The waiting is over. The mobile phone alarm woke us up at 6:00 am to get ready for our very first Dawn Easter Service in Ballynahinch.

Early on Sunday morning, the noise of a rolling stone woke up the Roman soldiers that were guarding the tomb where Jesus was laid to rest after Friday’s crucifixion.

That rolling sound was the sound of a small earthquake. It was a deep sound, the foundations of the earth trembled. Something was not right, the law of nature has been broken. What was natural has become supernatural.

Death was no longer the conqueror. Now death was defeated, it could not cope with Jesus and it was not capable of keeping Him. That sound was the sound of freedom, was the sound of grace, it was the sound of God’s love breaking through, the sound of forgiveness and eternal life.

That sound was the sound of the immeasurable greatness of God’s power…

“… That power is like the working of his mighty strength,which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” (Ephesians 1:19–21 NIV) 

This morning as we attended our first Dawn Easter Service in Ballynahinch we were reminded of that power – Resurrection Sound – and our hearts became warmer as we realised that Jesus is alive, He has Risen.

Like the two disciples who were on the road to Emmaus and after meeting the risen Jesus asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”” (Luke 24:32 NIV)

My heart was burning this morning and for the rest of my days will burn with the Joy and power of the resurrection. I know this because His Spirit is in us and His Words dwells within our hearts.

The Waiting is over, the wailing is over it is time to make a Joyful Sound unto the Lord.

Christ is Risen, He is Risen in Deed!