The story began in darkness, before God spoke the word and then there was light.
Before the Fall’s fail and the flood’s might.
Before He was placed in a virgin’s womb, the story was written of His empty tomb.

The years preceding were simply leading to that inevitable end.
When the Lord would face darkness, death and pain, for the rupture He was sent to mend.
He begged and pleaded of His Heavenly Father to take this cup from Him.
But total surrender was the only answer to save us from our sin.

Then long was the journey of humiliation and pain to reach the rugged cross,
Where the King of Kings was beaten and mocked, spat at and treated as dross.
Still as He hung on that wretched tree, His posture was of grace and love,
Promising the thief hanging beside Him of Paradise up above.

Then dark was the sky, the rocks broke apart, the curtain in the temple was torn.
The disciples scattered, the guards shaken, the women at the cross forlorn.
God’s own heart was broken as He sent His Son to the fiery pit of Hell.
The story felt over, ended, finished, the credits’ music began to swell.

Then morning came on the third day, unassuming and covered in grief.
Mary Magdalene strode down to the tomb, to anoint, to mourn, to weep.
But wait… there lies the stone, rolled away from the mouth of the grave…
Mary looks in to an empty tomb, her shock giving way to pain.

Through tears she stumbles out of the dark and falls to the ground, distraught.
She lifts her head and sees a man, the gardener, she first thought.
“Why are you crying?” he asks her, and she begs him on her knees,
“Where have you taken my Lord? Tell me and I’ll go get him”, she pleas.

Then, “Mary” this man responds and the scales fall from her eyes.
It is Him, her Lord, her Jesus, gloriously risen back to life.
She runs to Him and clings to Him, “Teacher!” she cries.
He sends her out to tell others the gospel that transforms lives.

The gospel of grace to the human race from a kind and merciful God.
The promise of eternity lived with Him in His all consuming love.
While we are here in this broken world surrounded by evil and fear,
Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can know that God is near.

Now here we are two millennia later and this story is still being told.
Its message of hope, of renewal and redemption will never fade or grow old.
Until we stand with the angels in Heaven, no longer in pain or in need,
We will stand here on Earth and boldly proclaim “He is risen! He is risen indeed!”

Hallelujah!