Archived Daily Manna | Rejoice Fellowship | A mission to release people to rejoice in the world.

Message: Let's open our Bible to Chapter 28 in the Book of Matthew, and consider what your reaction might have been if you had joined Mary Magdalene and the “other Mary” that early Sunday (Easter) morning when they went out to see the tomb. When the earthquake began, would your heart be beating fast and your mind filled with fear? Plus, to add to the scene unfolding in front of your eyes, an “angel of the Lord came down from heaven and rolled aside the stone and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow”. To make matters tenser, “The guards (began shaking) with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint”. Are your knees getting wobbly yet as you stand watching all of the events unfold right before your eyes? But there is more! The angel who is sitting on the rock began speaking: “Don't be afraid!” Those words would be familiar, would they not? The angel went on to say: “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead, just as He said would happen”. The angel continued saying: “Come, see where His body was lying”. Oh my, as you walk up to the entrance and look inside, you see the tomb is empty! The angel continued: “And now, go quickly and tell His disciples He has been raised from the dead, and He is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there. Remember, I have told you”. If you were there, you would be rushing away from the tomb. Still frightened, but in an odd way, you would also be experiencing abundant joy to think that your beloved Jesus had been resurrected from the dead. While running to tell the disciples the message, guess who meets you? Jesus! He said: “Greetings!” You “ran to Him, held His feet, and worshipped Him”. Then He said: “Don't be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there”. What a spectacular event to tell everyone you meet that Jesus Christ has risen! John, John Mark, Luke, Peter, and Paul continued telling the resurrection story. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth and Christians everywhere: “But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead. He has become the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again”. Peter wrote in 1 Peter: “Now we live with a wonderful expectation because Jesus Christ rose again from the dead”. As God's people celebrating the true meaning of Easter, we should be mindful to continually tell others about Jesus Christ, and that through His death, and resurrection we are cleansed from our sins, therefore we will receive eternal life! Helen Steiner Rice wrote a poem titled, “Let Us Pray at This Glorious Easter Season”. It states: “What better time...or more beautiful season...What greater occasion...or more wonderful reason...To kneel down in prayer...and thank God above...For eternal life...the gift of His love...For in sending His Son...to be crucified...He granted man life...because His Son died...So at this glad season...when there's joy everywhere...Let us meet our Redeemer...at the altar of prayer.”