"Come, see the place where the Lord lay" (Matt. 28:6).

The glorious message of our Saviour's birth was announced by the angels, when the darkness of night overshadowed the world. Sorrowing hearts found a healing balm when the promised Redeemer came.

The world was again left in darkness when they crucified our Lord, and put out the light. Even those who loved Him were left in the gloom, with hearts full of sadness, because they were "slow of heart to believe all that the prophets [had] spoken" (Luke 24:25).

The women who loved Him stood at the sepulcher weeping, and again a heavenly messenger was sent to say to sorrowing hearts: "Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as he said, Come see the place where the Lord lay."

Our only hope lies in the fact that we can look into the empty tomb and rejoice in a risen Christ.

"Come, ye saints, look here and wonder;
   See the place where Jesus lay;
He has burst His bands asunder:
   He has borne our sins away:
Joyful tidings! Yes, the Lord has risen today.

"Jesus triumphs! Sing ye praises:
   By His death He overcame:
Thus the Lord His glory raises,
   Thus He fills His foes with shame:
Sing ye praises to the Victor's name."

Death laid its cold hand upon the dear Son of God. He "died for our sins according to the scriptures" (1 Cor. 15:3).

He "bare our sins in His own body on the tree" (1 Peter 2:24).

But hallelujah, Jesus triumphed over death and the grave, and as He arose, we also shall rise, and live to die no more! He is "risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at His coming" (1 Cor. 15:20-23).

The final victory will take place when we can look into all the empty tombs where the saints have slept and cry: "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where iis thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 15:55-57).

—Selected