RESURRECTION DAY 2011

He is risen! HE IS RISEN INDEED!

I love those words - said in response to each other annually.

The Gospel accounts report different versions of what happened that morning. For me that is proof that they weren't collaborating to make up a story. They each were privy to different bits of information, and each record it as they were told it - for it was the women who went first - who found the empty tomb. And they weren't the ones who wrote about it!

Jesus died at 3 p m on Friday - and on the 3rd day - no more than 39 hours later - He rose again! God, and only God, could raise Himself from the dead. HE IS RISEN! What a wonderful and glorious joy that inspires.

I wrote the original of this poem early Easter morning, 1996. This is the 2009 edited version. I'll share it with you - and run do the prep things I have to do to have family come share the day, before heading off to church at 7:45.

MAJESTY
by Lola Cain

“A King who ruled in majesty”
That’s what people wanted him to be!
No crown of thorns or whip of shame
No cross on which to bear our blame
No nails, no spear, no agony
No death upon a criminal’s tree
No burial in a borrowed grave
…No resurrection power to save!

Thank God for his eternal plan
for justifying fallen man
Providing atoning sacrifice
Sending his Son to pay the price.
Coming incarnate to earth to die
He redeemed His created from Satan’s lie
Thank you, Sacrificial Lamb
…for overriding the will of man.

The veil was rent! God’s plan complete!
We now can worship at his feet!
We enter his presence unafraid
by the blood that Jesus shed to save!
Thank the LORD, he rose again
victory over death to win
Thank Father, Son and Holy Ghost
…the anthem sung by the heavenly host!

“He’s risen,” we shout. “HE’S RISEN INDEED!”
The cornerstone of our Christian creed
And coming once, he’ll come again
God’s promised victory over sin
“It’s finished,” his final words on the cross
Our redemption sealed. Our salvation bought.
Now he reigns eternally
…what both God and man wanted him to be…
“A KING WHO RULES IN MAJESTY!”

Thank You, LORD!
Love, Lola

For Mark's account for today, see Mark 16:1-8