04/05/2023 – Three Days That Can Transform Your Life – The Resurrection
Mark 16: 9 When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with him and who were mourning and weeping. 11 When they heard that Jesus was alive and that she had seen him, they did not believe it. 12 Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. 13 These returned and reported it to the rest; but they did not believe them either. 14 Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; he rebuked them for their lack of faith and their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
The Bible is filled with amazement. But undoubtedly, one of the most amazing moments in the Bible is the appearing of the resurrected Christ to His disciples. The last three days had been the most difficult days of their lives. They had been mourning and weeping, hiding and lost in hopelessness. They thought everything was lost…and suddenly, the Lord appeared in their midst.
Christ rose from the dead on the third day, just as He had promised. He defeated death and ensured eternal life for all who believe. This day transformed our lives for eternity. We are no longer limited to this material life. We are no longer slaves to our fear of death.
It should have been a moment of joy and celebration. One may have expected the Lord to offer consolation and assurance, telling them that He understood their pain and frustration. Surely there was celebration, but also the Lord rebuked them. He exposed their unbelief and confronted them with the reality of the fulfilment of His word.
We need to be comforted and confronted by Christ. This rebuke was exactly what they needed to be transformed from doubters to believers, from cowardly deniers to defiant witnesses. May your faith in the resurrection of Christ transform your life even now, as we await His return.