Resurrection is a victory, without resurrection the cross is a defeat. This profound transformation symbolizes hope and renewal; it signifies that life triumphs over death, and that despair can give way to joy.
The resurrection of Jesus was not just an event to be celebrated—it was an invitation to be changed. After Jesus rose from the dead, He didn’t go straight to heaven. He sought out people—broken people, doubting people, fearful people. And every encounter left them radically transformed. Mary was grieving. Peter was ashamed. Thomas was doubting. The disciples were hiding. Yet when they saw the Risen Christ, their despair turned into hope, their fear into boldness, their doubt into faith.
And here’s the good news: the same Jesus who rose from the grave still meets people today.
He meets you. Not just to comfort—but to transform. Not just to forgive—but to restore, send, and empower.
This is not just a story of what happened then.
This is a story of what Jesus wants to do now—in your life.
1. Mary Magdalene: He Calls You by Name
John 20:11–18 But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. While she was crying, she bent down and looked inside the tomb.12 She saw two angels dressed in white sitting where Jesus’ body had been. One was sitting where the head had been; the other was sitting where the feet had been. 13 The angels asked Mary, “Woman, why are you crying?” Mary answered, “They took away the body of my Lord, and I don’t know where they put him.” 14 When Mary said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the man in charge of the garden. So she said to him, “Did you take him away, sir? Tell me where you put him. I will go and get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and said in Aramaic, “Rabboni,”which means “Teacher.” 17 Jesus said to her, “You don’t need to hold on to me! I have not yet gone back up to the Father. But go to my followers and tell them this: ‘I am going back to my Father and your Father. I am going back to my God and your God.’” 18 Mary Magdalene went to the followers and told them, “I saw the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her.
1. Mary Weeping at the Tomb: A Window into the Human Heart
“But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb…” – John 20:11
Mary Magdalene stood at the empty tomb, weeping uncontrollably. Her heart had already been shattered by the crucifixion—and now, to make things worse, Jesus’ body was missing.
This was not just grief. It was confusion, disappointment, and perhaps disillusionment. Mary had seen Jesus do the impossible, and she had placed her hope in Him. He had once healed her from seven demons (Luke 8:2). He gave her worth, dignity, and a new life. And now that very hope appeared to be buried forever.
Tears often blur our vision—both physically and spiritually.
Mary didn’t recognize what was right in front of her—just like many of us don’t when we’re in pain.
We all face moments like this—moments of loss, of silence, of unanswered prayers. When we look at the tomb of a lost dream or a dead relationship, we often assume God is gone. But in truth, He’s standing right beside us, even if we can’t see Him yet.
2. When He Called Her by Name
“Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned and said to him in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’” – John 20:16
Everything changed in an instant—not when He appeared, but when He spoke her name.
That moment captures the very heart of the gospel: Jesus doesn’t just save the world—He seeks the individual. He doesn’t call to the crowd—He calls to you, personally, by name.
Isaiah 43:1 – “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine.”
In the ancient world, to call someone by name was intimate, relational, and intentional. When Jesus said “Mary,” He wasn’t just identifying her—He was restoring her.
Her identity came back.
Her hope came back.
Her joy came back.
Mary’s transformation reminds us that the risen Jesus meets us personally, especially in our most emotional moments. When Jesus calls us by name, He speaks directly to our hearts (Isaiah 43:1). This intimate connection highlights the profound nature of His love, illustrating that He is not a distant figure but a comforting presence who understands our struggles and joys. In times of sorrow, when we feel lost or overwhelmed, His voice brings solace and hope, guiding us back to a place of peace and understanding. Each encounter with Him helps shape our identity, reaffirming that we are cherished individuals with a significant purpose in His divine plan.
Life Application:
When you're in grief or confusion, Jesus isn't far—He's often standing right beside you, offering you comfort and solace in your time of need. You are not just a face in the crowd, but a child He knows by name, cherished and loved unconditionally. In those quiet moments of despair, remember that He walks alongside you, guiding you through the darkness, whispering words of hope and encouragement that remind you you are never truly alone. Embrace the knowledge that His presence brings peace to your troubled heart, and trust that He understands your struggles intimately, ready to support you as you navigate the challenges life presents.
You are not just a face in the crowd.
You are not forgotten.
You are not too broken.
