Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. 

But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. 

And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying,“Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” – Matthew 28:1-10 NKJV.

Since September 2001, things have changed as to how many of us live our lives. We are more careful, more cautious aware of our surroundings when we leave our homes. Even in flyover country in United States where I live we know terrorist attacks from one group or another are possible. Many either carry a weapon or have one nearby. If you plan to fly, arrival at the airport a few hours early is now prudent. Also, we now know from Brussels that even walking into an airport exposes you to the risk of a terrorist attack. 

Things have not changed for the better in the years since the towers came down. Terrorists have become bolder in their senseless horrific acts against the innocent. One of those innocents is a 19-year-old American citizen who had close brushes with death at the Boston Bombing, the Paris Massacre, and now at the Brussels attack where he received some non-life threatening injuries. If this young man could post his future itinerary we might all know where not to be…. Why some are spared and some die in these attacks is something that only God knows for sure. But make no mistake; God is not responsible for these evil acts perpetrated upon the innocent. This evil flows from Satan, the god of this age (2 Corinthians 4:4), into the lives of the demonically blinded and deceived. 

The world this Easter is different from the Easter we celebrated prior to 2001. The world may have changed in 2001, but the meaning of Easter is still the same. The events of that Resurrection Day almost 2000 years ago speak to us this truth: Jesus Christ is the Lord of Lords, and the King of kings (1 Timothy 6:15)! He is the same “yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8)!” That first Resurrection Day gives us hope that evil has been defeated even though the battle still rages. There will come a day when every knee shall bow at the Name of Jesus(Philippians 2:10). There will come a day when evil will be no more upon this earth and we will live in peace (Revelation 21). The Truth of Easter is that the pain and suffering of this present world is a temporary condition for all those who place their faith in Jesus Christ.