Have You 'Seen' Jesus? He Is Alive! | Resurrection Sunday | Apr 5, 2026

The resurrection stands at the center of faith as a decisive, history-changing event. Scripture lists eyewitnesses, and the risen Christ appears in varied, human moments: to a grieving follower who moves from despair to hope, to two disappointed travelers whose hearts ignite when Scripture opens, to a skeptical apostle whose demand for proof becomes a confession of Lordship, to a denier who receives restoration and renewed commission, and to a persecutor whose encounter flips vocation from destroyer to missionary. These appearances do not arrive as polished proofs; they enter lives in sorrow, confusion, doubt, failure, and resistance—and they change those lives forever.

Historic accounts recur across letters and gospel narratives. A careful recorder notes that Jesus showed himself alive with many infallible proofs over forty days, and the apostolic witness names Cephas, the Twelve, five hundred believers, James, and Paul among those who saw him. The post-resurrection presence includes teaching through Scripture, ordinary meals, and intimate naming; each encounter exposes sin’s cost, reveals divine mercy, and redirects human longing toward eternal realities.

The resurrection also reframes Christ’s identity. Prophetic suffering leads to vindication; the marred visage of death gives way to a sovereign, exalted Lord who holds the keys of death and reigns as King of kings. Revelation’s vision displays both tender shepherd and conquering judge, the one who sustains the weak and who will one day execute final justice. Creation itself testifies to his creative word, underscoring that the one who walked from the tomb commands the universe.

Meeting this risen Lord requires honest appraisal of the human condition and simple trust in what Christ accomplished. Recognition of sin, faith that Christ died and rose for sinners, and receiving him by reliance, not by works, mark the path into new life. Grace accomplishes what effort cannot: it births the believer anew, equips with the Spirit, and sends into a transformed life of witness. The risen Christ seeks the grieving, the disappointed, the doubting, the failing, and the resisting; in each encounter he offers restoration, purpose, and salvation.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. Resurrection is the decisive fact The resurrection does not sit as one truth among many; it serves as the hinge upon which justification, victory over death, and the promise of future restoration turn. If Christ did not rise, claims about forgiveness, divine vindication, and hope lose their foundation. The historical and theological weight of the empty tomb demands a response of trust that reshapes identity and mission. [36:34]
• 2. Encounters transform the broken heart Resurrection appearances meet people where they are: grieving, disappointed, confused, or ashamed. Encountering the risen Lord does not erase past pain instantly, but it reframes suffering within God’s redemptive purpose and releases a living hope that reorients desire and action. The pattern repeats: recognition, commissioning, and renewed courage to live differently. [41:17]
• 3. Belief comes before physical seeing Faith opens the eyes that reason alone cannot; spiritual sight follows trust. The highest blessing belongs to those who believe without having handled the wounds—faith validates the testimony of Scripture and the witness of the Spirit. This posture invites honest questions, not final proof, and trusts God to disclose himself in due time. [54:45]
• 4. Grace rewrites the worst past No record of failure or hostility disqualifies a heart from God’s compassion; even the fiercest opponent becomes an apostle when met by mercy. Grace does not excuse sin but remakes the sinner, turning persecution into proclamation and guilt into vocation. The gospel demonstrates that transformation flows from encounter, not merit. [64:49]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [33:43] - Junior Church Dismissal & Opening
• [34:50] - Gospel Song: “Story About Jesus”
• [36:34] - The Resurrection’s Significance
• [37:53] - Reading: 1 Corinthians 15
• [41:17] - Mary Magdalene: The Grieving One
• [44:43] - Emmaus Road: The Disappointed Couple
• [52:36] - Thomas: The Proof Seeker
• [60:04] - Peter: Denial to Restoration
• [62:53] - Saul/Paul: Persecutor to Preacher
• [72:43] - Revelation: The Exalted Christ
• [76:31] - How to Meet Jesus: Believe & Receive
• [83:12] - Invitation, Prayer, and Closing

Bible reading
1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (ESV)
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

Observation questions

1. According to 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, to whom did the risen Christ appear?
2. What was Mary Magdalene’s emotional state and initial reaction when she saw Jesus at the tomb? [41:54]
3. What specific proof did Thomas demand before he would believe Jesus was alive? [53:19]
4. How did Jesus restore Peter after his three denials, and what task did he give him? [01:00:17]

Interpretation questions

1. Why is the historical fact of the resurrection, supported by many eyewitnesses, so foundational to the Christian faith? [39:18]
2. Jesus met people in their grief, disappointment, and doubt. What does this reveal about his character and how he relates to our human struggles? [01:07:37]
3. Jesus told Thomas, “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” What does this say about the relationship between physical proof and genuine faith? [54:45]
4. How can the transformation of Saul, a violent persecutor of the church, into Paul, its greatest missionary, give hope to those who feel far from God? [01:04:49]

Application questions

1. The resurrection is the decisive fact of history. If Christ is not risen, our faith is meaningless. How does this central truth shape your identity, your purpose, and your hope for the future on a daily basis? [36:34]
2. Encounters with the risen Christ transform broken hearts. In what area of your life—grief, disappointment, confusion, or shame—do you need to experience his presence to reframe your pain within God’s redemptive purpose? [41:17]
3. Belief comes before physical seeing. What honest questions or doubts do you need to bring to Jesus, trusting that he will meet you and that spiritual sight will follow trust? [54:45]
4. Grace rewrites the worst past. Is there a failure, regret, or season of resistance in your life that you struggle to believe God’s grace can restore and use for his purpose? [01:04:49]
5. The risen Christ seeks out those who are grieving, doubting, and resisting. Who in your life is in one of these places, and how can you gently point them toward the hope of an encounter with him?
6. After meeting Jesus, Mary, the disciples on the road, and Peter were all compelled to go and tell others. How does the reality of the resurrection naturally move us from being silent observers to becoming active witnesses? [44:03]
7. Salvation is a gift received by faith, not achieved by works. Have you fully rested in what Christ accomplished for you, or are you still trying to add your own efforts to be “good enough” for God? [01:18:53]