Devotional:

“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’ 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. 11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.” — John 20:1-18

Easter is finally here Eleven22! Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, has risen and that is without a doubt the best miracle of all! God’s promise is finally fulfilled because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. We can now walk in hope, complete forgiveness and new and eternal life with our Savior and our King.

We have walked through the incredible miracles of Jesus over the past 40 days. I pray that digging into this journey, from the wedding in Cana to the empty tomb, has prepared your hearts and minds for Easter. This should feel like a celebration. Today we celebrate life because Jesus did not stay in the tomb. He rose from the grave for you and me, so that we would also have life eternally.

Yesterday’s devotional was intense and heavy, that was on purpose. I really believe to fully grasp and actually celebrate the resurrection; we have to understand the cost and feel the weight and burden of what Jesus did for us. His sacrifice was not easy. That’s because Jesus didn’t do easy. He did the hard things to show the world who He was and what God’s plan was for us. He overcame more than any of us will ever have to experience. Because of that, we are free. He did what was necessary for God’s glory and our salvation. He was the final sacrificial lamb that came to save the entire world and there is no greater celebration than the celebration of our risen King!

We celebrate because Jesus didn’t stay in that tomb, He proved what everyone thought He had failed at just three days before. Jesus’s victory over death completed the fulfillment of God. The condemned Man three days ago has been vindicated and proven innocent. His death paid for our sins and His resurrection gave us eternal life. The resurrection proves that sin and the penalty for sin are completely erased for those who believe in Him.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:14, “And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.”

The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our faith. Christ’s resurrection is why we have hope beyond just having a happy life of health and prosperity here on earth. Our hope extends beyond this earth. We cannot even comprehend it as humans. We try to envision heaven. We study Revelation and any Scripture that may give a glimpse of what it will look like. And in John 14:2, Jesus said it was a real place, not a mythical place or a state of mind and He is preparing it for us! But I don’t think our tiny imaginations can muster up anything that even comes close to what heaven will really be like and just the same, Jesus spoke of hell as a real place. And we cannot imagine what that eternal separation from God will look and feel like either.

John 3:16-17 says “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Now that we’ve walked through this three-year journey of Jesus’s ministry and miracles, verse 17 just feels more tangible to me. Jesus never condemned anyone, other than those who were seeking to destroy Him and the fig tree, that was it! Everywhere He went, He led with compassion, mercy and grace. He came to heal, teach and love. And then, finally, He saved us. He died to save us. The ultimate sacrifice that we can now celebrate because He didn’t stay that way. His resurrection is worth celebrating!

Do you believe Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross and His resurrection saved you from death and eternal separation from God? I hope you do. And if you are still seeking, thank you for being here and being a part of this journey. I pray you stay plugged in after this and that you continue to seek and learn with us at Eleven22.

In Luke 24:5 it says the angels asked Mary “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

So, I leave you with these last thoughts: Where do you look for life? Is it prestige, money, control, a spouse, children, success, the approval of man or physical perfection? It’s the hardest part about being human. The things of this earth are shiny and tangible, but they will all pass away, including ourselves.

1 John 2: 15-17 says – Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

Sounds easy, right? It is not easy for any of us. It is a daily battle against the things of this world consuming us. Jesus was tempted by Satan for 40 days with these same exact things; lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and pride of life, at the beginning of His ministry. Jesus knows what it feels like, but He is the only life-giving hope and the only lasting satisfaction. Everything else fails us eventually.

Can you see beyond this world, this life that is only a tiny fleck, a single drop in the bucket compared to eternity? There is so much more for those who put their hope in Jesus.

In John 10:10, Jesus says, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”

Jesus thank You for Your sacrifice and Your resurrection. Because of that, death is not the end. We will one day be with You in eternity. Until then, guide us to be the body of Christ here on earth. Thank You, Jesus for our abundant life, don’t let us waste it. Keep our hearts stirred for what stirs Yours the most. Amen.

Happy Easter, The Church of Eleven22 and be free.