“But the angel said to the women, 'Do not be alarmed and frightened, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, as He said [He would do]. Come, see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples, He has risen from the dead…'” 

—Matthew 28:5-7a (AMPC).

As the first Easter morning was drawing near, a spirit of hopelessness was evident in the hearts of the early disciples. They knew their teacher and friend, Jesus, had been crucified and placed in a borrowed tomb. Even though he’d promised he would rise again, the disciples could not believe it just then. They believed all hope had died with the crucifixion of Christ. 

Can you imagine the joy and hope that flooded the disciples’ hearts when they realized that Christ arose, just as he said he would? When Jesus stepped out of the tomb in all his glory, he restored hope—not only to the early disciples, but to all of humankind. 

That same Easter hope is available to us today, and we, like the early disciples, desperately need that hope! We are part of that future generation, looking for Christ’s return to Earth. When we wake up each morning, we are not sure what the day will bring. As we look around us at the heartbreak, sickness, economic hardship, earthquakes, floods and famine, as well as the threat of war throughout our world, we need the hope that can only come from the same Christ that walked out of that tomb. 

The Bible tells us, in Luke 21:28, “Now when these things begin to occur, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption (deliverance) is drawing near” (AMPC). This should remove the fear and uncertainty from any situation we face. It is only when we “look up” to the One who can truly save us that we lose our dread of the unknown. I remember a song we sang many years ago: “In the morning when I rise, give me Jesus.” With that in mind and hope in our hearts that we serve a risen Savior, we can face each day with the “blessed hope” (Titus 2:13) that can only be found in Jesus. 

As we approach this Easter Day, let our hearts cry out to know the same hope the early disciples experienced. Christ is not dead. He is alive! 

Easter Sunrise Service

Celebrate Jesus and His victory over sin and death at this annual Easter service at 6:45 a.m. on Sunday, April 17. 

Since Suplizio Field is under construction, the service will be at Central High School’s parking lot, 550 Warrior Way in Grand Junction. 

Bring a chair or blanket. On-site radio transmission will be available to all who would like to worship in their cars.