New Life!

 (Note:  This was meant for Easter Sunday...no prediction when it will actually appear)

 John 20: 1-9

The Empty Tomb

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. ² So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

³ So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. ⁴ Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, ⁷ as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. ⁸ Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. ⁹ (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

Little by little the revelation of the Resurrection was unfolded to those who loved him and were still shaken by the events of  the Friday before the Sabbath.  First the stone has been moved, the tomb is empty except for the burial linens, and finally a glimmer of belief  seeing is believing...We've just come through forty days of preparation for this moment:  the Resurrection and our renewal of our Baptismal Promises made at the time we were born again, born into a new life with  Christ.  Today recalls our Resurrection, our Baptism; we celebrate with Jesus:  Birth into a life that will last forever. We no longer live in an empty tomb.  Let us joyfully sing Alleluia for ourselves as well as for the Risen Jesus. 

Bro. Rene

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