What If It's True? Easter Sunday 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Resurrection is a Dividing Line of Eternal Consequence

The resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as the most pivotal event in all of human history. It is not merely a historical footnote or a religious symbol, but a reality that demands a personal response. What one decides about the resurrection—whether to believe it is true or not—is the most important decision one will ever make. This choice determines not only the manner in which one lives their life on earth, but also the destination of their eternity. It is the great dividing line that separates doubt from belief, death from life. [01:16]

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16, NKJV)

Reflection: As you consider the claim that the resurrection is a dividing line, what is your current position in relation to that line? What questions or doubts would you need to honestly address to move from a place of uncertainty to a place of informed faith?

Day 2: The Unlikely First Witnesses Strengthen the Case

In a culture that did not value their testimony, women were the first reported eyewitnesses to the empty tomb and the angelic proclamation. This historical detail, recorded across the Gospel accounts, provides a powerful piece of evidence for the resurrection’s authenticity. If the story were fabricated, the authors would never have chosen witnesses whose accounts would be automatically dismissed by their contemporaries. The varying perspectives found in the different Gospels do not conflict, but rather strengthen the testimony, much like multiple witnesses to an event whose stories are not choreographed. [10:07]

Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. (Luke 24:9-10, NKJV)

Reflection: Where in your own life have you encountered something that seemed too good to be true, and how did you work to verify its authenticity? How does the credibility of these first witnesses encourage you to investigate the claims of Christ for yourself?

Day 3: Jesus Foretold His Death and Resurrection

The resurrection was not a contingency plan or a tragic story with an unexpected twist. Jesus repeatedly and specifically predicted His own betrayal, crucifixion, and resurrection on the third day. These prophecies, given to His disciples while He was still in Galilee, were remembered and fulfilled exactly as He said. This was the divine plan from the beginning, demonstrating God’s sovereign control over history and His purposeful mission to redeem humanity through the cross and the empty tomb. [18:47]

Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.” (Luke 18:31-33, NKJV)

Reflection: How does the fact that Jesus knew and predicted His own suffering and victory change your understanding of His love and commitment to you? What area of your life might you trust Him with more fully, knowing He is a God who keeps His promises?

Day 4: The Disciples' Initial Doubt Points to Truth

The apostles, who would later become bold proclaimers of the Gospel, are portrayed in Scripture as doubtful and disbelieving upon first hearing the news of the resurrection. They dismissed the women’s report as “idle tales” and even when Jesus appeared to them, they struggled with disbelief. This honest portrayal of their skepticism is a mark of authenticity; if they were fabricating the story, they would have certainly written themselves as faithful heroes from the start. Their initial doubt makes their eventual transformation all the more powerful. [22:13]

And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest… And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. (Luke 24:8-9, 11, NKJV)

Reflection: When have you, like the disciples, found a promise of God difficult to believe? How can acknowledging your doubts, rather than hiding them, become a step toward a deeper and more resilient faith?

Day 5: An Encounter with the Risen Christ Changes Everything

The disciples were transformed from a frightened, doubting group into men who were willing to suffer and die for their testimony. This radical change was not the result of a clever idea or a shared myth, but was powered by their direct encounters with the physically resurrected Jesus. He showed them His hands and feet, ate broiled fish in their presence, and provided overwhelming proof that He had bodily conquered death. Seeing Him alive removed all doubt and filled them with a courage that could only come from knowing the truth. [28:53]

Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet… So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence. (Luke 24:39-40, 42-43, NKJV)

Reflection: If you were to truly believe that Jesus is alive and present with you today, what specific fear would you ask Him to replace with His peace, and what step of obedience would you be empowered to take?

Sermon Summary

The resurrection of Jesus stands as the decisive event of history, determining how people live and where they spend eternity. The resurrection functions as a dividing line: belief moves a person across from doubt into the reality of Christ’s work, and unbelief leaves that gap unresolved. Four concrete pieces of evidence strengthen the claim that Jesus rose bodily from the grave. First, women reported the first eyewitness accounts of the empty tomb—an unlikely invention in a culture that devalued female testimony, which undermines any charge of a fabricated story. Second, Jesus repeatedly and plainly predicted his betrayal, crucifixion, and rising on the third day, using Old Testament patterns and explicit sayings that reveal the event as planned rather than accidental. Third, the apostles initially rejected the reports of the women and of others; their skepticism, recorded openly, removes incentive to invent a triumphant narrative that would have portrayed them as confident insiders. Fourth, multiple post-resurrection appearances—displaying hands and feet, eating in front of the disciples, and meeting scores of witnesses—produced a radical transformation: frightened, faithless followers became bold proclaimers willing to suffer, and many bore persecution or death for affirming what they had seen.

