Why Jesus’ Resurrection Changed Everything

A sealed tomb should have been the end of the story, yet the first Easter Sunday becomes the day everything turns. We start with a question that won’t let go: how could someone executed like a common criminal change the course of history? By walking step by step with the women who loved Jesus, we trace the early morning road to the grave, the unanswered worry about the stone, and the shock of finding the entrance open. The empty tomb isn’t treated like a symbol, but like a moment with names, witnesses, and details that demand a response.

We linger with Mary Magdalene outside the tomb, wailing in grief, until the risen Jesus speaks one word that changes everything: her name. From there, we explore why Jesus honors those who seek Him and why it matters that women are chosen as the first witnesses in a culture that dismissed their testimony. That surprising detail becomes part of the credibility of the resurrection story and a window into Jesus’ heart for the overlooked.

Then we shift to the pushback: guards, a governor’s seal, an earthquake, and a payoff designed to bury the truth. Every human effort to silence, contain, or control Jesus collapses in the face of resurrection power. Finally, we connect Resurrection Sunday to your identity and future: Jesus calls His disciples brothers, and through faith we become God’s children, adopted into God’s family, and joint heirs with Christ (Romans 8, Galatians 3). We close with a clear invitation to pray for real change and to speak life over your home, your health, and your future.

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Transcript

A Death That Changed History

SPEAKER_00 0:04

How could someone who died the death of a common criminal change the course of history? On that first Easter Sunday everything changed. The women who had faithfully followed Jesus in life and stood by him in death were honored as the first witnesses of his resurrection. The plans of the chief priests and elders could not keep him in the tomb. Through his resurrection, Jesus completed the work of salvation so that all who believe might become members of God's family. In this episode, we will explore that first resurrection Sunday through three major themes. First, Jesus honors those who seek Him. Second, Jesus overcomes every human effort to silence, bury, or contain him. Third, all who believe are now joint ears with Christ. Stay with me as we look at these life-changing events whose power is still transforming lives today. Imagine being one of the band of women who were traveling to the site of Jesus' burial early that first Sunday morning with every intention of applying spices to Jesus' body. There was one small detail that no one knew how to solve, and that was how would their woman be able to move aside the stone that sealed the tomb and gain access? However, in faith the woman kept traveling to the tomb. Mark 16, 1 to 4 tells us that the woman came early that Sunday morning. The Greek word that is used here for early is pro and refers to the last of the four watches into which the night was divided. This means that it was between 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. when these women came to the tomb. The three women who went together to the tomb were Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. Jesus had been buried in haste as the Sabbath start, 6 p.m. had been approaching that Friday evening. While Joseph and Nicodemus had done what was required in terms of anointing Jesus' body, the woman wanted to put an additional touch on what these men had done. These holy women had brought the spices and ointment that they had prepared beforehand on the Friday. Mark 16, 5-8 tells us that when the woman arrived at the tomb, the stone had been rolled away. Two of the women ventured into the tomb and saw an angel who appeared to be a young man dressed in a white robe and sitting at the right side of Jesus' burial strips. John 20 tells us that the grave clothes that the body of Jesus had been wrapped in were not tossed aside or disheveled. Rather, these clothes were lying there as though there was still a body in them. Essentially, Jesus had just walked straight through these grave clothes. The woman had wanted the stone to be rolled away, but the presence of the angel scared them. The angel told them not to be afraid and invited them to come and see where Jesus had laid. The women were instructed by the angel to go and tell Peter and the other disciples that Jesus would go ahead of them into Galilee. The women were so afraid that they ran out of the tomb and said nothing to anyone. Luke 24 2 to 7 tells us that even though the two women left the young man in the tomb, God was not true with these women yet. Two angels in clothes that gleamed like lightning came and stood next to the woman. This as scared the two women that they fell down with their faces to the ground. These two angels came to tell these two women that they were not to seek the living among the dead. The two angels reminded the two women that Jesus had plainly told them that sinful men would torment him, that he would be crucified, and that he would rise from the dead. She informed these two disciples that the woman did not know where Jesus' body was. Peter and John then ran to the tomb and likewise found it to be empty. Peter and John returned home, but Mary stayed on. John 20, 11-18 tells us that Mary stood outside the tomb, weeping and sobbing. The Greek word that is used for crying here, clayo, indicates an all-out wailing. The scripture says that while Mary continued to cry, she bent over and looked inside the tomb. Mary then saw two angels in white seated where Jesus had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. The angels inquired of Mary, why are you crying? Mary plaintively referred to some unidentified day who had taken away her Lord and she didn't know where to find him. Mary turned around from looking into the tomb and Jesus is standing there. Jesus asked her, Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for? Mary mistook Jesus for the gardener and pleaded with him to tell her where the body was so that she could go and collect it. Jesus then called Mary by name, and she immediately knew who she was speaking to. Mary turned to Jesus and called him by the most honorable title at that moment in time that a Jew could bestow on a teacher, Raboni, which means my great master. Mary then proceeded to hold on to Jesus as tightly as she possibly could. Jesus then sent Mary to give the word to the disciples that he had risen. Matthew 28, 9 to 10 tells us that Jesus next showed himself to the other two women. These women immediately recognized Jesus and came to his feet and worshiped him. Luke 24, 9 to 11 lets us know that the woman informed the disciples that they had seen Jesus. John 20, 18 tells us that Mary Magdalene specifically told the disciples that she had seen the Lord. These eleven disciples dismissed the words of the woman. The three women who went together to the tomb were Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. These women had stayed the course. They had ministered to Jesus in the good times, while he was healing the sick and raising the dead. