Weekend, April 11, 2020
Easter Has the Final Say
“So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man” (1 Corinthians 15:21 nlt).
Researchers have found that disappointment is one of the toughest emotional experiences. An article from The Cut pointed out that “the feeling is inextricably linked with the brain chemical dopamine.”
When something good happens to you, dopamine is released. You get almost an emotional rush. Or maybe something exciting is coming like your birthday. So, you post it on social media, but no one acknowledges it. First you get the double dopamine rush, and then you experience the double downer afterwards. It’s an actual chemical reaction. This brings the disappointment.
A lot of things can happen to cause us to feel that way. Maybe your plans were disrupted due to COVID-19. Maybe something traumatic just happened to you or your family. Or maybe you even feel that God has let you down.
Imagine the disappointment the disciples felt when Jesus was murdered and taken away from them. But He promised that He would rise from the dead.
The women who went to the tomb together to anoint His dead body were not expecting to see a risen Lord. But an angel told them, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body” (Mark 16:6 nlt).
Jesus rose in a real body in a real world in a real way.
The Bible tells us, “But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died. So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man” (1 Corinthians 15:20–21 nlt).
Death does not have the final say, even over our bodies. Easter has the final say.
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Grief is one of life’s most difficult challenges. Pastor Greg Laurie experienced this truth when his son Christopher passed away suddenly. Discover comfort and healing in times of pain as you read his book Hope for Hurting Hearts. Receive your copy as our gift for your donation of any amount to Harvest Ministries this month.