You are His.
And today, the Risen Jesus is still whispering your name—
Not to remind you of your past…
But to call you into restoration, identity, and purpose.
He knows your name.
“The first Easter sermon was preached by a woman to grieving men because grace breaks tradition.” — Christine Cain
2. Peter: From Shame to Loved Again
John 21:15–17 When they finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these other men love me?” Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Then Jesus said to him, “Take care of my lambs.” 16 Again Jesus said to him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.” Then Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.” 17 A third time Jesus said, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was sad because Jesus asked him three times, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you!” Jesus said to him, “Take care of my sheep.
1. The Weight of Regret: Peter’s Deepest Shame
Before the crucifixion, Peter boldly declared: “Even if all fall away… I never will.” — Mark 14:29
Peter’s last recorded act before Jesus died was denying Him three times.
Not once. Not twice. But three deliberate denials—at the moment Jesus needed him most. The third time, he called down curses on himself (Mark 14:71). Then came the rooster’s crow.
“The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter… and he went outside and wept bitterly.” — Luke 22:61–62
This wasn’t just embarrassment. Shame flooded his soul.
He had promised to die with Jesus (John 13:37). Instead, he ran.
This was soul-crushing shame—the kind that makes you believe you’re no longer worthy of love or purpose.
Shame whispers:
- “You’re a failure.”
- “You blew your chance.”
- “God could never use someone like you.”
Peter knew that voice. He returned to fishing, perhaps assuming his role as a disciple was over.
2. The Gentle Pursuit: Jesus Comes Looking
But Jesus doesn’t let failure have the final word. After the resurrection, He appears on the shoreline of Peter’s failure. In John 21, the disciples fish all night and catch nothing. It’s déjà vu—a scene that mirrors Peter’s first calling in Luke 5.
Jesus stands on the shore and repeats the miracle: “Throw your net on the right side.” (John 21:6). Suddenly: a huge catch. Then John realizes, “It is the Lord!” Peter doesn’t hesitate. He jumps into the water—still broken, but desperate for Jesus.
And on the shore, Jesus has prepared breakfast—a charcoal fire, bread, and fish. Not wrath. Welcome.
3. The Restoration: Three Questions to Heal Three Wounds
Over breakfast, Jesus turns to Peter: “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” — John 21:15
He doesn’t call him “Peter” (Rock), but “Simon”—his name before his calling. It’s as if Jesus gently brings Peter back to the beginning, not to erase the past, but to rebuild from grace.
Three times Jesus asks, “Do you love Me?” And three times Peter replies: “Yes, Lord. You know I love You.” And Jesus responds each time with trust: “Feed My lambs… Take care of My sheep… Feed My sheep.”
Why three questions? Because Peter denied Jesus three times. Jesus asked him three times—once for each denial. But He didn’t do this to humiliate Peter.
He did it to restore him—to rewrite the memory of failure with a fresh experience of grace.
Each time Peter answered, “Yes, Lord,” Jesus replied not with “I told you so,” but with trust: “Feed My sheep.”
Jesus didn’t brush past Peter’s failure. He walked him through it, step by step, not to re-injure, but to restore. Each question was a healing balm, replacing a scar of shame with a mark of mercy.
Peter’s failure was real. But God’s love was more real.
Jesus didn’t define Peter by his mistake—He defined him by His mercy.
- Romans 8:1 – “There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
- Psalm 103:10 – “He does not treat us as our sins deserve…”
Jesus did not ask, “Why did you fail?” He asked, “Do you love Me?”
Because God is not after perfection—He’s after the relationship.
“God doesn’t love us because we are good; God loves us because He is love.” — Frederick Buechner
4. The Transformation: From Condemned to Commissioned
In this encounter, Peter is not just forgiven—he is reaffirmed.
- Jesus trusts him again with His flock.
- He doesn’t just say, “I still love you.” He says, “I still want you.”
- Romans 8:1 – “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Peter would never forget his failure. But from this point forward, it would no longer define him—it would deepen him.
That’s why later in his letters, Peter writes with such tenderness about humility, grace, and restoration (1 Peter 5:2–10). He became a wounded healer—not despite his failure, but because of how grace met him in it.
This is the gospel: Love greater than shame.
Grace greater than guilt.
Jesus greater than your worst moment.
