John 20:15, 16 – “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.”
An encounter in a garden, long ago and far away. A grieving woman and a man intruding into her broken-hearted solitude. A question. A response. A recognition. And the world has never been the same since. For close to two thousand years now believers have relished this beautiful tale of hope deferred and certainty renewed. Easter is more than just bunnies and eggs. It is a slain Saviour come back to life, to the astonishment of believers. It is the hope and rejoicing of untold millions, softening the hardness of the unbelieving world into reverence. The plan that God had all along to redeem mankind is now finished, and we who believe are justified in Him.
Josh McDowell wrote, ''After more than 700 hours of studying this subject and thoroughly investigating its foundation, I have come to the conclusion that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted upon the minds of men, OR it is the most fantastic fact of history.'' Skeptics still smirk at it; the masses are still indifferent to it; and Christians cleave to it as the central fact of history. The slain one has returned, ripped apart the powers of darkness and opened the gates of heaven to whosoever will. To those who believe He still brings peace from the turmoil of fear, the tyranny of doubt, and the terror of loneliness.
James Kennedy wrote that ''The evidence of the resurrection of Jesus Christ has been examined more carefully than the evidence for any other fact in history.'' As His Second Coming draws ever nearer, let us not be dismayed for the decaying civilization around us. It is coming to pass exactly as He said it would. News events around the globe are fulfilling His words in startling clarity. So during this season, let us not fear. It is He; be not afraid. The resurrected Lord is still saving all who believe, and our future is as bright as the promises of God. Blessed be His Name!
