By Authrine Dryden
Suddenly, there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow.
The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint. Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”
Matthew 28:2-7 NLT
If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Romans 10:9 NLT
In the quiet of early morning, a trembling earth signalled a miracle that would change history forever. An angel descended, rolling away the stone from the tomb where Christ had lain. To the women who came, expecting death, he proclaimed, “He is not here; for He is risen” (Matthew 28:6). This moment was more than a miracle; it was the dawn of a living hope, a hope that Christ offers to each of us.
As dawn breaks over the city, a quiet sense of hope stirs among people who once felt trapped in cycles of hardship and despair. They have come to understand a truth that redefines their lives: they are not alone but are bound together in a living hope made possible by the resurrection of Christ. This hope is not simply optimism; it is a regenerated spirit, a spark of divine life that unites them with God and with one another. In previously isolated neighbourhoods, there is now a shared resilience. People are finding new purpose, lifting each other, and transforming despair into solidarity. They know they are part of something far greater, a victory over darkness that brings them together, guiding them toward a life of renewed meaning and purpose.
In Christ’s resurrection, we are given more than the promise of life after death. We are invited to a profound transformation—a regeneration into a living hope that is active, vibrant, and united with God Himself. As Paul wrote, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9). This is not merely a confession; it is the key to a new life where we are no longer separated from God but are in union with Him.
Through this union, we are freed from despair, regenerated from brokenness, and infused with a hope that radiates beyond ourselves. This living hope compels us to rise above our struggles and reach out to others, bringing light into dark places. In a world often shadowed by doubt and fear, we stand as people renewed by Christ’s victory, drawn into the life and love of God. Through His resurrection, we are not only made whole but are empowered to live out the joy and purpose He set before us.
Ask: What is the significance of the angel informing the women that they don’t have to be afraid?
Seek: How does the resurrection of Christ change the way you view hope and purpose in your life? Where can you see evidence of this “living hope” in your experiences and in the lives of others around you?
Know: How does being in union with God through Christ’s resurrection impact my identity and actions each day?
