Dear <<First Name>>,
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing; and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead? “He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” And they remembered His words, and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
Luke 24:1-9 NASB
How wonderful it is to remember, celebrate, and revere the core event of the Gospel this weekend.
"...but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus." How crushing of an experience this must have been. Mary has seen her Lord and Messiah crucified, and simply wants to give Him a proper burial - to give a proper end to the life of a dearly beloved teacher in the midst of her grief.
"...the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen." The Gospel turns Mary's despair into joy. The cost of Jesus' death leads to the glory of His resurrection, making us right with God. We are set free from the slavery of sin. Rejoice!
"...and they remembered His words, and returned from the tomb..." While the Gospel should be penetrating our hearts on a daily basis, this weekend is a particularly special time to remember what Jesus did for you on the cross.
"...and [they] reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest." The message of the Gospel is not meant for isolation. It is not something for us to hide away in our hearts and keep from the world. Jesus death and resurrection is a powerful, earth-shaking, transformational act of love - and we have the privilege of being the carriers of that message into the world!
Grieve. Rejoice. Remember. Report.
These are the words on my heart this Easter weekend. I pray that as you celebrate and remember with your family, friends, and church, they would be on your heart as well.
From our little missionary soon-to-be-family to yours, HE IS RISEN.
In Christ,
Elliott and Gabi
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