Jesus’ Resurrection Changes Everything
In John 20, we meet Mary Magdalene standing at the empty tomb, heartbroken and confused. She came to mourn, but the scene before her didn’t make sense. The stone was rolled away, the body was gone, and two angels sat where Jesus’ body had been.
John 20:12-13 And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.”
She didn’t even entertain the thought of a resurrection. Her mind reached for the only explanation that fit her understanding: someone must have stolen His body. Even when Jesus Himself stood before her, she assumed He was the gardener.
John 20:15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.”
Resurrection was too wild, too unthinkable, too far beyond human experience. Even as Jesus stood right there, her grief couldn’t compute it.
But then, Jesus called her by name:
John 20:16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher).
When Jesus spoke her name, her eyes were opened. Her sorrow sprang into joy—love. She recognized her Lord—not stolen, not missing, but risen.
It says a lot that Jesus didn’t first appear to rulers, religious leaders, or even the apostles but to a grieving woman who loved Him. She didn’t fully understand, but Jesus didn’t scold her for that. He spoke to her tenderly. He said her name. And in that deeply personal moment, everything changed.
That’s who Jesus is. He knows your name, too. He sees you in your confusion, in your hurt, and in your doubts. Even when you don’t recognize Him, He’s near. He speaks to you in love and invites you to see Him as He is—alive, powerful, and full of grace.
A New Relationship with God
Jesus told Mary to go tell His disciples what had happened, but notice the words He used:
John 20:17 Go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.”
When we believe, Jesus’ resurrection changes how God relates to us! Jesus is saying that His relationship with the Father now becomes ours. “My Father is your Father! My God is your God.” We are brought into God’s very family. More than freeing us from guilt, Jesus brings us into a wonderful relationship with Him and the Father.
The resurrection means that Jesus’ sacrifice was enough. You don’t have to be “good enough” or “worthy enough.” Jesus is enough. His life, death, and resurrection secure your welcome into the family of God.
In moments of humility, we know we’re not enough—not holy enough, good enough, loving enough, or committed enough. Yet Jesus’ resurrection guarantees that His sacrifice is enough, and He makes you enough. Christ is all the righteousness, goodness, and holiness you need. Jesus shares His Sonship with us through His death and resurrection, giving us His righteousness and making us belong.
Why the Resurrection Matters
If Jesus stayed dead, we might still esteem Him for His character and deeds—an ancient Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela. But without Jesus’ bodily resurrection, the future would be eternal nothingness, and today would be meaningless.
Without Jesus’ bodily resurrection, the future would be eternal nothingness, and today would be meaningless.
Paul put it bluntly:
1 Corinthians 15:17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.
But Christ has been raised! (V 20). He is alive forevermore. He is at the right hand of the Father, and He holds the keys of death and Hades (Revelation 1:18). The resurrection is heaven’s affirmation that Jesus is who He claimed to be: He is God our Savior, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, who spoke the galaxies into being, forgives sins, and restores us to the Father.
The resurrection is heaven’s affirmation that Jesus is who He claimed to be: He is God our Savior, the Way, the Truth, and the Life, who spoke the galaxies into being, forgives sins, and restores us to the Father.
And because He lives, death takes on a different status. So do cancer, COVID, old age, and threats of the end of the world. For He promised that whoever believes in Him shall have eternal life, and He Himself will raise and remake our bodies for God’s presence.
Jesus’ resurrection assures us that everything will be excellent in the end! All creation will be made new, purged of all sin, evil, and sorrow, as Tolkien said, “Where everything sad will come untrue.”
Jesus’ resurrection assures us that everything will be excellent in the end! All creation will be made new, purged of all sin, evil, and sorrow, as Tolkien said, “Where everything sad will come untrue.”
Resurrection doesn’t just speak to eternity. It speaks to today. It means Jesus is with you now—in trials, doubts, suffering, parenting, relationships, sickness, and stress. You are not alone. He walks with you. You are never hopeless, because He lives.
So today, hear Him call your name. Turn and believe.
Jesus is alive.