Easter Sunday: The Impact Of Christ’s Resurrection On Us Today

John 20:1-11

David Wilkerson was a very simple country pastor in Eastern Pennsylvania when God called him to the inner city of New York City and preach the gospel.

Wilkerson’s experience had nothing in common with those young people he was trying to reach. He could not identify with them, as we are encouraged to do today.

The only thing Wilkerson had was a solid belief in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Savior. That belief drove him to reach people for Jesus Christ.

Wilkerson did not preach “his past,” but rather Jesus Christ. God is not impressed with our past, which should be put behind us under the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus put it this way, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32).

The apostle Paul said, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase” (1 Cor. 3:6).

This is our model.

The key here is in the word “believe.” Everybody believes in something or someone. It is not so much in what you believe as in whom you believe and why you believe.

Believing has to be well defined. James warned, “Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble” (James 2:19).

The devils believe and we all know their destination.

It is important who I believe in as the apostle Paul explained it, “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (2 Timothy 1:12).

I need to define my belief and make sure it is on a foundation and I need to make sure the foundation is solid. David said, “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalms 11:3).

So, how can I establish my belief on a solid foundation? How can I make sure that I am going in the right direction?

The answer is found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Although for many people, Easter Sunday is simply one holiday out of the year, for those who truly “believe” the resurrection of Jesus Christ is celebrated every day. As a Christian, I am what I am today because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The early church would greet each other…

“He is risen.”

“He is risen indeed.”

What I want to focus on today is simply this, what is the impact of the resurrection of Jesus Christ on your life today?

What in your life today celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ?

I believe in the passage before us, John 20:1-10, we see the answer to this. Let me break it down and show you a little bit of what I mean.

There are three areas where the resurrection of Jesus Christ impacts my life.

I. The First Area of Impact Is the Context of Life.

The three people in this passage illustrate for us the basic context of life, which is the platform upon which the resurrection of Jesus Christ impacts our life.

1. Mary Magdalene.

She was a very prominent woman among the followers of Jesus and spent over three years with him.

We find her story in Luke 8:2 – “And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils.”

The passages are vague as to her, but the interesting thing is she is one of the first persons to come to the tomb of Jesus.

We do not know what the “seven devils” really refers to. Throughout his ministry, Jesus cast out many demons.

I would like to use this as an illustration of a person who has been controlled by evil forces. Mary Magdalene represents that kind of a person who Jesus delivered from the power of evil.

Mary Magdalene is key in understanding that there is victory over the influence of the world in our life. This one who was completely delivered from that power was the first one to come to the empty tomb.

I’m stretching it here, but perhaps her showing up at the empty tomb was her trying to figure out how this one could deliver her from demons and yet falls victim to death.

With Jesus being dead, how in the world could she really live her life without him.

Her belief in Jesus Christ was solidified by his resurrection.

2. Peter.

Peter is an interesting character. He represents those who are really confident in themselves.

Remember when Jesus confronted Peter, “34Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, That this night, before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. 35Peter said unto him, Though I should die with thee, yet will I not deny thee. Likewise also said all the disciples” (Matthew 26:34-35).