Day 8 | Jesus’ Resurrection
Lisa Scheffler, author
The grave could not hold Jesus Christ! Death had no claim on him. The very disciples who ran and hid were about to see their Lord, and his resurrection was going to give them courage. Jesus was going to empower these followers to spread his message far and wide. The gospel was going to change the world.
Read
Matthew 28:1-20
28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, 13 telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ 14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Reflect
On a glorious Sunday morning nearly 2000 years ago, our beloved Savior stepped out of his tomb. Having defeated the power of sin, death and Satan, Jesus is now gloriously alive and will never taste death again. His resurrection will ultimately be ours. The resurrection gives us assurance that our destiny is an eternity with Christ.
All the pain, humiliation and violence that Jesus suffered led to resurrected life. And now, we can have new life. Everything changed on that Sunday morning. God raised his son from the dead and gave him all the authority in heaven and on Earth. Jesus is the eternal victor, and as his followers, we are victorious too.
The cross reminds us that death does not get the final word. Over the course of our lives, people we love will die. The pain of those losses are sharp and deep. In times of grief, we can remember the empty tomb. Those who die in Christ will experience eternal life.
The cross reminds us that sin is not our master. While we will still struggle to obey, we have hope. The Spirit is with us. If God can make something beautiful out of the horror of the cross, how much more can he transform us, making something beautiful out of our lives, no matter what our circumstances or failures.
Before he ascended into heaven, Jesus gave his followers a vital mission. We get to tell others what he has done and invite them into the family of God. When they are troubled and lost, we pass on the hope given to us — there is a God in heaven who saves! There is vibrant, new life awaiting us at the end of the age.
If you are in the midst of a difficult trial, go to the foot of the cross. Whether you feel beaten up by a sinful habit, oppressed by circumstances, or just plain, old tired, the resurrection of Jesus can give you hope. You are loved, secure and have a new identity in Christ. Rest in what he has done and embrace all that you are because of Jesus.
- Get specific. What does Easter mean to you this year? How is remembering the forgiveness granted to you because of the cross and the new life that is yours because of the resurrection speaking to you today?
- How do you need to act on what the Spirit has shown you this week?
Pray
The news of what Jesus accomplished for us through his death and resurrection is too good to keep to ourselves. Jesus has commissioned us to go and share what we know. Start with your own story. What has Jesus done for you? Pray that God will give you the opportunity to share with others that the new life you’ve experienced through Jesus can be theirs as well. Pray for the words to tell them that a life following Jesus can be one full of joy, in spite of the ups and downs we face in a fallen world. No matter what, in Christ we have victory.
At Easter many people are more open to hearing about why we celebrate. They wonder if there is more to this holiday than bunnies and eggs. Pray that God would reveal someone who needs to know about Jesus. Invite them to celebrate with you at church this Sunday! You both may be glad you did.
Happy Easter! He is risen indeed!
