Focus: Dawn of Christ's Return

Text: Mt.28:1

"As it BEGAN TO DAWN, came Magdalene, to see the sepulchre."

Our Lord Jesus was already out of the grave before dawn. John reports that it was still dark when Mary Magdalene arrived at the grave site. Mark says the women came very early to the grave - "at the rising of the sun." Luke's account says it was early in the morning (Jh.20:1; Mk.16:2; Lk.24:1).

Mary's passion for Christ drove her early to the grave. Matthew reports that she came to see the grave, but surprisingly, following John's story, she saw that the heavy stone covering the mouth of the grave had been removed and Jesus' body was not there anymore. She quickly alerted Peter and John, who came and found a disturbing evidence of Jesus' burial cloth still intact and undisturbed, except that his body was not there.

Peter and John left, but Mary stayed back for whatever reason. And her patience paid off, for she had the opportunity of seeing two angels and the Lord Jesus Himself, which happened to be the first post-resurrection appearance of Jesus Christ.

It is dawning again. The man who lay in that sepulcher, who also rose again from the dead before the dawn of the morning, is getting ready to return for His people. He died in weakness and rose up from the dead in great power.

I don't know when and how it is going to be, but it is a matter of absolute certainty that Jesus Christ is coming back. A new dawn is upon us. We read of the two men dressed in white who said to the apostles, "This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven" (Act.1:11). Someone else will not come on His behalf. Jesus Christ, who rose up from the grave and ascended to heaven, is the one coming back for His own. A new dawn is here again. Peter declares, "We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a DARK PLACE, until the DAY DAWN, and the DAY STAR arise in your hearts" (2Pet.1:19). Hallelujah! The Morning Star is already a reality in our hearts. We are receiving signals of the Lord's return in our hearts. It can be any moment.

We have this testimony of Jacob that "as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him…" (Gen.32:31). The sun rises upon Jacob after his crucial encounter with God at Jabbok that saw his name changed to Israel.

Malachi prophesies, "But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall" (Mal.4:2). A new dawn is here for us. Our hope is sure. Our faith is therapeutic. Christ's coming for the second time is imminent, our wait shall be worthwhile, and our work shall be amply rewarded. Amen.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter