Easter: The Lord is Risen Indeed!

This was the message brought by the angel of the Lord at the empty sepulchre. The Lord is risen. Jesus lives. The sepulchre is empty.

What a joyful message for the disciples and the women. But what a dreadful message for the watchmen by the grave, for the chief-priests, and the Sanhedrin. They too heard this message, but they did not believe it. On the contrary, they invented a lie to be circulated among the Jews, that the disciples, by night, had stolen the body of Jesus. Sadly, that lie is believed by thousands even today. Many, going their own chosen way in their deplorable sins and ungodliness, do not want to hear about the King of all kings. Also many so-called "religious" people do not want to hear about Christ. They have found their life in and out of their misery. They do not know how to cope with the good tidings of Christ's resurrection, and they quench the thirst of their hearts out of the well of their own works.

Nonetheless, the joyful tidings that the King of His Church lives may and must be proclaimed. He has abolished death, and has brought life and immortality to light.

There is an incomprehensible magnitude in this message and it has inestimable value. Paul says that, if Christ hadn't risen from the dead, the preaching and our faith would be in vain (1 Cor. 15).

The life of Cod's people rests upon two vital, essential issues: first, that Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead, and secondly, the proclaiming of His death till He comes. Upon these two fundamental matters, God's Church can and must live. Christ was delivered for our offenses, and raised again for our justification. By means of His death Christ has paid our debts and atoned for our iniquities. He could truthfully say to His Father, "I have finished the work which Thou gavest Me to do" (John 17:4).

His mediatorial work sufficed the Father, and also the Son Himself. Dear reader, does it suffice you also? Or are you still busy bringing in some of your own works? Perhaps you are satisfied with having a broken heart, some tears, your longings, your hunger and thirst?

Also many so-called "religious" people do not want to hear about Christ. They have found their life in and out of their misery.

For the disciples and the women all was contrary to what they had thought and hoped for. They had not reckoned on Christ's sufferings and death. Who thinks about death? Jesus had told them earlier that He must die and be raised again. But according to their thoughts, nothing was happening aright in Christ's life.

Jesus died on the cross, was buried, the sepulchre was secured with a stone and sealed, and above all, the soldiers were watching the grave—what a shout of victory for the enemies—this grave is forever sealed! These were also the thoughts of the disciples and the women; now that Jesus was dead, all their hopes had perished.

Perhaps you also have arrived at that point. All your works, your tears, hopes and expectations are but a very small spark that is almost extinguished, almost gone—you are at the end of your expectation, with no hope left. But then the angel's message comes, "He is not here; He is not in the grave, nor behind the sealed door any more, for He is risen, as He said. The angel spoke about Christ's faithfulness. He has fulfilled His promises. There is no reason to be sorrowful, nor to fear, for Jesus lives!

He arose in His own time and manner. We can depend on His Word. After three days and nights, an angel came down from heaven, rolled the stone back from the door and sat upon it. This was Christ's victory over all His enemies, the devil, the world, and death.

The grave was open, and Jesus had come out. The watchmen were frozen with fear, and fled. Behold the majesty and glory of King Messiah. Death's fortress has been conquered. Cod, who is just, has led Him out. In a divine act of God the Father, Christ the Mediator has received the stamp of approval, for He has nothing to do with the grave any more. Now Christ is acquitted, discharged. The fury of God's indignation, His wrathful anger against sin, has been appeased through Christ.

There is an analogy between the day of Adam's creation, and the day which Christ, the second Adam, arose. On both days there was a man who arose to decide the destiny of his followers. Adam represented the entire human race in Eden's garden, for he is not only the father of us all, but also the head of the covenant of works. He did not continue in the state of rectitude. He fell and broke that covenant. In Adam's fall, we all have sinned, which is the reason why Adam's death is passed unto all men. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." We follow, as sheep, to the grave, and that grave is forever closed. From our side, it is utterly impossible to open the grave in which all of us are buried, for this way is cut off forever.

