Is He Dead? Is He Alive?

ALL – Psalm 55:1-23
ALL – Proverbs 11:7
OT – Numbers 16:41-18:32
NT – Mark 16:1-20

Have you ever had a close friend or family member die? Who? Have you ever wished you could see them again or hear them? Don’t you ache for them? Wouldn’t it be best, most memorable news in the world if an angel showed up at the funeral and told you they were alive?

That’s what happened to several ladies a few days after Jesus’ death. They went to His tomb, prepared to embalm Him, but unsure of how to move aside an enormous stone that covered the entrance to His tomb.

But when they arrived they looked up and saw that the stone—a very heavy one—was already moved away and the entrance was open! So they entered the tomb—and there on the right sat a young man clothed in white. The women were startled, but the angel said, “Don’t be so surprised. Aren’t you looking for Jesus, the Nazarene who was crucified? He isn’t here! He has come back to life! Look, that’s where his body was lying. – Mark 16:4-6, The Living Bible

I don’t think I would know what to do with this kind of announcement. It turns out that the women didn’t know what to do, either, initially. They were confused and scared. But this was the beginning of the good news. Jesus really had risen from the dead!

You know what? Part of the reason this is good news is that Jesus rose from the dead. But part of the reason that this is good news has to do with your friends and families. The idea at the beginning, that it would be awesome for them to come back to life, is a very real possibility! Because Jesus rose from the dead, all those who hope in Him and live by His Spirit will also rise one day! The good news about Jesus’ resurrection will be multiplied thousands, millions—even billions, perhaps—of times over!

What would you do to bring your friends and family back to life? Anything, right? Urge them to put their faith in Jesus Christ, who died and rose from the grave so that they could rise, too.

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