The cumulative testimony in the narrative emphasizes bodily resurrection, historical predictions, the honesty of early witnesses, and the observable change in the community of followers. These elements combine into a coherent case that one of two conclusions must hold: either the resurrection happened and the gospel’s claims about Jesus’ identity and victory over death stand, or a vast, implausible conspiracy of error and deception explains the facts. The account then issues a moral and spiritual challenge: if the resurrection truly occurred, it reorients duty, worship, and the urgency of personal response—trusting Christ as Lord and believing in his rising becomes the pivot for salvation. The narrative closes with a direct call to respond by confessing Jesus as Lord and trusting that God raised him from the dead, an invitation that frames repentance and faith as the required way to receive eternal life.

Key Takeaways

1. Women were first eyewitnesses Women arrive first at the tomb and report an empty grave, a detail that weakens any theory of invention since female testimony carried little credibility in that culture. The unexpected prominence of women as primary witnesses points to historical accuracy rather than a contrived legend. Their role forces skeptics to account for why a made-up story would begin with marginalized witnesses. [03:54]
2. Jesus foretold his death and rising Multiple sayings and Old Testament parallels portray the death and resurrection as predicted events, not improvisations after a tragedy. References to Jonah’s three days and specific warnings to the Twelve show consistent intent and theological meaning behind the cross and the empty tomb. When prediction and fulfillment align, the case shifts from myth to history with theological purpose. [10:31]
3. Apostles initially refused to believe The Twelve dismiss women’s reports and require proof, displaying reluctance rather than eagerness to promote a resurrection claim. If the story had been manufactured, the accounts would likely elevate the apostles’ insight and confidence, not record their astonished doubt. Recorded skepticism functions as a form of narrative honesty that enhances credibility. [19:08]
4. Seeing Jesus changed the apostles Post-resurrection appearances included physical proofs—hands, feet, and shared food—and produced immediate, costly courage among followers. Converting frightened, faithless men into bold witnesses willing to die is best explained by genuine encounters with a risen, embodied Jesus. The radical moral and missional shift in their lives serves as powerful evidence of an event that actually occurred. [22:33]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:24] - Easter: Why the Resurrection Matters
[03:06] - Four Pieces of Evidence Introduced
[03:54] - Women as First Witnesses
[10:31] - Jesus Foretold Death and Rising
[19:08] - Disciples’ Initial Doubt
[22:33] - Seeing Jesus Changed Them Forever
[34:19] - The Caterpillar Illustration and Challenge
[37:34] - Gospel Invitation: Confess and Believe

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading: Luke 24:1-12, 36-43 (NKJV)
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’” And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them. But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.

Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them and said to them, “Peace to you.” But they were terrified and frightened, and supposed they had seen a spirit. And He said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet. But while they still did not believe for joy, and marveled, He said to them, “Have you any food here?” So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb. And He took it and ate in their presence.

Observation questions

What did the women find when they arrived at the tomb, and what was their initial reaction?
What specific prediction did the angels remind the women that Jesus had made? [10:31]
How did the apostles initially respond to the women’s report of the empty tomb? [19:08]
What physical proofs did Jesus offer to His disciples to show He was not a spirit but had a real, resurrected body?

Interpretation questions

Why is the fact that women were the first reported eyewitnesses considered such a strong piece of evidence for the resurrection’s authenticity? [03:54]
The disciples’ initial doubt is recorded openly in the text. If the story were fabricated, why would the authors include details that make the main characters look doubtful and faithless?
Jesus went to great lengths to prove He had a physical, bodily resurrection by showing His wounds and eating food. Why was it so important to establish that He was not just a spirit or a ghost?
The sermon mentioned that Jesus’ death and resurrection were predicted events, not improvisations after a tragedy. How does this understanding change the way we view the cross and the empty tomb?

