Mark 16:1-7…
When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back— it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”
September 10, 2001… 9/11. November 21… November 22, 1963. December 5… December 6, 1941. August 5… August 6, 1945.
In each instance, one day separated normalcy with a historic event. Whether it is terrorists flying planes into buildings… a president being assassinated… the bombing of Pearl Harbor… or dropping an atomic bomb, we tend to define life as before and after significant days.
But of all events in history, April 4, 33 AD and April 5, 33 AD stand alone. April 4th was a Saturday… April 5th was a Sunday. On Saturday (4/4/33) Jesus was in the tomb… on Sunday (4/5/33) the tomb was empty. The miracle of all miracles happened at some point in time on April 5, 33 AD. On that day Jesus rose from the dead! Oh the difference one day makes!
Right about now someone reading this is saying to themselves it is impossible to know THE ACTUAL DAY Jesus died(April 3, 33 AD) … and therefore THE ACTUAL DAY Jesus rose from the dead (April 5, 33 AD) cannot be known. Before you dismiss this possibility out of hand, CLICK HERE.
One day the Apostles had fled Jerusalem… on another day they fearlessly proclaimed the Gospel. One day Mary wept for her son who was dead… the next day she rejoiced because He had risen from the dead. One day it seemed as though Satan had won by killing Jesus… but the next day Satan was defeated because Jesus rose from the dead! Oh the difference one day makes.
There is one more “before and after day” to be mentioned. The day BEFORE salvation and the day OF salvation… YOUR salvation. In Scripture it is written that “today is the day of salvation.” One day you are lost in your sin… then the next day Jesus has come into your life and saved you. One day you did not know the joy of the Lord and the next you do. One day you’re a sinner… the next you are redeemed by the blood of The Lamb. Oh the difference one day makes!
Is your life defined by the day of your salvation?