A Prayer to Proclaim “He Is Risen Indeed” - Your Daily Prayer - April 5
Your Daily Prayer
Audio By Carbonatix
By Whitney Hopler, Crosswalk.com
A Prayer to Proclaim “He Is Risen Indeed”
By: Whitney Hopler
Bible Reading:
“And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” – Luke 24:33-34, ESV
Listen or Read Below:
During Easter Sunday worship services at many churches, clergy people celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ by calling out: “He is risen!” People in the congregation usually respond: “He is risen indeed!” But for the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, the very first Easter didn’t start with a shout of victory. It started with a discouraging sense of confusion.
In Luke chapter 24, we find these followers walking away from Jerusalem. They were grieving the death of the man they thought would change the world. They had heard rumors of an empty tomb, but they didn’t yet know the truth of what had happened. It wasn’t until they personally met the resurrected Jesus and ate a meal with him that their eyes were opened. As soon as they recognized Jesus, their confusion turned to joy.
The Bible tells us in Luke 24:33 that after recognizing Jesus, “they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem.” Even though they had already walked miles away from the city and the roads were dangerous at night, they were so excited that they couldn’t wait for morning to tell other people!
When we proclaim “He is risen indeed” on Easter Sunday, we can enjoy the same sense of excitement that Jesus’s disciples did on that first Easter. After all, we’re celebrating the reality that the world’s Savior has made a way for everyone who trusts him to have relationships with God forever! The worst event in the history of our world – the death of the Son of God – has been overcome by Jesus’ resurrection. Thanks to Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice to save us from sin, we can live with real hope because we can now connect to our holy Creator.
Luke chapter 24 reports that when the two disciples finally reached Jerusalem, they sought out “the eleven and those who were with them” (Luke 24:33). Before disciples who returned to Jerusalem could even get their story out, the group in the room met them with their own testimony: “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” (Luke 24:34).
God wants us to share our faith with the awe-inspiring excitement that the early believers expressed. This Easter, we can join a chorus of believers around the world, ever since the first Easter, proclaiming “He is risen indeed”! Jesus’ grave is empty because he is alive, working in wonderful ways to redeem this fallen world. Since Jesus is risen, the ultimate hope – living forever with God – is a reality.
This changes our perspective on suffering. We can be confident that the painful circumstances we go through will eventually give way to healing and restoration.
Jesus’ resurrection also changes our mission. Like the disciples who turned around to go back to Jerusalem and share the hope they found, we can share the hope Jesus has given us by sharing the Gospel message in fresh ways.
This also changes our identity. Since Jesus is risen, we’re not defined by any of our mistakes or struggles. We’re defined by unlimited possibilities instead, because our relationships with Jesus have given us access to his resurrection power. The Holy Spirit lives within us, empowering us to do whatever God leads us to do.
When we say “He is risen indeed” this Easter, we’re reminding ourselves and others that Jesus is a living Savior who walks beside us, just as he walked beside his disciples, waiting for us to recognize him and celebrate his presence!
Let’s Pray:
Dear Jesus, like the disciples on the road, I confess that there are times when I miss seeing you. I get distracted and don’t notice your presence with me. But please open my eyes. Let me see you standing in the middle of my life, alive and victorious. I believe that, because of your resurrection, I can live forever in heaven with you – and so can everyone I love who trusts you. Thank you for the community of believers you’ve placed around me, whose stories of your faithfulness strengthen my own faith.
Help me share your Gospel message with everyone you want me to reach. Give me the courage to share your light in this dark world where people are desperate for hope. I proclaim with my whole heart today on Easter Sunday: You are risen. You are risen indeed! Let this reality inspire me to follow your guidance every single day. You are my living hope, and I worship you this Easter and forever! Amen.
Share your reflections on today’s devotional in the Your Daily Prayer discussion on the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/AlessandroPhoto
Whitney Hopler helps people discover God's wonder and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at leading media organizations, including Crosswalk.com, The Salvation Army USA’s national publications, and Dotdash.com (where she produced a popular channel on angels and miracles). She currently leads the communications work at George Mason University’s Center for the Advancement of Well-Being. Connect with Whitney on her website at www.whitneyhopler.com and on her Facebook author page.
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