The Darkness Before the Dawn
*"The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulcher, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulcher."* John 20:1
If you look closely, you will see a profound sadness. Darkness and gloom hung over the land following the death of the Savior. Every step Jesus took toward Calvary carried a significant message: the removal of the veils of sin, sickness, curses, fear, and confusion that had clouded the human heart since the fall.
Jesus had forewarned His disciples of this. In Matthew 16:21, He told them He would be killed and rise again on the third day. Yet, when the moment arrived, no one perceived it. Why? Because a veil still covered their hearts.
As 2 Corinthians 4:3-4 explains: "And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers..."*
When Fear Silences Faith
This is why Mary wasn’t rejoicing. When she saw the stone rolled away, she didn't shout, "He is risen!" as He promised. Instead, she ran to the disciples in a panic, crying, "They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher" (John 20:2).
Fear has a way of doing that—it makes us forget every promise God has ever spoken. The disciples were so buried in their anxiety that they couldn't remember the Master's words. But thanks be to God! Through His death, Jesus tore the veil that separated us from the Holy of Holies, giving us access to the Throne of Grace (Hebrews 4:16). As Matthew 27:5 records, the veil of the temple was torn from top to bottom, signifying that the ultimate price was paid. There is no greater love than this (John 15:13).
The Master is Coming Back:
Some of us have locked Jesus in a box. We carry fears and sins we thought were buried, yet they still haunt us. Like the disciples, we keep "peeping into the tomb," terrified of what we've lost rather than checking if He has risen.
When Peter entered the tomb, he saw the linen cloths and the napkin that had been on Jesus’ head, folded up separately (John 20:5-7). In Jewish custom, a folded napkin was a sign that the master was not finished; he was coming back to the table. This was Jesus’ way of saying, "I am not done."*
Sin and death were buried, but Jesus got up! He is the Sun of Righteousness rising with healing in His wings (Malachi 4:2).
The Unstoppable Agenda
In Matthew 28, we see that the enemy thought he could halt the resurrection. The religious leaders were blinded by pride, choosing a murderer like Barabbas over the Messiah. They sealed the tomb and stationed guards, yet they could not stop the divine agenda. When the Sun of Righteousness rose, the earth quaked and the guards became as dead men.
I announce to you today: every God-given agenda in your life that has been "buried" receives the power of resurrection now! It breaks out of the grave in Jesus’ name.
The Way to Calvary
However, there is a condition: you must visit Calvary. Calvary is the place where sin dies and the flesh is crucified. It is where death and judgment lose their power. You cannot have a renewed hope if you have not visited the cross, for the weight of sin can only be dropped at the feet of Jesus.
Stop holding onto the "linens"—the traditions and the symbols. Look to the living Jesus! He is not a symbol; He is alive and well, seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for you (Hebrews 7:25). He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).
A Call to Redemption
What is clouding your soul today? Jesus is calling: *"Come unto me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest"(Matthew 11:28). He offers you a new nature. You don’t need a plane ticket to reach Calvary; you only need to pray:
"Lord Jesus, I lay down my sins at the foot of Your cross. Remove the veil from my heart. Wash me in Your precious blood and write my name in the Book of Life. Let me reign with You eternally and be guided by Your Spirit in all truth. Amen."
If you prayed this, find a Bible-believing church where the Word is preached. This is our renewed hope: if we remain steadfast in Him, He will take us to the mansions He has prepared for us (John 14:1-2).
He is risen!
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