Well, good morning and welcome. We're so glad that you're here today, those of you online,

we welcome you as well to our Resurrection Sunday celebration. On Sunday mornings, we're

currently in the book of James, but today is the celebration of the resurrection, and instead

I would like to draw your attention to the gospel of Luke,

the 24th chapter. And if you're able, for those of you that are here, would you please stand

for the reading of God's word? If not, where you're seated is fine. You can follow along,

beginning of verse one, where Luke, by the Holy Spirit, writes,

Now, on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they and certain other women with them came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.

But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened as they were greatly perplexed

about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said

to them, why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen. Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, saying,

the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words. Then verse

9, they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the 11, speaking of the disciples,

and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary,

the mother of James, and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles.

And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them, but verse 12,

Peter arose and ran to the tomb, and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves.

And he departed, marveling to himself, at what had happened.

Father in heaven, we're today celebrating the most important day for us as believers.

The day that we celebrate the resurrection.

For had it not been for the resurrection, we would not be here, this would be futile and pitiful

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