Easter, coming next month, is an important victory affecting us every single day, if we’ll let it.
Luke records in his gospel how two women, Mary Magdalene and Mary, went to the tomb of the crucified Jesus in the early morning of the third day after his death but found an empty tomb:
“As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” Luke 24:4-7 NLT
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the penultimate center point of our Christian faith. Jesus won victory over death, the enemy, and evil.
Many men have predicted their death but only one predicted his resurrection—and succeeded. Jesus spoke of it often, and it happened.
Christ’s resurrection is irrefutable, proven by hundreds of witnesses. It was not an urban myth or a scientific assumption. It was, and is, an indisputable fact. Jesus came back to life.
The Early Church fathers did not just preach the cross for forgiveness of sin. They focused on the resurrection of Jesus. Why? Because the resurrection is where we find life, a future, and hope.
The signature of God for all mankind is the resurrection of Christ. A covenant to us who believe. An explosion of hope for all men.
Following the resurrection, the apostles and believers met house to house continually thanking God, continually in prayer. The anointing of the Holy Spirit infused them with power and they proclaimed the risen Christ to the nations.
Jesus had said, “I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it” (Matthew 16:18 NLT). Think of how his disciples felt at the first Easter… Now it was true! The resurrection made the Church undefeatable!
Because of the resurrection…
GRACE IS MORE POWERFUL THAN SIN
"Where sin abounds, grace abounds much more." Romans 5:20
Where there is chaos and evil and trauma, GRACE is larger. GRACE is the empowering presence of Jesus to enable us to live with strength and hope and power. Whatever the issue… GRACE is more powerful. Paul wrote:
“God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful kindness (GRACE) became more abundant.” Romans 5
We are forgiven because He forgave us.
We are alive, because He defeated death.
We live in freedom because He defeated shame and guilt.
We have full access to our Heavenly Father because He is the Conqueror.
SATAN THOUGHT HE HAD WON…
IT LOOKED LIKE JESUS WAS DEAD.
BUT JESUS ROSE AGAIN.
WE WALK FREE IN OUR LIVES
BECAUSE WE LIVE IN THE POWER OF THE EMPTY TOMB.
”The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.“ Romans 8:11 NLT
My brother—don’t ever let this powerful truth leave your front of mind. Jesus’ resurrection screams, “I love you.” Keep it in your thoughts and live with joy, power, and hope today.
HOPE IS ALIVE. HOPE HAS A NAME. HOPE’S NAME IS JESUS!
