Holy Week: Resurrection Sunday

By Andrew Malek

Today is resurrection Sunday, a day Christians celebrate. We sing songs declaring that Jesus rose from the dead, conquered sin, death and the grave, giving us opportunity for new life and eternal salvation in Jesus.

However, for those that had walked with Jesus and talked with Jesus, that Sunday started like the previous two days had.  They woke up and a few seconds later, it all came flooding back. If you have ever had a loved one pass away, that feeling is likely all too real for you. The pain and hurt wash over you again as your mind and heart remember what happened.  The followers of Jesus were stopped short by grief as they remembered the events of the past week. Jesus was gone.

It can be easy to forget that on the day Christians anticipate and celebrate, the disciples dreaded waking up. They didn’t yet know what we know.  What was dead was about to come alive in His resurrection.

We don’t know much about what the disciples did that day, just that they were together.  Maybe they were reminiscing about the moments they had with Jesus, or talking about what they would do next.  Maybe they just wanted to be together one last time, not ready to say goodbye to the life they had together with Jesus.

Have you have been in this situation before?  What you believed in and hoped for looked dead and gone. You took steps of faith, but then in a moment it was all taken away.  Maybe you’ve spent days, weeks, months and or even years holding on to what once was, unsure of how to let go of a past season.

The disciples didn’t realize that Jesus had to die to secure a better tomorrow.  It appeared to be all over, but God had a much bigger plan than they imagined. What appeared to be defeat was about to be the biggest victory the universe has ever seen.

Luke’s account tells us that as they were talking together and eating together, suddenly their eyes were opened.  Jesus had been there with them the entire time! He was alive!

Jesus is already present in the dead places of our lives today. He is waiting for us to recognize Him there, waiting to breathe fresh life into us.  Sometimes what seemed great in our lives had to die for Jesus to bring something better to us. Jesus wants to take those places, moments, and failures that feel dead and resurrect them into a new season of life in Him.

I am the Resurrection, and I am Life Eternal. Anyone who clings to me in faith, even though he dies, will live forever.  And the one who lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this? (John 11:25-26)

Prayer: Let’s pray today asking Jesus to reveal Himself to us, that any dead places inside would be healed and resurrected today. Let us thank Him for his sacrifice so long ago, and the power of His resurrection that is at work in us today.