JESUS Conquered Death

HALLELUJAH!

HAPPY EASTER!

Happy Resurrection Day!

JESUS has Risen!

John 20

1 The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre.

2 Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.

3 Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre.

4 So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.

5 And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.

6 Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,

7 And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.

8 Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulchre, and he saw, and believed.

9 For as yet they knew not the scripture, that he must rise again from the dead.

10 Then the disciples went away again unto their own home.

11 But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,

12 And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.

13 And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.

14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

15 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.

17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God, and your God.

You came to me in the robes of Cyclamen

You came to me in the robes of Cyclamen 

But how can I bring you a bouquet of red chrysanthemums? 

When I have not found any white chrysanthemums in the bouquet of your heart? Do not pluck the petals of my pure daisies with your eyes closed, 

lest you would be fooled by your wild guesses. Because, you do not need to set your foot on twelve daisies 

before you can see the dawn of your spring

I will give you neither white nor red daisies after the last swallow of summer has flown away from your alcove, 

lest your dreams of them in autumn leave you heartbroken in winter. 

In my wanderlust quest for Ivy

I did not find you in the bloom of Orange Blossom or in Lemon Blossom 

But I found you entangled in the paphiopedilum orchids of Phaphos 

With a garland of Peach Blossom dangling from your ringed neck 

Like a rose entangled in your own thorns 

Then I disentangled you before I led you to the lyceum of my Muses 

They welcomed you with the petals of Apple Blossom cast at your bleeding feet. 

They wiped your tears away with the golden petals of yellow roses and bathed you in the pool of the Coral Rose. They covered you with the Peach Rose and led you into the bed of my Rose of Persia before I came to you with my bouquet of the white Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valley. 

- By Ekenyerengozi Michael Chima, the author of four books, Children of Heaven, Scarlet Tears of London, Bye, Bye, Mugabe, The Nigerian Fools Who Think They Can Fool God and the new book Barack Obama: In the Eyes of the Storm will be released in Fall, and he is also an illustrator of over 12 booklets on Family Planning, FGM and other subjects.