He Is Not Here—He Is Risen!
He is not here. He is risen.
This is a glorious truth. But what does it mean for us today?
In our text, we see the new covenant—what we could call “the deal.” This covenant states what God is toward us in Jesus Christ. What does the truth of Jesus’ resurrection mean for you? Does joy rise in your hearts? Or are you already thinking about Easter dinner and whether it might burn because of all the music today? Or perhaps you’re thinking about the candy bunnies waiting at home that your parents wouldn’t let you eat this morning because they’re “mean.”
Today we will look briefly at what Jesus did, what Jesus does, and what Jesus will do in this new covenant.
What Jesus Did: Complete Forgiveness of Sins
Most people understand that Jesus died for our sins, but many fail to fully connect this to what the new covenant actually promises. If someone asked you at the pearly gates, “Why should I let you in?” many would answer, “I’m a pretty good person,” or “I’m a fair bit better than Hitler.” That’s a low bar.
The truth is that Jesus paid it all. The promise of the new covenant is far better than “Jesus did His part, and now you do yours.”
We see this promise clearly in Hebrews 10:12 (quoting Jeremiah 31):
“For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”
Jesus died on the cross. He freely gave Himself to win a bride, to win a people whom He looked upon in love. Love held Him there. Jesus did it all.
The promise is not merely “Jesus died, now go be a good person.” The promise is: “I will remember their sins no more.”
This is not like human forgiveness where someone says “forgive and forget” but brings it up again three weeks later. God is faithful—when He says He will remember our sins no more, He means it completely.
For His people, every sin—however heinous, however far from God they once were—is forgiven and their shame wiped clean when they come to Him. This is the great hope and promise of the gospel.
Without Christ, every step in life leads toward death. We struggle to connect with crucifixion today (unless we’ve seen films like The Passion of the Christ), but we can picture a hangman’s noose. The wages of sin is death, and every step brings you closer to the gallows. Imagine standing there, seeing the noose, knowing the end is moments away—and then another man steps forward and says, “I will take your place.” He puts his head in the noose and dies in your stead.
That is the offer of Jesus Christ to anyone: “Yes—go in My place.” That is what it means to come to Christ.
What Jesus Does: A New Heart and a New Life
The promise of the new covenant goes even further. It is not just a ticket to heaven so you can say, “Okay, I believe—now I’ll live my life and maybe deal with God on my deathbed.” Christ’s work is more than that.
The new covenant promises:
“I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts. I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
Two key elements stand out:
- “I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
In the old covenant, God said, “I will be your God”—but the people often failed to be His people. The new covenant promise is full relationship: you become part of God’s people. - God writes His laws on our hearts and minds.
God’s law is summarized as: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. (You can expand this to the Ten Commandments or the whole Bible, but it boils down to loving God and loving others.)
The promise is that God Himself places this desire and ability within us so that we actually live it out.
This transformation—from a life apart from God to a life shaped by His good rules—is what the Bible calls repentance: turning from sin to Jesus Christ.
When you come to Christ, you don’t just get a ticket to heaven. You receive a new heart and mind that longs to love God and love your neighbor.
This raises a question: If we claim to be Christians but have not experienced this transforming power in our hearts and minds, perhaps we need to address that. God’s transforming power comes through His Spirit. Pray: “Lord, I need a new heart. I need a new mind.” Then let His Word guide you to obey what He says.
Jesus died on the cross for our sins, but He rose again so we can walk in new life—with a new heart and new mind. He didn’t just die for us—He lives for us so we can live more like Him.
What Jesus Will Do: Coming Again in Glory
And there’s more.
Jesus said before He left: “They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”
The resurrection story is full of ironies. The disciples ran to the tomb in a foot race (John won, apparently). The Roman guards were told to watch for disciples stealing the body—they stared out across the ground, looking for people. But their real problem was behind them and above them: angels descended, and Jesus walked out of the grave. They were looking the wrong direction.
In our Christian life, we sometimes look in the wrong direction too—focused on the next thing down here—when we need to look up. Jesus is coming back soon and very soon.
As surprising as the resurrection was, His return will surprise many. Keep a little expectation—every time you look out the window, wonder if today might be the day.
All life goals have deadlines. Jesus’ return is a deadline you don’t know, but you don’t want to miss your chance to be on His side—to know Him in what He did, what He does, and what He will do.
He died on the cross, securing eternal redemption for all who believe.
Has He made your heart new? Do you live with His teachings guiding you, with Jesus as your friend today?
Are you prepared for His return, when He sets all things right?
A Final Invitation: Consider Jesus
If you’re not excited about this—if Easter feels like just another talk or a nice service with great music—don’t be discouraged. Many don’t consider Jesus not because of facts, but because they don’t want it to be true. If it is true, it might change how they live. Change is hard.
But Jesus is worth considering.
- The facts are simple: Jesus died, fulfilling Old Testament prophecies (Jeremiah, Isaiah, and more). He came, fulfilled them, died, and rose. The disciples—once scared and foolish—testified to Him as Lord, even to their deaths.
- Be open-minded. Maybe this is true. Investigate subtly.
- Back on the table are copies of the Gospel of John in an easy-to-read magazine format (they don’t even look like a Bible if you prefer). There are also New Testaments. Take one. Just read it. Consider Jesus.
- Come ask me any question. I’m not afraid of any question—I’ve wrestled with most of them.
- Ultimately, these truths are spiritually discerned. We need God’s Spirit to open our eyes. Pray. Ask God to show Himself. Come forward—I will pray with you or for you. Ask someone beside you. See what God does.
Because if He defeated death, He can defeat anything else. Nothing is impossible with God.
Closing Prayer
Lord God, we thank You for what You did on the cross, for what You do right now, and for what You will do.
May the joy of Easter overflow in our hearts—not just looking back or at the present, but forward to Your kingdom, to seeing You face to face, to the joy of our resurrected Lord with us.
For each person here, I pray we would join with You in our hearts, praying:
“Lord, I need You. Lord, forgive my sin. Give me a new heart and a new mind. Let me live with You forever.”
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.