Happy Easter, friends! He is risen!
As we remember Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and miraculous resurrection from the grave, there are many parallels to when Jesus comes again.
But first, let’s take a look-back at the Easter story.
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.
5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’”
8 Then they remembered his words.
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.
11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.
12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
Luke 24:2-12 (NIV)
The women expected to find Jesus’ body, but instead, they were met with an empty tomb and two angelic guards who delivered a shocking message.
This shouldn’t have been an unfamiliar message to them. After all, Jesus predicted His death and resurrection many times during His earthly ministry. And in the Old Testament, the prophets foretold all of this as well.
But imagine being these women. They saw Jesus die on the cross and all hope was lost. It seemed like the world couldn’t get any darker. While they might’ve vaguely remembered Jesus’ words, it seemed too late for redemption.
They had to face the facts. Jesus was dead. They just had to press forward and honor His legacy with what they had.
But they forgot the truth. Jesus is more powerful than any darkness we face on earth. He promised to conquer death, rise again, and offer new life to all who believe, and so He did.
Right now, the world feels darker and more broken than ever. We’ve been waiting for more than three days for Jesus to return and restore the world. Sometimes, it may feel like He won’t ever return. It may even seem like darkness and evil has won.
But if we let our present circumstances destroy our hope, then we’ve also forgotten the truth.
The truth proclaimed throughout the entire Bible, reminding us that this world is not our home. And one day, Jesus will return and offer everlasting life for those who hold true to His word and remain faithful.
We are not too late for redemption. Jesus will come again. His love and power will never fail, so even while the world crumbles around us, we can still have hope.
Friend, don’t let your present circumstances destroy your hope. Let’s place our hope in Jesus, who never changes, and will one day bring us home to be with Him forever.
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Revelation 21:1-4 (NIV)
The Will to Wake Up 