A glorious morn was dawning
For all the world to see,
But there were many saddened,
Because of Calvary.
'Twas on that nearby hilltop,
The Lord and Savior died,
While hanging on the rugged cross
Where He was crucified.
His body had been taken,
And placed within a tomb,
A borrowed grave for shelter,
Which cast on all it's gloom.
The soldiers stood to guard it,
And watch it night and day,
But angels came and moved the stone
While yet the morn was gray.
'Twas Mary who came early,
To weep for Jesus' death,
She'd hurried to be near Him,
And she was out of breath.
She neared the garden where the tomb
Had held her loving friend,
And saw the stone was rolled away,
The guards not there to tend.
She looked forlornly in in the tomb,
And saw His body gone,
Which made her weep in sorrow,
It hardly yet was dawn.
As she stood there weeping,
A gentle voice declared:
"Woman, why weepest thou?"
Then love was truly shared.
"If thou hast borne Him hence, sir,
I bid thee take me there,
That I may be there near Him,
And render loving care."
"Mary!" Jesus softly spoke,
Then she beheld the Lord,
A resurrected being,
Who'd severed death's strong cord.
"Rabboni," Mary uttered,
With such a wondrous tone,
'Twas then she saw His countenance,
His glory truly shone.
She wanted to embrace Him,
For she had loved Him so,
And with her loving arms outstretched,
She strove to feel His glow.
"Touch me not," He uttered,
"for I have not yet gone
To report unto The Father,"
But yet He lingered on.
"Go tell my disciples,
Who grasp The Iron Rod,
That I have risen and ascend
To My God and your God.
It was Mary Magdalene
Who excitedly declared
She'd seen the resurrected Lord,
But they were not prepared.
They hardly could believe her,
The words were so astounding,
For nothing had occurred like this.
Their hearts began to pounding.
They ran to view the sepulcher
Where Jesus had been placed,
And saw the linen neatly folded,
Where, before, His body graced.
They wondered in amazement,
How such a thing could be,
For Jesus had been crucified,
And now they longed to see
The Resurrected Savior,
Their precious Lord and King,
To whom we lovingly give praise
In reverent songs we sing.
'Twas in the upper room they met
To share their faith and love,
And keep secret from the Jews,
Things they were talking of.
When suddenly, within the room,
The Risen Lord appeared,
Then they began to tremble,
He saw how much they feared.
"Peace be unto you, my friends,
Come forth that you might see
The nail prints in my hands and feet,
And know that it is me.
One by one they touched Him,
Then reverently they knelt
Before their Lord and Master,
Whose wounds they'd gently felt.
He bade them rise and fetch Him
Some honeycomb and meat,
And as they stood there watching,
He blessed it, then did eat.
This sealed their testimony,
For truly they beheld
The resurrected Savior,
And they were thus compelled
To go into the world,
And testify of Him,
To share their glorious experience
In the Upper Room so dim.
To tell the wondrous story
Of Jesus and His love,
And that He sits in royal robes
In mansions up above.
It was eight days later
When Jesus reappeared
To Thomas and the others,
That doubts might then be cleared.
No longer need they wonder,
Nor question Jesus' glory,
No longer need they tremble
To share the Easter Story.
What words of love thereafter,
They must have shared each day,
What very humble feelings,
When they knelt down to pray.
Their witness we ascribe to,
When we embrace His work,
And haste to do His bidding,
And never duty shirk.
Then let us each be doing
The things we're asked to do,
And make of earth, a heaven,
For Jesus, kind and true.
And let us tell His Story,
And make this Easter be
A day that we'll remember
Throughout eternity. |
