October 25

Matthew 28:1-8

The empty tomb!

Early on Sunday morning, the third day after Jesus had been crucified, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to Jesus’ tomb.

Suddenly, there was a great earthquake, and an angel of the Lord rolled away the stone from the entrance of the tomb. The angel was as bright as lightning, and his clothes were dazzling white. The soldiers guarding the tomb were so afraid that they shook and became like dead men.

When the two women arrived at the tomb, the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid! You are looking for Jesus who was crucified, but He is not here. He has risen, just as He said He would. Come and see the place where He lay. Now go quickly and tell the disciples that He is alive!”

So the women left the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy.

Did Jesus raise Himself from the dead?

Jesus had brought a young girl back to life (Luke 8:53–54). He also raised His friend Lazarus, who had been dead for four days (John 11:43–44). And now Jesus Himself was dead. He had been beaten, nailed to a cross, and pierced in the side. His friends had wrapped His body in linen cloths and laid Him in a tomb. They had even rolled a heavy stone in front of the entrance. How could Jesus rise from the dead, just as He had said He would?

The Bible tells us that God raised Jesus from the dead. Jesus had also said that He had the authority to lay down His life and take it up again (John 10:17–18). By raising Him, God showed that Jesus’ death had paid for the sins of the whole world.

Jesus was the first sinless man to rise from the dead and live forever. When we trust Jesus to save us, He cleanses us from all our sin and makes us right with God (1 John 1:7).

Verse for today

By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also. 1 Corinthians 6:14