Holy Week Guide | Sunday
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Sunday
MATTHEW 28:1-6
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay
For three days, darkness was over the land. Two of Jesus’ closest followers, “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary,” returned to his tomb in order to anoint the body of their beloved. The disciples were in hiding trying to make sense of the chaos, their hopes crushed by the cry, “It is finished.” But then we see the stone rolled away, an empty tomb, and hear that life was again thrust into the body of Christ.
RC Sproul put it this way in his book Who is Jesus?:
Jesus’ heart began to beat, pumping glorified blood through glorified arteries, sending glorified power to muscles atrophied by death. The grave clothes could not bind him as he rose to his feet and quit the crypt. In an instant, the mortal became immortal and death was swallowed up by victory. In a moment of history, Job’s question was answered once and for all: “If a man die, shall he live again?” Here is the watershed moment of human history, where the misery of the race is transformed into grandeur. Here the preaching of the early church was born with the cry, “He is risen.”
The resurrection touches Christianity’s very core. It marks the decisive defeat of our greatest enemy and the unwinding of the consequences of human rebellion against God. Sin, Satan, and death were defeated when Jesus rose from the dead.
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul provides the most comprehensive treatment of the benefits of the resurrection. There we see what would be lost if Jesus had not risen from the dead and are given reason for hope in the truth of the resurrection, because “in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead...” (v. 20). Because he rose from the dead: the sins of those who rely on him are forgiven (v. 7), the apostolic preaching is true (v. 15), faith in Christ is true, he can be fully trusted (v. 14), those who follow Christ are to be emulated, their preaching is of great value (v. 19), and those who die in Christ will be raised (v. 18)!
APPLICATION
The resurrection gives the Christian great hope that generates confidence in all circumstances. The resurrection is not merely a doctrine to be affirmed intellectually. It is the resounding affirmation that Jesus reigns over all, and that the power which raised him from the dead is the Christian’s power for living the Christian life on earth and the assurance of eternal life in heaven.
Today, find power, comfort, peace, and mission in these words “He has risen; he is not here...” With those words, we know that death is no longer. The Christian cries out:
1 CORINTHIANS 15:55-57
“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! Therefore my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain”
PRAYER
Thank you, God! I can walk in your ways because of the price that was paid and the victory that was won when Jesus was raised! Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed! Amen.
FAMILY DEVOTIONAL
THINK
Think about your best day ever. Maybe it was your birthday and you got the most awesome gift. Maybe it was a surprise visit from one of your most favorite friends. Maybe it was a trip to a really fun place. What made it so special? Do you remember the excitement you felt? Do you remember how long it took you to stop smiling? The joy and happiness you felt was probably overwhelming!
READ
MATTHEW 28:1-6
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay
Today we read about THE BEST DAY EVER in all of history! Just when Jesus’ followers thought their sorrow would never end, they arrived at the tomb to find that Jesus was not there. He is alive! Jesus has risen from the dead! This was all a part of God’s great plan. There is no greater story of God’s power and His love for people than this! And because Jesus was victorious over death, He made a way for all people who believe to live with Him in heaven. Hallelujah!
SAY
“Dear God, we thank you for the great gift of life we have through Jesus, our risen Savior! Amen.”
DO
As you enjoy all the surprises this day holds – candy, baskets, and egg hunts, don’t forget that real joy comes from knowing our risen Savior! Happy Easter!