Monday, April 4, 2005
Mark 16:6-7 "You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you."
ALLELUIA!
Easter hymns are filled with Alleluias! Alleluia, of course, means "praise to the LORD." It is a shout of praise to the LORD who has revealed Himself in His Word as the God who rescues His people by keeping His promises. Yes, the name for the one true God in this word "Alleluia" is that name He revealed to Moses at the burning bush.
Easter morning breaks in on us with the pronouncement of "Christ is Risen." The Church responds with shouts of "Alleluia!" The God of promise has fulfilled His word and has rescued our world of lost and condemned sinners. The everlasting proof of this is the empty grave of Jesus. Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father (Rom 6:4).
Now the angel who told the women, "He is risen! He is not here" also told them, "He is going before you into Galilee; as He said to you."
He said this on the way to Gethsemane! "After I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee" (Matt 26:32).
Right in the temple precincts Jesus claimed the Name of JHVH-God as His own. "Before Abraham was, I AM," He said. His resurrection is the consummate proof that this is so. He and the Father are One. Jesus is Himself the very God who keeps His promise. He is the LORD to whom we sing our Easter alleluias!
