Risen Indeed

Good Friday revealed that none of his followers paid attention to Jesus. They saw and believed Christ was gone, and the tomb was full.

The women brought spices for the dead.

Spend all their time purchasing and preparing on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, preparing to anoint the corpse of the crucified Christ.

Surely, he wasn't coming back from the grave.

They didn't listen to him.

The eleven disciples ran home and hid in fear.

Jesus told them three separate times that he would die and be raised to life.

The Pharisees had more faith and pleaded with Pilate to secure the tomb so his disciples could not steal the body and claim Jesus had risen from the dead.

They didn't listen to him.

But everything changed on Easter morning, and what Jesus said would soon be remembered again.

It started with the sorrowful women going to a tomb, and their expectations instantly changed.

The grave is exposed, the stone is rolled away, and two angels appear before them.

They tremble and bow to the ground.

Then they began listening!

The men told them something old and new!

"He is not here, but has risen."

"Remember how he told you!"

They remembered his words.

The words of the angel made them the first evangelists.

They left in trembling and astonishment.

The scared disciples chose not to listen to the good news.

They ignored their testimony.

They continued in disbelief.

They continued not to listen to Jesus' words about his resurrection.

They remained inside and were afraid.

But Peter goes to investigate himself.

He investigates the tomb.

Stoops inside

Sees the linen cloth by itself

Marvels at what had happened.

Peter's first step to the tomb is when he is willing to listen to the good news.

Will we live our lives based on Good Friday or Easter Morning? It depends on whether we listen to Jesus and believe what he said will come to pass. Throughout the Scriptures, he told us that he would die and be raised from the dead. Imagine if the disciples had lived accordingly and listened the first time.

Easter morning would have been radically different.

The woman would bring breakfast to the tomb.

Spend all their time purchasing and preparing on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, preparing to feed the belly of the crucified Christ.

They would have believed that he was coming back.

The woman remembered everything Jesus said.

The eleven disciples would have been rejoicing in Jerusalem.

They would have been waiting with hope.

They would believe the women's testimony.

The disciples remembered everything Jesus said.

Now, imagine if we listened to Jesus for the first time.

The words of the angel wouldn't be a surprise.

Because you believed Jesus’ words already.

You knew the grave would be empty.

We would always be expecting him.

On the third day, you and I would celebrate his resurrection at the tomb.

We would have confidence that we will be with him forever!

Easter is about listening to the Risen Savior and believing his words are trustworthy.

Believe in him.

Express your faith.

Enjoy the victory.

Live your life in light of Easter Sunday, knowing that Jesus has risen.

Amen.