Relevant Life

Today, I want to simply walk you through the death and resurrection of Jesus. Not as a lecture, but as the story that changed everything.

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The Cross

As Jesus was led to His execution, Matthew writes:

“On the way they found a man named Simon… The soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross.”

Matthew 27:32

At Golgotha, they offered Him wine mixed with gall, divided His clothes, and mocked Him as He hung between two criminals.

“If you’re the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

Matthew 27:40

But love held Him there.

At noon, darkness covered the land. And then:

“My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

Matthew 27:46

Moments later:

“Jesus loudly cried out once again and gave up his life.”

Matthew 27:50

The earth shook. The temple curtain tore. Even hardened soldiers whispered:

“Certainly, this was the Son of God!”

Matthew 27:54

Joseph of Arimathea laid Jesus in a new tomb, sealed behind a stone, guarded by soldiers.

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The Resurrection

At dawn on Sunday, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary approached the tomb.

“Suddenly, there was a powerful earthquake. An angel of the Lord… rolled the stone away.”

Matthew 28:2

The angel declared:

“He’s not here. He has been brought back to life.”

Matthew 28:6

As the women ran to tell the disciples, Jesus Himself met them on the road:

“Don’t be afraid. Go, tell my followers…”

Matthew 28:10

The King was alive. Death was defeated.

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Why It Matters

Erwin McManus once said:

“Jesus’ death wasn’t to free us from dying, but to free us from the fear of death.”

And N. T. Wright reminds us:

“Jesus’s resurrection is the beginning of God’s new project… to colonize earth with the life of heaven.”

Without the resurrection, there is no faith.

No hope.

No Christianity.

The apostles didn’t die for a metaphor — they died because they saw Him alive. Over 500 eyewitnesses saw the risen Christ. The evidence is overwhelming.

And the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead now lives in you.

If resurrection power conquered death, it can conquer whatever you’re facing today.

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