“I have come to the conclusion that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is either one of the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted on the minds of human beings — or it is the most remarkable fact of history.”
Josh McDowell
Easter Sunday – today, we break our fast!
Read our post “Why Fast?” to learn about the spiritual discipline of fasting and gain a better understanding of why Jesus asked us to fast. We fast not to get something we want from God, but for God to change our wants. We fast because Jesus fasted, He expected we would fast, and we see that the early church fasted.
Engage the Word
We don’t have any actual prayers of Jesus recorded in Scripture on the day of His resurrection – but from what we know of Jesus’ devout prayer life, we can imagine that the first words He uttered upon rising from the dead were words of thanks and gratitude to His Father. We don’t know, of course – but did Jesus go away to one of His “desolate places” if even just for a few minutes just to gather HIs thoughts and thank His Father just before He would go and appear to Mary and the disciples?
John 20:1-10
20 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’[a] head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.
Connect the Heart
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most astounding, the most monumental, the most consequential event in all of human history. There is not a single event in the history of the world that has as much significance as the resurrection. It is the foundation of the gospel. It is the center point of our faith. Without the resurrection of Jesus Christ, our faith – indeed our very existence – would be pointless.
Even though Jesus had repeatedly told His disciples that he would die and rise again, they didn’t yet understand – and some of them would need extra proof in order to believe (especially Thomas).
But Jesus appeared to over 500 people following His resurrection – all of them eyewitnesses to this eternity-shaking miracle. Some of His followers would die horrific deaths still holding to the truth of the resurrection. It was worth it to them to give up their lives for the sake of the truth. The church exists today because the validity of the resurrection cannot be refuted.
And human existence has never been then same.
Reflect on the Truth
1. How does your heart respond to the truth of the resurrection? How does the truth of the resurrection impact your thoughts, feelings, desires and choices?
2. Do you struggle with fear, even knowing the truth of the resurrection? Do you struggle with doubt, as the disciples did? If so, how does this struggle play out in your life?
3. How will you make a conscious choice today and going forward to trust in the hope we have through Christ’s resurrection, even in the face of fear or doubt?
Depend on the Spirit
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see the deeper longings, desires or motives in your heart that these thoughts are pointing to. (For example: you may write down, “Sometimes the life of Christ and His resurrection seem so distant in the past that I do struggle with doubt. Help me see hope in the midst of fear and doubt.”) The Lord can help us discern the path forward – through His Word, His Spirit, and His people.
For Prayer: Ask him to lead you in your time of prayer, in your day – and the rest of your days – as you seek to live in the light of the truth of Jesus’ resurrection.
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Read our post “Why Fast?” to learn about the spiritual discipline of fasting and gain a better understanding of why Jesus asked us to fast. We fast not to get something we want from God, but for God to change our wants. We fast because Jesus fasted, He expected we would fast, and we see that the early church fasted.
Read yesterday’s post HERE.
Catch up on all our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting posts on the blog HERE.
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