Now the second Adam, Christ, was buried in Joseph's garden. He didn't lay there because of His own wrongdoings, because He had never committed any sin. He was buried instead, because of His people for He represented His Church given Him by the Father. The great multitude of the chosen ones are comprehended in Him. In His high-priestly prayer He said to His Father, 'Thine they were, and Thou gavest them Me" (John 17:6).

You cannot meet God without Jesus.

They are buried with Him and raised up with Him in newness of life. Christ was in death, and He went through death. He now lives as no one ever lived before. Moreover, by passing through death, He left the way open. He is the first-begotten of the dead. He is the firstborn who opens the womb of death, preparing the way for all His brethren. Thus Christ was in the womb of death, was born from death, and thus opened the womb of death for all those whom the Father gave Him.

Now it is His task to gather, defend and preserve His Church. He is first and His Church shall follow.

This is why it is vain to refuse to believe the proclamation of Christ's resurrection. God's good pleasure shall prosper in Christ's hands. The quickening Spirit proceeds from Christ and "the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live" (John 5:25). "Wherefore He saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light" (Eph. 5:14). By Word and Spirit, they shall all be called out of their grave of sin and spiritual death, to live before God.

These are the tremendous contents and comforts of Easter's gospel message, Jesus lives — that's why we preach, eagerly looking forward to the Word becoming powerfully alive in hearers's hearts, Jesus lives—that's why we faint not to sow the seed of the Word in the field of the world.

lesus lives—therefore there is hope for God's Church here on earth, Jesus lives — therefore, concerned souls, do not expect salvation from your own

works, desires, tears, nor from your broken heart, but only from Him who is risen from the dead. You can never find salvation within yourself, for, from our side it will always be hopeless and miserably poor. Only the risen Christ can be the source for eternal life.

On that first day of the week, we meet some people in the garden of Joseph of Arimathaea — people who cannot live without Christ any more — timid, fearful people. They were really concerned about who would be able to take the stone away from Jesus' grave. Their hearts were longing for their beloved Jesus. But— He is not there, and they cannot miss Him any longer. Sob-bingly, Mary Magdalene said, "They have taken away my Lord and I know not where they have laid Him." Can there be a deeper pain than missing the living Jesus?

Peter is there too. What would his thoughts be? He wept bitterly. His eyes were red from crying.

Dear readers, can you recognize in your own heart and life's experiences any such lonesomeness, such deep sor-row, such quiet longing for Jesus? "Oh, that I might find Him," of whom the bride once said, "Saw ye Him whom my soul loveth?" (S.S. 3:3). She was sick of love for her Bridegroom. Have you ever been homesick for Christ? Whom seek ye? Why weepest thou? What are the longings of your heart? To whom does your soul go out? Tell Him your heartaches. He waits to reveal Himself unto you. He seeks to comfort your anguishing soul. He will care for all your needs.

He cannot and will not accept the spices you have probably prepared; He does not need them, and they are also worthless for you. He cannot console you with what you are bringing along. No, He can offer you solace only with Himself and nothing else.

Behold, Jesus met them! "He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might, He increaseth strength" (Is. 40:29). He applies His own life; He cleanses our souls from all impurity. He discharges us of guilt with its penalty, giving us the right to eternal life. For, "him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out."

Seek not the living among the dead. You cannot meet God without Jesus. All that you have, outside of Christ, is worthless before God, and with it you cannot meet Him.

Salvation, eternal life, can only be found in fellowship with Christ. Only this will suffice for you to live and die in comfort.

Even today, the lie of the watchmen is believed. There are still many people seeking their life outside of Christ, and fancy having found it, too. They try to re-erect the old, broken covenant of works. They suppose that they will find salvation in digging ever deeper into the grave of their own heart and misery. They keep themselves busy with the law, but never come to the end of the law which is Christ. Because they love darkness rather than light, they despise the preaching of Christ, just like Israel despised God's manna in the wilderness, when they said: "Our soul loatheth this light bread!'

Dear fellow-travelers to eternity: "Remember, that Jesus Christ was raised from the dead." (II Tim. 2:8).

All those who have not cherished Christ's appearance, shall perish when His wrath is kindled but a little.

Rev. H. Hofman is pastor of the Netherlands Reformed Congregation of Kalamazoo, Michigan.

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