Luke 24:1-12

“Who says that a picture is worth a thousand words?” asked Dan Chaney, a young radio advertising executive who stood to give a speech in one of Ron Willingham’s classes.

Before anyone could answer, Ron recalled Dan’s answer to his own question.

“You give me a thousand words, and I’ll take the Lord’s prayer, the Twenty-Third Psalm, the Hippocratic Oath, a sonnet by Shakespeare, the Preamble to the Constitution, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, and I’ll still have enough words left over for just about all of the Boy Scout Oath.”

“Now would you trade these one thousand words for any picture?” Dan demanded.

In today text’s there are just three words that changed lives. Turned sadness to gladness. Renewed hope. Reversed direction. Provided purpose. And shouted, “Victory.”

Three words literally have painted a picture that has changed the world. And the course of all human history.

“He has Risen.”

These words were spoken by the angelic messengers to the women who came to Jesus’ tomb very early on the Sunday following his crucifixion. Luke recorded that “Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them” came to anoint Jesus’ body with spices and aloes. Their biggest concern was “Who will roll the stone away?”

While their intentions indicated a heart-felt love and deep devotion to Jesus, they also demonstrated a lack of faith in His promise to rise again the third day. However, their mission was thwarted and their direction changed when they found the stone rolled away and Jesus’ body gone.

While they stood perplexed at the sight of the empty tomb, the angels pronouncement stirred their memory and buoyed their spirits.

“Why do you seek the living One among the dead? “He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”

Imagine the excitement in their voices when they hurried to tell their story to the apostles. Yet, they deemed it “nonsense.” Mere idle tales. Impossible. However, Peter had to see for himself. Rushing to the tomb, he stooped, looked in, saw the grave clothes, but no body. He returned home marveling and wondering, “Could it be?” Soon, he will see Jesus for himself. Then 50 days later on Pentecost his message to all of Jerusalem will be “He has risen.”

By the way, can you imagine the shocked looks when the Roman soldiers, Pontus Pilate, Herod, the High Priest, the Sanhedrin council and all the Pharisees, hear these three words–”He has risen.” For three days, those who’ve schemed to eliminate Jesus and have smugly said, “He’s dead.” Now, they hear “He is alive.”

The resurrection narrative is one that thrills our hearts. Captivates our imagination. And is weekly remembered every Sunday when we participate in communion.

However, it’s well to remember that God didn’t provide this account for us to merely look back in amazement. But to fortify our faith. And look forward in hope.

These three words, “He has risen,” have practical application in my daily life. My bodily resurrection is rooted in the fact and power that “He is risen” (1 Cor. 15).

1. Jesus’ resurrection and the promise of ours gives me strength to face life’s challenges when I feel weak.

2. When I am depressed, disheartened, and discouraged, knowing I serve a risen Savior provides encouragement to keep on keeping on.

3. When Satan assails my soul, the knowledge of the resurrection offers the incentive to live a holy life and “abstain from fleshly lusts that war against the soul.”

4. The hope of the resurrection strengthens my faith when I’m prone to doubt and tempted to question God.

5. When life feels futile, and I wonder “Does my life count?” I’m reminded that I have a living and eternal hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

6. When defeat looms large and it seems that the devil has a foothold while the world blindly follows, the resurrection assures me of eternal victory.

“The message of the resurrection,” wrote N. T. Wright “is that this world matters!” More personally. You matter. And I matter.

The message of the resurrection assures us of a forgiven past, a purposeful present, and a brighter future.

Three little words. “He has risen.” And they make all the difference in the world. And in the world to come.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman