A prayer proclaiming “He is indeed risen”
Author: Whitney Hopler
Bible reading:
“And they arose at the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven and those who were with them assembled together, and said, The Lord is risen indeed, and appeared unto Simon!” – Luke 24:33-34, ESV
Listen or read below:
During Easter Sunday services in many churches, clergymen celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ by shouting, “He is risen!” People in the congregation usually respond, “He is indeed risen!” But for the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, their first Easter did not begin with a cry of triumph. It started with a feeling of discouraging confusion.
In Luke 24, we see these followers walking away from Jerusalem. They were mourning the death of a man they believed would change the world. They had heard rumors about the empty tomb, but did not yet know the truth about what had happened. Their eyes were opened when they met the risen Jesus in person and ate with him. As soon as they recognized Jesus, their confusion turned to joy.
The Bible says in Luke 24:33 that after recognizing Jesus, “They arose at the same hour and returned to Jerusalem.” Even though they had already walked many miles from the city and the roads were dangerous at night, they were so excited that they couldn’t wait for the morning to tell the others.
When we declare on Easter Sunday, “He is indeed risen,” we can experience the same excitement that Jesus’ disciples felt at the first Easter. After all, we are celebrating the reality that the Savior of the world has made a way for all who trust in Him to have an eternal relationship with Him. The worst event in the history of our world, the death of the Son of God, was overcome by the resurrection of Jesus. Because of Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice to save us from sin, we can now connect with our Holy Creator and live with true hope.
Luke 24 reports that when the two disciples finally arrived in Jerusalem, they searched for “the 11 and those who were with them” (Luke 24:33). Before the disciples returned to Jerusalem to tell their story, the group in the room met them with their own testimony: “The Lord is indeed risen and appeared to Simon!” (Luke 24:34).
God wants us to share in our faith the awe-inspiring excitement that the early believers expressed. This Easter, for the first time since the first Easter, we can join the chorus of believers around the world in proclaiming, “He is indeed risen.” Jesus’ tomb is empty because he is alive and working in a wonderful way to save this fallen world. Because Jesus was resurrected, the ultimate hope of living forever with God becomes a reality.
This changes the way we look at suffering. We can be confident that the painful situations we experience will eventually give way to healing and recovery.
The resurrection of Jesus also changes our mission. Just like the disciples who returned to Jerusalem and turned to share the hope they had found, we too can share the hope Jesus gave us by sharing the gospel message in new ways.
This also changes our identity. Because Jesus rose from the dead, we are not defined by our mistakes and struggles. Rather, we are defined by infinite possibilities. Because through our relationship with Jesus, we have access to the power of His resurrection. The Holy Spirit lives within us and empowers us to do whatever God leads us to do.
When we say “Jesus is indeed risen” this Easter, we are reminding ourselves and others that Jesus is a living Savior walking beside us, just as He walked beside His disciples, waiting for us to recognize Him and celebrate His presence.
Let’s pray:
Dear Jesus, I confess that like the traveling disciples, I sometimes miss you. They get distracted and don’t notice your presence. But please open your eyes. Stand in the middle of my life and let me see you alive and victorious. I believe that because of your resurrection, I can live with you forever in heaven. And I believe that everyone I love who trusts in you can too. Thank you for the community of believers you have placed around me. Your story of faithfulness strengthens my own faith.
Help us share your gospel message with the people you want to reach. Give us the courage to share your light in this dark world where people are desperately seeking hope. Today, on Easter Sunday, I sincerely declare: “You are risen.” You are indeed risen! Let this reality encourage you to follow your guidance every day. You are my living hope and I worship you this Easter and forever. Amen.
Share your thoughts on today’s devotion in the Daily Prayer discussion in the Crosswalk Forum.
Photo credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/AlessandroPhoto
Whitney Hopler helps people discover the wonders of God and experience awe. She is the author of several books, including the nonfiction books Wake Up to Wonder and Wonder Through the Year: A Daily Devotional for Every Year, and the young adult novel Dream Factory. Whitney has served as an editor at major media organizations including Crosswalk.com, the national publication of the Salvation Army USA, and Dotdash.com (producing the popular Angels and Miracles channel). She currently leads communications operations at George Mason University’s Center for Human Services Advancement. Connect with Whitney on her website www.whitneyhopler.com and on her Facebook author page.
Related Resources: What if God’s heart for you is kinder than you think?
This episode of Talk About That laughs with stories about children’s books, volleyball mornings, St. Patrick’s Day, and even the questionable legacy of power teams, but beneath the humor is a thoughtful conversation about one of the deepest questions of faith: how God views us. John and Johnny reflect on the weakness, pity, and conflict that many believers feel as they accept that God is not only patient with them, but is willing to call them his own. This is an honest and encouraging reminder that our relationship with God is not built on performance, perfection, or “having it all,” but on God’s love, grace, and fatherly joy for His children. You will be challenged to see yourself not through the lens of self-criticism, but through the steady and benevolent eyes of a God who knows you fully, loves you deeply, and may be rooting for you more than you realize. If you laughed out loud while listening to this episode, be sure to follow Talk About That on Apple and Spotify.
