The Blood That Bought Us: He is Risen

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. 

This is where we left off. So much emotion within a short period of time, though it was a long time in the making it only right that we observe this pause. 

Saturday is often passed over too quickly, yet it carries weight that should be attended to. It is a day that holds tension, where everything that has happened presses into everything that is about to be revealed.  It is the stillness after violence. It is the day where faith has no visible evidence, where promises seem buried beneath what has already taken place, where grief sits heavily, and heaven appears silent. 

There is a holy pause in the story. 

The Sabbath hush before dawn. The held breath before history shifts. 

Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh. 

The city had quieted. The cries of Friday had faded, though their weight remained. The disciples were scattered, each carrying confusion, fear, and grief. The One they had followed, believed in, and seen move with power and authority now lay in a tomb. 

A sealed tomb. A stone set in place. A visible confirmation of what seemed final. To those watching, to those mourning, to those remembering, it appeared as though death had closed the story. 

Even here, in this stillness, God was active. The body lay in the grave, and the work of God continued beyond what could be seen. Heaven remained engaged in what had already been determined and the story moved forward according to His word. 

There are moments in life that carry this same weight. 

Moments where everything feels quiet in a way that presses on the heart. Where prayers seem to settle without response. Where what was spoken, believed, and hoped for appears buried beneath present reality. Moments where it feels as though something has been sealed before it has come to pass. Moments that feel like Sabbath and in those moments, there is a call to remain. 

Remain in what has already been spoken. Remain anchored in truth.  Remain holding fast to the Word that does not return void nor stay dead (hint given).  

He is aware. He is present. He is working. 

The next day 

The Sabbath passed. 

Very early in the morning, the first day of the week, what had been held in silence began to be revealed. 

The women came to the tomb with intention, care, and grief still in their hands. They came prepared to tend to the body of the One they loved. They came expecting to meet what they had witnessed on the cross. The cross had been brutal and public. The suffering had been visible. The death had been undeniable. 

The tomb stood as the quiet conclusion of it. 

When they arrived, the scene before them had shifted. 

In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 
And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 
Matthew 28:1–2 (KJV) 

The stone had been rolled away, with heaven making visible what had already taken place.  The tomb that had been sealed was open, and the good news poured forth… 

He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.
Matthew 28:6 (KJV) 

Hallelujah!!! 

What had been spoken is now fulfilled. What had been promised stood revealed. The Lamb who was slain stands as the risen Lord. 

The message of the resurrection is received in motion. The women do not leave the tomb unchanged. What they came carrying and what they leave with differ in substance and weight. They came with grief. They leave with revelation. They came expecting death. They leave carrying news of life. 

And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.
Matthew 28:8 (KJV) 

Fear and great joy held together, and movement follows. They run. As you should when you receive such news. As they move, they are met by the living Christ. 

And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail…
Matthew 28:9 (KJV) 

This pattern of recognition continues and unfolds as He appears to others. 

Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.
Luke 24:15–16 (KJV) 

And their eyes were opened, and they knew him…
Luke 24:31

 
The news moves outward, carried from person to person, from witness to witness. 

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace…
Isaiah 52:7 (KJV) 

The Gospel stands. The good news is established. The King lives! 

Resurrection and the Defeat of Death 

The resurrection declares the victory of Christ. The cross addresses sin, and the resurrection reveals that death has been overcome. Death could not hold Him. The grave could not retain Him. 

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death. 
1 Corinthians 15:26 (KJV) 

Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it.
Acts 2:24 (KJV) 

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1 Corinthians 15:55 (KJV) 

Death has been addressed. The tomb is empty. The word spoken in Christ stands. 

The Victory of Christ 

The resurrection declares victory over the powers that held humanity in bondage. The enemy who brought deception in the garden worked through sin and death, and the work of Christ addresses both fully. When sin is paid for, and death is overcome, the accusations that once stood against us lose their ground. 

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
Colossians 2:15 (KJV) 

The resurrection establishes the authority of Christ. The crucified One now stands as the One to whom all authority belongs. 

Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
1 Peter 3:22 (KJV) 

The risen Christ reigns. 

What was carried to the cross did not remain there. The weight of the fall was borne. Sickness and infirmity, all that entered through sin, was carried and dealt with in Him. 

The victory is at the very basis of our faith. We believe because He died for us and rose from the grave. We do not worship a dead Christ. We serve a risen King. Our King is alive, and in this we have hope. Our King has gone to prepare a place for us, and in this we have hope. 

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:2 (KJV) 

Our King has spoken that in this world we will have tribulation, and He has given us His word to be of good cheer, for He has overcome the world, and in this we have hope. Our King has made a way for us to become sons and daughters of God, and in this, we have hope. Our King has been given a name above every name, and in this we have hope. 

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.
Philippians 2:9 (KJV) 

Our King, my King, has risen from the grave. 

He is risen. And in this, I have hope. 

The Gift and the Response 

The resurrection stands as a gift. What was accomplished is now extended and remains available across generations, reaching into every life, meeting each person who will receive the standing invitation. 

There are two responses before everyone:
One that receives. 
One that refuses. 

There is no neutral ground in this walk as every life responds in some way. Each response either crowns Him as King or turns away from Him. To receive is to step into what has been accomplished. To accept Him as Lord and Saviour and walk in what has already been secured. 

If you would like to receive this gift, the invitation is still open. You can begin here: The Gift 

This gift carries forward. It brings salvation and draws us into a relationship with Him. He is risen and exalted. He is seated at the right hand of God. 

Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.
1 Peter 3:22 (KJV) 

Our King lives, interceding for those who come to God through Him. He stands as our advocate and sustains those who are His. 

This same risen King has gone to prepare a place. 

In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 
And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:2–3 (KJV) 

…for the marriage of the Lamb is come…
Revelation 19:7 (KJV) 

The One who rose will return. 

Go and Tell the Good News 

The message does not remain here. It is carried out through us all. 
The King is alive. He is risen from the grave. 

O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
1 Corinthians 15:55 (KJV) 

This is the testimony that is spoken. This is the truth that is carried. 
I am made new in Christ. I belong to Him. 
This I profess. 
This is my testimony. 
I serve a living King. 

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace…
Isaiah 52:7 (KJV)