If Saturday was the darkest hour, then today, Sunday—Easter day—was the breaking dawn, the brilliant light. For Jesus Christ is the light. When He came forth, He was resurrected. Can you imagine the utter despair of the disciples transmuted in a moment to indescribable joy?

“He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

Matthew 28:6

In a way, everything in history that came before was the darkest of nights, and (roughly) Easter in 33 A.D. was the breaking dawn followed by day. The beauty in Easter, in the resurrection, is that death is not a permanent barrier. It’s not the end; it’s just a gateway into another life, a better life especially once we are resurrected.

Here are a couple of thoughts I have on the resurrection of Christ (and the following events) specifically and the resurrection generally:

• How relieved the Savior must have been! The pain and suffering of those last days replaced by relief from pain and a return to a body of flesh and bone which is perfected and glorified.
• Jesus didn’t waste any time spreading the light of the Gospel. Right away He sent out His apostles:

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Matthew 19-20

• Personally, I glory in a future resurrection, in a body and brain free of OCD, depression, and anxiety. It’s a burden that I’m eager to put away on that day.
• Adam. Adam will be unbroken, whole. Alive.

Christ is a light to the world; Easter day is a celebration of that light which overcame all darkness, a celebration of the one who overcame all. Jesus is the light who continues to overcome the darkness in the world and our lives. Look to that light, and live.

Choose Joy.

—A