It Is Well with My Soul: The Sacred Roots Annual 2022-2023

210

T he S eason from E aster to P entecost

WEEK 20 E aster S unday , T he R esurrection of the L ord April 9 - 15, 2023

U

On Easter Sunday we celebrate the bodily resurrection of Jesus. The same lowly Nazarene – he who was betrayed by his own disciple, who suffered under Pilate’s cruel gaze, who was crucified on a Roman cross, and who was buried in a borrowed tomb – the same Lord rose triumphantly on the third day. Jesus has risen from death to life through the power of God. “Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed!”

THIS WEEK’S THEME Christ Is Risen! Matthew 28.1-10

After our Lord was crucified, on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” (the mother of James and Joseph) went to the tomb of Jesus, to anoint the body of Jesus for burial. There was a great earthquake that occurred, and an angel of the Lord came from heaven, rolled back the stone, and sat on it. The guards who kept watch over the tomb were frightened and completely disabled by the sight. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” They left the scene quickly, filled with both fear and great joy, to tell the disciples, and on the way, met Jesus himself, who greeted them, and told them not to be afraid, but go and tell his disciples to go to Galilee, where they would see him.

The simple truth of the ages, the great confession of our faith in the Lord, is that Jesus of Nazareth is no longer in Joseph’s