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem. While others mocked and jeered at Jesus, while he was led through the streets of Jerusalem and hung on the cross, they had stayed with Jesus. They had shadowed Nicodemus and Joseph to see where these men would lay Jesus' body. The Jewish practice then admitted only men as witnesses. During his ministry, Jesus broke with a number of traditions and he breaks with yet another here. The first witness of the resurrection was a woman, Mary Magdalene. Jesus did not give this honor to the inner circle disciples, John and Peter, who had been present there at the tomb. Next, Jesus honored the other two women by showing himself to them. Until the second century, Mary Magdalene was referred to as the Apostle Mary and is still referred to as such by the Eastern Orthodox Church. Let us reflect on the truth that Jesus will never despise our offering. Jesus conferring the honor of being the first witnesses of the resurrection on Mary Magdalene and the other two women authenticates and validates the event. If anyone is fabricating the resurrection, they would have known better than to make a woman the first witness, as women were considered to be unreliable witnesses. Indeed, in the late second century, one of the most prominent anti-Christian crusaders of the day, Celsus, used the fact that Mary was the first to see Jesus after he rose from the dead as a reason to not believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Celsus characterized the resurrection as being nothing more than the hallucination of a hysterical woman. Jesus is still appearing to people to today. Hugh Montefiore was born in 1920 in London to a prominent Jewish family. Montefiel shocked his family by converting to Christianity while a student at Rugby School. He attributed this conversion to having seen Jesus in a vision in which he told a young boy to follow him. Montefiel went on to serve as Vicar of Great St. Mary's Cambridge from 1963 to 1970 and Bishop of Kingston upon Thames from 1970 to 1978. He also authored more than 20 books. Have we seen Jesus? Envision that even in debt, the chief priest and his lackeys who have taken great care to eliminate Jesus still fear his power. These religious leaders even broke the Sabbath to concoct a scheme to ensure that Jesus stayed in the grave. These very righteous chief priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate on the Sabbath day to ask him to set up a guard so that no one could steal Jesus' body and then say that Jesus had risen. Matthew 27, 62 to 66 tells us that soldiers were sent to guard Jesus' tomb. These were elite soldiers, the equivalent of the present-day Navy seals. A stone had been rolled to shut up the tomb as was the custom. Pilate's guard sealed the stone with the seal of the governor. The power and authority of Rome was vested in that seal. Anyone found breaking this Roman seal would suffer an unpleasant death. The tomb was being guarded by a Roman unit that was made up of 16 soldiers. This was the situation at the tomb on that Sunday morning when the women started making their way to anoint Jesus. Matthew 28, 2 to 4 tells us that there was a violent earthquake. An angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled back the stone from the tomb's entrance and sat on it. The angel's appearance was like lightning and his clothes were white as snow. These harden experienced Roman elite soldiers were so afraid of this angel that they shook and fell down like dead men. On that very first Easter Sunday, the angel is rolling the stone away so that witnesses can enter the tomb to view the scene. Matthew 28, 11 to 15 tells us that the Roman soldiers who had taken off running when they came to their census went into the city to tell the chief priests what had occurred. The chief priests met with the elders and devised a plan. They gave the soldiers a large sum of money and told them to say that Jesus' disciples came during the night and stole him away while they were asleep. These religious leaders told the soldiers not to fear Pilate. If the report made it to the governor, they would keep the soldiers out of trouble. The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. This false story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. Let us reflect on the truth that eleven fishermen, not trained in the art of warfare, could not have overpowered the elite gods of the day and steal Jesus' body. In the process of the angel rolling the stone away, the earth shook just as it did at Mount Sinai when Moses received the law from God. This first Easter Sunday was the dawn of a new dispensation. We are no longer under the law but under grace and mercy. Let us reflect on the truth that Jesus conquered hell, death, and the grave so that we might have eternal life. If we go to Jerusalem, we can visit the tomb of Rebekah, the tomb of David, and the tomb of Abraham. However, there is no such tomb for Jesus because he is not there. For all other religions, their leader has been confirmed dead. Joseph Smith is dead. Muhammad is dead. Buddha is dead. Let us reflect on the truth that the God we serve, Jesus, is alive and well. Imagine the joy that floods the disciples when Paul's resurrection, Jesus refers to them as brethren. Throughout Jesus' ministry, the disciples have been referred to as servants and even as friends. On this first Easter Sunday, the disciples are now Jesus' brothers as the task has been completed and all of mankind can once more be part of the family of God. John 20, 17 tells us that Jesus commissioned Mary Magdalene to go to the disciples, his brothers, and tell them that he would be ascending to his father and dear father. In Matthew 28, 9 to 10, the two other women who met Jesus were instructed to go and tell his brothers to go into Galilee and they would see him there. In both of these instances, for the very first time in Scripture, Jesus refers