Daily Devotional For Sunday, April 20,2025
Good morning and good day Southside. Today is Easter! He is Risen. Jesus rose from that grave to prove He has the power over life and death and is God’s Savior for this world. Matthew 28:5-10 says this:
“Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. (6) He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as He said would happen. Come, see where His body was lying. (7) And now, go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead, and He is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see Him there. Remember what I have told you.” (8) The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. (9) And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to Him, grasped His feet, and worshiped Him. (10) Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there” (NLT).
None of us can imagine how joyous these women were. The shock of seeing the angel and then the shock of seeing the Resurrected Jesus had to be overwhelming with pure joy. If you have ever lost anything important and significant for you and then eventually gave up looking for it, only to surprisingly find it later, you are flooded with joy. Where these women’s loyalties and love was godly, but at times we can have our loyalties and love in all the wrong places.
For three days Jesus laid dead in that tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. His lifeless body grew cold, rigor mortis set in and the stone covering it was rolled into place. In addition, Pilate, at the requests of the religious leaders, had a Roman seal placed on the stone ordering no one to open the tomb. To insure this, Pilate also placed Roman guards there to enforce this order. No way to steal the body and publicize that Jesus was alive and resurrected. Everything the devil and the haters of Jesus wanted seemed to be in place to make sure this stayed true.
As I thought about this for Easter, I have a question for all of us: What tomb are you currently buried and sealed in today? It is the tomb of regret? Guilt? Shame? Lost dreams? Divorce? Grief? Failures? Abandonment? Depression? A sickness or illness? Hopelessness? I think you get the picture, right? There are emotional, psychological and spiritual tombs we can find ourselves sealed in due to life, others and ourselves. The good news is: we do not have to stay in these tombs. Allow Jesus to break that seal over your own “tomb” and roll that stone away. What Jesus said to Lazarus (John 11:43) who had been dead and in his tomb for 4 days I say to you in the name of the Lord: “[Insert your name] come forth!”
Assignment: Allow Christ to give you life and life abundantly. Let others help unwrap you from your “tomb clothes” (John 11:44) and move into the hope, future, and joy of Easter. As that old hymn says: “Up from the grave He arose. With a mighty triumph o'er His foes He arose a Victor from the dark domain, And He lives forever with His saints to reign, He arose! (He arose), He arose! (He arose), Hallelujah! Christ arose!” Just like Christ arose, so can you with His help!” You do not have to stay entombed emotionally, psychologically or spiritually. Seek a godly friend, or a biblically-based counselor or pastor to talk to about this. Listen to Jesus’ voice. He calls you from your “tomb.” Come forth!
Scripture To Meditate On: John 11:25-26, “Jesus said, ‘I am the Resurrection and the Life. Anyone who believes in Me will live, even after dying. (26) Everyone who lives in Me and believes in Me will never ever die. Do you believe this?” (NLT).
Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, thank You for coming out of that tomb on Easter morning. I realize that there are sins, bad decisions and pride that have put me into my own kind of tomb. Just like you called Lazarus from his tomb, please call me from mine. I want to experience the power of Your Resurrection with joy and share that with others. I love You Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”
I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly