In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher. And behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake and became as dead men.

And the angel answered and said unto the women, ‘Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay, and go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead; and behold He goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see Him; lo I have told you.

And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring His disciples word. And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them saying, ‘All hail.’ And they came and held Him by the feet and worshipped Him.

– Matthew 28: 1-9

Today is an exceedingly special day for hundreds of millions of people throughout the world. It is Easter Sunday, a day in which many pause to be reminded of and to ponder the immense power of the Christian faith.

It is a day on which Christians both as a body of faith and as individuals are deeply grateful for and very personally awed by the meaning of the event Easter marks.

Two millennia ago, Jesus Christ rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven. In doing so he demonstrated power beyond the scope of what many believed possible. He fulfilled a promise to those of the faith reassuring them that everlasting life was available to all who would follow Him.

Christians understand both the requirement that they be faithful and the power of that faith. Christ’s resurrection was proof to His followers 2,000 years ago that He could and would keep His promises to them. Today, it remains a wonderful bulwark against those who question our faith.

Christians mark a variety of special seasons and days, most intended to keep in our minds events of long ago. None is more special than Easter, because no event in human history has carried with it significance even approaching what we celebrate today.

Happy Easter.