He has risen

But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said! Come, see the place where He lay. Then go quickly and tell His disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead’” (Matt 28:5-7, Berean)

We cheer for Loyola of Chicago in the final seconds of the game. We cheer for the fireman who pulls another survivor from carnage days after the disaster struck. We cheer when Happ hits the first pitch of the season out of the park, and we cheer when they finally release the soldiers from formation after 13 months in Afghanistan.

I imagine that’s somewhat how Mary felt when she saw the open tomb and the angel’s words really, I mean really, sunk in. “He is not here; He has risen!”

I mean, I cheer on my favorite team or racecar driver, and I cheer inside whenever my kid gets home safely from wherever he’s been. And I remember cheering that first time I realized who Jesus really is and what He means to me. But can you imagine the cheer Mary and the Disciples made when the reality of a risen Christ actually hit them?

Wow.

He is not here; He has risen!