He is Risen
This past Sunday was Easter, and I was blessed to celebrate with my dear family.
As part of our preparations for the holiday, we watched Bible videos that corresponded with each day of Holy Week. On Thursday evening, we watched Christ enter into the Garden of Gethsemane. In the sweetest understatement I've ever heard, my two-year-old nephew stated, "Jesus sad." In those fateful moments, Jesus was more than just sad; He experienced pure agony as He took upon Himself the sins and the pains of the world. He truly descended below all things; no one has ever felt as low as Christ did that day.
Just a few short days later, an angel declared to Mary Magdalene that "He is risen." I love the word choice here. "Risen" implies that Christ was (1) restored back to life, (2) that He physically got up and left the tomb, and most importantly (3) that He became elevated to a higher state. Christ overcame death and sin, He received a perfect, immortal body, and He ascended to take His rightful place at the right hand of His Father.
And because He is risen, we can rise up too. I found 278 mentions of the word "arise" in the scriptures; in many instances, this is a command from the Lord. At times, He calls for His children to simply get out of bed or to climb a mountain, but I believe that when He calls for us to arise, He is calling for us to elevate ourselves. He is calling for us to use His atonement to become something more--to become like Him. We will one day be resurrected and cleansed from sin. We will one day enter into the presence of our Heavenly Parents. And it is all possible because of Him.
Words cannot express my gratitude that "He descended from His throne divine to rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine" ("I Stand All Amazed." Hymns. 193.). I am grateful for His perfect example, His sacrifice, and His never-ending love. He is the light of the world and the light of my life. I know that He lived, that He lives, and that because He lives, I can live again. He is risen.
As part of our preparations for the holiday, we watched Bible videos that corresponded with each day of Holy Week. On Thursday evening, we watched Christ enter into the Garden of Gethsemane. In the sweetest understatement I've ever heard, my two-year-old nephew stated, "Jesus sad." In those fateful moments, Jesus was more than just sad; He experienced pure agony as He took upon Himself the sins and the pains of the world. He truly descended below all things; no one has ever felt as low as Christ did that day.
Just a few short days later, an angel declared to Mary Magdalene that "He is risen." I love the word choice here. "Risen" implies that Christ was (1) restored back to life, (2) that He physically got up and left the tomb, and most importantly (3) that He became elevated to a higher state. Christ overcame death and sin, He received a perfect, immortal body, and He ascended to take His rightful place at the right hand of His Father.
And because He is risen, we can rise up too. I found 278 mentions of the word "arise" in the scriptures; in many instances, this is a command from the Lord. At times, He calls for His children to simply get out of bed or to climb a mountain, but I believe that when He calls for us to arise, He is calling for us to elevate ourselves. He is calling for us to use His atonement to become something more--to become like Him. We will one day be resurrected and cleansed from sin. We will one day enter into the presence of our Heavenly Parents. And it is all possible because of Him.
Words cannot express my gratitude that "He descended from His throne divine to rescue a soul so rebellious and proud as mine" ("I Stand All Amazed." Hymns. 193.). I am grateful for His perfect example, His sacrifice, and His never-ending love. He is the light of the world and the light of my life. I know that He lived, that He lives, and that because He lives, I can live again. He is risen.
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