To understand the impact the resurrection of Jesus had and still has, we must try to understand it initially from a first century disciple’s perspective. The disciples had been following Jesus for about three years. They were astounded and perplexed by Him. He was their hope of a life beyond their existence as fishermen and tax collectors. They believed that Jesus was going to restore the kingdom back to Israel. His favorite subject was the kingdom of God. They could envision the Romans being driven from town and the return of the kingdom back to the Jews with Jesus as king. They could see themselves as His right hand men, seated next to Him on His throne. As if to reinforce their vision, Jesus comes to Jerusalem and the people cry, “Hosanna, Hosanna,” which in its literal translation means, “Save us now!” The palm branches thrown before His donkey were not Jewish confetti; the palm branch was the symbol for the nation of Israel before the Star of David. All of this was screaming to the imaginations of the disciples that the time was coming soon.

It was against this backdrop that the disciples experienced the cruel, horrific torture and death of their beloved King Jesus. The scriptures are clear that the disciples did not fully understand. You know there had to be times when Jesus looked up to heaven and asked, “Father, are you sure these are the ones?” Even though Jesus told them this would happen, their hope and expectations would not let them see it.

As He bled, suffered, and died, suspended between heaven and earth, the disciples’ hopes, expectations, and passions, bled, suffered, and died as well. They had left everything to follow Him, and it had come to nothing. Speechless, tired, and weary, they laid His beaten and lifeless body in a borrowed tomb along with their dead hope. Three supernatural years filled with many reality-shattering memories came to an end as a loud, unified grunt rang out and the huge stone was rolled into place, sealing behind it His lifeless body and their deflated lives. But not for long!

“He’s alive! He’s alive!” rang through the crisp desert morning. They had never seen Mary quite like this. They tried to calm her down, but whatever she had seen, she was not going to recover from easily. Finally, she told them more details and they sprinted for the tomb. Even with their doubts and unbelief, this kind of claim demanded their attention.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ has many implications such as life beyond death and first fruits of new creation, but the disciples did not run to the tomb that day wondering about the theological implications of what they might see. They were not concerned about what doctrinal statements some American theologian might milk from a text that recounts their story. They were not thinking about church creeds or Christian apologetics. They wondered if it could be true. Could He really be alive?

To the disciples, the resurrection of Jesus was the resurrection of hope, of life, and of love. It was the resurrection of their beloved King. It meant that there was life beyond their disappointment, failure, disloyalty, doubt, depression, and fear. There was life beyond the grave. There was life beyond death, and not simply Jesus’ death, but the death they were experiencing in His absence. Jesus’ resurrection was not simply for Him; it meant resurrection for the disciples and for all who would follow Him.

The resurrection certainly has great implications about life after death, but it has implications for life this side of death. The resurrection of Jesus means death does not have to be determinative of our lives. How we view the world and the circumstances of our lives does not have to be defined by the fact that there is loss, pain, tragedy, betrayal, and death. The resurrection means that there is life beyond tragedy, suffering, disappointment, shame, failure, emptiness and sin. It means the life that Jesus Christ has come to give to all who would follow Him is a kind of life that is more determinative than death. This life Christ offers us does not shield us from death or any other negative experience but it grants us the power to go through it emerging as more than a conqueror. Therefore, because of the resurrection, all areas of our lives, regardless of the circumstances, can be pervaded with joy and peace.

Is there a place in your life where loss, pain, failure, or sin seems to be the most determining issue? What would your life look like if you lived confident that life, joy, and peace were more determinative than death, failure, or sin?

Lisa loved acting as long as she could remember. During the long summer days, she would assemble her younger brothers and sisters to reenact their favorite TV shows. The Oscars continued to be a highlight for Lisa, even into her young adult years—the dresses, the glamor! She would even image herself winning an Academy Award. Graduating from college with a theater degree, she found it difficult to find a job. Eventually she found a good job as a Children’s Pastor as a small church.

Soon it was time for the annual Christmas play, which was really a small circus. With her passion for theater and for children she told herself, “This is going to be the best Christmas play ever.” They practiced and practiced, and she assigned parts for every one of the children, even the ones that sporadically came on the bus ministry.

The Sunday production comes, and it is a disaster. The shepherds fight with each other, Lisa apparently has cooties, baby Jesus screams, the sheep bark instead of bleat, the angels’ wings fall off, and no one seems to remember the lines or melodies of the songs.

Following the production, there are snacks in the fellowship hall, but she just wants to hide! She knows it must have been the worst Christmas play ever. Tired, frustrated, and feeling like a failure, resentment begins to well up inside as she thinks about her childhood dream of acting. Where had her dreams gone? Had she settled? She begins to cry and says to herself, “I am done with all of this, and I am going to pursue my dreams!”

Suddenly, she feels a pull on the back of her dress. She turns to see Ricky, a young boy who has it rough. His dad is absent and his mother doesn’t really care much about him. Ricky smiles, reaches into the pocket of the old bathrobe that doubles as a shepherd’s coat with a rope around it, and pulls out a tattered plastic rose. “Miss Lisa,” he says, “thank you for letting me be a shepherd. No one has ever made me feel so special.” He leans in and hugs her waist, and then takes off for the cookies and Kool-Aid. From somewhere inside, she hears the voice of the Resurrected Jesus, “This is your Academy Award.” She clutches the rose, takes a slow, deep breath, and peacefully responds, “Thank you, Lord.”