Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday

March 31, 2024

There are three resurrection moments in Scripture.

1. The resurrection of Jesus.

John 20:1-7 NIV

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” 3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.

Jesus appeared to hundreds of people.

The evidence of his resurrection has been strenuously tested and accepted by mature people for centuries.

2. The final resurrection of all who have lived.

Revelation 20:11-12 NIV

Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. The earth and the heavens fled from his presence, and there was no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books.

Christ will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead and his kingdom will have no end.

3. The resurrection right now!

Colossians 3:1-3 NIV

Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.

John 20 and Revelation 20 are like two great mountain ranges.

Colossians 3 is the great valley between them.

It’s the place we live, speak and breathe.

What happens to Jesus happens to us. Following Jesus means we have been raised from the dead.

The old has gone, the new has come.

Resurrection is more than a past memory or a future hope.

Resurrection is how we live every day!