Dear Christian friends:

On that first Easter morning almost 2,000 years ago wonderful things happened as the sun was rising; God had many things to do on that first Easter and He wanted to get an early start.

We have gathered here at this early hour today as the sun is rising because we want to get the feeling and spirit of that first Easter morning. We want to hear about the wonderful things that happened on that day while the sun was rising.

We want to thank our kind God who made such a day for us as the Psalmist says: "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." (Psalm 118:24) So from our text let us consider:


What was it? News so wonderful that God sent His angel to preach it, no man would believe it. There was an earthquake and the angel rolls back the stone that had closed the now empty tomb. (verse 2)

God's presence in the shinning angel frightens the guards. This is very great news. The women have come in unbelief expecting to find only problems and a dead body that needed perfume. They are surprised at the rolling away of the heavy stone of the tomb.

The tomb is open and God's preacher is there. He gives the good news, "He has risen!" Not just a ghost. "he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you." (verse 7) He will talk to them. He will show them the sears in His hands, feet and side.

What does this mean? That Jesus is no false Savior. He is God's Son from heaven. The angel says, "He has risen." Before He was crucified He had prophesied of His resurrection. The Jews asked Him to give them a sign that He was really God's Son from heaven. "Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up." (John 2:19)

God the Father has accepted the death of His Son, upon the cross as the perfect offering for all our sins. All are sins are forgiven. "He was delivered (offered) for our offenses and raised again for our justification." (Romans 4:25)

We, too, shall arise from our graves on the Last Day Jesus says, "because I live, ye shall live also.” (John 14:19)

"When Easter Faith Is Real"

In ancient Rome a guard felt sorry for a Christian who was soon to die because of His faith in Christ. The guard secretly allowed the Christian's daughter to visit him. After the daughter left the guard stared at his prisoner. "Why do you stare at me the father asked? "Because you do not seem worried. Tomorrow you must die. Tonight you saw your daughter for the last time," the guard answered. "You are wrong," said the father. "I shall see her again. My daughter is a Christian, too. She will soon follow me. Christians never see one another for the last time. They meet in heaven, there to live forever. Now do you understand why I am ready to die for my Christian faith?"

May God give each of us such a strong faith in the wonderful Easter story.

Amen.