to the disciples as brothers. The disciples had asserted Jesus, Peter had denied Jesus. In fact, the disciples are all currently in hiding. However, Jesus refers to them with love as his brothers. These brothers of Jesus, his disciples, went on to change the world for Jesus. Let us reflect on the truth that we can now all be brothers and sisters with Jesus. Once we confess Jesus to be our Lord and Savior and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead. However, because Jesus came, died for mankind, and rose from the dead, all of humanity can share in that heritage. Paul stated in Galatians 3 29, if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's offspring, heirs according to promise. In Romans 8 16 to 17a, the Apostle Paul told the Romans that the Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. Now if we are children, then we are ears, ears of God and co-ears with Christ. Let us reflect on the truth that we Gentiles are now adopted into the family of God and are joint ears with Christ. All throughout history, lives have been radically changed when the realization that we can now be part of God's family enters one's heart. When Norman Grubb was a young man, the son of an Anglican vicar, he was challenged as to whether his fate was real or just head knowledge. He realized then that he had thought of God as a lucky charm, something to have around if matters went wrong. Norman then got down on his knees and asked God to make him a new person inside. A wave of joy then washed over him. When Norman Grubb died at 98, he left behind an astonishing legacy. He had molded worldwide evangelization for Christ into a powerful international missionary organization. Norman also co-founded Interversity Fellowship of Evangelical Unions. Today, this association serves tens of thousands of Christian university students each year. Let us reflect on the truth that Jesus' touch is still transforming lives today. We started by asking, how could someone who died the death of a common criminal change the course of history? On that first Easter Sunday, everything changed. In this episode, we came face to face with the truth that Jesus is a reward of those who diligently seek him, as Mary Magdalene and the other woman did. We also realize that man-made plans, such as the chief priests' concoctions to keep Jesus in the grave, come to naught when they encounter Jesus' resurrection power. Additionally, Jesus' resurrection has enabled his followers to be part of the family of God and joint ears with Christ. Let us rejoice as Jesus' power is still changing lives to today. Before you go, if this message spoke to you, like this podcast and subscribe so you don't miss what God is doing here at Catch on Fire Podcast. If you are ready for real change, take a moment right now to pray with me. Jesus, I give you my life. Lead me, forgive me, and make me new. If you pray that, welcome to the family. Follow along, stay connected, and let's walk this walk together. Please join me as we confess words of life over all of our lives. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are still holding on to God's unchanging hand. We are still in God's holy plan. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are living holy lives as God requires. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, welcoming the stranger, giving clothes to those in need, ministering to the sick and visiting those in prison, and we are doing so to the least of those among us, as when we do so, we are ministering to Jesus. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we have received healing, as by his stripes we are healed. From the crown of our head to the soles of our feet, all of our bodily organs are working. Correctly. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that God is ordered in our steps, that all weapons that are formed against us have been utterly and completely destroyed, and every tongue that is rising against us in judgment is condemned. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that all generational curses are cancelled. Anything that runs in our ancestral bloodline that is not of God has no power over us, our children and our grandchildren, and is eliminated forever right now. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that angels are watching over and keeping our family, our children, our grandchildren, our loved ones safe. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that every negative word that has been and is being spoken over our lives and that of our family, children, grandchildren, and loved ones is cancelled and sent back to the pit from whence it came. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are the head and not the tail. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are not and will never be ashamed. Our enemies have not and never will triumph over us. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that anything that is not of God that has been dispatched to hinder our blessings, our progress, and our well-being is immediately destroyed. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are financially in line with God's word, and as such we are lenders and not borrowers. As a result, all of our debts have been paid and are forgiven. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that the enemy of our souls has no authority over our finances and our funds, and that we are good stewards of the money that God has placed in our keeping. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus in the area of business and our carriers, that just as Isaac reaped a hundredfold, the blessings of Abraham are falling on us, and we are reaping a hundredfold from whatever we put our hands to. We declare and decree in the name of Jesus that we are living on an open heaven in every area of our lives. Blessings are falling on us, our family and our loved ones. These blessings are being manifested in our lives, in the spiritual and in the physical. Let's repeat the 23rd Psalm together. The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures, he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul. He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Yea do I walk to the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me. Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies. Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup runeth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. The Lord bless you and keep you. The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you. The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Amen.