Resurrection Sunday: Hopeless Times & Hopeful Leaders

Holy Week Reading Plan: Matthew 28:1-10

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I don’t need to tell you that the times we are living in are not the most hopeful. Your favorite cable news network can probably do that for me. There are plenty of things happening around the world that would make us feel hopeless. 

Because of this, it can be easy for people to let the current circumstances dictate how much hope they have. This is one reason leadership is important and opportune. Hopeless times call for hopeful leaders. 

When we look at the leadership of Jesus, we see that He gave His disciples hope. An example of this is His resurrection (Matthew 28:1-10, Mark 16:1-8; Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-10).  

After Jesus died and was buried, He rose from the dead three days later (Luke 24:7; 1 Corinthians 15:4). However, Jesus didn’t simply resurrect and immediately ascend to Heaven. Instead, He appeared to many people: 

• Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9-11; John 20:11-18). 
• Jesus also appeared to the eleven remaining disciples (Mark 16:14; Luke 24:34-43, John 20:19-29; 1 Corinthians 15:5). 
• Paul wrote that Jesus appeared to over 500 people after rising from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:6). 
• Paul also saw Jesus on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-9). In 1 Corinthians 15:8, he wrote, “Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him” (NLT). 

Paul wrote about Jesus’ resurrection in 1 Corinthians Chapter 15. One of the reasons for his writing was to explain the theology of Jesus’ resurrection and the implications it has for all Christians.

Verses 17-19 read, “If Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world” (NLT). 

Essentially, if Jesus had not risen from the dead, we would have no hope of eternal life, forgiveness from sin, and reconciliation with God. Jesus’ resurrection gives us hope and His resurrection appearances are proof of that hope. 

It is believed that ten out of the twelve of Jesus’ disciples were martyred for their faith. I don’t think that they would have done that if they didn’t have the hope of Jesus’ resurrection. 

Through Jesus’ resurrection, we see He gave hope to His past, present, and future followers. As a Christian leader, you will lead during hopeless times. You can show your team that those current circumstances do not dictate how much hope you have. 

Think about it: Do you let the current circumstances dictate how much hope you have? Why or why not? How can you give hope where you lead? 

A Leader Worth Imitating, Principles 31: Hope