It was three days ago that Jesus said, “It is Finished,” and bowed His head in death, but not in defeat. When Jesus said those three powerful words, He was speaking of God’s plan for man’s recemption was complete. Nothing more would or could be added. He alone, paid the unimaginable price for man’s sin.
That evening, Joseph, a rich and prominent man from Arimathea, with much courage asked Pilot for Jesus’ body. So he and Nicodemus took Jesus’ body, wrapped it in linen cloths, placed Him in Joseph’s new and unused tomb, and rolled a large stone against the opening. Several women from Galilee, including Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of James and John watched from a distance.
“Crucified and laid behind the stone; You lived to die, rejected and alone. Like a rose trampled on the ground, You took the fall, and thought of me above all.”
That was Friday evening ~
Early Sunday morning, these same women with their prepaed spices for burial nestled in their baskets, hurried to the tomb. It was so early the sunflowers along the dusty road still had their heads bowed, but the women barely noticed. They were on a mission just as the sun peeked over the horizon.
“Look!” one woman exclaimed, pointing at the tomb. They squinted to see that the stone had been rolled away. The women ran, then clasping each others hands, they crept into the tomb. They stared in disbelief. There was no body. “What could this mean?” another woman asked, perplexed. Suddenly two angels stood by them in dazzling garments. The terrified women bowed their faces to the ground.
The angel said, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Go quickly and tell His disciples ~ and Peter ~ that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
The women ran with fear and great joy to where Peter and the other disciples had gathered. Breathless, the women recounted their encounter at the tomb. But, skepticism reigned among the disciples. “You speak idle tales,” one disciple scoffed, and they did not believe them.
But, Peter bolted out the door followed by John. The two men ran to the tomb trailed by the women, John outran Peter and arrived first. John stooped down and looked into the tomb, but he did not go in. Peter came, and charged into the tomb. He did not look casually around, No, he stared. The linen cloths were lying there and the napkin that had been around Jesus’ head was folded neatly in a place by itself.
Then John entered. He studied the place where Jesus’ body had been, and in an instant, he realized that Jesus had indeed been raised from 
the dead. His heart pounded in his chest as the truth sank deeply into his soul.
The disciples, excited and in awe at the reality that Jesus was alive, returned to their homes. But Mary Magdalene stood outside by the tomb, weeping from the emotional drain of the past few days. She turned around and glanced at Jesus standing there, but supposed Him to be the gardner. He spoke to her, “Woman, why are you weeping and whom are you seeking?”
Mary sobbed, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.
Jesus said to her, “Mary!” And she recognized His voice.
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.” John 10:27-
Jesus not only appeared to Mary Magdelene, He appeared to the two men on their way to their homes in Emmaus, the disciples ~ except Thomas, then the disciples with Thomas, on the beach where Jesus had prepared breakfast for the disciples who had been fishing all night, and also to 500 at one time.
To read the complete details of the account of Christ’s resurrection, see Matthew 28:1-17, Mark 16:1-14, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-10, and 1 Corinthians 15:3-8. The lyrics “Crucified and laid behind a stone… are from the song “All Alone” by Michael W. Smith.
HE IS RISEN! HE IS RISEN INDEED! Rejoice and be glad. The Savior lives and reigns!