“Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb. … The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message.” (Matt. 28:1,8 NLT)
Jesus Christ, who on the first day of the first week, said, "Let there be light," and there was light; now takes up His life, on the first day of the week, having conquered sin and death and hell, and He takes up His life again "as the new day was dawning". It is fitting that the Light of the World rises from the darkness of the tomb, the darkness of death, the darkness of being forsaken by His Father on the cross, as a new day is dawning. It was after the darkest night that Jesus went through, that the brightest day begins to dawn. He, who is the Light of the world, has dispelled the darkness of sin, and has restored the light of fellowship with God.
It is here, at the empty tomb, that the Sabbath rest of creation ends, and the Lord’s Day, the Day of the Lord’s resurrection, begins. Indeed, "Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. " This is a day of joy that far surpasses any joy known before. Notice the women run quickly from the tomb and rush to bring His disciples word. There is an urgency in this message, for all who do not know it are yet in the darkness of death, but all who have come to embrace the risen Saviour, the Bright and Morning Star, by faith, have been raised with him to life eternal.
If God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shone in your heart, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ, then certainly, you have reason to be filled with great joy, not only today, but every day of your life, and throughout eternity! May God enable each of us us to rejoice this day in our living Saviour, and to give our lives to rushing to spread the word to those yet in darkness!