Peter’s story ends not with bitterness, but boldness.
He would go on to preach, to lead, and to die faithfully for Christ—because he knew he was loved again.
5. What This Means for Us: When Love Reaches Into Our Shame
✔️ You may have failed—but you are not forgotten.
- God sees beyond your worst moment and speaks directly to your heart.
✔️ Your identity is not your failure—your identity is “beloved.”
- Isaiah 54:4 – “Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.”
✔️ God’s love is not based on your record—it’s based on His heart.
“The gospel is not that we loved God, but that He loved us—even at our lowest.” — Tim Keller
But Jesus comes to the shoreline of your shame, not to condemn you—but to cook you breakfast and ask: “Do you still love Me?”
Not: “Will you try harder?”
Not: “What were you thinking?”
But: “Do you love Me?”
Because love is the foundation for restoration.
6. The Love That Lifts Shame
Isaiah 54:4 – “Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed… you will forget the shame of your youth.”
God’s love doesn’t ignore our sin.
It confronts it—with grace.
It redeems it—with calling.
It heals it—with love that never left.
“There is more mercy in Christ than sin in us.” — Richard Sibbes
Peter’s story isn’t just a happy ending. It’s a pattern of grace.
If Jesus can restore Peter…
- A man who cursed and denied Him publicly…
- A man who broke his boldest promise…
Then Jesus can restore you.
3. THE DISCIPLES: From Fear to Peace
John 20:19–22 The day was Sunday, and that same evening the followers were together. They had the doors locked because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them. He said, “Peace be with you!” 20 As soon as he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the followers saw the Lord, they were very happy. 21 Then Jesus said again, “Peace be with you. It was the Father who sent me, and I am now sending you in the same way.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
1. The Fear That Locked the Door
“On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders…” — John 20:19a
🔒 What kind of fear was this?
The disciples had watched their teacher, their hope, their leader crucified. They had fled in fear and shame. Now they were hiding—physically locked in, but also emotionally locked down.
- Fear of arrest
- Fear of death
- Fear of the unknown
- Fear of what comes next
They were paralyzed—crippled by what might happen. And even though they had heard that the tomb was empty (John 20:1–10), they hadn’t yet seen Jesus with their own eyes.
This fear was not imaginary—it was rooted in real events.
Jesus had just been crucified. His public execution was brutal. The disciples were likely thinking:
- “Are we next?”
- “Will they come for us too?”
- “Have we followed the wrong Messiah?”
Fear had driven them into hiding. The same men who had once walked on water, healed the sick, and boldly declared their allegiance, were now huddled behind locked doors, emotionally collapsed.
But fear doesn’t just make you hide physically—it locks you up spiritually and emotionally:
- You fear the unknown.
- You fear rejection.
- You fear failure.
- You fear what God might say to you—especially when you’ve disappointed Him.
And yet—this is exactly where Jesus comes.
2. Jesus Comes Through Closed Doors
“…Jesus came and stood among them…” — John 20:19b
Jesus didn’t knock.
He didn’t wait until they opened the door in faith.
He just showed up.
Even locked doors can’t stop the risen Jesus.
This is the miracle of grace: Jesus comes to us even when we’re locked in by fear. Just as the stone couldn’t hold Him in the tomb, locked doors can’t keep Him from your pain.
“Jesus walks through the walls we build out of fear.” — Paul David Tripp
And when Jesus enters the room, He doesn’t lead with rebuke. He doesn’t say, “Why did you run away?”
He speaks one word: “Peace.”
3. Jesus Speaks Peace to the Fearful
“Peace be with you.” — John 20:19c
And when Jesus enters the room, He doesn’t lead with rebuke. He doesn’t say, “Why did you run away?”
He speaks one word: “Peace.”
This was not a generic greeting. It was a declaration, a healing balm, a reversal of what they were feeling.
- They were afraid: He speaks peace.
- They were ashamed: He offers presence.
- They were uncertain: He gives clarity.
The word “peace” here is not just emotional comfort. It’s the Hebrew idea of shalom—wholeness, restoration, nothing missing, nothing broken. This wasn’t a casual greeting. It was a powerful impartation.
Philippians 4:7 – “The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
This kind of peace:
- Doesn’t come after the storm—it comes in the storm.
- Isn’t based on circumstances—it’s based on who’s standing in the room with you.
