Big Idea Of This Series: This four-week series considers what is happening in the resurrection of Jesus and why it matters for us today. Focusing on four encounters with Jesus after his resurrection, “What Is Easter?” will help us see the personal implications for resurrection life.
What is Easter?
John 20:11-18 NLT Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in.She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying.“Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him.“Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”“Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.
What is Easter? Easter is Resurrection.
John 20:24-29 NLT One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came.They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.”Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said.Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”“My Lord and my God!” Thomas exclaimed.Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”
What does Easter mean to you?
Have I encountered Jesus?