God created the earth on the third day.

God made a covenant with Israel at Sinai on the third day.

God delivered Jonah from the belly of the whale on the third day.

Hosea prophesied that "on the third day, God will raise us up; that we may live before him."

And on the third day, the angels said to the women at the tomb, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here but has risen."

For us on that third day, life and the meaning of life changed forever. The tremendous and overwhelming love that God has for each one of us was there for all to see in that empty tomb. And that love and that forgiveness wash over us this morning, as we remember and celebrate that first Easter morning.

Take a deep breath and feel that love filling you – reaching into every part of your being, lifting you above and beyond anything you could every imagine. And when you breathe out, breathe that love into the world that all may experience it.

That is what this day is all about. Receiving and accepting God’s love for us and giving that love to others, as God gave us Jesus in love.

How does it feel to know that you are loved that much? Can you accept it wholeheartedly? Do you reject it as impossible? Or do you really want to believe it but hesitate, needing some kind of proof - because you were not there to see the empty tomb.

Whatever place you’re in, you are in good company.

The Bible tells us that the women who came with their spices that morning to complete the burial ritual were perplexed to find the stone rolled away and no body inside the tomb. But then, two heavenly beings spoke to them telling them that Jesus was no longer dead - that he had been raised to life. And when their visitors reminded them that this was exactly what Jesus had said would happen, their sorrow because instant joy and they believed. These women who had agonized and wept as Jesus suffered and died on the cross were transformed by that message. And immediately left to share the news with others.

Belief without question. No doubts. No "are you sure?" No "how is that possible?" Just simple belief. Jesus said he would die and be raised again on the third day and it happened. Hallelujah!! Christ is risen indeed!

The disciples, on the other hand, dismiss their report as an idle tale.

Now that seems a bit curious because they had been the ones closest to Jesus. They had lived with him for three (there’s that number again) years. Surely, they would believe in the power and the possibility of the resurrection – but they don’t.

Maybe they are still stunned by all that has happened. Maybe they feel shame at their abandonment of Jesus in those last days. Maybe they just can’t face what might be another painful letdown – and so they dismiss the news outright.

Finally, we have Peter – Jesus’ closest friend and disciple – the one who failed him at the last and who felt deeply the pain of that failure. He wants to believe the story the women tell. Could it be true? Was there to be another chance for them? Was the nightmare of the past few days truly over?

Peter wanted so much to believe, but he had to see for himself. So he rushes to the tomb, finds it empty of everything save the burial linens and goes back home -amazed – to ponder, I’m sure, all he has seen and heard.

Some of us are like the women, some like the disciples, and others like Peter.

Samuel Ballantine, Professor of Old Testament Studies at Baptist Theological Seminary in Richmond, Virginia sums it up well, when he says, "Some believe without question; some question in search of belief."

Life is surely a journey – a journey of questioning, of belief, of doubt, of joy and of sorrow. And the journey begins with Easter morning. We come with our fragile faith and our questions, we come as we are, and the realization of God’s great love pours over us, renewing and equipping us for living the Christian life.

On that journey of life, we come to Jerusalem so that we might go out into God’s world – to love and serve our God and God’s people.

We stand at the cross where Jesus suffered in order to be able to see his hands and his feet in the suffering of others, and we seek to ease that suffering.

We go into that empty tomb but we do not stay there. We know now to look for Jesus among the living.

The journey of life. The journey of living for and with God.

Wherever you are on that journey -- believing, doubting, questioning, and wondering --- matters less than where God is. And God is with you – to celebrate and strengthen your faith – to answer your questions – to ease your doubt. Always and ever with you.

Hallelujah! Praise God for the gift of life. Praise God for the journey of life – the journey from the empty tomb to life everlasting.

Amen