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 16:6)
Resurrection is absolutely mind boggling. Dead one moment, then back to life the next (well, three days later in Jesus’ case). It makes sense that the disciples were utterly confused any time Jesus mentioned his death and resurrection. And, if you haven’t been counting since the beginning of the Gospel of Mark, Jesus predicted his death three times. First, after feeding the multitudes. Second, after the Transfiguration. And lastly, as He and his disciples were heading to Jerusalem for Passover (Mark 8:31-32, 9:30-32, 10:32-34). The disciples did life with Jesus, and still didn’t get it. The incredible thing is this: the resurrection did happen, and we get to experience the joys of God’s plan for our redemption in full. If Jesus was able to defeat sin and death, how much more can he do?
1. We can live without the fear of death, or rather, anticipate heaven.
Death is not good. Even Jesus cried when Lazarus died. But the resurrection story confirms that death is defeated and believers can look to an eternity with God. Paul also speaks of a spiritual body no longer afflicted with human sufferings and raised in glory and power (1 Cor. 15:42-44). We get both.
2. We can trust and have peace that God’s justice will prevail.
You hear people ask, “How can God allow this [evil, pain, or suffering] to happen?” Or maybe, it’s you asking. Christ’s resurrection continually reminds us who is ultimately the victory. In the meantime, God is allowing for his kingdom to be built, for more and more people to be saved. Even in the midst of injustice, we can have peace and continue to bring others to Christ.
3. We can experience the power of the Holy Spirit.
With the Holy Spirit our salvation is secured. We are able to live lives honoring God. We can receive heavenly wisdom. And we are equipped to spread the Gospel. The Holy Spirit empowers us to be the lamp in the world. We influence the people around us whether we acknowledge it or not. With the Holy Spirit, we can do much more than we can imagine.