Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week...they came to the tomb. (Mark 16:2)

What are your early mornings like? Are you a "morning person," as they say? Are you right there to greet the first streaks of dawn? Do you like the thought of a brand-new day just beginning? Or are you the one who just wants to keep clicking the snooze button saying, "It can't be morning yet!"

There are some famous early risers. Former President George W. Bush was well-known for keeping very early hours. So was Margaret Thatcher when she was prime minister of Britain. On Easter Sunday we remember those women who went to the Lord's grave first thing in the morning to anoint His body. But when it comes to getting up early, there's really nobody who does it like Jesus Christ . . .

Thus my Jesus from the grave
and Death's dismal, dreadful cave
Rose triumphant Easter morning 
At the early purple dawning. (TLH 207:1)

Why so early, Jesus? You had all day to fulfill the prophecy! Why not sleep in a little? The Bible does not give us the answer in so many words, but we know well enough that everything the Lord did was for us and for our salvation. He came, as He said, "not to be served, but to serve." (Matthew 20:28) This includes the timing of everything He did, too. When He was born, when He began His preaching and teaching, when He was arrested and tried, when He died on the cross, and when He rose again—all these were at the right time to save us from our sins. The Lord rose up early in order to bless you. That is certain.

It was surely good for the women who came to the tomb that morning that the Lord had risen earlier than they had. What if He had not? They would have found the stone across the entrance, immovable. If they had been able to enter the burial chamber at all, they would have seen the body, emptied their spice jars, and cried, sorrowing all the more at the death of their Master. They would have gone back home with little hope in their hearts.

But Jesus had awakened early—early enough in the morning to give His people hope! Thanks be to God! The ladies left the tomb trembling and bewildered, it is true, but they did not exactly leave downcast. They ran. Ran to tell the news to the disciples. Already the word was beginning to work in their hearts—to comfort and to cheer them: He has risen!

By rising early on Easter morning, Christ has changed our early mornings forever. For as you come to the beginning of each new day, whether you are a "morning person" or not, you can recall those women starting out for the tomb while it was still dark and you know this: Jesus, my Savior, is already up!

He is risen. He goes with you—even ahead of you—into each day.

(Psalm 143:8 NIV) "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love." And it does, for He is risen.

(Isaiah 44:22 NIV) "I have swept away . . . your sins like the morning mist." And He has, for He is risen.

(Psalm 5:3 NIV) "In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice." And He does, for He is risen.

(Psalm 59:16 NIV) "In the morning I will sing of your love." And we do, for He is risen.

(Isaiah 33:2 NIV) "Be our strength every morning." And He is, for He is risen.

Welcome, happy morning!

David Schaller is a professor at Immanuel Lutheran College in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.