He is dead. How discouraged and saddened His followers must have been over the events of the past week. They were afraid and in hiding (Matt 26:56). Two of them openly admitted to their feelings of lost hope because of His crucifixion (Luke 23:13-21). Those who crucified Him were taking no chances. They sealed His tomb and posted a Roman guard. After all, they believed He was a fraud. They also believed that His followers would come and take His body and then make wild claims (Matt 27:62-66).
Then on Sunday the news that He was alive began to circulate. Jesus has risen! The eyewitness testimony was quickly coming forward. Even the Roman soldiers who guarded the tomb testified that it was true (Matt 28:11-15). Could this really be true? Did Jesus actually rise from the dead? Peter and John heard that maybe Jesus’ body was stolen. They did not trust those who had crucified Jesus. They ran to the tomb to see for themselves. John was so full of adrenalin that he left Peter in his dust, getting to the tomb first. After inspecting the evidence, they believed that Jesus’ body was not stolen. He had indeed risen from the dead (John 20:1-9).
Jesus would present Himself to over 500 witnesses (1 Cor. 15:6). He talked with them (Luke 24:13-27). He let them touch Him (John 20:26-29). He even cooked them a meal and ate with them (John 21:9-14). Over time His disciples remembered that Jesus said He would die and rise again on the third day (Luke 9:22). Why is the truth of Jesus’ resurrection so exciting and important?
Real hope is found only in a living Savior (1 Cor. 15:16-22). His resurrection proves that Jesus is God (Rom 1:4). It proves that sins are truly forgiven through faith in Christ (1 Cor.15:1-4). It proves that He did usher in peace between God and man (1 Cor. 5:18-19). It proves that His death did secure a new relationship with God for all who believe in Him (1 Peter 3:18). Christ’s resurrection is why sinners have hope. A dead man accomplishes nothing for humanity. But Jesus Christ is alive! There is hope for all who place their faith in Jesus Christ, the living Savior.
This Easter Sunday, remember that Jesus did not just die on a cross. He also rose from the dead. He offers genuine hope for those who believe in Him. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, take the time to reflect on all that He has accomplished by His death and resurrection. Then ask yourself a couple of questions: How can He use me to make this “Good News” known? Am I willing to be used by Him to reach my neighbor, a co-worker and even someone living in the remotest parts of this world (Matt 28:18-20)? If you are not a believer in Jesus, then take the time to consider Him who died and rose for you. Acknowledge that you are a hopeless sinner and then trust in Jesus who died and rose again. Trust only in Him as your living hope.
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