Jesus Christ is risen

The most powerful words ever spoken are "I will rise." The resurrection of Jesus Christ proves that He is who He says He is " the Messiah, the Savior.

Jesus staked His reputation on the resurrection because if it didn't happen, everything that Jesus said and did falls apart. If it didn't happen, Christianity is bogus and billions of people have been deceived. In fact Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:17, "If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless."

But if it did happen, then it proves everything Jesus did and said. In Matthew 28, two ladies go to the sealed tomb where Jesus was laid and discovered an angel sitting outside an open tomb.

Scripture tells us that the stone was rolled back by the angel and we know it wasn't to let Jesus out. We know this because later Jesus appeared to many witnesses again and again even when they were in locked rooms.

No locked door holds Jesus back except one, the locked door of an unbelieving heart. No, the tomb wasn't opened to let Jesus out but so we could see inside! The tomb is open so we could see that Jesus is alive. It's the cornerstone of Christianity. It proves that Jesus rose from the dead and Christianity is true.

The most important tomb in history is a simple little cut out cave near Jerusalem " not because of the remains of the person who was buried there and not because it's an important piece of architecture. This tomb is important because it's empty.

In John 20, when Peter and John ran into the empty tomb, they were surprised and startled in what they didn't find. When the angel spoke to the two ladies on that first Easter morning, the angel told them three things. First, "Don't be afraid." Open your heart to the Lord.

Second, "Come and see." Come and see that He's alive and give Jesus a chance and see what He will do for you.

And third, "Go and tell." Easter isn't about going to church and feeling good because you felt close to God that day. Easter is all about not being afraid to check out Jesus.

Easter is all about coming and seeing that He's alive. Easter is all about going and telling others the good news, that Jesus rose from the dead, that Jesus is the Christ and that through Jesus you have fellowship with the Father and eternal life.

Ron Mogab of is a member of the Carson Valley Ministers' Association. Easter service is 9:30 a.m. at Cornerstone Christian Fellowship.