He Is Risen: Defying Logic, Embracing Faith | Matthew 28:5-6

But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay." — Matthew 28:5-6

Imagine if you were standing before that tomb. The weight of grief is heavy on you. Then, out of nowhere, you hear a confident and calm voice say, "He is not here. He has risen!"

Would your mind even compute this reality? You know what you saw over the last few days. You saw him flogged, ridiculed, sentenced, and crucified. You watched him suffer for hours before a heckling crowd. You were there when they took down his dead body, wrapped him, and placed him in a garden tomb. Would it possibly compute that he was risen indeed?

The resurrection of Jesus stretches the limits of our understanding. It challenges the very boundaries of faith. How could a man who was undeniably dead come back to life? It defies logic, reason, and everything we know to be true about the natural order of things.

Yet, that is exactly what happened on Easter morning. Jesus, who was undeniably dead, rose to life. By his own power, he triumphed over the one reality that is the end for all humanity—undeniable death. In his resurrection, he demonstrated his power over the dominion of sin and the sentence of death, defeating something ordinary man could not because Jesus was more than an ordinary man—he was God in the flesh.

This truth might stretch your mind. You might find it improbable and unbelievable. Jesus understood this. So, he made it easier to believe. He appeared in resurrected form on more than a dozen occasions to over 500 people. He ate with them, walked with them, and talked with them. He made it easier for them to believe. He closed the gap on faith but did not eliminate the need for faith.

Today, believers across the planet celebrate the reality of the resurrection. Our faith in his resurrection makes our resurrection a reality. We believe by faith that Jesus defeated sin and death so that we could enjoy salvation from our sins and resurrection life in his name. Without Jesus, this life is hopeless. Sin and death reign supreme. But by faith in Jesus, we believe he is preparing a place for us free from sin and death. Eventually, we will leave the land of the dying and enter the land of the living.