Day 8 // Resurrection
“The angel told the women, ‘Don’t be afraid, because I know you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here. For he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; you will see him there.’ Listen, I have told you.’
So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples the news.” - Matthew 28:5-8
On Resurrection morning, if you wanted to find the disciples, Jesus’ closest friends, where would you have looked? You’re almost certainly not alone if you are imagining them at Jesus’ tomb, mourning their friend or anticipating His aforementioned return. Or perhaps you’re even picturing them at the temple in Jerusalem, inciting an uprising against the Jewish leadership for unjustly executing Jesus!
However, the disciples were nowhere to be found. They were in hiding. They were behind locked doors (John 20:19). Their friend and leader was just executed, and they thought they were next!
This begs the question, “How did we get from Jesus’ followers cowering the days away behind locked doors to where we are now, with Christianity being spread around the entire world?” Well, the answer is simple: the Resurrection. The Resurrection changed everything for them, and it still has the power to change everything today.
After spending time with the resurrected Jesus, all of the disciples had the same reaction as the two women who first discovered that He had conquered death. First, they were filled with both fear and great joy. Second, they started telling anyone and everyone that would listen to them, the good news!
Another question comes to mind, “Why is the Resurrection such good news that changes everything?” Here are just a few reasons:
Because of these reasons, and more, the Resurrection changed everything for the disciples, and it can change everything for you. It’s changed everything for me. It is the best news I have ever received. The Resurrection is what has convinced me to orient my entire life around the person of Jesus.
So today, on the day in which we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection, I pray you receive this news with fear and great joy, and allow the weight of what it means to change everything for you. Then, go, and tell anyone and everyone who might listen how it could change everything for them!
So, departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples the news.” - Matthew 28:5-8
On Resurrection morning, if you wanted to find the disciples, Jesus’ closest friends, where would you have looked? You’re almost certainly not alone if you are imagining them at Jesus’ tomb, mourning their friend or anticipating His aforementioned return. Or perhaps you’re even picturing them at the temple in Jerusalem, inciting an uprising against the Jewish leadership for unjustly executing Jesus!
However, the disciples were nowhere to be found. They were in hiding. They were behind locked doors (John 20:19). Their friend and leader was just executed, and they thought they were next!
This begs the question, “How did we get from Jesus’ followers cowering the days away behind locked doors to where we are now, with Christianity being spread around the entire world?” Well, the answer is simple: the Resurrection. The Resurrection changed everything for them, and it still has the power to change everything today.
After spending time with the resurrected Jesus, all of the disciples had the same reaction as the two women who first discovered that He had conquered death. First, they were filled with both fear and great joy. Second, they started telling anyone and everyone that would listen to them, the good news!
Another question comes to mind, “Why is the Resurrection such good news that changes everything?” Here are just a few reasons:
- It proves that Jesus is the Son of God and God the Son (John 10:17-18, 11:25-26)
- It affirms the truthfulness of the Bible (Ps. 16:10, Mark 8:31, Acts 17:2-3)
- It demonstrates that God accepted the payment of our debt (Rom. 4:25)
- It shows that God has power over death (Rom. 6:9)
- It assures our future (1 Peter 1:3-5)
Because of these reasons, and more, the Resurrection changed everything for the disciples, and it can change everything for you. It’s changed everything for me. It is the best news I have ever received. The Resurrection is what has convinced me to orient my entire life around the person of Jesus.
So today, on the day in which we celebrate Christ’s Resurrection, I pray you receive this news with fear and great joy, and allow the weight of what it means to change everything for you. Then, go, and tell anyone and everyone who might listen how it could change everything for them!
Author: Andrew Archer, Student Ministry Director
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