The Joy of the Resurrection

Can I ask you a challenging question? Why does it matter that Jesus rose from the dead? Why is it significant for the way that you live your life that Jesus is not dead, but is alive? 

The answer is incredibly far-reaching and profound. John gives us a beautiful insight into what the resurrection mean for life. Give it a read in John 20:11-18.He shows us Mary. She’s standing in front of the tomb. She can see that the stone is rolled away, and that the tomb is empty. She can even see that there are angels seated there. All the signs were pointing to the fact that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead just like he said he would. 

And yet she wept. She had seen her Savior die with her own eyes, and she wept because her God was dead. She wept because she could only see grief for her life. I want to be crystal clear about this. I am not condemning grief. What I am wanting to do is mourn grieving. I want to mourn the ways that grief has a way of lingering with us. Maybe you can empathize. I think many of us can. Can you see why it matters that Jesus rose?

Keep reading. Jesus turned Mary’s grief all the way around. And he did it with just one word. He said: “Mary.” He spoke her name. And she saw him. She saw that he had risen. She saw that grief was not going to be the last word on her life. She saw that life had prevailed over death. She felt the joy bubble up in her heart. 

Let’s take part in that joy this Sunday. It’s a joy that is for you. It’s a joy that affects your every day. Won for you by Jesus on the cross. Confirmed for you when Jesus rose from the grave.