Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. Luke 24:12

It is with Jesus joy that I greet the saints of the Most High God and all of the friends of O’Fallon Apostolic Assembly. We are blessed to celebrate the keeping power of the Lord Jesus Christ unto another Visions Conference. This year’s theme looks to transport us through time, to make us personal witnesses of the testimony of The Empty Tomb of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Let us draw our minds to that long ago Resurrection Sunday, and envision the amazement of those holy women of God and the Apostles that followed them to the tomb of Jesus, upon not finding the expected circumstances of the deceased still “buried” in this borrowed tomb. They expected the tomb to have the final say, the last word in this person's life, having been forever claimed by death and surrendered to the grave. They had the usual negative expectations.  They were totally unprepared for what they found: the empty tomb.  Little wonder, the One they sought, Jesus Christ, is the Master of the unexpected. Rather than finding His mutilated corpse, they find nothing but an empty tomb. It was empty not because someone had stolen His body but because He had, by His own power, risen from the dead. For He had declared, “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father” (John 10:17,18). He further said, “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?” (John 11:25-26).

Though this occurred more than two thousand years ago, we are no less amazed than those holy women and the men of God who found that new-hewn tomb empty. This Jesus who had been so cruelly treated at Calvary had indeed conquered death, hell and the grave. He is the resurrection and the life. That insatiable grave, which according to Proverbs 30:16 never says “It is enough,” has met its Master in Him. For not only has He risen but He has also promised to do the same to all who believe on Him. The same power by which He rose shall also quicken our mortal bodies, so that death will not have the last word over us.

Saints, let us celebrate that He who vacated that tomb so long ago lives to this very day. Soon and very soon, we too will vacate the tombs of this mortal existence, to live and abide with Him forever more.

Maranatha,
Bishop Gregory Wells, Sr.