When Hope Rose From the Dead
Peeking through the curtain, I scanned the audience and hoped my entire family showed up.
I’d landed my first high-school role in the broadway musical, South Pacific.
Thankfully, my character as the island girl, Liat, called for a few speaking parts and no singing—not my strong suit.
With sweaty palms and a rush of adrenaline, I checked the seats again.
And if my people show up, would I make them proud when I took my final bow?
From side stage during the first scene, my gaze spotted them through the blinding light.
All my loved ones occupied the entire third row. They’re here, now break a leg.
Front-row Seats for When Hope Rose
I found my groove and remembered my few lines with no blunders. But my glory days as an actress ended soon after.
History also recounts a glory day when hope showed up…big. Over 2000 years ago, God set the stage for a story of hope to unfold.
The birth of the Christ-child took place in a lowly stable where animals occupied the front-row seats.
Jesus grew and carried out the heavenly Father’s will. The supernatural happened in His presence. He served the community and reached out to wanderers, outcasts, and the wayward lost without hope.
Jesus’ life, center stage, pointed the glory and applause to God alone.
The Tomb Where Hope Rose
Yet, an enemy, Satan, plotted to destroy God’s plans to bring hope to a hopeless people. Still, the Savior died on a cross for the sins of the world…my sins.
Jesus spilled His blood for me. Then His broken body lay in a borrowed tomb. But the enemy and Jesus’ accusers barely celebrated before Christ’s followers began rejoicing.
Come and see! He is risen, just as He said!
Hallelujah! Hopeless never gets the last word. Hope rose from the dead when Jesus Christ conquered the grave.
Jesus fulfilled the expectation of eternity and heaven. He provided a way for us to become children of God and gain eternal life.
The resurrection—the day hope showed up and showed up big. Hope unveiled in amazing grace. The spotlight on God’s mercy freeing us from sin and shame.
So while we wait for hope to show up in our own lives, we remember this. Whatever life throws at me, I remember the tomb is empty.
While we wait for hope to show up in our lives, we remember this. Whatever life throws at me, I remember the tomb is empty. #hope #resurrection Click To TweetThrough Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.(1 Peter 1:21 NLT)
The Victory When Hope Rose
When we accept God’s salvation, it transforms us to over-comers—more than conquerors—and raises us to new life and new hope in the name of Jesus.
Hope in Jesus trumps all other forms of hope.
You see, the world’s hope lacks fanfare moments of glory—booed off stage with a less than desirable performance. And it leaves us in the dark when the last light dims.
Jesus Christ played the leading role in God’s story of hope. So He stands solo as the Holy King at hope’s curtain call. And His glory deserves the applause of angels and saints.
The Extraordinary When Hope Rose
God desires to make a grand entrance in our life with show-stopping miracles of hope. And Jesus is saving us front-row seats.
God desires to make a grand entrance in our life with show-stopping miracles of hope. And Jesus is saving us front-row seats. #hope #resurrection Click To TweetAccept God’s invitation to the curtain call where our ordinary life becomes extraordinary with Jesus taking a bow.
Hallelujah! Hopeless never gets the last word. Hope rose from the dead when Jesus Christ conquered the grave. #hope #resurrection Click To TweetPrayer:
God, I place my faith and trust in You. Thank You for hope in Your resurrection power and glory. Your hope trumps all other hope. Whatever life throws at me, I remember the tomb is empty. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
*I revised this post from one of the devotionals in my free ebook, 4 Ways Hope Changes Your Life Forever. Find out more about how hope changes your life by subscribing to this blog community, Hope is Among Us.
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*Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Ronja Oksanen/ #AboundingGrace, Rachel Lee #DestinationInspiration, Debbie Kitterman/#Dare2Hear, Lori Schumaker/#momentsofhope, Jaime Wiebel/#SittingAmongFriends, Crystal Twadell/Fresh Market Friday, Kelly Balarie/Purposeful Faith, Patricia Holbrook/Soaring With Him, Meghan Weyerbacher/TeaandtheWord, Lyli Dunbar/#FaithOnFire & Crystal Storms/Heart Encouragement.
© 2017 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
I love your tag name- Karen “Girl” Friday. That’s a fun movie!
It’s it a fun name, Calleen. I was glad my named changed to “Friday” upon marrying my hubby. So Girl Friday, even more fun.
Amen. Our hope is found in Him. Have a blessed day!
It is, Melissa. “Through Christ you have come to trust in God. And you have placed your faith and hope in God because he raised Christ from the dead and gave him great glory.” (1 Peter 1:21 NLT)
Karen:
Wonderful post — I especially liked this part:
“Jesus fulfilled the expectation of eternity and heaven. He provided a way for us to become children of God and gain eternal life.”
Good timing on this.
Del
Thank you, Del. Isn’t that such a comforting and confirming thought? How wonderful to realize hope rose from the dead. Because hope has a name…Jesus.
I love that line, “Whatever life throws at me, I remember the tomb is empty”. Halleluja! Praise the Lord!
Angela, it’s shout-worthy truth! So, yes, praise Jesus’ holy name.
Amen! Karen,this is a beautiful post on encouraging Hope.Im amazed by God and His story of hope.Im so thankful He has a front seat for me too,Im overwhelemed by His Amazing Grace. Thank you sweet friend for this awesome truth! Blessings to you!
