Christ’s Passion

Christ’s Passion

Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He has been raised from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.”

Matthew 28:5-6

The resurrection of Jesus is the capstone of all his teaching and ministry, proving to the disciples and to us that he really is the Son of God. The classic images of the Resurrection are a stone rolled away from the entrance to Jesus’ tomb, graveclothes left behind, an earthquake, and an angel speaking to the women at the tomb. In contrast to the Crucifixion, where everything appeared to be coming to a grinding halt with Jesus’ death, his resurrection was surrounded by a frenzy of activity that included Jesus’ friends running back and forth in breathless excitement.

Without the Resurrection, our Christian beliefs and hopes would be meaningless. Our lives can be transformed only by the same power that overcame evil and death and raised Christ from the dead! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, just as he and the Scriptures both promised, we can believe that he will accomplish everything else he has promised us in his Word.

Even Jesus’ disciples struggled at first with understanding his resurrection, and we today are no different. Some think the Resurrection is a fairy tale but are willing to examine it further. If we are serious about wanting to know the truth, we will eventually encounter Jesus personally; and as we enter into a personal relationship with him, we begin to experience his power to change our lives.

Father,

Thank you that because of Jesus’ resurrection we have hope both for this life and for eternity. Please help us to communicate this hope to our children in gracious actions and words. We are grateful that the power that raised Jesus from the grave is the same power that changes us and helps us as we trust in you. Amen.