The Passion - Easter DevotionalSample

"Three Days Later" Devotional - The Passion

Want to know the best news about Christianity? These three words pretty much sum it up:

Jesus is alive.

Yes, His sacrifice on the cross means everything, but what would our faith look like if He had stayed in the tomb? Not even death could hold Him. 

Jesus predicted His own death and resurrection. He knew the plans the Father had for Him. He knew His purpose, and He was intent on fulfilling it at all costs. He told the disciples this in the midst of His ministry. 

“Jesus warned his disciples not to tell anyone who he was. ‘The Son of Man must suffer many terrible things,’ he said. ‘He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.’” (Luke 9:21-22, NLT)

At the time, His apostles could not even begin to fathom the road that lay ahead. They probably looked at Him with confusion. Yet, I wonder if they remembered His words after the crucifixion? Did it fill them with hope? Did they wait with baited breath during those three long days?

It seems His followers suffered from a little bit of amnesia during this three-day waiting period. Like the women at the grave, they thought it was the end. The women who came that Sunday morning were quite puzzled when they couldn’t find the body, but the angels at the tomb quickly reminded them of Jesus’ words.

“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 he 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 24:4-8, NIV)

What words have you forgotten? Are there promises that Jesus has spoken over you that have yet to be fulfilled in your life? Wait. Get ready. It’s coming. He has never spoken anything that has not come to pass. For as surely as the sun rises, He will appear. (Hosea 6:3).