EASTER SUNDAY MORNING COMING DOWN!

As published in the Newport (TN) Plain Talk
Release Date – Apr 5, 2012
Column Number - 1214


My title this time comes from the words contained in a Gospel song from days past; I remember neither the title nor the artist; but these words were somewhere in there.

It had to do with Easter Sunday’s approach after the climactic events of the crucifixion.

King Jesus had ridden into the Holy City (Jerusalem, not Nashville, New York, Brussels, Rome, and certainly not Washington, DC - pullleeessse); and made a final offer of Himself as King – but, after having gotten caught up in the immediate excitement of the moment, most (not all) of the people ultimately followed the leadership of most (not all) of their “leaders” and screamed out for Jesus to be crucified!

Dark days, sad days for His followers! You see, they didn’t know that this was necessary, in fact, essential to effect God’s Plan whereby they – and you and I could ultimately be saved and taken to heaven when we die (or Jesus returns, whichever comes first)!

We know that – well, we have been exposed to it - whether we “know” it or not is up for grabs – but they didn’t have a clue!

They should have; He had certainly given them clues several times; but their minds were clouded with their delusions of grandeur of “sitting next to Him at His throne”, etc.

And so, they missed it; they missed the greatest point of the greatest plan ultimately designed and given by Omniscient, Omnipotent God Almighty.

But Sunday Morning was coming down!

Joseph of Arimathaea had spent untold amounts of money and time having his tomb carved out of the solid rock wall; only to freely donate it to His Master. To Joseph’s credit, He didn’t know that Christ was only going to use it for seventy-two hours (three days and nights); and, as was their custom, an immediate burial was accomplished on the evening of the day of the crucifixion.

Before dawn on what we know as “Easter Sunday”, three ladies came to the tomb to finished their hurried burial process (anointing the body with spices); and found the stone already rolled away; and angels told them what had happened. Two of them left to tell the others and received an appearance by the Risen Christ.

Mary of Magdala was left there and saw a “man” she assumed was Joseph’s gardener; and also received a special appearance from the Risen Christ. She too, hurried off to tell everyone.

Then came Peter and John after the ladies had told them the good news. John (the younger of the two) got there first and was peering inside the darkened tomb when Peter came blundering right on inside to see for himself. John was then emboldened by Peter’s actions and went inside; and he, too, became an eyewitness that Jesus was not there.

There are two locations for that tomb that tourists are shown in Jerusalem. One of them has been chiseled away by unthinking tourists; but the other is still right there – and I am a witness; I can assuredly attest that Jesus’ body is in neither of them!

Later that day, Jesus appeared to two disciples (Cleopas and his wife, Mary?) as they sadly made their way back home to Emmaus; and when they finally recognized Him (they weren’t looking for Him and their vision was distorted by their grief) they made the dangerous journey back to Jerusalem to add their voices to the growing crowd of those who had witnessed these events!

That night, He appeared to ten of His Disciples; a week later to those ten plus Thomas; later to over five hundred Believers at the Sea of Galilee; and the eyewitness pool continued to grow. He later ascended into heaven from Jerusalem’s Mount of Olives; with a promise from the accompanying angels that He would return. Stephen and Paul later saw Him in special powerful appearances in Heaven.

It’s a fact! Jesus had resurrected “out from among the dead ones” – (ek nekkro)! Easter Sunday had “come dawn”; and we will never be the same – neither will the entire world - because of those events of that week!


These columns are written by Tom Mooty, Pastor of Newport’s West End Baptist Church. Feel free to forward these columns to your friends and family around the world. All comments can be sent to tommooty05@comcast.net or P.O. Box 851, Newport, TN 37822.

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