Power Over Death and Rock

Power Over Death and Rock

And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it...

But the angel answered and said to the women... "He is not here. He is risen." - Matthew 28: 2 & 5-6

[For the full account (in NIV), please click here.]

Commentary: The earthquake is a sign of our Lord's great victory over death,... Note that the angel does not roll back the stone to let Jesus out, for in His glory, Christ could pass through solid rock. Rather, this allows the witnesses in to see that He has already risen. 

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Scripture credit: Old Testament Text

St. Athanasius Academy Septuagint [TM]

Copyright (C) 2008 by St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology

Commentary credit: The Orthodox Study Bible

Copyright (C) 2008 by St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology

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Additional Commentary: It's fascinating and awesome that Jesus, the Rock, would choose to pass through rock when he defeated death and left his grave. For he is all powerful! 

A Prayer from the Lamb of God - Psalm 101 (102)

A Prayer from the Lamb of God - Psalm 101 (102)

Hear my prayer, O Lord
And let my cry come to You.

Do not turn Your face from me;

In the day when I am afflicted, 

Incline Your ear to me;

In the day when I call upon You,

Hear me quickly...

[From Psalm 101, the Orthodox count; and Psalm 102, the Western count. Be sure to read the remaining chapter (NKJV). For the Orthodox Bible Online select the Book and Chapter.]

Commentary: Psalm 101 (102) "is about a poor man, when he was depressed and poured out his supplication before the Lord. This Man is Jesus, who became poor for our sakes and interceded with the Father for our salvation. The Lord to whom He prays is the Father and describe Jesus' extreme anguish for us. He also rose again for our salvation, for He is the Lord over death..."

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Scripture credit: Old Testament Text

St. Athanasius Academy Septuagint [TM]

Copyright (C) 2008 by St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology

Commentary credit: The Orthodox Study Bible

Copyright (C) 2008 by St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology

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"The Doe in the Morning" - a Psalm of David [a prophecy about Jesus on the cross]

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? 

- Psalm 22:1 (NIV)

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Prophecy Fulfilled

From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" (which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?") 

- Matthew 27:45-46 (NIV)

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HE IS RISEN!

A Morning Prayer - Psalm 89 (90) 1-4, 17

A Morning Prayer - Psalm 89 (90) 1-4, 17
A prayer of Moses, a man of God.

O Lord, You became a refuge to us in generation and generation;
Before the mountains were made,
And before the earth and the world were formed.
And from everlasting to everlasting, You are.
Do not let man be turned back to humiliation,
And You said, "Return your sons of men."
For a thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday, which passed,
And like a watch in the night...

And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us.

And prosper for us the works of our hands.

[From Psalm 89, the Orthodox count; and Psalm 90, the Western count. Be sure to read the remaining chapter (NKJV). For the Orthodox Bible Online select the Book and Chapter.]

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Commentary: [This] "is a morning prayer designed to keep one focused on the Lord rather than on this temporal life and its hopelessness. For He exists outside of time, and is therefore our only refuge. Every morning is an opportunity to return to Him in repentance [i.e.: turn around], and He is very patient, because a thousand years in His 'sight are like yesterday, which passed, and like a watch in the night.'... because He does not will that anyone should perish. Therefore, when we focus on the Lord every morning, we look for His return (2 Peter 3:13) and for His mercy, joy, enlightenment, and prosperity [*] throughout each day." {[*] Defined as a Heavenly prosperity.} 

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Scripture credit: Old Testament Text

St. Athanasius Academy Septuagint [TM]

Copyright (C) 2008 by St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology

Commentary credit: The Orthodox Study Bible

Copyright (C) 2008 by St. Athanasius Academy of Orthodox Theology