Passion Week: The Resurrection

Related Passion Week Devotionals:

• Cleansing of the Temple
• Jesus Questioned by Religious Leaders
• The Sanhedrin and Judas’ Betrayal
• The Last Supper
• Good Friday
• Silent Saturday
• The Resurrection

The climax of events seemed over as Jesus was taken off the cross and buried in a tomb on Friday. Saturday was dark and gloomy as they were still unpacking all that occurred. The disciples watched their Rabbi, friend, and the man they believed to be the Messiah die at the hands the Romans. Jesus experienced not just any death, but an accursed death, a death on a cross, which was reserved for criminals and thieves. The disciples scattered, unsure and frightened about what was going to happen next. That is, until Sunday morning came. We read in the gospels that two women went to visit the tomb where Jesus laid but the large stone that stood in the entrance was moved. The tomb that was being guarded by Roman soldiers was now empty. The women, perplexed but overjoyed, ran from the empty tomb to tell the other disciples. From there, Jesus would reveal himself to hundreds of people, alive. Witnessing the resurrection changed their lives forever and the history of the world! This is obvious as some two thousand years later we are still talking about the resurrection of Jesus today. Jesus did not faint. Jesus did not pretend. Jesus died and then was raised back to life. He truly is alive!

I’ll end with this, a man named Gamaliel a Pharisee spoke up in-front of the Jewish council not to long after Jesus’ resurrection which is recorded in Acts 5:38-39 and it says, ‘38 …stay away from these men and leave them alone. (Speaking of the followers of Jesus claiming that He raised from the dead.) For if this plan or this work is of men, it will be overthrown; 39 but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them. You may even be found fighting against God.”...’. You have a decision to make about this resurrection story. A seamlessly fabricated story or the greatest redemption story of all time. Jesus’ death and resurrection allows all who believe in Him to have access to God. Have you made the personal decision to put your faith in Jesus? If you haven’t, you can make that decision today. Romans 10:9, ‘If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.’.