By Pastor Van Welton
Read
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark. She saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran to Simon Peter and to the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put Him!”
At that, Peter and the other disciple went out, heading for the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb first. Stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, yet he did not go in. Then, following him, Simon Peter came also. He entered the tomb and saw the linen cloths lying there. The wrapping that had been on His head was not lying with the linen cloths but was folded up in a separate place by itself. The other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, then entered the tomb, saw, and believed. For they still did not understand the Scripture that He must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went home again. – John 20:1-10 (HCSB)
Reflect
The resurrection of Christ in John 20 is the pinnacle of human history. All of antiquity pointed to it, and everything since has been based on it. In one extreme act of divine power, God turned the world upside down or righted the ship—depending on your perspective.
Make no mistake, after the resurrection of Christ, nothing was the same moving forward.
Surprisingly, despite the cataclysmic significance of His resurrection, those closest to Jesus were initially spiritually blind to the event. The disciples, who had journeyed with Christ and heard Him countless times foretell of His death and resurrection, could not reconcile in their minds the empty tomb. In short, they thought someone had stolen his body.
It was not until Jesus appeared to his followers that First Easter morning that they understood and believed. His presence fortified their faith and propelled them into a lost world with a renewed and energized commitment to spreading his Kingdom.
Apply
This Easter, I pray that our spiritual eyes be open to the presence of the risen Savior. May each of us experience the resurrection Power of Christ in our lives and be motivated to lead others to encounter Him as well.
He is risen. He is risen indeed!
Pray
Father, we stand in awe of the profound significance of the resurrection of Your Son, Jesus Christ. In that moment, You ushered in a new era of hope, redemption, and eternal life. Forgive us, Lord, for the times when our spiritual eyes have been blinded to the reality of Christ’s resurrection. Like the disciples, we have doubted, feared, and failed to grasp the magnitude of Your power at work.
Fill us with renewed faith, hope, and joy as we celebrate the victory of Jesus over sin and death. May His resurrection ignite a fire within us to share His love and truth with those around us, leading others to encounter Him in a profound and life-changing way.
In Jesus’s holy name, we pray. Amen.
