Is the empty tomb enough for you? Maybe there is more. In the Gospels, we discover the reactions of many different people to the emptied tomb. Mary was weeping even after seeing the empty tomb and thought the body of Jesus had been taken away. Even after hearing the testimony of others who had seen Jesus, Thomas said that he would not believe until he could personally touch the nail-scarred hands of Jesus. The two followers of Jesus who were walking on the road to Emmaus were confused and uncertain.
It was an encounter with the risen Christ.
The same thing that dried Mary's tears also caused Thomas to believe and made those two men on the road to Emmaus move from confusion to exhilaration! It was an encounter with the risen Christ.
“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you." - Mark 16:6-7
Personal conversion is a matter of the heart, not just the head. Transformation of one's life requires something deeper than mental recognition or agreement of some set of facts. This miracle takes place as we encounter something, or rather Someone, who is very much alive.
This miracle happens when we encounter Jesus.
Paul said that without the reality of the resurrection, our faith is in vain. God always deals with us at a deeper level than our heads. He comes to dwell in human hearts.
This is why Jesus appeared to many in the days between His resurrection and His ascension into heaven. It is why He comes in dreams and visions to so many who have no access to the written Word of God or the message of the Gospel. It is why He takes the written Word, moves it from our heads to our hearts, and reveals Himself to us through the inner witness of the Holy Spirit.
The resurrection is a reality. Not only is the tomb empty, but the Savior is alive. When we encounter the risen Lord, life is different. Since Jesus lives, He is far more than a person on the pages of history. He is the One who will walk with us every single day. Dare to Ask God to give you an encounter with Jesus!
EASTER BIBLE READING PLAN
Easter is about an encounter, a time when we experience the hope and love of a Savior who sacrificed His life for us, despite our deepest struggles, betrayals, and failures. Easter is a time to share the Good News of the empty tomb and the grace only found in our risen Savior.
God’s passion for His people can not be extinguished. Do you embody this same passion?