Matthew 27-28
Mark 16
Luke 24
John 19-21

Here’s where we are in the story. Jesus, the miracle worker, the teacher, and the friend to many has died a horrible death. He was convicted for things that he never did and was sentenced to death by being nailed to and hanging on a cross. On that cross, Jesus died. 

Usually when someone dies, their story ends. Sure, you might hear about someone who left a legacy, built a building, of left something for someone to find… but they are still dead. The mortality rate is still 100%, as in, everyone’s life will end. But that is what makes this story so extraordinary!

Look up Luke 24:1-12 in your Bible and take a minute to read it.

Luke’s account of what happened after Jesus’ death is important. In Luke 24:7, we get a reminder of the prophecy that Jesus made about himself earlier in his life:

1) “The son of man man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners.” Check: Judas did that, betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. 

2) He must be crucified. Check: after a lengthy back and forth trial process, Jesus was convicted and hung on a cross until he died.

3) Then there is the last part of the prophecy that seemed a little crazy…“The Son of Man must be raised to life again on the third day.” Check: this actually happened!

You might be wondering: how can we know for sure that he actually rose from the dead? Five-hundred eyewitnesses saw it with their own eyes and said that it was true! Sure, if only one person had seen Christ after his resurrection, that might be difficult to believe. Maybe we would even think that the one person was a little loopy or something. But more than 500 hundred people sharing that they saw Jesus alive, each in their own unique way and word means we can have confidence that Jesus was actually raised from the dead! 

This is a historical fact! And it is an important one too!

Why does this matter? Paul writes it like this this: “For the wages of sin is death, but the Gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Romans 6:23) Our punishment for sin is death. Jesus’ sacrifice paid that price. He died and then he defeated death on the third day by raising to life.

Because of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross, we no longer will face death as eternal separation from God. Instead we have the gift of eternal life, through Christ Jesus, with God in heaven. This is good news! 

The disciples knew it. The followers of Christ, they all knew it was good news. Those who witnessed a risen savior, they knew this was the best news! 

As Jesus returned to Heaven, the story didn’t end. God didn’t just leave us down here to fend for ourselves after this life-changing moment in history.

God promised to give all people who believe in him another gift. This is the gift of His Holy Spirit. This Spirit is what will cause the story to continue forward for all people as we love and follow Jesus Christ.