By: Pastor Ryan Centeno

 It was that fateful day when the battle seems to have been lost and death has left its final mark. With the loud voice, Jesus cried out” Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46). The cross became the symbol of defeat for our Lord Jesus Christ and through His last words, hope has been shattered for those who have chosen to follow him. 

It must have been one of the darkest days in our history when the One who supposed to be the Messiah has been defeated. I could only imagine the roller coaster of emotions that took over His followers. The fear, disappointment, hopelessness, sadness and possibly anger must have been overwhelming.  Darkness seems to have won. But we all know now that the story did not end at the cross. The victory has been won on the third day when Jesus rose from the dead. Our hope lies not in the cross, but the empty tomb. The God we serve is not dead; He has risen, and He is alive!!!

There are times in our lives when the “darkness” takes over our day. Those are the days when everything seems to be falling apart, and there is nothing we can do but watch the darkness of the cross sweep us away.  When all hope seems to be lost, and there is nothing else to hold on to, remember the EMPTY tomb. If the grave could not hold Him and the darkness cannot overtake Him, then the assurance of our victory is at hand. Our hope is not dependent upon what we can do but upon what Jesus has already done for us. Light will always overcome the darkness.

“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. . .”  Matthew 28:6