1 Corinthians 15:54-55 HCSB
Paul was quoting the prophet Hosea
”“I will deliver this people from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction? “I will have no compassion,“
Hosea 13:14 NIV
I went to sunrise service this morning. Yes, that is a early morning for me. Usually 6 AM passes me by, but Kevin and I wanted to see Easter sunrise with our church family. As we traveled in the dark I thought of Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome as they brought burial spices to anoint Jesus.
”When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?”“
Mark 16:1-3 ESV
Did you catch it? VERY EARLY – JUST AFTER THE SUN HAD RISEN.
It was still dark as we began worshipping at sunrise service this morning but slowly streaks of light broke through the dark skies. Dawn was breaking, and it occurred to me. This was it. This was the moment for these beautiful ladies that they realized:
”and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.“
Mark 16:3-5 NIV
But they missed it. A Holy moment occurred earlier while it was still dark.
GOD WOKE HIS SON UP! “ARISE MY LOVE.” It was a time just for them, Father and Son. It was a powerful moment for sure.
”And a great earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone [from the opening of the tomb], and sat on it. The angel’s appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow. The guards shook, paralyzed with fear [at the sight] of him and became like dead men [pale and immobile]. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said [He would]. Come! See the place where He was lying.“
Matthew 28:2-6 AMP
But again, God’s breath had already been breathed into Jesus before the angel appeared.
Father and Son together again. These were the moments before Our Risen Lord would get busy again. A moment in time. Jesus would take the grave clothes off. His Father’s power coursed through Him. AND THEN… AFTER HIS TIME WITH HIS FATHER…
HE WALKS OUT OF THAT GRAVE!
The darkness of that morning is not dark to Jesus.
Dark is the absence of light and the LIGHT OF THE WORLD just pierced through like dawn breaking.
Death did not defeat Him. Death had no power over Him.
Father and Son had their moment. It was just for them and between them. However, it was for us also. For us who believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the Living God death has no power over us either. All because of Jesus. All because He walked out of that grave!
”When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”“
1 Corinthians 15:54-55 ESV
HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED!
He is RISEN indeed. I had never thought about the moment right before dawn and your reasoning was that was a time set aside for the Father and Son. I love that a moment in history unlike anything this world had experienced before and God took the time, only a moment, to share it with His Son.