The Collect
O GOD, who for our redemption didst give thine only-begotten Son to the death of the Cross, and by his glorious resurrection hast delivered us from the power of our enemy; Grant us so to die daily from sin, that we may evermore live with him in the joy of his resurrection; through the same thy Son Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Epistle (Colossians iii. 1)
IF ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
The Gospel (St. John xx. 1)
THE first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, and the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself. Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed. For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead. Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.
Easter Day - Message in a Minute
Everything -- All things.
The ultimate good news of Easter Day is that because Jesus Christ rose from the dead in his body we are going to rise from the dead in our bodies, and that in the fullness of time everything is going to be all right.
It is important to remember that his body was a body that could eat, a body that could be touched, a body that was recognizably related to the body that was crucified but it was also a new kind of body: a body that could appear and disappear at will; a body that could make its way through walls -- even the walls of a tomb.
The resurrection of the flesh is not something we just believe happened to Jesus. If we are baptized into Jesus' body, God almighty will raise us from death too. We will be resurrected in bodies at the last day to go to heaven to enjoy eternity with God at his heavenly banquet.
"All things work together for good to them that love God." All things. "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." All. "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God." Amen and amen.
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