Jesus came to earth. He shared His message, showed his wonder, and left people completely and utterly amazed at who He was.  Even on the night before His death, the soldiers arresting Jesus fell facedown to the ground at three simple words Jesus uttered, “I am He.”  Christ’s death on the cross was no accident or afterthought.  It had been part of God’s plan for salvation ever since the fall in the Garden of Eden.  Jesus had been beaten, nailed to a cross, impaled with a Roman sword, and pronounced dead by professional executioners. His body was sealed in a tomb from Friday afternoon until Sunday morning. But that was not enough to keep our Lord at bay.  Scripture tells us, “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” (1 Cor. 15:55).    

That is why Easter is the Sunday of all Sundays.  We celebrate and proclaim the fact that Jesus is alive and not buried in some tomb in Israel.  Jesus is who He says He is.  He is the Son of God and, yes, very much alive!  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).  He is risen INDEED!