Christ's Resurrection Matters!

What if, four days after your loved one died; what if, after he/she had already been prepared for the burial; and what if, before the funeral service, your loved one came back to life? Now I know that's not likely, but what if, it happened? What kind of reaction would you have?
That's probably somewhat how Martha and Mary reacted when their brother, Lazarus, walked out of his tomb, after being dead for four days. It's probably a small glimpse of the reaction of Jesus' disciples when they saw their Lord alive again.
Twenty-three years ago, my father called me with the news that my brother and his wife, and their two infant sons had been in a car accident and that both my brother and his wife lost their lives. Dad knew nothing about the boys' condition or how the accident happened. I spent the next hour contemplating my relationship with my brother, remembering events from growing up, pondering things I could have/ should have done differently, etc. I still remember that time twenty-three years later. But, dad called me back a little over an hour later and said that my brother was still in fact, alive, barely. Again, he did not know any more information beyond that. But, my attitude changed immediately. Wouldn't yours?
Nearly 2,000 years ago some women returned from the empty tomb of Jesus and announced, "He's alive! He's alive! He's no longer in the grave!" (John 20:18) That is GREAT News! Jesus had promised that because he lives, we would live also (John 14:19). He had promised that "those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life" (John 5:24). IF the news that Jesus is alive doesn't change our attitude and outlook on life, then nothing else will because nothing is better news than that.
How excited are YOU about that news? How many people have you talked with about that news? How many people have found their way to life because you had the boldness to share this Good News with them? May the God who has changed our lives because of the message of Easter, also change other lives because we have dared to share that message with them (II Corinthians 5:14).