He is Risen

ON THE MORNING OF Jesus’ resurrection, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene was the first to arrive at the tomb were Jesus’ body had been placed. Jesus had miraculously cast out seven demons from her earlier in his ministry. (Luke 8:2) Arriving at the tomb, Mary found that the stone which had been used to block the entrance had been rolled away. When she looked inside the tomb and did not see Jesus’ body, she ran to tell Peter and John. Later Mary returned to the sepulcher, and the resurrected Jesus appeared to her.—John 20:1,2,11-18

As stated in our Selected Scripture passage, there were also other women who came to the tomb of Jesus. To these, an angel spoke, saying: “Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, … go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead.”—Matt. 28:5-7

After hearing this message from the angel, the group of women “departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run” to tell Jesus’ disciples. As they ran, “Jesus met them, saying, All hail.” This was a common greeting of that time and meant, “Rejoice!” Knowing it was the risen Lord, the women fell before his feet, and “worshipped him.”—vss. 8,9

As stated in our Key Verse, Jesus, like the angel, told the group of women to not be afraid, but to tell his “brethren” to go to Galilee, where they would see him. Jesus wanted his brethren to know the good news that he had been resurrected from death. How beautiful it is that our relationship to our Master, Jesus, is that of “brethren.”—Luke 8:21; Rom. 8:29; Heb. 2:10-13

After making several post-resurrection appearances in the vicinity of Jerusalem, Jesus ceased from further appearing to his followers until they returned to the area of Galilee. Most of Jesus’ earthly ministry had been spent in Galilee. Consequently, a majority of early Christians were Galileans. Many of these followers were given an opportunity of being witnesses of Jesus’ resurrection. Paul, about twenty-five years later, wrote concerning one of these appearances, saying that Christ “was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep [in death].”—I Cor. 15:6

Herein is a lesson for us. After we have found the Lord and the Truth, we have the great privilege of sharing the Gospel message—that the perfect man Jesus willingly gave his life as the corresponding ransom price for the disobedience of the perfect man Adam. As Paul wrote, “I declare unto you the gospel, … how that Christ died for our sins,” and “was buried,” and “rose again the third day according to the scriptures.” “Now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.”—I Cor. 15:1-4,20,21

In God’s kingdom, under the rulership of Christ, Adam and the entire human family will be raised from the grave. Under the righteous arrangements of the kingdom, all mankind will be given the opportunity to be restored to harmony with God, and to live as perfect human beings on the earth forever.—Hos. 13:14; Acts 3:20,21; I Cor. 15:22; Rev. 21:1-7