Passion Week - The Resurrection

Passion Week

Day Eight - Resurrection Sunday
Scripture Passage – Matthew 28:1-10
Parallel Passages in other Gospels for further reading: Mark 116:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-10

The Resurrection

“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; 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 is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you." So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Thoughts from Rob Wetzel:

I can’t imagine what the Mary’s were thinking and feeling when they saw with their own eyes that Jesus was not laying dead in a tomb, but rather standing alive. Sure, Jesus said He would rise again, but do you think they really believed it? Or yet, do you think they even understood the reasons why? It says in Matthew that “They hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy”. They were probably in a state of shock and awe to see His body gone and to receive instructions from a bolt of lightning. Then while in a dead sprint to tell the others what had happened, Jesus pops out from behind a rock. Wow! Their anxiety was immediately turned to joy and worship when they saw the one they loved, now alive again.

The resurrection of Jesus is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. If Jesus had not risen from the dead, then His life and death would have been in vain. It is the resurrection that sets Him a part from all other people, prophets, and religious leaders. It is the resurrection that proved everything ever said about Him in the bible and by Him on earth to be true. It is the resurrection that gave Him victory over sin, death, and the grave. It is because of the resurrection of Jesus, that we can know He “is” God and know that we will experience the same resurrection.

When someone puts their faith in Jesus as the Son of God and the Savior from sin and eternal death, they are born again and receive the Holy Spirit of God. It was by the power of the Holy Spirit that Jesus was raised from death and brought back to life. Anyone who has the Spirit has life and has the hope of a future resurrection.

Some questions to think about:

What do I believe about the resurrection of Jesus? What difference does the resurrection of Jesus make in my faith? How does the resurrection of Jesus give me hope? Why is the resurrection of Jesus necessary for our eternal life?

Suggested direction for prayer:

Thank you Jesus for coming to this earth to rescue me from eternal death. I believe that you are who you said you were…the Son of God. And I believe that when you rose again from the dead, you made it possible for me to rise again as well. Thank you for being the sacrifice for my sin. Jesus, help me to trust in you more and more each day. Help me to walk as you walked and to live as you lived. Jesus, I ask for you to give me hope in the midst of death. I believe that because I am Your follower, I will one day rise again with you as well.