He Is Risen Indeed - Hope Rises

He Is Risen - Hope Rises
Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-18

Dear BFB Family,

TGBTG! He is risen — He is risen indeed!

After the silence of Saturday, after the sorrow of Friday, comes the breaking of the dawn. This morning, everything changes. The tomb is empty. Death has been defeated. Hope has risen — and His name is Jesus.

The Gospels tell us that early on that first Easter morning, the women went to the tomb expecting to find death. But instead, they found new life. The stone was rolled away. The grave clothes were folded. And an angel proclaimed the words that still echo through history: "He is not here; He has risen, just as He said." (Matthew 28:6)

1. God's Promises Always Prevail

The resurrection of Jesus is proof that God keeps His promises. Long before the cross, Jesus told His disciples exactly what would happen — that He would suffer, be killed, and on the third day rise again. In that empty tomb, God demonstrated once and for all that no matter how dark the night, His word will never fail. His promises are stronger than sin, stronger than death, and stronger than any enemy we face.

What I'm Thinking:
There are moments in life when God's promises seem distant or delayed — when the darkness feels overwhelming and the waiting feels endless. But Easter morning reminds us that even when we don't see how, God's word is at work. His silence is not His absence, and His delays are never denials. If God can conquer death itself, surely He can fulfill the promises He's made over your life. Trust Him. Hold fast. The grave is empty, and so are the fears that once held you.

2. New Life Begins at an Empty Tomb

The resurrection isn’t just a historical event — it’s a personal invitation. Because Jesus lives, we have access to a new life filled with hope, freedom, and purpose. The same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead now lives in us (Romans 8:11). This means we are no longer defined by our past failures, fears, or struggles. We are resurrection people — set free to live with boldness, love, and purpose.

What I'm Thinking:
Sometimes we live like the tomb is still sealed. We carry old guilt, old fear, old shame — forgetting that Jesus rolled all of it away. Easter calls us to rise with Him — to leave behind the grave clothes of who we were and walk in the newness of who we are in Christ. Whatever felt dead in your life — joy, purpose, hope — the risen Savior is calling it back to life today. Because He rose, you can rise too.

3. We Are Sent to Tell the Story

When Mary Magdalene encountered the risen Jesus, He didn’t just comfort her — He commissioned her: "Go and tell my brothers." (John 20:17). The resurrection isn't something we experience quietly — it’s a message meant to be shared boldly. We are witnesses to hope. Carriers of good news. Ambassadors of resurrection life. The same Jesus who called Mary to be the first evangelist calls us to carry the message to a world still desperate for life and light.

What I'm Thinking:
There is someone near you — a friend, a coworker, a family member — who needs to know that the grave doesn't have the final word. Someone needs the reminder that brokenness can be healed, that failure isn't fatal, and that new beginnings are possible because Jesus lives. Don’t keep the good news to yourself. You were not just saved for your own sake — you were saved to shine His light for others to see.

Easter Sunday is not just a holiday — it is the heartbeat of our faith. It is the declaration that no matter what comes against us, Jesus reigns victorious. It is the assurance that sin has been forgiven, death has been conquered, and eternal life has been secured for all who believe.

Today, we rejoice because the silence has been shattered, the grave has been conquered, and hope has risen with the dawn. The stone is rolled away — and because He lives, so do we.

In His Service
FLC

p.s. I love you and there ain't nothing you can do about it.