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Have you ever witnessed something that you couldn’t stop talking about—something that was so exciting, such a blessing, that you couldn’t help but tell others?
The disciples did. But they didn’t care how others reacted to the thrilling news. The power of the resurrection compels us to share the good news of hope that can only come through Christ. Peter and John stated it clearly when they were persecuted for healing a lame man and speaking of the resurrection.
As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard (Acts 4:20).
They couldn’t shut up about it. The news was too good, too transforming to keep silent. And it wasn’t about those men, but rather it was about the news they shared and about the One with whom they had spent their time.
Which is why I have come to love and appreciate an earlier verse from the account in Acts 4... Verse 13 says, “When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
My challenge for you today:
Can others tell when you have been with Jesus?
Are you so filled with the hope and love of the good news of the resurrection that you can’t help but share that with others?
Additional note by Katie Forbess:
Jesus doesn’t ask us to stay at the tomb and simply wonder at the resurrection. He asks us to share the gospel. There are so many ways for us to do this. There are Bible classes to be taught, cards to be written, correspondence courses to be graded, jails to be visited, small congregations to be encouraged, and nursing homes to be sung at.
If the transforming power of Jesus has touched our lives we should be touching others lives with the good news of the gospel! Yet the most direct way to share the gospel is by telling our own stories. Not our resume of where we work and what we do for God but what he continually does for us. Saves us. Holds us. Rejoices over us.
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Mixed emotions. We are full of them. We cry tears of sorrow and joy, in the same moment. The things that make us most excited also make us the most nervous—just ask a new parent. Yesterday, I felt relieved and sad at the same time. Our mixed emotions may seem illogical, but they are very real manifestations of all that is going on in our minds and hearts.
And spiritually speaking, many of our emotions and reactions do not make sense to the world. We rejoice when faced with trials, praise meekness, and consider blessed those who are poor in spirit.
As Christians, we even celebrate death! You know why? Because we see the power of the resurrection. The resurrection turned everything upside down.
After the resurrection, the mourning of the disciples was turned to gladness and their sorrow was turned to joy.
And, when the women approached the tomb and learned from the angel that Jesus had risen, we see that they were “afraid, yet filled with joy.”
What do you think made them feel afraid? Was their joy made complete because of their fear? Have you ever felt afraid, yet filled with joy?
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. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. ~ Matthew 28:5-9
So, today I ask, what do you fear? How does the resurrection bring joy to your fears? And how does the resurrection transform our reaction to all things?