Awe! Appreciate how sweet and encouraging you always are, Sydell. Hallelujah! Hopeless never gets the last word. Hope rose from the dead when Jesus Christ conquered the grave.
Amen and amen, Karen! I’m so glad that hope in God will never disappoint.
Never, Beckie. It’s hope that trumps every other form of hope the world tries to offer us. Jesus is Hope and we hope in Him. He’s the noun and verb of hope. 🙂
Thank you Karen for this beautiful Word of God! Hope is a powerful spiritual force that is activated through your positive attitude. God is positive and He wants positive things to happen to you, but that probably won’t happen unless you have hope and faith. I have told the Lord You will raise me from the Ashes even stronger and better in Jesus name. Amen. May God continue blessing you and your household always. Keep up your excellent job! We love your work! John!!
Hey John, so glad this encouraged you and spoke to you. I appreciate your words of affirmation and encouragement. What a blessing they are! So thankful hopeless never has the last word! He is risen!
Great post, I’m glad the tomb is empty.
Thanks, Rebecca! And, me too! No other god is alive and well…but Jesus is! Praise the Lord! He’s our living hope.
Our hearts need reminding, Karen. Resurrection is a real event, and God’s power is not lessened by the years that have transpired.
Amen, Michele! Preach! God’s resurrection power is still alive and well in us!
How full of hope. I loved this part:
God desires to make a grand entrance in our life with show-stopping miracles of hope. And Jesus is saving us front-row seats.
Beautifully put, Karen. Thank you!
Appreciate that, Stephanie. Thankful we hold tickets for those front-row seats to God’s miracles of hope.
Words to remember when we run out of hope. Thanks and God bless!
Nancy, when all seems hope-less, we count on God to make us hope-full in His death and resurrection.
I’ll thankful that hope always rises up and comes on time. We all need our people to help us stay encouraged.
“…hope always rises up and comes on time.” Yes! Love that, Lisa.
I love this post, Karen! Thank you for sharing the gospel message so clearly! I’m going to link my Good Friday post coming up to this post. God bless you and your ministry, sister!
Thank you, sister. Grateful for your constant reminders of Christ in your blog posts as well. And for your kind words to me. Thanks for linking this post. Can’t wait to read your Good Friday article. Blessings to you! He is risen, just as He said!
What a beautiful comparison! Our King of glory made His grand entrance in a humble stable. How He captures my heart again and again. Thank you for this inspiring post! Loved this line: Hallelujah! Hopeless never gets the last word. Hope rose from the dead when Jesus Christ conquered the grave.
God bless you and your contagious love for Jesus!
“He captures my heart again and again.” Mine too, Melissa! So glad we have front row seats to God’s hope in our lives through Jesus Christ!
It’s so easy to lose the impact of Resurrection Sunday. Thanks for reminding us of just what a miracle it really was!
It certainly is easy to lose sight of what’s important during this season. So thankful for hope in resurrection power and God’s glory. His hope trumps all other hope.
Karen, this is a beautiful post describing the sacrifice and hope of our Lord. Indeed, He does “desire to make a grand entrance in our life with show-stopping miracles of hope.” I love how you put that!
Thank you, Marcie. And we have all received God’s invitation to the curtain call where our ordinary life becomes extraordinary with Jesus taking a bow.
Beautiful post of our beautiful HOPE in Jesus. We live through and in His hope each day. Hope carries us through. Hope builds upon our faith. This is one of those posts that can create a feeling of worship in my heart as I reflect on His sacrifice that He made for me!! #teaandwordlinkup
April, it is the kind of hope that sparks worship for those foundational parts of our faith. Happy Easter. He is risen!
It’s such a good reminder that God desires to do miraculous things in my life. So often it seems selfish or pointless to ask God to do grand and marvelous things. But I believe He desires us to ask that of Him because then He shows up and gets all the glory for what He’s done!
So true, Emily. What show-stopping miracles of hope, whether we deem them big or small, are we missing out on because we haven’t asked the Lord for them?!
Whatever life throws at me, I remember the tomb is empty. That is a solid gold perspective changer. laurensparks.net
Lauren, it’s the kind of truth I ask the Lord to remind me of…especially in the times I’m struggling and life makes me try to forget. When I remember the tomb is empty, my perspective changes even if my circumstances don’t.
Placing trust in Jesus…amen! Love the tweet about the tomb being emptied. Loved it so much, I retweeted it. 😉 (Or is that just tweeting?!) I hope you and your family sit in awe and wonder of Jesus and His gift all month long, Karen.
Thanks for tweeting, Kristi. Yes, may we and our families never forget the awe of Calvary and the wonder and gift of an empty tomb.
Hope in Jesus always trumps other hopes! Thanks Karen, so much hope and joy shared here today!
Appreciate you commenting, Bethany. Jesus = Hope.
Oh. Where would we be, Karen, without hope? I love this post because our hope is sure. Jesus proved it and God confirms it over and over and over. Christ is risen. Hallelujah! May this truth rest in many, many more hearts.
Stephen, I like how you said, Jesus proved hope and God confirms it. Such a great way to look at the resurrection story as a whole.
[…] The most tremendous blessing to consider is that Jesus the Messiah died to pay for our sins and that he rose from the dead, so that we might be made right with God. His victory gives us new life! It guarantees our salvation! One day we will be with him! We only need to turn from our broken ways, confessing our need for Jesus in our lives, placing our faith in him, and entrusting ourselves and our lives to him. (Click here to find out more.) […]
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