"Do not be amazed ... He has risen, he is not here." So announced the angel to Mary Magdalene and Mary. Because of this, God isn’t dead, death is dead. Jesus Christ conquered it on a morning like today, almost 2,000 years ago. He himself said of this earthshaking event, "Because I live, you shall live also." His joyous and powerful message is the glorious assertion and truth of God’s promise to a troubled world and a sick people. It is God’s personal word of love to you. "Because I live, you shall live also." Once, for all, and forever, death is dead!

Yet, as we hear the gospel proclamation this morning, the haunting question still nags at us. Alive again? Can it really be true? The women at the empty tomb were amazed. When the news reached the disciples their reaction was the same. Jesus…