Application questions

The resurrection is described as a dividing line that determines how we live and where we spend eternity. [01:16] On which side of that line do you find yourself today, and what makes you say that?
The disciples were transformed from frightened, faithless followers into bold proclaimers. [22:33] What evidence of this resurrection-powered transformation can others see in your own life?
If the resurrection is true, it means Jesus is Lord and we are accountable to Him. [35:27] What area of your life feels the most resistant to His lordship right now, and what would it look like to trust Him with it?
The invitation is to confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead. [37:34] Have you ever personally responded to this invitation? If not, what is holding you back from taking that step of faith today?
The sermon used the illustration of a caterpillar’s transformation into a butterfly as a picture of resurrection. [32:09] How does this everyday miracle in nature strengthen your faith in God’s power to bring new life?
Knowing that the apostles were willing to suffer and die for what they had seen, how does their courage challenge your own willingness to share your faith with others, even when it might be uncomfortable? [23:29]

Sermon Clips

And and and because they got upset and killed him that then he decided that rising from the dead was what he would do next. That would no friends. This was the plan from the beginning. It that he would be home on a cross as a payment for our sin, that he would die and endure the wrath of God against sin himself, and that he would remain in the grave for three days, and then he would rise from the dead to prove that he was who he said he was, that he has power over death, and to give us new life. Amen? [00:17:51] (32 seconds) #ResurrectionByDesign

Friends, the overwhelming testimony and what the Bible proclaims is that Jesus literally and bodily, Jesus made that clear in what we just read, rose from the dead. And the disciples being able to be eyewitnesses of that were changed forever because of it, friends. They went from being scared and doubting and not believing to being so bold for their faith that they were willing to suffer and and even die for the gospel. [00:27:53] (36 seconds) #EyewitnessesMadeBold

And so here's the conclusion then we draw from that is, if the disciples were trying to make up the story of the resurrection, which is one of the things that has been accused. Right? That the disciples just made up this story, that this story just became, you know, legend and then they wrote these things down to kinda, make this up and so forth. If the disciples were trying to make up the story of the resurrection or if they were just trying to pull a ruse on society or history or whatever and pretend that Jesus really rose from the dead when he really didn't, then the last thing they would ever do, friends, would be to use women as the first ones to get to the tomb and be eyewitnesses of the resurrection. [00:06:53] (45 seconds) #WomenFirstWitnesses

It means that Jesus really was God in the flesh, that he deserves our worship. Is he worthy? Absolutely, he's worthy. It means that we are accountable to him, and it means that trusting in Jesus Christ as your Lord and your savior and your God is the only thing that will make a difference between heaven and hell. The Bible teaches that our soul is going to live on. That just like a caterpillar, our body is going to die. But guess what? You are not. [00:35:13] (42 seconds) #ResurrectionAffirmsDivinity

And friends, the good news is that we can receive heaven, not by doing a bunch of things or by coming and all this other stuff, friends, or what have you or giving money or any of that kind of stuff. Not that those are bad things, but necessarily listen, but none of that helps us get to heaven. It is simply by God's grace through faith in Jesus Christ. [00:37:01] (24 seconds) #SalvationByGraceThroughFaith

Because friends, if the resurrection is really true, then there's a bunch of things that it means. Primarily, it means, friends, that Jesus was who he said he was, God in the flesh, and that he did what he said he did. He died on the cross to pay for your sins and for mine. It means that that the bible is true. Guess what? Jesus believed it was true. And so if he is God, I think we can just make a logical conclusion from one to the other. It means that God is real. [00:34:28] (37 seconds) #ResurrectionValidatesTruth

If then, we see with our eyes and we know for a fact that God can do that with this little creature, Why then is it so hard for us to believe that he, the God man who stepped out of heaven and came to Earth to do what we could not do for ourselves, to live a sinless life, die on a cross, and then rise from the dead. Why is it so hard for us to believe that when we see such a great miracle right in front of us that is so very similar, and that he will also do something similar for us? [00:32:41] (38 seconds) #NatureMiraclesConfirmFaith

So Jesus proceeded to eat something in front of them as further proof. Verse 42, so they gave him a piece of broiled fish and some honeycomb, and he took it and ate in their presence. Friends, Jesus went above and beyond to prove to them and leave no doubt in their minds that he had risen bodily from the dead. The bible goes on to record no less than 10 different distinct resurrection appearances where Jesus appears either to the 11 or to other disciples and so forth between the time of his resurrection and his ascension, including the apostle Paul, including his half brother James, including as the apostle Paul says, over 500 brethren at once. [00:26:59] (53 seconds) #BodilyResurrectionProofs

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What If It's True? Easter Sunday 2026

Devotional

Day 1: The Resurrection is a Dividing Line of Eternal Consequence

Day 2: The Unlikely First Witnesses Strengthen the Case

Day 3: Jesus Foretold His Death and Resurrection

Day 4: The Disciples' Initial Doubt Points to Truth

Day 5: An Encounter with the Risen Christ Changes Everything

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

What If It's True? Easter Sunday 2026

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