We hear about the resurrection of Jesus every year at Easter, but have you ever considered what it was like to have experienced it firsthand, face-to-face, as his friends did? Learn from Mary Magdalene, Thomas, and Peter as we look at the hope Jesus brought them after that first Easter and the hope he still offers you today.
Rick Warren/Daily Hope
Day 1
Scripture: John 20:11-18
No matter what you’re going through right now, you have reason to hope. Hope is different from optimism. Optimism is to trust in yourself; hope is to trust in God. Optimism is what you think you can do; hope is what you know God can do.
Where do you get real hope? You get it from the resurrection of Jesus Christ—the central event in all of history. As 1 Peter 1:21 says, “Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory” (NLT).
After Jesus’ resurrection, he appeared to many different people. Over the next three days, we’re going to take a look at the accounts of three of those friends and the hope he offered them—and offers you too.
Mary Magdalene: It’s never too late for a miracle.
The first person to see Jesus alive after the resurrection was Mary Magdalene. She had stood with Jesus’ mother at the foot of the cross, and on Sunday morning, she went to his tomb to anoint his body with burial spices. But when she arrived, his body wasn’t there, and she began to cry. Then someone—who she didn’t yet realize was Jesus—stood behind her and asked two very important questions: “Why are you crying?” and “Who are you looking for?” (John 20:15 GW). Jesus was right there with her, but in her grief, she didn’t even recognize him. Mary felt like it was too late for a miracle—but her miracle was already with her! It’s never too late for a miracle. As Jesus said, “The things that are impossible for people to do are possible for God to do” (Luke 18:27 GW).
Ask yourself the two questions Jesus asked Mary: “Why are you crying?” (or grieving or worrying or stressing out) and “Who are you looking for?” Whatever your answer is to the first question, your answer to the second needs to be “Jesus.” He is the only one who will give you real hope and never disappoint you.
Day 2
Scripture: John 20:19-29
You can exist for weeks without food. You can exist several days without water. You can exist a few minutes without air. But you can’t live without hope. You need hope to cope. Hope keeps your soul alive.
Most people don’t understand hope. Hope is not some wishful thinking about the future. You need hope now—today. You need hope in the morning. You need hope, not because you’re going to die tonight, but because you’ve got to get up tomorrow and live.
The resurrection of Jesus still gives hope to us today even as it did for Thomas after that first Easter Sunday. Let’s see what happened when Thomas came face to face with living hope.
Thomas: It’s never too late to start believing.
When Thomas, one of the twelve disciples, heard that Jesus had been resurrected, he basically said, “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Then, eight days later, Jesus appeared to him and said, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe” (John 20:27 NIV). And Thomas responded: “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28 NIV). Jesus didn’t criticize Thomas for his doubts. He just gave him the proof that let him believe.
What about you? Maybe you’re 20 years old; maybe you’re 80. Maybe you grew up in a Christian family—or maybe you’re just hearing about Jesus. No matter your age or your background, you still might struggle with doubt. But it’s not too late for you to put your faith in Jesus. Follow his instructions to Thomas: “Stop doubting and believe!”
Day 3
Scripture: John 21:1-17
Hope is not optimism. Optimism is psychological; hope is theological. Optimism is often a denial of reality. It’s positive thinking, not permanent trust. Optimism is pretending things aren’t that bad. Optimism tries to deny the fact that sometimes life really is that bad.
Hope never does that. Hope is always reality. Hope says, “Yep it’s bad; it’s really, really bad. In fact, I don’t think it’s been any worse than it is right now. But I believe God can bring us through this. I believe God is in control.”
Take a look at what happened when Peter encountered the hope of Jesus after he fell harder than he could have ever imagined.
Peter: It’s never too late for a fresh start.
Peter—the bold, energetic, risk-taking disciple—told Jesus during the Last Supper, “I will never deny you” (Matthew 26:35 NLT). But then, that same night, Peter denied Jesus three separate times. Peter was left devastated by his failure. But after his resurrection, Jesus didn’t leave Peter in his shame. John 21 tells how Jesus asked Peter three times some form of the question, “Do you love me?” Each time Peter said that he did. And three times, Jesus gave him a chance to start over again with a new mission: “Feed my sheep.”
Jesus will do the same for you. No matter how much you’ve messed up, it’s never too late for God to use you; it’s never too late for a fresh start.
It’s also never too late to have your past forgiven, get a purpose for living, and look forward to a home in heaven. The Bible calls it being born again. If you want to be born again, pray this:
“Dear God, I know I’ve sinned, and I don’t deserve your love. But you loved me so much that you sent Jesus to die for me. I believe in him, and I trust that through him, I can have eternal life. Please forgive me for my sins. I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior, and I give my life to him. Thank you for loving me, saving me, and giving me a fresh start. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”