The Resurrection We Remember

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 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 on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words (Luke 24:1-8).

Life is not easy. Everyone experiences broken promises, dashed expectations, circumstances and people that defy reason and challenge our understanding. But there should be a difference in the reaction of maturing disciples of Jesus Christ to the challenges of this temporal life. We have a hope that empowers us to live above and beyond temporary trials because of the resurrection we remember.

We can remember the resurrection in morning’s first light. The precious servant-hearted women began the first day of the week seeking to serve Jesus. How do we start each day? Where is our focus? The weather, our agenda, a review of yesterday’s failures? There is a plaque in the center of our bedroom wall that invites my wife and I to begin each day by setting our focus on our resurrected Lord. It says in the morning when I rise, give me Jesus! Consider starting each day with a reminder that Jesus lives in you… “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). Because He defeated death and rose above anything and everything that might come against us, each new day can be another day of victorious living for born again, growing disciples… “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his” (Romans 6:5). Let’s remember the resurrection at the start of each victorious day!

We can remember the resurrection in moments of death. The ladies’ search for Jesus began in a tomb, a place of death. There are many places of death in this temporal world. Have you been there? The end of a relationship or friendship, death of a dream, failure of a business or ministry, termination of employment? Death comes in many forms, but our Good Shepherd, the risen Lord Jesus Christ promises to be present and walk with us through the valleys of death… “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). Even more, because of the resurrection we have the assurance that in Christ, we shall overcome all the consequences and effects of the many deaths we face here, on our way to eternal life in heaven… “’Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:54-57). Let’s remember the resurrection as we walk with Christ all the way through whatever temporal trial we are facing today!

We can remember the resurrection in matters of perplexity. Because their focus was on the physical facts that confronted them in the tomb, the women were perplexed. Unexpected events and surprising people tend to capture our attention and consume our hearts. The first evidence of Christ’s resurrection was the angels He dispatched to resolve the women’s perplexity with the announcement of His resurrection and exhortation to “remember” His words. Truth-seeking disciples have the Holy Spirit to remind us of the written and spoken words of Christ whenever we are distracted and perplexed… “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (John 14:26). Let’s remember the resurrection when we need help to understand and rise above life’s perplexing circumstances and people.

As we grow up into Christ, we live above and beyond life’s temporary trials because of…

The Resurrection We Remember.