He is not here, he is risen! Words which we will hear again  this month as we end our journey through Lent and come to celebrate Easter. Amazing words that the disciples could hardly take in. They had come to see the tomb where Jesus had been laid and could not find him, so they searched around. Probably a mixture of puzzlement and pain filled their minds at that moment. They had come to pay their respects to a friend and now what had happened?

But of course it was true. Jesus was not there. He was risen. It took some time for the reality to dawn on the friends of Jesus, but when it did, they were changed people. They met with the risen Jesus and discovered the truth that he was still with them and always would be with them. From there they went round proclaiming those words and what they meant, to let the world know that Jesus was alive.

As we come to Easter, we are reminded that Jesus really is alive. He comes to us and changes us too. And our lives are turned upside down by that discovery so that we live for him. Because of those amazing words, spoken so long ago and yet to each one of us, we can know our living Lord helping us, leading us and walking with us every day. He is risen!

I wish you a very happy Easter.