4. Jesus Shows His Scars: Proof of Love, Not Shame
“After He said this, He showed them His hands and side.” — John 20:20a
Why would Jesus show His wounds?
He showed them the scars.
Not to frighten them—but to prove love had won.
The scars were now signs of victory, not defeat.
Jesus didn’t hide His wounds. He used them to show that death was defeated.
And the disciples’ fear gave way to joy:
“The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.” — John 20:20
“The scars of Jesus are the receipts of our redemption.” — Charles Spurgeon
5. Jesus Breathes the Spirit: Peace That Empowers
“As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.”
And with that He breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” — John 20:21–22
Jesus not only comforts—He commissions.
He breathes the Holy Spirit into them. This echoes Genesis 2:7, when God breathed life into Adam. Now Jesus is breathing new spiritual life into His fearful followers.
He turns a room full of fearful failures into Spirit-filled world-changers.
From that point on, these men who once hid behind locked doors would:
- Preach publicly (Acts 2)
- Heal the sick (Acts 3)
- Stand before rulers (Acts 4)
- Be willing to suffer and die—because they had met the risen Jesus.
6. What This Means for Us Today
✅ Jesus Enters the Rooms Fear Tries to Lock
- Your fears—of failure, rejection, the future—cannot keep Jesus out. He comes through your walls.
- Psalm 34:4 – “I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.”
✅ His Peace Is Not a Feeling—It’s His Presence
- We often pray for peace to come. But peace is a Person. When Jesus shows up, peace enters with Him.
“Peace is not the absence of trouble; it is the presence of Christ in the middle of trouble.” — Sheila Walsh
✅ His Scars Speak Louder Than Your Sins
- The marks on Jesus’ hands say, “You are forgiven. You are loved. You don’t have to hide anymore.”
✅ You’re Not Just Safe—You’re Sent
- The moment Jesus brings peace, He also brings purpose.
- “As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you.” — John 20:21
Jesus didn’t wait until the disciples were brave.
He came when they were afraid.
He didn’t wait until they opened the door.
He came through it.
And He still does the same for you.
When you are locked in by anxiety, shame, failure, or confusion, the risen Christ comes to stand with you, scarred hands lifted in peace, whispering:
“Peace be with you.”
“Receive My Spirit.”
“I am sending you.”
You may be locked in by fear—
but He is coming in with peace.
4. Saul: From Persecutor to Preacher of Salvation
Acts 9:1–22
Theme: No past is too dark, no heart too hardened, and no story too broken for God’s redeeming grace.
1. Saul: Passionate but Deadly
“Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples.” — Acts 9:1
Before his conversion, Saul of Tarsus was a religious zealot—a Pharisee of Pharisees (Philippians 3:5). He was deeply educated, respected, and utterly convinced he was serving God by destroying the early church.
He didn’t just disagree with Christians—he hunted them:
- Approved of Stephen’s stoning (Acts 7:58–8:1)
- Dragged believers from their homes (Acts 8:3)
- Imprisoned and tortured men and women of the faith (Acts 22:4)
His heart was full of passion—but it was blind, misdirected passion.
“Zeal without truth is a wildfire that destroys rather than purifies.”
He believed he was defending God’s name, when in reality, he was resisting God’s Son.
2. The Divine Interruption: Encounter on the Damascus Road
“As he neared Damascus… suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground…” — Acts 9:3–4
Saul is on a mission of violence, but Heaven interrupts him with a blinding light. He falls—stripped of his power, pride, and control. A voice pierces the silence:
“Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?”
“Who are You, Lord?”
“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” — Acts 9:4–5
This moment changes everything.
- Jesus doesn’t ask, “Why are you hurting My people?”
He asks, “Why are you persecuting Me?” - This reveals the mystery of Christ’s union with the Church—to hurt His people is to hurt Him.
- 1 Corinthians 12:27 – “You are the body of Christ.”
Saul’s worldview is shattered. The Jesus he thought was a fraud is alive, glorious, and personally confronting him.
He is blinded for three days—not as punishment, but as a physical picture of his spiritual condition. He who thought he could see clearly is now blind and dependent.
“God sometimes has to strip us of what we think we know to reveal what we truly need.”
