This post may contain affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. You can view our disclosure page here
I remember a few years ago, Lisa found a recipe for cookies on the internet. She worked with the kids Saturday afternoon and they mixed the batter up, heated the oven up, then turned it off, and finally placed the cookies in the oven and left them over night.
The next morning when we got up, Lisa took the kids in the kitchen and pulled out the cookies. They were done. They cooked up, and they looked amazing. But there was something different about these cookies… When you bit into them, you found that there was something missing – the center of the cookies was gone – they were empty in the middle.
As we celebrate Resurrection Sunday, we celebrate the fact that the tomb of Christ is empty. The body wasn’t stolen, it wasn’t moved, it wasn’t misplaced, nor was the body of Jesus Christ hidden. It is simply gone. Gone because Jesus has risen.
The First Resurrection Sunday
On the first Resurrection Sunday, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the sepulcher and found that the stone had been taken away. She ran and found Simon Peter and John and shared the news. The body of Jesus Christ was gone. They rushed back to the tomb and looked for themselves… The only thing they found were the grave clothed that Jesus was buried in.
But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre, And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him. And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? (John 20:11–15a)
She didn’t yet realize that this was Jesus. But it was. Jesus was risen from the dead!
There are many religions in this world. Many people in whom the people of this world choose to follow. But these people are all dead or will all die. And when they died, or when they die. They remain dead.
Except for Jesus.
Like other men, Jesus died, and Jesus was buried. But, unlike other men, Jesus rose from the grave, and is alive today.
We Serve a Risen Savior
I am so thankful that we can serve a risen Savior. One that has conquered death and will one day return for His bride; the church – that is, those who have accepted Him as their personal Savior.
John 20:31 says, “But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”
This Resurrection Sunday, I pray that we would all stop, if even just for a moment, and think about what our Savior did for us. He died on a cross, in the most painful way that man could image, and He did so willingly.
Jesus Christ suffered for the sins of the world and died in our place. If we would only believe, and trust on Him, on Jesus Christ who died that we might live.
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: (1 Corinthians 15:3–4)
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:51–57)
Why Resurrection Sunday Is So Important
I have been asked why Christians love this weekend so much. Why is it that people – some of whom would normally stay home – flock to church this weekend.
The answer is simple. Revelation chapter 20 says that there will come a time when the people of this world – that is, those who do not know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior – will be judged according to their works. We who are saved, are saved from this judgement.
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:11–15)
Jesus died, so that no one would have to stand at this judgement. And because He rose again, He has the power to save.
Jesus Saves!
This Resurrection Sunday, let’s take time to focus on the fact that Jesus saves!
“As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:” (Romans 3:10)
“Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:” (Romans 5:12)
“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)
“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13)
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” (Romans 10:9–10)
I pray, that on this Resurrection Sunday, if you have not already done so, that you would put your trust in Jesus Christ.