He got up!

The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus are massively important for us all. Jesus continually said He would have to die, be buried and then rise again from the dead. This must have been a difficult thing to understand for His disciples.

From that time Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day. – Matthew 19:21

In fact Jesus made it clear that the only sign He would give is that of Jonah and would spend three days and three nights in the cold tomb.

But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

• Matthew 12:39,40

An empty gift would be so disappointing, but just like many of the chocolate eggs eaten at Easter, the tomb is empty, but still gives satisfaction. The empty tomb shows that Jesus didn’t stay dead, but on the third day, He got up.

Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ” – Luke 24:1-7

“The cross was simply made of wood, mere earth the ground on which it stood.

Nothing but the saviours blood poured out with his redeeming love,

could take this simple earth and wood to lead us to a life above.

Christ’s death is more than wood and earth or chocolate eggs for what they’re worth.

More than one day or an event, it’s living hope from heaven sent.

The open grave, the empty tomb, He’s coming back and maybe soon.”

The death of Christ took away our sin and brings salvation. His resurrection gives us hope, points the way and brings us justification.

The emptiness of the tomb will continually bring satisfaction to those who believe. We have a wonderful future hope and marvellous justification because Jesus did not stay in the grave, but He got up!