THE SIMPLE GOSPEL: After

Easter. Celebrating the beautiful moment when Jesus defeated death and ransomed us unto Him – no longer dead in sin but alive in HIM.

The resurrection is a celebration! It is a miracle that took place and sets the very foundation of our faith.

“But God raised Him from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on Him.” Acts 2:24

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and everyone who lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

“For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him.” Romans 6:9

Without the resurrection, we are condemned to death.

Without the resurrection, death would have won.

Without the resurrection, we have nothing.

This is why we celebrate! This is why we remember. And we can respond in various ways:

Joy. Hope. Belief. Faith.

But celebration was not the first response that the followers of Jesus had after His death. In forgetting what Jesus told them, they experienced different responses:

Grief. Fear. Doubt. Self-reliance.

Throughout Jesus’ ministry, and even prior to His arrival (Psalm 16:10, Isaiah 53:10-11, Hosea 6:2), it was foretold of what awaited Him. He spoke very clearly of His death and resurrection.

“From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem and suffer many…and be killed, and be raised the third day.” Matthew 16:21

“The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up.” Matthew 17:22-23/Mark 9:30-31

“…and they will condemn Him to death, and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.” Matthew 20:18-19, Matthew 26:32

Mark 8:31-32 “…and He said this plainly.”

Easter is our reminder of the extent of love Christ has for us – to give His life for us.

We remember.

And we, as Christ’s followers, remember – NOW – that He rose from death to bring us into eternity. But His followers – THEN – had forgotten.

Even after Jesus told them – plainly – what was going to happen, they still forgot.

And yet Jesus STILL brought His peace and presence to them.

Jesus’ response through it all is something we can hold on to when those emotions rise within us. When we as His followers forget the depths He went to for us to be with Him. Those moments we forget His faithfulness. That He is a fulfiller of His Word and all that we need.

Jesus’ First Appearance: THE EMPTY TOMB

On the morning of Jesus’ resurrection, some of His followers brought spices to properly anoint His body as was the Jewish burial customs. Upon seeing the stone rolled away and Jesus’ body gone, angels appeared to remind the followers of Jesus’ words.

“He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.” Matthew 28:6

““Why do you seek the living among the dead?” He is not here, but He is risen! REMEMBER how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” And they remembered His words.” Luke 24:5b-8

In John 20:11-18, we see Mary – a faithful follower whom Jesus had cast seven demons out of (Mark 16:9) – approach the tomb.

“But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.” John 20:11

Mary’s response was grief.

“Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say Teacher).” John 20:15-16

In response to her grief – of forgetting that He is her Father and she is His child – Jesus reminds her who she is.

God calls us by name.

“He who created you, O Jacob, He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are Mine.” Isaiah 43:1

Jesus is personal with her. He doesn’t judge her or berate her for forgetting His words in her grief.

He reminds her of who she is: HIS CHILD.

Mary forgot - but when Jesus called her by name, she responded to His voice.

Jesus’ Second Appearance: THE DISCIPLES’ GATHERING

After Jesus arose, the disciples allowed fear to dictate their actions. In John 20:19-29, the very same evening after seeing and hearing of the empty tomb, the disciples met together in hiding for fear of the Jewish leaders.

The disciples' response was fear.

“Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” John 20:19

In response to their fear – of forgetting the miraculous moment when He spoke peace over the raging seas and they saw with their very eyes His miraculous power (Mark 4:39) – Jesus speaks peace to them.

The Lord gifts us with peace. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with You, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Eight days later, Thomas (who wasn’t at the first gathering) doubted Jesus’ power of rising from the grave.

“Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” John 20:25

Thomas’ response was doubt.

“Then [Jesus] said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing. And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” John 20:27

In response to his doubt – of forgetting Jesus’ words in John 14 (Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me…I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”) – Jesus reminds Thomas that by believing, we have life in His name. (John 20:31b)

Jesus was gentle with the disciples. He didn’t judge them in their fear or unbelief.

He reminded the disciples of who He is: LIFE.

Jesus’ Third Appearance: PETER

After Jesus did many signs in the presence of His disciples, while they may have believed, their belief needed to be put into action – for even the demons believe (James 2:19).

Peter went back to what he did best – fishing. He went back to his old ways and depended on his own strength.

“Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We are going with you also.”…and they caught nothing.” John 21:3

Peter’s response was self-reliance.

When morning came, Jesus called to them from the shore to cast their nets to the other side of the boat. When they did (even while not recognizing it was Jesus), their nets were so full that they were close to bursting. Realizing it was Jesus, Peter left the boat and fish behind to go to Jesus. (John 21:1-14)

In response to Peter’s self-reliance – of forgetting the calling to follow Jesus (Matthew 4:18-20) and calling him to walk out on the turbulent waters, not in his own strength but by faith in the Lord’s (Matthew 14:28-32) – Jesus revealed His strength and power was perfected through Peter’s weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Upon seeing His Lord, Peter left behind what he did best – in his own strength – and instead abandoned the boat to follow Jesus.

Jesus showed Peter that when he relinquished his self-reliance and followed Jesus, there was already provision set before him (John 21:9) and he didn’t need to rely on his own strength.

He reminded him of his calling: TO FOLLOW HIM.

Christ’s followers forgot.

And even after reminding them over and over again, Jesus still responded to them in love.

With Mary, He responded by reminding her who she is: HIS CHILD.

With the disciples and Thomas, He responded by reminding them who He is: LIFE.

With Peter, He responded by reminding him of his calling: TO FOLLOW HIM.

As Christ’s followers, we can forget.

We can forget what the resurrection means to us. In our shortcomings and our failures, He doesn’t respond in condemnation, but in love.

He sees us in our grief, our fears, our doubts, our self-reliance, and He reminds us that it was all paid for on the cross. He reminds us of who He is. That He is stronger than our shortcomings.

He reminds us who we are in Him.

We have newness of life through His resurrection.

“We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we shall certainly be united with Him in a resurrection like His.” Romans 6:4-5

We are no longer dead in sin through His resurrection.

“But God is so rich in mercy , and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-6

We are now adopted in and have a place in eternity through His resurrection.

“For we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to Himself. And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.” 2 Corinthians 4:14-15

The simple gospel is this: Jesus died, was buried, and rose from the dead to defeat death and bring eternal life to sinners.

Jesus did the unimaginable. He overcame the impossible. FOR US.

Without the resurrection, we are still dead in sin. We are still separated from God.

But because Christ was raised from the dead, we are raised with Him and now have life in Him!

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.” Colossians 3:1

So may we remember what the resurrection means to us. May we be reminded in our failures and struggles, that Jesus speaks LIFE over us!

We have every reason to celebrate! To remember all that Christ did for us.

It is time to put off the old and live in the newness of resurrection life.

~ Kissy Black