The Event that Changed Everything.
Why Christians believe in the resurrection and why it still matters today.
Obstacles to Belief
Life is full of obstacles.
Some are physical - injuries, illnesses, or chronic pain. Others are emotional - fear, anxiety, depression. Still others are relational, financial, or spiritual - conflict, betrayal, doubt, or disappointment. And while some obstacles are visible, many are hidden beneath the surface, carried quietly in our minds and hearts.
When it comes to Christian faith, one of the biggest internal obstacles many people face is the resurrection of Jesus.
We live in a world that prizes logic, evidence, and what we can see or measure. So when Christians claim that a man was crucified, buried, and then rose from the dead three days later, it’s understandable that some hesitate. Maybe that’s been your experience. You want to believe, but something doesn’t quite click. Or maybe you do believe, but you’ve still wondered, Can I really trust this?
If that’s you, take heart, you’re not alone.
Even Jesus’ first followers wrestled with the resurrection. Their doubts, confusion, and eventual conviction are recorded in Luke 24, a powerful account of the first Easter morning.
But what we find in this story isn’t blind faith.
It’s an honest journey from confusion to clarity, from curiosity to belief.
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Grief at the Tomb (Luke 24:1–3)
“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb bringing the spices they had prepared…” (Luke 24:1, CSB)
These women that came to the tomb that Sunday morning had followed Jesus for years. They had heard His teaching, seen His miracles, and believed He was the Messiah. But now, everything felt lost. Jesus had been brutally executed, His body sealed in a tomb. And they arrived not with hope, but with spices for burial. This was an act of love for a man they believed was gone.
But when they arrived, everything was wrong. The stone was rolled away. The body was missing. Luke tells us they were “perplexed”—a word that implies deep confusion and disorientation.
When life doesn’t make sense, we often assume something is wrong. These women likely thought the tomb had been vandalized or the body stolen. Their grief was compounded by this cruel mystery.
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A Question That Changes Everything (Luke 24:4–8)
Suddenly, two angels appear and ask one of the most profound questions in all of Scripture:
“Why are you looking for the living among the dead? He is not here, but He has risen!” (v.5)
It’s part challenge, part celebration. “Why are you searching for life where there is only death? Jesus isn’t in the tomb. He’s alive!”
And then they remind the women of Jesus’ own words: that He would suffer, be crucified, and rise again on the third day. Luke tells us, “They remembered His words”. The word we translate “remembered” means more than mere recall. It implies understanding. Suddenly, the fog started to lift. Jesus hadn’t failed. He had fulfilled everything He said He would do.
And filled with awe, they ran to tell the others.
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The Struggle to Believe (Luke 24:9–11)
But the others didn’t believe them.
“They reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest… But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women.” (vv.9, 11)
Their message sounded like nonsense—delusional, disoriented grief. It didn’t fit into what they knew to be possible.
Let’s be honest: for many today, the resurrection still sounds like nonsense. Dead people stay dead. That’s how the world works. And that’s what makes not just the holiday, but this entire season of Easter so disruptive. It challenges our categories and invites us to consider something utterly unique.
If Jesus truly rose from the dead, then everything changes.
He isn’t just a good teacher or religious martyr. He is Lord.
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Curiosity and Courage (Luke 24:12)
But then there’s Peter. Luke tells us:
“Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb…” (v.12)
He didn’t understand. He didn’t believe yet. But something in him needed to see for himself.
And when he arrived, the tomb was empty—just as the women had said. The grave clothes were left behind. Jesus was gone. And Peter walked away amazed. Not certain. But searching.
Many of us find ourselves in that place. We’re not ready to fully believe, but something stirs within us. We’re curious. We want to understand. If that’s you, don’t ignore it. Keep asking. Keep seeking. Jesus has always met people in the midst of their curiosity.
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Jesus’ Own Words (John 10:17–18)
Before any of this unfolded, Jesus said something remarkable:
“This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again.” (John 10:17–18)
Jesus wasn’t overpowered. He wasn’t a victim. He laid His life down willingly—and He took it up again.
This isn’t just the story of someone who suffered and died. It’s the story of someone who walked out of His own tomb. The heart of the Christian faith is not just that Jesus died, but that He now lives.
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Why We Believe
Despite all this, you might still be asking, “How can I know this is really true?” That’s a good and fair question. One thing I love about the Christian faith is that it doesn’t ask you to check your brain at the door. So let me briefly give you five reasons Christians trust the resurrection:
The testimony of women – In the first century, women weren’t considered credible witnesses. If this story were fabricated, no one would’ve chosen women as the first to discover the empty tomb. The only explanation? It’s what actually happened.
The transformation of the disciples – They went from fearful deserters to bold proclaimers of the resurrection, willing to suffer and die for their testimony.
The number of eyewitnesses – Paul tells us Jesus appeared to over 500 people at once (1 Cor. 15). Most were still alive when he wrote that, meaning anyone could verify the claim.
The rise of the early church – A crucified Messiah wouldn’t start a movement—unless He also rose from the dead. Something sparked a worldwide transformation.
The cost of belief – Nearly all of Jesus’ closest followers died for their belief in the resurrection. People don’t die for something they know is a lie.
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Your Response
So here’s the point:
The resurrection of Jesus is not wishful thinking or religious fiction.
The resurrection is a historical reality that calls for a personal response.
So let me ask: What will you do with the resurrection?
Maybe you still have questions. Maybe you’re skeptical. Or maybe, like Peter, you’re running to the tomb—curious, amazed, unsure, but open.
Romans 10:9 says, “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.”
It can’t be overstated: Belief is the only barrier to entry into a relationship with Jesus.
So that’s the invitation of the resurrection. To believe. To trust. To respond.
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Because He Lives…
Because Jesus lives, your past no longer defines you. Your future is secure. And your present has profound purpose.
Jesus said, “I lay it down… and I take it up again.” And He did.
He did it for you.
So how will you respond today?