“The Lord Is Risen”
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An earthquake marked the hour when Christ laid down His life,
and another earthquake witnessed the moment when He took it up in
triumph. He who had vanquished death and the grave came forth from
the tomb with the tread of a conqueror, amid the reeling of the earth,
the flashing of lightning, and the roaring of thunder. When He shall
come to the earth again, He will shake “not the earth only, but also
heaven.” “The earth shall reel to and fro like a drunkard, and shall
be removed like a cottage.” “The heavens shall be rolled together as
a scroll;” “the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also
and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” But “the Lord will
be the hope of His people, and the strength of the children of Israel.”
Hebrews 12:26
;
Isaiah 24:20
;
34:4
;
2 Peter 3:10
;
Joel 3:16
.
At the death of Jesus the soldiers had beheld the earth wrapped in
darkness at midday; but at the resurrection they saw the brightness of
the angels illuminate the night, and heard the inhabitants of heaven
singing with great joy and triumph: Thou hast vanquished Satan and
the powers of darkness; Thou hast swallowed up death in victory!
Christ came forth from the tomb glorified, and the Roman guard
beheld Him. Their eyes were riveted upon the face of Him whom they
had so recently mocked and derided. In this glorified Being they beheld
the prisoner whom they had seen in the judgment hall, the one for
whom they had plaited a crown of thorns. This was the One who had
stood unresisting before Pilate and Herod, His form lacerated by the
cruel scourge. This was He who had been nailed to the cross, at whom
the priests and rulers, full of self-satisfaction, had wagged their heads,
saying, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save.”
Matthew 27:42
.
This was He who had been laid in Joseph’s new tomb. The decree of
heaven had loosed the captive. Mountains piled upon mountains over
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His sepulcher could not have prevented Him from coming forth.
At sight of the angels and the glorified Saviour the Roman guard
had fainted and become as dead men. When the heavenly train was
hidden from their view, they arose to their feet, and as quickly as
their trembling limbs could carry them, made their way to the gate of
the garden. Staggering like drunken men, they hurried on to the city,
telling those whom they met the wonderful news. They were making
their way to Pilate, but their report had been carried to the Jewish
authorities, and the chief priests and rulers sent for them to be brought
first into their presence. A strange appearance those soldiers presented.