, as the sun rose over the horizon…

The stone was rolled away.

Death was reversed. Darkness became light. The tomb was empty and Jesus was alive.

The disciples ran to the empty tomb in shock. Over the next few days they saw their Messiah again. Alive. This time they cried tears of joy.

Jesus took our sins upon Himself. He died and rose again, giving us the beautiful, amazing, incomprehensible gift of salvation.

And today, over two thousand years later, we get to celebrate it. Our Savior gave Himself for us.

And He is alive.

He has risen!!