This morning I am going to leave the book of Romans for the day, because this is the day we celebrate Easter, the day that Jesus rose from the dead, overcoming death for all of us.  This is the greatest gift that was ever giving to mankind, yet so many refuse to accept it.  We hear of people doing anything possible to hang on to this temporary existence, but Jesus willingly laid down His life that we might be victorious over death.  Still, people will not accept this free gift that we celebrate today, even while searching for a way to prolong this life we live.  Just as the Friday of the crucifixion paid the death penalty for the sins of all mankind, that Easter Sunday morning was the ultimate victory over death for all time.  Jesus did not just die on the cross and rise from the tomb for a select few, but for all people for all time.  Still, not all, or even most, accept this gift.  We must come to Christ in faith that He died for us in order for Easter Sunday to have meaning.  That first Easter, most people were still celebrating the death of Christ.  They felt they had put an end to His claim to be the Messiah.  This was especially true of the religious leaders who were supposed to represent God to the world. Today, most people in the world will ignore the true meaning of Easter, that Christ arose as the eternal Savior.  Most of God's Chosen People still do not acknowledge that Jesus, Who went to the cross for their sins, is the Messiah they still await.  Some of us, as followers of Christ, have sunrise services to celebrate the fact that the empty tomb was discovered early on that first Easter Sunday, though sunrise may be celebrated later than it actually occurs. When we do celebrate Easter, whether at sunrise or later, we need to have that urgency that the women and the disciples had that first Sunday and go and tell others.  We wear empty crosses to acknowledge that Christ died for our salvation, but the empty cross means nothing without the empty tomb.  Men took Jesus down from the cross and sealed Him in the tomb, but He took Himself out.  Matthew 28:5-7 says, And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.  And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.