Were You There?

The old Easter spiritual asks, “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” It’s a soulful song. Another verse asks, “Were you there when they laid Him in the tomb?” Then, “Were you there when God raised him from the tomb?”

I don’t like thinking about all that Jesus suffered for our sin. He didn’t deserve to be tortured like that. Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed (1 Peter 2:24).

I can’t comprehend that kind of love. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends (John 15:13).

I stand in awe at the foot of the cross. I am amazed that Jesus, the Son of God, would do this for me. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit (1 Peter 3:18).

The stone is rolled away, so that I can gaze inside . . . the empty tomb. A man in a long white garment says, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him (Mark 16:6).

I run with the other women to tell the disciples. I am so afraid I’m trembling . . . and the disciples don’t want to believe us! They think we’re crazy! So, Peter and John run to the tomb for themselves. Now, they believe. (John 20:3-8)

And as they (the women) were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth,

they (the angels) said unto them,

Why seek ye the living among the dead?

He is not here, but is risen:

remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,

Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men,

and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

And they remembered his words (Luke 24:5-8).

On my way to Emmaus, talking with my friend about the crucifixion, a Man joined us. He explained about the Messiah from the Scriptures. We invited Him to eat with us. He took the bread and blessed it. Then, we knew! It was the Lord!

He vanished.

Even though it was late, we had to go back to Jerusalem and tell the disciples, The Lord is risen indeed.

As we were there, Jesus appeared in our midst, and He said, Peace be unto you. Everyone was frightened, thinking He was a ghost. But, He said, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have. And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet. And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat? And He ate! Right there in front of us! Then, He said, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures, And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

And ye are witnesses of these things. (Luke 24:14-48)

Was I there?

Oh yes, I was there!

My sin nailed Jesus to the cross. I witnessed His torment as He redeemed my soul. I was there at the empty tomb and then saw Him alive as He revealed Himself as the Messiah.

I was there through faith.

I believe.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,

that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,

but have everlasting life.

For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world;

but that the world through him might be saved (John 3:16-17).

Were you there?

Have you believed in Jesus? Have you accepted His payment for your sin, on the cross? Do you have eternal life?

Blessed are they that have not seen,

and yet have believed (John 20:29).

Jesus Lives!

HAPPY EASTER!