In the days after the tomb was discovered empty, Jesus’ resurrection was not a secret. He appeared to His disciples and others on multiple occasions. He gave many convincing proofs so there would be no doubt that He was indeed alive! (Acts 1:3) He showed His disciples His hands and His feet and told them to touch and to feel that it was really Him. He opened their minds to the Scriptures and showed them the truth that had been proclaimed about Him throughout history. He told them He would be leaving them soon to return to heaven but that He would send them the Holy Spirit to empower them. And then He told them that they would be His witnesses to the ends of the earth!
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere – in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” – Acts 1:8
The disciples had no doubt that Jesus was the risen Messiah. They didn’t spend the rest of their lives mourning His death or fondly reminiscing about the time they had spent on earth with Him. They went to their graves boldly proclaiming that Jesus is the Messiah and that He is alive!
Years later, Jesus gave the apostle John a glimpse into heaven. When John was exiled on Patmos, he was given a vision and instructed to faithfully report everything he would see. John did that in the book of Revelation and God has promised a blessing for everyone who reads, listens to and obeys the message that was revealed. (Revelation 1:3) When John saw the vision of the risen and glorified Christ, it dropped him to his knees.
And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across His chest. His head and His hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And His eyes were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and His voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in His right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from His mouth. And His face was like the sun in all its brilliance. – Revelation 1:12-16 NLT
And then, as John trembled in fear, Jesus touched him and told him not to be afraid. Death and the grave have been conquered. Jesus is alive forever and ever!
But He laid His right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look – I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” – Revelation 1:17 & 18 NLT
Easter Sunday has come and gone, but the celebration continues. Jesus is still alive! He defeated death when He walked out of the tomb and His victory is our victory, too. His death saved us from God’s judgment, and His resurrection gave us victory over death!
(Stay tuned. The book of Revelation is what I am currently studying and I’m looking forward to sharing the things God shows me as I dive in!)
Have you made Jesus the Lord of your life? If you haven’t, then you are still walking around dead in your sin. The sin that you will one day have to stand before God and give an account for. The only thing that will matter at that moment is if your sin was covered with the blood of Jesus. If you haven’t gotten this matter situated, do it now! Today is the day because tomorrow is not promised!
1 – Acknowledge that you are a sinner and that you cannot save yourself.
2 – Believe that Jesus died to pay the price for your sin.
3 – Confess that He is Lord and surrender your life to Him.
