After that day, everything was different. The first disciples witnessed a dead man walking. Their lives would be forever changed, defined by “life before Easter” and life “life after Easter.” On numerous occasions, Jesus showed up in resurrected form before he ascended. In the season of Easter we will examine six “after Easter” encounters with Jesus. What did he say and do? In what practical ways does resurrection change my daily life? Nothing will ever be the same.
Invocation
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Invitation
Lord Jesus, you once came to humanity in a rustic barn and a messy manger. Do not be distant from the rough places of our lives. We often find ourselves far from you. In mercy, come near to us, our Lord, Emmanuel; for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Confession
Forgive my sins, O Lord – forgive me the sins of my present and the sins of my past, the sins of my soul and the sins of my body; the sins which I have done to please myself, and the sins which I have done to please others. Forgive me my wasted and idle sins, forgive me my serious and deliberate sins, forgive me those sins which I know and those sins which I know not, the sins which I have labored so to hide from others that I have hid them from my own memory. Forgive them, O Lord, forgive them all.
Word
And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. (Mark 16:5-6)
Meditation
There are some things that happen and they change everything. You cannot see a dead man come alive and NOT be changed. You cannot unsee that. You have to be different.
So why do we often live like nothing has changed? Lifeway Research conducted a national poll and published the results last week. They found that 66% of U.S. adults agree that Jesus physically rose from the dead. But only 30% say they are active in their Christian faith. Christian author and apologist Rebecca McLaughlin commented: “There are many who say they believe Jesus actually rose from the dead, but this belief has so little impact on their life.” We say we believe Jesus, but do we follow him? We praise him on Easter Sunday, but is life any different on Monday?
The body that keeps breaking down. The habit you can’t break. The long night that won’t end. Everything’s the same.
The mass shootings every other week. The bullies that always win. The money that makes the world go round. The people we’ve lost are still dead and gone. Everything’s the same.
Mark records that there was a young man in the tomb wearing a white robe. Presumably an angel, but Mark calls him a “young man.” He told the women a “before and after.” He said, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here.” (Mark 16:6)
Before: “He was crucified.” A criminal. A dead man.
After: “He has risen; he is not here.” A dead man is walking again.
Before: The angel called him “Jesus of Nazareth.”
After: After the resurrection the disciples started to call him “Lord Jesus.” Ever after he will be known as Lord and King.
Why do you think we live like nothing has changed? Why are boredom and apathy such real threats to the Christian life? Pray this week that God would give you the amazement of the women at the tomb. That your life would be changed daily by the words, “He has risen; he is not here.”
Benediction
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:7)