GC Special Easter Message - The Production Number

In terms of production value, you can’t get any better than an earthquake provoked by an angel further causing the huge stone covering the tomb’s entrance to be rolled away. The timing was impeccable: all of this happened as the women approached the tomb and in a manner that awakened the guards who were posted outside to insure that no one tried to steal the body. Once the stone was rolled away, everyone discovered, at the same time, that Jesus was not in the tomb. The women trembled and listened to the angel who both soothed and instructed them while the guards who were scared to death fainted.

Hollywood couldn’t script a better scene.

Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to see the tomb. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, because an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled aside the stone and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!” he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now go quickly and tell his disciples he has been raised from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember, I have told you.” – Matthew 28: 1-7 (NLT)

During Sunday morning children’s Easter programs, one of my favorite parts is when a little child yells, “He is risen. He is risen.” It is a warm and fuzzy moment, but it is the most poignant or should be to believers – true followers of Christ. The crucifixion, resurrection and ascension of Jesus are the core foundations of our faith in Him. Without those three miraculous, perplexing and momentous events we’d have nothing to celebrate on Easter Sunday. We’d certainly have no reason to eat jelly beans and the heads off of chocolate bunnies; would we?