Archive for the ‘Empty Tomb Power’ Tag

“Resurrection For Real Life!”

Devotional By Pastor Timothy Brassell

Scripture: John 20

“He is Risen Indeed!”
When Mary Magdalene wept outside the tomb, she thought Jesus was gone. But then—He said her name. “Mary.” In a moment, despair turned to joy. The risen Jesus stood before her, not as a ghost, but in a glorified, real human body. She ran to tell the others, “I have seen the Lord!”

The resurrection isn’t just something that happened—it’s Someone alive. Jesus didn’t just rise; He is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25). That means resurrection isn’t primarily an idea or doctrinal teaching first. It’s a Person you can know. The Person of Jesus!

Real Hope for Real Life
The empty tomb means more than victory over death. It means you will live. As Paul wrote, “In Christ all will be made alive” (1 Cor. 15:22). Resurrection is humanity’s future—because Jesus is humanity’s new Head transforming bodily the entire human family. You’re not facing death alone, or anything alone. You’re heading toward life in Christ.

So, what does this mean now?

  • It means you can face and share grief with hope. “This is not the last word.”
  • It means you treat every person as someone God wants to and will raise.
  • It means your ordinary days are colored by God’s extraordinary future.

The Risen Christ Comes to You
Mary saw Him. Thomas touched Him. The disciples heard His “Peace be with you.” His meeting them as the Living Savior personally made all of the difference. And now, Jesus comes to you, personally. Not as a memory, but through the Holy Spirit, the Risen One reveals Himself to you – your heart, the very center of your being. You can’t study Him like any other subject to know Him. He must meet You, and you Him —again and again, and this all by His initiation and grace!

Have you?

If the Resurrection is personal, and it is, it’s also a call. Jesus doesn’t ask for admiration. He asks for relational allegiance. He is the Resurrected One that you might share with Him in His Relationship with His Father in the Holy Spirit forevermore! You can’t stand in the middle. He doesn’t allow you to take Him neutrally. You either worship and walk with Him or walk away, resurrected body and all. But to those who believe, Jesus says: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

 Today’s Reflection:
Jesus, You are not only alive—You are here. Make Yourself known to me. Make Yourself known to me again, today. Let Your Resurrection Life and hope shape my words, my work, and my worship. I don’t just want to admire You—I want to follow You. I want to know and trust Your Father as You do. I want to be filled with the pleasures of Your Spirit in communion and fellowship with You and the Father forevermore, overflowing into my relationship with all creation! Thank You!

 Question for the Day:
Who do you say Jesus is? (hint: Your response will only be correct when it is the same as Jesus’! Ha!)

“What happened on that day (of Easter) became, was and remained the center around which everything else moves. For everything lasts its time, but the love of God—which was at work and was expressed in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead—lasts forever. Because this event took place, there is no reason to despair, and even when we read the newspaper with all its confusing and frightening news, there is every reason to hope.”

— Karl Barth, Insights: Karl Barth’s Reflections on the Life of Faith, p. 30