Conquering darkness
Empty tomb declares
Risen Savior lives
Grace pours out, God cares
Mourning no longer
Calvary’s cross bends
Righteous Savior lives
Love pays dividends
Looking to heavens
Evil crawls away
Faithful Savior lives
God’s Word, final say
Walking in His light
God’s design sustains
Steadfast Savior lives
Never changing lanes
Singing hymns of praise
God’s glory beyond
Blessed Savior lives
Mercy’s lasting bond
From Lamentations 3:22-23 : “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Spiritual sunrise
Grief stricken for three days
Tomb open and empty
God fulfills Word, ablaze
All of creation sings
Rejoice in faith’s Good News
Risen Christ conquers death
God rejects evil’s ruse
Morning’s promise brings truth
Resurrection affirms
Prophetic Scripture scenes
God shares love, grace confirms
From darkness, world bends knees
Redemption offers peace
Savior pays debts in full
God ensures life’s new lease
From Psalm 105:4-5: “Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually. Remember the wonderful works He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He has uttered.”
From Colossians 3:1-2: “So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Living on sin’s island
Forsaking faith in Christ
Breathing in darkest fears
Grace seeming too high priced
Searching far horizon
Scanning each tidal wave
Feeling Spirit’s nudges
Christ Jesus comes to save
Witnessing Calvary
Flooding tears crying out
Asking big question . . . why?
Salvation, still in doubt
Observing blood-stained cross
Watching Christ breath His last
Wrestling with sinful flesh
Evil’s hold, standing fast
Awaking days later
Running to empty tomb
Accepting Christ this day
Leaving sin’s island room
From 1 John 3:2-3: “ Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we will be has not yet been revealed. What we do know is this: when He is revealed, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is. And all who have this hope in Him purify themselves, just as He is pure.”
From John 16:20: “Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy.”
Frightened, behind closed doors
Sorrowful tears cry out
Yesterday, filled with light
Today, darkness brings doubt
Disciples and others
Bewildered and scattered
Christ’s death crushes spirit
Faith’s fragileness shattered
No place to run toward
Trapped and shut-off from God
Tomorrow’s hope now gone
What makes this picture flawed?
Peter, John, and Mary
Cold, empty tomb proclaims
Resurrection witnessed
Evil’s planning in flames
Sorrow turning to joy
Messiah comes to save
Bloodied cross bears man’s sins
Chains no longer enslave
From John 20:18: “Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that He had said these things to her.”
Confession
With repentance
Walking with righteousness
Stepping forward into light
Obedience
Invitation
Hungry feast
Nourishes spirit’s needs
With faith and grace
Forgiveness
Resurrection
Empty tomb
Grace overcomes darkness
Transforming our “broken glass”
Redemption
All of history looks back at that moment–to the tragedy and triumph of that cross. First the crucifixion, then the resurrection of the Son of God.
From Romans 5:8: “God proves His love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.”
I am not moved by what I see. I am moved only by what I believe.
From John 11:25-27: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’ She said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.'”
Our Lord’s Resurrection destiny is to bring “many sons unto glory.” The fulfilling of His destiny gives Him the right to make us sons and daughters of God.
From Luke 24:25-26: “Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into His glory?”
From John 14:10-11: “Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me?The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does His works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.”
Lord’s tree of life, saving us
Son of Man, bearing our flesh
Each morning, rising with us
Faith, hope, and love shall refresh
In His death, life be reborn
Like faithful rivers, love flows
Christ’s awesome mystery breathes
From darkened tomb, Jesus rose
Heavenly truth speaks, let’s hear
Love transforms through acts and words
Both mirror journey of Christ
His message, no longer blurred
Christ leading, we will follow
Always near, dwelling within
His hand steadies stumbling steps
Salvation forgiving sin
Much of this poem is inspired by the hymn “Tree of Life and Awesome Mystery,” which is part of a morning devotional I regularly read and study.
Without the certainty of His resurrection, we would come to the end of this life without hope, with nothing to anticipate except despair and doubt. But because He lives, we rejoice, knowing soon we will meet our Savior face to face, and the troubles and trials of this world will be behind us.
From John 16:31-33: “Jesus answered them, ‘Do you now believe? The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!'”
