Jesus’ resurrection is relevant for our lives today, because it brings…
I. Courage for the Frightened (vv. 1-5)
God provides courage for the followers of Jesus in the midst of their fear.
Knowing: When Mary Magdalene and the other women and arrive at the tomb, nothing is as they expected it to be: the stone is rolled away, Jesus’ body is gone, and they encounter angels. Luke says they were frightened” (v. 5). Of course they were. Could any combination of circumstances be more frightening at that time?
Being: There are also many reasons for us to be frightened. We face an unknown and unseen virus which exposes weaknesses in our bodies we didn’t even know we had. We are frightened for the health of our loved ones. We are frightened about our economy and our jobs. We are frightened of how unprincipled people will take advantage of us in a time of critical shortages. What is causing you fear right now?
Doing: Jesus’ resurrection infallibly proved him to be the Lord, the victor over death and thus the King over all the earth. Courage comes from trusting in Christ in the midst of fear. We must put our trust in Christ when we are afraid, because he has overcome death and this world which is broken by sin.
II. Hope for the Lost (vv. 6-7)
Jesus’ resurrection from the dead is proof that God keeps his promises.
Knowing: To remove all doubt, the angels declare, “He is not here, but has risen.” These words would only make sense to the women because they knew Jesus raised people from the dead while he was alive. What the angels said next included a promise even more mind-blowing than the fact that their beloved Jesus was no longer dead: “Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and the third day rise.” It is in this sentence we find a relevant promise—hope for the lost.
Being: Everything in his life, death, and resurrection occurred because God determined it would. This provides us hope, because Jesus is proof that even when seemingly bad things happen to God’s people, God is still at work to accomplish his good plan.
Doing: Are there any circumstances in your life right now tempting you to think God is not in control, or at least uninterested or uncaring? What promises from God’s Word can you cling to in this time?
III. Dignity for the Irrelevant (vv. 8-12)
Jesus’ death and resurrection bring dignity to those who feel irrelevant or have been told they are irrelevant.
Knowing: The fact that the first testimony to Jesus’ resurrection was born by women is a revolutionary event in this first century context. The testimony of a woman was generally disregarded in the first century, especially in a court of law. Jesus’ female disciples figure prominently in the final days of his life and the earliest moments of his resurrected life. They remained with him at the crucifixion long after his other disciples fled in fear (Mk. 15:40). They followed his body to its place of burial (Mk. 15:47). And women were first to see the empty tomb and hear the declaration by the angels, “He is risen” (Mk. 16:5-6).
Being: How is Jesus’ resurrection of real relevance to your life today? If someone has told you for whatever reason you are irrelevant, Jesus has a different assessment of you and his is the only one that matters. No one but the Lord Jesus, King of the universe and Judge of all the earth, has the right to declare whether someone is relevant or irrelevant. If you are his disciple, he not only says you are relevant, he declares you to be a son, an heir, who someday will reign with him.
Doing: Have you had or do you currently have feelings of irrelevance? How do Jesus’ death and resurrection and the dignity he gives to these women give you dignity?