Matthew Devotion 28:9

"... Rejoice.."

Jesus declared his authority over the Womb in the Incarnation, his Lordship over the Old Covenant in his baptism, the fulfillment of Messianic Prophecies in his life;  absolute authority over the Law when dealing with the Pharisees and Sadducees, his authority over sickness in his healing ministry. His Cosmic Authority over all Created Order was established by stilling the seas and walking on the water, his authority over the Demonic Realms by the banishment of evil spirits; his unconditional love and authority to forgive us all our sins - regardless how grievous or repetitious they may forever be - by the giving of his life for our eternal welfare.

Now, the last remaining stronghold to be conquered is the Serpentine's Spell, Death itself - which he - "oh, as a matter-of-factly" - he broke when, in the clearing of the early Easter Mist, the earth quaked, his flesh was infused with New Life in the Holy Spirit, and he slipped free from the garments of death and, with his first baby steps of New Life, crushed the skull of the snake with the heel of his foot, forever rendering it powerless.

It happens.

"Rejoice!" The heavens lit up - as they did at the birth of the Same. Angel's mounted, racing to the Battlefield to proclaim to the Never-Again Captives - amazed and perplexed -  "He is not here; for he has risen!"

Now there is nothing in our human experienced untouched by the Finger of God. All Created Order (physical, emotional, spiritual, experiential - everything we know and ever will know) is privy to God's Glorious Redemption found in the Rising of the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing is out of bounds, not even death itself.  There is nothing left to do but to join the company of Angels - regardless of our situation, in the fact of a certain Future Redemption - and say, "Rejoice!"

In rising from the dead Jesus is established as the King of all Kings and the Lord of all Lords over every human experience.

A rich man rolled the Stone to seal the embalmed Body; an angel rolled away that same Stone - not to set our Lord free from the Tomb (as if he couldn't pass through matter in his resurrected state!), but to show us that our last enemy has been conquered. The sweet fragrance, resurrection's afterglow, has now been released into all Creation.

And - perhaps more significant for us - his resurrection in the Tombs of our Hearts assures us both of his present forgiveness/ healing and the certain afterlife when we too, following the trajectory of the Second Adam, will also ease from our grave clothes into a eternal state of New Life on that great and glorious Day.

The angel sits atop the Stone and invites the onlooker to peek into the Heart of the Matter. The women are filled with both fear and joy. Following the angel's instructions, they run to tell the disciples and, while on the run, run smack-dab into Jesus. With a single gaze he had read their mail and meets the exact emotions of their hearts. "Do not be afraid."  He can say that because has disarmed Death (the Patriarch of all fear) and thus, in him - as we remain in him - there is no fear.

"Rejoice!"

Don't try to analyze the event. You will never arrive. True spiritual understanding comes when we simply bless the blossoming works of God with an unhindered, child-like, belief.

"Rejoice!"