BORN TO RISE

Our broken world may be littered with gravestones, but we were born for a resurrection.

We may exhale ashes to ashes, dust to dust, but eternity fills our lungs.

Though our grave is sure and deep, we can be sure of the One it could not hold.

Because at the sound of Jesus' earth-shaking, rock-splitting shout, death’s power gave way, and Christ's love tore open ancient tombs that had long-prevented God’s people from returning Home where they belonged.

Yes, on the day of His greatest sacrifice, Jesus reached down from the cross to assemble bone, redeem flesh and restore all the devourer had taken from God’s children.

What, then, can stop our resurrected Savior from pulling us out of the graves that crush us? What power on earth could hinder Him from setting us free?

Because He rose victorious, we too will rise.

And everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

“And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His Spirit. 

At that moment, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. 

The earth shook, and the rocks split. 

The tombs broke open, and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, 

and after Jesus’ resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many people. 

When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus 

saw the earthquake and all that had happened, 

they are terrified and exclaimed, 

“Surely He was the Son of God!”

Matthew 27:50-54 NIV