by Stephen Adkins

According to the Gospel of Mark, just after sunrise about 1,990-odd years ago, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome were carrying spices to the tomb of Jesus to anoint his body. Along the way they discussed who would roll the heavy stone away from the entrance to the tomb. The conversation was very real and raised practical questions, because the women felt they were unable to move the stone by themselves. They, like the rest of the witnesses including the disciples, expected Jesus would be in the tomb right where he had been placed. They failed to understand that Jesus had conquered death and would rise from the grave on the third day. Nor did they understand that when he declared, “It is finished,” he conveyed the message that God’s perfect will had been accomplished through the obedience of his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus had provided a path for salvation to all who would believe.

So, why was the tomb empty? Why could the grave not prove victorious over Jesus? Why did death not extend its sting to Jesus? Had those eventualities ensued, our heavenly father would have been a liar. God the father ordained that Jesus Christ would die on the cross and rise again after three days.

To all of us who are Christian believers, the virgin birth of Jesus, his death, and his resurrection are foundational to our faith. To followers of Christ these are miraculous facts, not suppositions.

Jesus memorialized two sacraments: Holy Communion and baptism. He commissioned believers to go into all the world preaching the good news, baptizing believers in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all the things Jesus had commanded, and promising he would be with them every step of the way. Unlike some of the tasks our mortal bosses have asked us to do while not giving us the commensurate authority, Jesus transferred full authority to us to preach, teach, baptize, and perform miracles in his name. He also told us to observe Holy Communion in his name until his second coming.

Easter is a time of both joy and sadness. Sadness that Jesus had to suffer and die for our sins. Joy that he conquered death and provided a way for all believers to live with him through eternity.

Fast forward about 1,743 years, and Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence which declared that all men are created equal and are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. These rights were enshrined in the U.S. Constitution and supported in its amendments. Thus, one could surmise that the principles espoused by Christ are reflected in those documents.

So in the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution, perhaps it is time for us as Christians to get out of the stands and get out into the field—boldly proclaiming good news of Jesus Christ the Living Lord.

Chief Stephen Adkins is BGAV’s president and a member of Samaria Baptist Church in Providence Forge, VA.

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