“He is Not Here – for He is Risen”

But the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:5-6 NIV)

If there’s anything that captures my attention at a cemetery it’s the inscription on people’s headstones. Those few words that best sum up someone’s life. And let me tell you, it’s not an easy task. Not long ago, I had the honour of helping pick out the inscription for my grandmother’s gravestone. We wanted words that not only described her life, but will resonate with those who read them. So we chose: “More than a conqueror through Christ” based on the Bible verse from Romans 8:37.

In the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem, the inscription, “He is Not Here – for He is Risen,” is engraved on the door of the tomb where Jesus is believed to have been buried. It’s based on the words of the angels to the women who went looking for Jesus after His death. Those words serve as a reminder of not just what happened there, but of the reality that the living Christ is alive and well, and He lives in the heart of every person who believes in Him. And that is what we remember and celebrate not just at Easter but every day of our lives.