Follow The Light
THE FIRST EASTER
All nature hung her head in shame at what the world had done
for lying in a borrowed tomb was Jesus Christ, God's Son.
Though a centurion stood guarding the stone that sealed the tomb,
an Angel rolled away the stone that blocked the darkened room.
Through the silence of the long night the world in slumber lay,
knowing not the Scriptures quote He'd rise on the third day.
Then early in the morning light came Mary Magdalene,
who saw the open sepulcher was empty and serene.
Thinking that they'd stolen Him, she ran away in fear,
and two of His disciples saw her as they drew near.
Within the now abandoned tomb, they saw to their dismay,
still drenched with burial spices, Christ's empty shroud still lay.
The cloth which just so recently had hid their Master's face
was neatly folded by itself, lying in a separate place.
The disciples went away again but Mary wept with pain
and stooping down she saw inside two angels where He'd lain.
They asked why she was weeping and she told them without delay,
that someone had stolen her Lord and hidden Him away.
Then turning silently to leave, she saw someone was outside.
Not recognizing Christ the Lord, she mourned because He'd died.
Suddenly, Christ spoke to her, calling out her name...
and Mary knew her Master's voice which set her heart aflame.
Her Lord had risen from the dead! Indeed, He is God's Son!
Victoriously He arose to prove death's battle had been won.
Just like the doubting Thomas, some still won't believe today
that Jesus died and rose again to take our sins away.
But since all of nature felt the shame, and shuddered in disgrace,
I won't be the one to disbelieve our God's amazing grace.
If you are reading this account of history's brightest day,
and do not know the Savior yet, I ask you now to kneel and pray.
Just tell the Lord Jesus that you believe the Scripture's true,
and that you know He bled and died on Calvary for you.
But Jesus Christ did not stay dead...He arose up from the grave
and if you ask forgiveness, your soul He'll surely save.
Then lift your face to heaven and offer praise to His name,
because when you accept His free gift, you will never be the same.
Jesus offers you salvation, a chance to live, not die...
but you must make the choice yourself...
Do you believe in Him...or the Roman's lie?
(Blessed are they that have not seen and yet believed!)
Right now, why don't you ask Jesus to come into your heart and save you? There's no better way to celebrate Easter, than with a new life of your own!
I ask right now, Lord Jesus, to take away my sin. I'm sorry for living the way I do, sorry for the people I hurt, but most of all sorry for not obeying You. I give to you today, my life, my heart, my all and ask you to cleanse me and forgive me. I believe that you are the true and only Son of God and that you suffered the shame and humiliation that I should have suffered, that you willingly went to the cross and died so I may have life in eternity. Thank you Lord Jesus, for saving me today. I am a changed person. All things are now new for me. Praise you, Jesus, for the new life which you have given me.
Scriptures from which the poem was written:
Matthew 28:2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
John 20:1-29 (selected portions)
John 20:1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.
John 20:2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
John 20:3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.
John 20:4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
John 20:5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
John 20:6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
John 20:7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
John 20:8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.
John 20:9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.
John 20:10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
John 20:11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
John 20:12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
John 20:13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
John 20:14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.
John 20:15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
John 20:16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.
John 20:17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.
John 20:18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had spoken these things unto her.
John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
John 20:20 And when he had so said, he showed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.
John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
John 20:22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
John 20:23 Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
John 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
John 20:25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
John 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
John 20:27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
John 20:28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
John 20:29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
Poem (c) by Dorothea K. Barwick/Handmaiden Creations
To contact author please email at:
I pray that you have made the decision today to seek our Lord, repent of your sin and receive His free gift of eternal life...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved! (Acts 16:31)
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