March 31

He is not here: for He is risen. — Matt 28:6

Christ died in love for us. But if He had only died, and had not risen again, His sacrifice would not have availed for us. If He could not conquer death for himself, He could not be our Saviour. But the grave could not hold Him.

When the women came they found the stone rolled away, and the angel watcher said to them, “He is risen.” We have for a Saviour one who fought every battle that we have to fight, and was always victorious. He is able, therefore, to deliver us in any conflict.

Jesus appeared often enough after He arose to convince all His friends that He had really risen. Then He went back to heaven to receive all authority. His last act was to send out His disciples, bidding them to win all nations for Him. That was a strange commission for One who had died on a cross to give to a dozen plain peasants.

It was a stupendous claim to make for Himself, that all authority over the nations was now His. But so it was.