Day 16: April 6, 2020
When I was a child I always loved the Easter holiday. Not only did we get a short week of school, but I got to decorate Easter baskets and hunt for colored plastic eggs filled with chocolate and all sorts of candy. I knew that Easter had something to do with Jesus’ death but at that time, I did not fully understand what it all really meant. After I gave my life to Jesus, Easter took on a different meaning. I realized that it’s importance was not on the baskets, candy, or long weekends at home. The importance of Easter was and is found in the greatest and most important event in humanity’s history. Jesus was not in the tomb. He had resurrected from the dead!
Mark 16
The Resurrection
1 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
[Some of the earliest manuscripts do not include 16:9–20.]
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
9 [[Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
Jesus Appears to Two Disciples
12 After these things he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. 13 And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
The Great Commission
14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up serpents with their hands; and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.”
19 So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by accompanying signs.]]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Jesus is not dead, he is alive! This fact brought forth change. For the church, it changed the day of worship from the Sabbath to Sunday. For the disciples, it brought a radical change giving them new power and courage to be faithful until their death. For sin it brought defeat, and for the sinner it brought victory, hope, and purpose.
55 “O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. (1 Corinthians 15:55-58)
As we look towards this Easter weekend, let us not take for granted the significance of our Lord’s death, burial, and resurrection. Let us celebrate His victory over sin with our families and may we never forget that every Sunday is a resurrection Sunday. Take a moment in prayer today thanking God for his everlasting love and grace.
Discussion Questions
Why is the resurrection of Jesus important to our salvation?
How has Jesus’ resurrection changed you?
“There you will see him, just as he told you.”
This gives me so much reassurance this morning. That Jesus rose and met his disciples just as he said! He is trustworthy and his word is sure.
Praise the Lord! He is my comforter…just to mention one.
Jesus’s resurrection is an undeniable truth based on more than ample evidence. It is the cornerstone of our faith.
Jesus’s resurrection is an undeniable truth that our faith is based on!
It’s only the resurrection of Jesus, that gives us hope that we will be resurrected and have eternal life. Jesus’ resurrection has changed me because if God has the POWER to return from the dead, how much more can he bring me back into a new life, a new relationship with him, and others. My life, my work, has significance, because God is working in and through my life, with the power of the Holy Spirit, and my life is not just this life now, but my future/eternal life that has already begun! Today I will “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord our [my/Eduardo’s] labor is not in vain.” (1Cor. 15:58)
Amen and amen Eduardo ! It’s all about Jesus and His salvation that makes Easter the wonderful and blessed event that it is! All Glory belongs to Him!
Jesus’ resurrection is an important part of the foundation of Christianity. It proved to everyone that He is the son of God and that He rose just as He said He would. If that didn’t happen then His timeline, if you will, would’ve just ended with death. However, Jesus is alive and will return.
HE IS NOT HERE
HE HAS RISEN
and now He is in every believer!
GO TELL EVERYONE He is Alive!
Praise the Lord
for Easter Sunday