3. The Waiting and Breaking: A Season of Silence
“For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.” — Acts 9:9
Saul sits in darkness. No vision, no food, no voice from Heaven. Just stillness. This is the sacred pause before resurrection life begins.
He reflects. He prays. He likely remembers the faces of those he arrested, the scream of Stephen as stones crushed him, and the voice that asked, “Why are you persecuting Me?” This was a moment of humbling. Before Saul could become Paul, he had to be emptied—of pride, power, and false identity. Before transformation comes, God often brings us into silence—a wilderness of self-confrontation.
“God often breaks us not to destroy us, but to prepare us for what He will rebuild.”
4. The Messenger of Mercy: Ananias’ Risk and Obedience
“The Lord said to Ananias, ‘Go! This man is My chosen instrument…’” — Acts 9:15
God sends Ananias—a follower of Jesus, likely terrified of Saul—to pray for him. Ananias obeys, lays hands on Saul, and says something powerful:
“Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus… has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” — Acts 9:17
He calls him brother.
Imagine what that sounded like to Saul—the man who tore families apart, now welcomed into the family of faith.
This moment is not just a healing—it’s an adoption. Saul becomes a brother, not by merit, but by mercy.
Immediately:
- His eyes are opened.
- He’s baptized.
- He begins to preach Christ (Acts 9:20).
5. The Transformation: A New Man, A New Mission
“He began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.” — Acts 9:20
The man who once silenced Christians now amplifies the gospel. His message is so bold that people are stunned: “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem?” — Acts 9:21
The persecutor becomes a proclaimer.
The man who silenced Christians now speaks for Christ.
Later, Paul would describe himself this way:
- “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.” — 1 Timothy 1:15
- “By the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me was not without effect.” — 1 Corinthians 15:10
He becomes Paul the apostle:
- Writer of 13 New Testament books
- Founder of churches across the Roman world
- Champion of grace
- Martyr for Christ in Rome
Galatians 1:23–24 – “They only heard the report: ‘The man who formerly persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.’ And they praised God because of me.”
6. What We Learn from Saul’s Transformation
✅ God’s Grace Reaches the Worst of Us, No One Is Too Far Gone
- Saul wasn’t looking for Jesus. He was looking to destroy Jesus’ followers.
- And still—grace found him.
- Romans 5:8 – “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
“The gospel is not just for the weak, but for the wicked.” — John Stott
✅ God Doesn’t Just Forgive—He Repurposes
- God didn’t just clean up Saul’s past—He gave him a future. A new identity, new purpose, new power.
- 2 Corinthians 5:17 – “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…”
✅ Your Past Doesn’t Disqualify You—It Prepares You
- Paul’s passion, boldness, intellect, and intensity weren’t erased—they were redeemed for the gospel.
Your story, once surrendered, becomes your platform.
Your wounds become your witness.
“The grace that saves you will also send you.” — David Platt
Imagine Saul on the road, angry and driven by pride.
Now imagine Paul, beaten, imprisoned, and still preaching Christ with joy.
What happened in between?
An encounter with resurrected love.
Jesus didn’t crush Saul. He called him.
He didn’t shame him. He reclaimed him.
If God can do that for Saul—
He can do it for you.
So if you’ve messed up, wandered far, or feel like your story is too stained—remember: “This man is My chosen instrument.” — Acts 9:15
He still chooses.
He still redeems.
He still calls by name.
And He still turns persecutors into preachers.
Final Encouragement:
The resurrection wasn’t the end of Jesus’ ministry—it was the beginning of personal transformation. These people didn’t just see an empty tomb. They encountered the living Christ—and came alive again.
So can you.
“If anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” — 2 Corinthians 5:17
Every person who encountered the Risen Jesus walked away different.
Mary walked away with joy. Peter walked away with purpose. Thomas walked away with confidence. Paul walked away with a whole new identity.
Because the resurrection didn’t just change what they believed—it changed who they became.
And that’s still true today.
You may be grieving, doubting, ashamed, afraid, skeptical, or feeling far from God.
But when you encounter the living Christ—you don’t stay the same.
He calls you by name.
He restores what you thought was lost.
He breathes peace where there was panic.
He writes a new ending to your story.
So come, not just to remember the resurrection—but to be transformed by it.
Because Jesus is alive… and because He lives, you can be alive again.
budi hidajat 