CHRIST IS RISEN!

(Click on this thumbnail photo to see it full-size, which you can save as your Desktop wallpaper or screensaver!) This painting illustrates what the Scriptures tell us of those who were present at the Resurrection of Christ: the soldiers standing guard were blinded by the explosion of light when Christ our God revealed Himself in all His resurrected glory. Only when the angel appeared in somewhat lesser brightness did the soldiers' vision return. In Matthew 28:1-7 we read:

"Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky, and came and rolled away the stone from the door, and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men. The angel answered the women, 'Don't be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, Who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just like He said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying. Go quickly and tell His disciples, 'He has risen from the dead, and behold, He goes before you into Galilee; there you will see Him.' Behold, I have told you.'"

So, what did Mary Magdalene, the other Mary and the soldiers actually see? When the light faded, Mary Magdalene saw the angels and the risen Christ, but she thought at first that He was the gardener before she recognized Him. She complained to the "gardener" that someone had taken His Body: "When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, and didn't know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?' She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, '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.' She turned and said to him, 'Rhabbouni!' which is to say, 'Teacher!'" (John 20:14-16). Next, the risen Christ appeared to Peter and John at the tomb, and then to two men walking to Emmaus and to the other disciples.

Mark 16:1-13 and Luke 24:1-12 provide similar descriptions of Christ's Resurrection, the women at the tomb, the angels, etc. Thus, there is abundant Scriptural evidence for Christ's Resurrection in the four Gospels, in the Book of Acts and sprinkled all throughout the rest of the New Testament. Let us not be swayed by some who even call themselves Christians but cast doubt on this amazing, world-changing and miraculous historical event. CHRIST IS RISEN!

(Linked to www.Hosken-News.info of 12 Apr 2015.)