The Resurrection of Jesus
"He is not here, but has risen." With those words, the world shifts. Jesus is the center of history, and his resurrection is the hinge point. Yet, when the angels announce the resurrection, nobody understands it, and nobody believes it! But by the end of the story, the whole community of disciples is saying together, "He is risen, indeed!" That’s what Easter is all about: The facts of the resurrection (He is Risen!) become the energizing reality of a disciple’s life (He is Risen, Indeed!). The facts tell us why we can believe it, and the second tells us why we should!
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
Read Luke 24:1-12
What does the text tell us about the experience of the women, the apostles, and all the rest of the disciples? Do they believe the words of the angels?
The angels remind the women that Jesus himself told them he would rise. What is the significance of that fact? What difference does it make that Jesus knew what was coming for him?
The resurrection is not only factually true, it is also personally powerful! It is hope that propels service, freedom that allows us to live honestly, and a wide-open welcome for failures and flops. Why is the resurrection good news to you?
April 9, 2023 - Steve Hart