What an incredible Easter Season we just celebrated together. I love Easter! It is such a special time. You can literally feel the change and the joy. We are coming out of the death and darkness of winter and into the life and light of spring. Easter is the celebration of Jesus conquering death and coming back alive for us. It is not just Jesus coming alive, but each of us coming alive as well. The Resurrection changes everything. No longer does death have the final say, but God wins! And, for those who are in Christ Jesus, we live in triumph for all eternity.
Many people live like Jesus is still in the tomb or on the cross. People live defeated lives. In John 20, it tells us that on the evening of that first Easter Sunday, the disciples were locked in a room for fear of the Jewish leaders. Jesus’ own disciples were scared to death. Many times we too can feel trapped in fear. We see the news reports and fear grips our hearts. Maybe we even feel like God has lost and evil has won. People can become slaves to fear today. Yet, in the midst of the disciples’ fear, Jesus walked into the room. Jesus came to them. And, Jesus said, “Peace be with you.” Jesus now, in His resurrected body, comes right through the locked door and into their presence. Jesus came to bring us peace with God, peace in all our relationships, and peace with ourselves. After knowing Jesus was alive, the disciples’ lives were transformed forever. And, the same can be true for us today.
Jesus’ Resurrection means death no longer has the final say. This world is not all that there is. This life is but a precursor to the real life that is to come. Heaven is more glorious than any of us can even imagine. Like Jesus, we will all have resurrected bodies – not bound by time or space. Yet, we still live like this world is all that there is. We live like this world is our home. But, this world is not our home. Heaven is. We are just passing through. The best for all of us, who are in Christ Jesus, is still to come. If Jesus had only died on the cross, then our sins would have been atoned for, but we would have still died. Yet, Jesus conquered death. Jesus is not still in the tomb, He is alive! We too can experience eternal life with Him. Eternal life does not start when we die, but eternal life starts when you commit your life to Jesus. You are alive!
On that first Easter Sunday, after Jesus said, “Peace be with you,” Jesus breathed on the disciples and imparted to them the Holy Spirit. When you accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior, you become a Christian (little Christ). At that moment, God places His Holy Spirit in you. The Holy Spirit indwells every Christ-follower. This means God gives you His Presence, and this same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that is alive in you. You can live a victorious life. You have Resurrection power in you.
After this first Easter, the disciples went from living in fear to living by faith. They became bold. These guys who were scared to death went out in public and began to testify to everyone about Jesus being alive. Peter stood up on the Western steps of the Temple and shared the Good News, and on that day over 3,000 people accepted Christ and were baptized in His Name. God’s church grew exponentially. These scared disciples experienced the joy, peace, and hope of Jesus in their everyday lives. Wow! That is bold, and the way Jesus wants us to live today.
This is what Easter does. We live in this world of fear, worry, and stress, and yet Jesus comes to us, just like He did to His disciples back then, and says, “Peace be with you.” Then breathes His Holy Spirit on us. Therefore, if God can raise a dead Jesus then He can raise you. Whatever you are facing, just know that your God is greater! Miracles still happen today. God loves you with an everlasting love and places in you His Holy Spirit as a deposit guaranteeing your eternity. Because of Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection, you will dwell with the Lord forever and you can live with His power today. If God can conquer death, then there is nothing in your life that is too great for Him.
Therefore, be bold! Don’t live in fear, but live by faith. Live as an Easter person every day. Not just one day of the year, but wake up every morning knowing God is with you and He is greater! As Jesus’ disciples today, let’s be bold and watch Him change the world through us. Miracles still happen every day, so let’s be praying, sharing, and watching our God do what only He can do. Because of Easter, Jesus is alive, and so are you! Let’s live like Easter people every day.
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