(April 20, 2025) Wayne Swift calls it as it is, giving us some things to consider…

It’s Resurrection Sunday, Hallelujah!

Easter itself changes year after year based on the first Sunday following a full moon in the northern hemisphere. And most Easter Sundays we consider the complete Easter story.

But… did you ever think about Easter this way— what was the goal or aim of Christ’s sacrifice and His resurrection? Have you ever considered that it has always been the same, that the target, the object, the focus was always refound hope for you!

Christ came and sacrificed His life so that you and I can be reconciled to God by the result of His efforts not our own. As  Matthew 12:21NLT declares ‘… His name will be the hope of all the world.’

Personally, I know that I’m in a relationship with Christ because He made a way where I couldn’t! It’s not my thoughts, efforts, action or sacrifice that makes the difference— it’s all about Him!

Hope Ruined
Think back to the first Easter scene around Jerusalem… Jesus was crucified, the disciples scattered and their hope shattered, ruined.

• Their hopes and possibly their identity revolved around the one who had made them stand out from others had been in Jesus.
• He was the Messiah in their eyes and even if there were questions about His claims, at the very least He had been a sought after teacher and miracle worker.
• And they had access to Him; they were close friends, and they grew in notoriety because of their connection to Him.

Suddenly— that Friday before the Sabbath, before Passover, Jesus was brutally killed. There was turmoil among all His followers.

For the disciples and for his family it was tragic. This good man whose life was taken by deceitful community leaders for nothing more than the threat He appeared to be to their popularity.

Jesus had changed so many lives already by His teaching, and especially by His healing. He had spoken to them about His primary role as the Messiah… something most of them were still coming to grips with, something they were still processing.

The greatest loss at that moment was the hope He created for everyone; the teaching, the changed philosophy and approach He offered were all fresh. He the teacher had transformed the lives of His followers, taking fisherman, tax collectors, prostitutes and every other sinner and offering them hope and a fresh beginning… and now He was dead.

For many the grief and loss experienced would have been deep. Their hope was lost, faith probably shattered when Jesus was locked in that tomb. Sure there may have been some inkling that things would turn out different but as the hours went by the reality of lost hope was sinking in.

Hope Remembered
However, although grieving, some women took the opportunity to return to the tomb to attend to Jesus’ body and complete the preparation burial task. Luke 24:1-12NLT tell of an incredible incident that awaited them!

‘But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.

^‘The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what He told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that He would rise again on the third day.” Then they remembered that He had said this. So they rushed back from the tomb to tell His eleven disciples— and everyone else what had happened. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. 

‘But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.’

This explanation of that first Easter Sunday morning is understandable. The women had been perplexed but now they were resolute in their understanding. They had not only seen the empty tomb but angels had explained the events and reminding them of what Jesus had already told them. it was easier for them to believe when they had that sort of an encounter.

The other apostles weren’t so quick to believe, Luke says that they thought it was nonsense and didn’t believe it. However at least Peter ran to the tomb to look— and left wondering.

Hope Resurrected
That Jesus was alive after dying on Calvary was unbelievable! The apostles didn’t believe when it was first told to them. But Peter was moved from complete unbelief to wondering as a result of his inquisitiveness and possible hope. Maybe his denial of Christ, his regret had pushed him on, perhaps he was somehow hoping to repair his breach, restore his commitment… at least he moved from unbelief to wondering!

The response of the disciples that first Easter Sunday morning isn’t that different to our regular considerations. Christ’s resurrection can be hard to believe. Most of us carry an innate willingness to accept historical facts.

But the reality still is that Jesus died for me, for you, for all humanity He rose from the dead for you, dear readers! The point of Christ’s action though was never a simple agreement with the facts. He died and was resurrected so that—

• A new beginning can be experienced in every sphere of life!
• As happened with the early disciples, a new relationship with Jesus can begin with you too!
• On repentance of sin and acceptance of Jesus as risen Saviour you too can be resurrected one day!

Now some people need a moment of encounter and need to research the scriptures before they can choose to believe what they say about hope and faith in the risen Christ.

Those disciples simply didn’t instantly believe, they had a longer journey… and an encounter with Jesus that was reinforced by what He and the scriptures had to say.

Hope Refound
Peter had heard the women’s story, wasn’t sure, but investigated further. He looked in the empty tomb but still wondered. The disciples all needed a reminder of what Jesus had proclaimed— and an encounter with the risen Saviour! The final outcome for Peter was when he encountered Jesus alive!

And it was the same with the other disciples. Luke 24:36-41aNLT tells of that first post tomb encounter: ‘… Jesus Himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” He said. But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! “Why are you frightened?” He asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.”’ As He spoke, He showed them His hands and His feet. Still they stood there in disbelief, filled with joy and wonder.’

Note: This ‘wonder’ doesn’t mean querying! The Greek word thaumazo means admiration! Still, absent Thomas would go as far as wanting to place his hands on Jesus’ wounds before he could believe!

I think what we all need is an encounter and a scriptural reminder. We need the unchanging word of God to convince us— and an emotional moment where God can touch us— and we too can be filled with wonder and joy.

Hope Response!
Like Peter we need to be willing to investigate further. It happened for me the first time I accepted Christ and continues to happen as I process life and go through various challenges.

The death of Christ and His resurrection had a focus— that focus was you, it was the only way relationship could be restored but at the same time we need to be willing to respond.

Let Christ meet you this 2025 resurrection Sunday! May you too proclaim that—

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Wayne Swift pastored Resound Church, Scoresby, Victoria.
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