Why is it important to remember and proclaim Jesus' resurrection today? Setting the Scene in Luke 24:9 “Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest.” (Luke 24:9) The women had just seen the empty tomb and heard the angels’ announcement that Jesus was alive. Their first instinct was to run and tell. That impulse—remembering and proclaiming—still matters for every believer today. Remembering Guards Our Faith from Drift • Scripture testifies repeatedly so we never forget: “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David—this is my gospel.” (2 Timothy 2:8) • Forgetfulness leads to spiritual drift (Hebrews 2:1), but the risen Christ anchors our hearts in truth. • By recalling the empty tomb, we stay centered on God’s completed work rather than our fluctuating feelings. Proclaiming Affirms the Core of the Gospel • Paul summarizes the “matters of first importance”: “that Christ died for our sins… that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4) • Preaching the resurrection is not an optional add-on; without it, “your faith is futile” (1 Corinthians 15:17). • Confession of a living Lord is required for salvation: “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9) The Resurrection Fuels Hope and Transformation Today • Living hope: “He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” (1 Peter 1:3) • Power for daily life: “The Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11) • Courage in suffering: a risen Savior promises, “Because I live, you also will live.” (John 14:19) Witness to a Watching World • Early believers could not keep silent: “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 4:33) • Our proclamation points others to eternal life: “God has raised this Jesus to life, to which we are all witnesses.” (Acts 2:32) • Sharing the resurrection confronts the world with the supreme question: what will you do with the living Christ? Worship That Celebrates Victory • Every Lord’s Day gathering echoes the first resurrection morning (Acts 20:7). • Songs, testimonies, and the Lord’s Supper proclaim, “The Lord has risen indeed!” (Luke 24:34). • Worship becomes a joyful rehearsal for the day we see the risen Lamb face to face (Revelation 5:12-13). Mission Until He Comes • Jesus commissions resurrection witnesses: “Go therefore and make disciples… and surely I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:19-20) • Remembering keeps urgency alive; proclaiming advances His kingdom until “the last enemy to be destroyed is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:26) • Our message ends where it began—in a tomb that is still empty, declaring to every generation that death has been defeated and life eternal is freely offered in Christ. |
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