Sunday, April 20, 2025
Of all the special days on the calendar, none is more important for followers of Jesus than Easter Sunday—the day we celebrate the amazing miracle of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead!
The details of the resurrection were recorded in each of the four Gospel accounts. Luke records that on Easter Sunday, several women, including Mary Magdalene and Jesus’ mother, went to his tomb to mourn his death and anoint his body with spices for burial.
Luke 24:1-3 (NIV)
1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
Matthew records that as the women were wondering what happened to Jesus’ body, they encountered an angel.
Matthew 28:5-7 (NIV)
5The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
John shares about how the rest of Jesus’ followers (his disciples) encountered him later in the day.
John 20:19-20 (NIV)
19On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
Jesus’ resurrection changed everything!
It was only a few days before that his followers had all abandoned Jesus and ran away in fear when he was arrested. Now on Easter Sunday, they were hiding in a locked room, fearing for their lives.
Then they saw him—the risen Jesus—and everything pivoted!
The resurrection of Jesus is the single greatest miracle and event in history. It displayed Jesus’ power and proclaimed his victory over sin and death. It was the event that launched the Jesus movement, which quickly spread to all nations, and is still spreading throughout the world today!
This article was written by David Hammack, Jr.