Following Jesus in a World That Hates Him

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by Bart Denny Central Text: John 15:18-25 We've come to part five of our series, The Upper Room Way , where we've been listening in on Jesus' parting words to His original disciples, and seeking to understand how they call us to counter-cultural living today. We all understand visible allegiance Sometimes it is a wedding ring. Sometimes it is a team jersey. Sometimes it is a company badge, a logo on a hat, a sign in the yard, or a bumper sticker on the back of a vehicle. Those things communicate something before you ever open your mouth. People see them and immediately make an assumption: You belong over there. You are with them. That is your side. Most of the time, that kind of allegiance doesn't cost you much. But some allegiances get expensive. Some loyalties change the room. Raise the temperature.  Some loyalties make people pull back.  Some loyalties make you stand out. That's where many Christians feel the tension. It's one thing to be associ...
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The Ultimate Answer: "He is Risen"

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by Bart Denny

I don’t watch much television, but when I do, I enjoy Jeopardy! It’s a quiz show with a twist: contestants are given the answer, and they have to come up with the right question. A friend of mine once joked that he is a Jeopardy! person living in a Wheel of Fortune world.

Sometimes life feels the same way. We are given the answer, but we do not always recognize the question.

“He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.” (Matthew 28:6)

That is it. The answer. To death, despair, doubt, and to the deepest questions of the human heart.

The Followers Who Saw

Early on that first Easter morning, Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” went to the tomb. An earthquake shook the ground, and an angel rolled away the stone. His words were simple and history changing: “He is risen.”

They ran to tell the disciples, and on the way they met Jesus Himself. They touched His feet. They worshiped Him.

These women were unlikely witnesses in their culture. If the resurrection were a fabrication, the gospel writers would not have chosen them as the first eyewitnesses. Yet that is exactly what happened.

The disciples tell the same story with their lives. Before the resurrection, they hid in fear. Afterward, they boldly proclaimed the gospel, even at the cost of their lives. People do not die for what they know is a lie. Their transformation testifies: Jesus really rose.

The Enemies Who Confirmed

Ironically, even Jesus’ enemies point to the truth. The guards at the tomb reported what happened to the chief priests. Instead of accusing them of lying, the priests paid them to spread a cover story: “His disciples stole the body.”

If the resurrection were false, the leaders could have demanded proof, punished the guards, or hunted down the disciples. Instead, they scrambled to hide the truth. Their actions confirm what they would not admit: the tomb was empty because Jesus was alive.

What It Means for Us

If Jesus is risen, and He is, what does that mean for us?

First, Jesus has all authority. He told His disciples, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). He is not just a teacher or miracle worker. He is the risen Lord with authority over life, death, and eternity.

Second, we have a mission. Jesus commanded, “Go and make disciples of all nations … And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19–20). This is the Great Commission. Sharing the good news of the resurrection is not optional. It is our calling, and Jesus promises His presence as we go.

The Ultimate Answer for You

He is risen. That is the ultimate answer. It is the answer to sin, death, and the emptiness we cannot fill on our own.

Maybe you have tried to satisfy that longing with possessions, success, or relationships. Maybe you have tried to dull it with distractions. The longing remains.

Jesus is the answer. He died for your sins, rose from the grave, and now offers eternal life to all who believe in Him.

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25)

The tomb is empty. The Savior lives. That changes everything.

He is risen, the ultimate answer.

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All comments are moderated. I welcome respectful disagreement with my posts. Such discussions can cause me to consider perspectives I hadn't examined before. However, I also reserve the right to delete any comment for any reason. Why? Simple enough, this is MY blog, with MY thoughts, and I want to have a civil conversation that is, at all times, God-honoring in nature.

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