I always love this time of the year. The grass is starting to turn green. The weather is starting to warm up, and I get to talk about the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I hope you were able to attend Easter services this month and worship a great Savior. At our church on Easter morning, we say the phrase, “He is Risen”, and the congregation responds with “He is Risen Indeed!” Praise the Lord, we serve a living Savior. Because He lives, I can face tomorrow! So, you’re probably wondering why I am talking about Easter? Isn’t Easter and binge-eating all that chocolate over with? Well, the holiday is, but the reality of the resurrection is still ongoing.

The reality of the resurrection in your life is what I wanted to challenge you with this week. It’s great to celebrate the resurrection, but are you living it? Has the resurrection made a difference in your life?

When you look at Matthew 28, you see two different groups of people — the fearful and the fearless. The Gospel of Matthew 28:2-4 says, “And behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake and became as dead men.”

The soldiers that were guarding the tomb were scared to death. They were shaking in their boots. The Bible says they ran away to the chief priests and told them what happened. Now look at what happens next, “And when they were assembled with the elders, and had taken counsel, they gave large money unto the soldiers, Saying, ‘Say ye, His disciples came by night, and stole him away while we slept’…So they took the money, and did as they were taught.”

Notice that the resurrection, earthquake, and angel made no impact on the soldiers spiritually. They were afraid and ran for their lives but there is no evidence they repented or turned to God. Instead, they turned back to the world and received a pay-off for their lies.

But if you look at Jesus’ disciples, you see something different. The women that came to the tomb that morning ran away with excitement and boldness to share the good news that Jesus had risen. Mat 28:8 “And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.”

Are you glad that Jesus has risen? Has the power of Jesus’ resurrection made a difference in your life? Many of the disciples who had run away in fear became great men of faith. The resurrection has a way of changing a fearful man into a fearless man or a fearful woman into a fearless woman for God. How else could you explain what happened to the disciples? They completely changed from the end of the Gospels with a frightened doubting Thomas, to fearless, faithful witnesses for Jesus Christ.

The Peter that denied Christ three times, who followed from a distance when Jesus got arrested, who wasn’t even there when Jesus died on the cross, is standing up in front of the thousands of people in Acts 2 preaching the Gospel.

Is the resurrection just another holiday that has come and gone? Or is there a resurrection-difference in your life? A boldness, an excitement, a joy, a fearlessness to go out and proclaim the good news that He is Risen, He is risen indeed!

— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Matthew Spoonhour is pastor of First Baptist Church, Monroe.