By Jessica deLinde Dyckman
Lectionary reading for 4/9/2023: Jeremiah 31:1-6; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24; Colossians 3:1-4; Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18; Matthew 28:1-10
Selected Passages: Matthew 28:5-6, Luke 24:1-8, Psalm 118:24 and Jeremiah 31:3
Read
Matthew 28:5-6
“The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.”
Psalm 118:24
“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Jeremiah 31:3
“The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”
Reflect
Christ has Risen! Indeed, He has Risen!
Happy Easter Sunday! May this day be an encouragement of your faith because we have the hope of the Resurrection and serve the One true and living Messiah!
Easter Sunday is truly the basis of our faith and hope of heaven. It is a day of celebration and remembrance as we meditate on these truths: Jesus is alive and seated at the right hand of the Father, the Scriptures are true, and God can be trusted to fulfill His promises. Resurrection Sunday gives us hope for future glory with Jesus Christ!
“The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.” Matthew 28:5-6 [ bold is my emphasis]
“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen! Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered His words.” Luke 24:1-8
These women were some of the first witnesses to God keeping His promise of the Risen Messiah and Savior in Christ Jesus. In the midst of their mourning and dutifully respectful burial tradition, God met them in a tender and powerful way. He sent His angels to remind them of Jesus’s words and the promise of hope, and then moved them to action to tell the others.
Who can help you remember God’s faithfulness in your life?
When life is heavy and hard, we need to be reminded of God’s promises. When life is joyous and wonderful, we need to be reminded of God’s faithfulness! Mary Magdalene and the other women had the angels there to remind them. Who can help you?
Will you take time in prayer to thank God for His faithfulness, and ask Him to show you where He has kept His promises in your life? Whatever season of life you are in on this Resurrection Sunday, be encouraged that God will meet you exactly where you are today. He has given you hope for the future in Jesus Christ!
Next time you recite the Nicene Creed, remember God’s Promises of Resurrection Sunday.
“I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten of the Father before all worlds; God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God; begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father, by whom all things were made. Who, for us men for our salvation, came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the virgin Mary, and was made man; and was crucified also for us under Pontius Pilate; He suffered and was buried; and the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures; and ascended into heaven, and sits on the right hand of the Father; and He shall come again, with glory, to judge the quick and the dead; whose kingdom shall have no end.
And I believe in the Holy Ghost, the Lord and Giver of Life; who proceeds from the Father [and the Son]; who with the Father and the Son together is worshiped and glorified; who spoke by the prophets.
And I believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church. I acknowledge one baptism for the remission of sins; and I look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen.”
On this day of incredible remembrance, may our hearts be filled with joy as we praise God for being the God who keeps His promises.
Respond
Write down Psalm 118:24 and Jeremiah 31:3 as reminders of God’s love and faithfulness. Jot them on 3x5 cards or sticky notes, or create graphics for your digital device. Put the notes or graphics in a location that you can see every day for the rest of the week - whether that’s on your bathroom mirror, next to the coffee pot, or on the background of your mobile device, let it serve as a reminder of God’s gracious love and the hope we have in Jesus Christ on Resurrection Sunday.
“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
“The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3
If your Scripture reminders serve you well, be encouraged to find a different Bible verse each week to make this practice a regular habit. Filling our hearts and minds with God’s Word can give us hope, teach us, and equip us for the work ahead of us (2 Timothy 3:16-17) in this life!
Rest
Dear Lord, we thank you for this Easter Sunday! We are grateful that in your marvelous plan, as Resurrection Sunday followed Good Friday and Holy Saturday that truly left us lost and silent. Thank you for giving us hope for the future through Jesus Christ! Thank you for sending your Son to die on the cross for our sins, defeat death on our behalf, and rise again according to your Scriptures for our hope.
We thank you that we serve the One true, living God, and have a Heavenly Father that keeps His promises. Thank you for loving us with an ever-lasting kindness and mercy that will follow us all the days of our lives. We ask for your blessing of joy on this Resurrection Sunday, and to remind us of your grace and love today. May we share the hope and love of Jesus Christ with those around us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
About the Author
Jessica deLinde Dyckman is the founding editor of “The Courageous & Kind Project” a digital media project dedicated to empowering women to live out their God-given purpose. She and her husband live in Atlanta, Georgia, with their son who will be a big brother this July! Jessica is involved in her community with Oak Grove MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers), the Main Street Classical Christian School, and the Junior League of Atlanta.
Find Jessica on The Courageous & Kind Project podcast on any major streaming platform or follow C&K on social media @TheCourageousandKindProject or www.courageousandkind.org.