I believe hope is one of the most emotionally packed words in any language. When it is spoken, the impossible suddenly becomes possible, where darkness is overtaken by light and despair turns to joy. And that’s exactly what happened when a group of women arrived at Jesus’ tomb early on a Sunday morning to anoint His body with spices.
Days before, they had watched Jesus die horrifically, along with all their dreams. Though they believed He was the Messiah, who had come to rescue His people and establish His kingdom in Israel, it seemed He had died just like any ordinary person. As they approached the tomb, they expected to find a body, not a bright angel sitting on the stone that had once blocked the entrance. Nor were they prepared for his message: “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying” (Matt. 28:5-6).
Imagine their amazement when Jesus met them on their way back from the tomb (Matt. 28:8-9). In those moments, everything changed. Their tears were replaced with unspeakable joy because Jesus was victorious over mankind’s most formidable enemy. The women felt revitalized faith that day, and we as believers can live with similar confidence. Because of Christ’s resurrection, we have hope—not only for the future but also for the past and present.
Hope for Our Past
If the women had, as they’d expected, found Jesus’ dead body, we would all be in deep trouble. When the apostle Paul confronted the false teaching that claimed there was no resurrection, he pointed out the hopeless result: “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:17).
Jesus’ resurrection assures us that all our failings—past, present, and future—have been completely covered by His blood.
The good news is that Jesus’ resurrection proves the Father found the offering sufficient; it assures us that all our failings—past, present, and future—have been completely covered by the Savior’s blood. Paul makes this truth very clear in Romans 4:25, when he says Jesus “was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.” The day Jesus came out of the grave, He affirmed once and for all that every person who has or will ever accept Him as Lord and Savior has been forgiven and accepted by God, not on the basis of behavior, but by grace through faith in the death and resurrection of Christ. That empty tomb is the reason we can rejoice.
Hope for Our Future
The resurrection is also the reason we can be confident about our future. Paul told the Corinthians (who doubted Christ’s resurrection), “If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied” (1 Corinthians 15:19). Why should we have any hope of eternal life if our Savior is still in the grave? That would mean He didn’t conquer death for either Himself or us. But because Jesus did vanquish death, He has the power and authority to give us eternal life. Though our bodies may perish, our spirits remain alive and go immediately into the Lord’s presence.
And having already been justified by Christ, we will also be glorified with Him. This is the culmination of our salvation and the blessed hope that sustains us during life’s hardships and pain. When our flesh weakens with age or succumbs to illness, we know that we will one day receive strong immortal bodies that will never become tired or sick. This life is a mere breath compared to eternity.
Hope for Our Present
It’s all well and good to rejoice in our salvation and hope for our future glorification, but what does Christ’s resurrection do for us right now? Before He died, Christ made this promise: “I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you” (John 16:7). Christ had to die, be resurrected, and ascend into heaven before He could send His Spirit. It is the Holy Spirit who transforms and empowers believers to live the Christian life as new creatures. This means that as the Spirit sanctifies us—by giving us understanding of God’s Word, empowering us to overcome sin, conforming us to Christ’s image, and encouraging us through life’s trials—we can walk in newness of life.
Considering what’s at stake, Christ’s resurrection is the best news we could ever hear. Now we have confidence that we are forgiven and declared righteous. All we need has been provided for us by God’s Spirit and Word. And we know with certainty that we will one day be glorified when Christ returns. As was true of those women who found an empty tomb, our hope is real. We have been “born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). Knowing that, we can’t help but be encouraged—today and every day hereafter.
Reflect
Most of us are so familiar with the resurrection that we can miss the wonder of that event. It helps to imagine ourselves alongside the women who discovered the empty tomb. What would it be like to go from despair to hope in such a short amount of time? How would knowing that Jesus rose just as He had predicted increase your faith in everything else He said? How would it affect the way you handle seemingly hopeless situations in the future?
Today we usually associate hope with optimistic (but uncertain) desires for the future. However, there is nothing ambiguous about the believer’s hope because it’s based on God’s Word, which is always true. Think about the hope Christ’s resurrection brings to you personally.
It is the Holy Spirit who transforms and empowers believers to live the Christian life as new creatures.
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How confident are you that God has forgiven your sins and declared you righteous? Is your answer based on what the Bible says or on your own feelings or failures?
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Is your life characterized by steadfastness of hope, or do circumstances often cause you to forget God’s promises? If you find yourself in need of renewal, the place to go is God’s Word (Rom. 15:4).
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Is your future hope of heaven a stabilizing lens through which you see all of life, or is it something you rarely consider? The hope of glory isn’t something unrelated to this life. It not only gives us an eternal perspective on our sufferings and troubles but also has a purifying effect on our lives (1 John 3:2-3).
Pray
Heavenly Father, I confess that I sometimes lose sight of the hope you have given me through Christ’s resurrection. Therefore, I ask that You fill me with joy and peace in believing Your Word so that I can abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 15:13). I ask this in Jesus’ name and according to Your good and perfect will. Amen.
Meditate
- Romans 15:4
- 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
- Hebrews 10:23
- 1 Peter 1:13
- 1 Peter 1:20-21
Practice
Although hope at times comes with improved circumstances, for Christians it’s also something we can choose despite the evidence to the contrary. Knowing this, you can each take steps to become a more hopeful believer. So walk in faith by viewing your hopeless situation in light of what God has said in His Word rather than how the circumstances appear. Look beyond the immediate to the eternal by meditating on Romans 8:22-25 and 2 Corinthians 4:16-18. Start praising and thanking God. Remembering His past faithfulness and current blessings takes your mind off troubles and lifts your spirit.
Photograph by Paul Bellart/Trunk Archive
