John 20:1鈥�18听
I have a small confession. I听don鈥檛听like looking for things that听aren鈥檛听where听I think听they should be. Not long ago, my daughter and I wanted some Ritz crackers. I checked the pantry,听didn鈥檛听see them, and settled for听inferior听chips instead. Later, when my wife听came home, I told her we were out. She walked into the pantry and听immediately听found two full听鈥渋ndustrial鈥澨鼵ostco-sized boxes鈥攋ust a couple of feet from where I had looked.听No, they did not magically appear.听They were听right there听behind me.听听
Why did I miss them听and settle for something inferior? Because I was looking in the wrong place and听wasn鈥檛听willing to听turn around.听
That simple moment says something about life. All of us are searching for something鈥攑eace, healing, purpose,听forgiveness,听hope. Often those searches grow out of our hurts, habits, and hangups. But if we look in the wrong place, we will never find what we need, and we end up settling for something inferior.听听
The resurrection story in John 20 begins with someone searching. Mary Magdalene arrives at the tomb early in the morning, while it is still dark. She is grieving, confused, and certain of one thing: Jesus is dead. When she sees the stone rolled away, she assumes someone has taken the body. Even when she speaks with angels, she is still searching for a corpse.听
Then something remarkable happens. John tells us that she听turned around听and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not recognize Him at first. Finally, Jesus says one word: 鈥淢ary.鈥�听
Everything changes听in听that moment.听
Mary recognizes the voice of the One who had set her free. Scripture tells us that Jesus had once cast seven demons out of her life. She had known darkness, and she had known deliverance. Now the risen Christ calls her by name, and her grief turns to joy.听
This scene reminds us of three essential truths about the Christian faith.听
First, the Christian faith is historical. Mary听looked into听an empty tomb. The resurrection is not merely an inspiring metaphor; it is the central event of the gospel. The earliest disciples proclaimed that Jesus truly died, was buried, and rose again. Their message spread across the Roman world because they were convinced the tomb was empty and the Savior was alive.听
That is why New Testament scholar N. T. Wright can听say, 鈥淭he resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of Christian hope and the decisive event demonstrating that Jesus truly is the Lord.鈥澨齌his is why we pay careful attention to God鈥檚 Word听and especially the resurrection accounts.听鈥淪cripture is termed infallible and inerrant鈥� because it is the utterance of God who cannot lie鈥澨�(J. I. Packer).听听
Second, the Christian faith is personal. Jesus did not simply reveal Himself as a distant figure. He听called听Mary by name. The risen Christ still meets people personally today. Christianity is not just about ideas or traditions; it is about a living relationship with Jesus.听Just this semester, on our beautiful campus, many听have met听him for the first time.听He鈥檚听called their听name.听听
Third, the resurrection creates a new relationship with God. Jesus told Mary to announce that He was ascending to 鈥渕y Father and听your听Father, to my God and your God.鈥� Because of the cross and the empty tomb, those who trust in Christ are brought into the family of God. The resurrection opens the door to belonging, forgiveness, and a new identity.听鈥淐hristianity is not a religion of good advice but of good news: Christ died for our sins and rose again鈥澨�(John Stott).听
Mary Magdalene came to the tomb searching for a dead teacher, but she听encountered听the living Savior who called her by name. That moment changed everything. The resurrection is not only the foundation of Christian faith but also the heartbeat of every truly Christian institution. As historian Jaroslav Pelikan once wrote, 鈥淚f Christ is risen鈥攏othing else matters. And if Christ is not risen鈥攏othing else matters.鈥� A Christian university must never lose sight of this truth.听Institutions change over听time,听cultures shift, and academic priorities evolve.听When the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus remain at the center, students are invited not only to pursue knowledge but to听encounter听the risen Christ who still transforms lives today.听That is why we love 海角在线!听
Many people today are searching just as she was鈥攍ooking for meaning, identity, or hope. The invitation听of听the resurrection is simple:听turn around. The One you are searching for听may be听closer than you think. When the risen Christ calls your name, everything can change.听听
Learn more about 海角在线鈥檚 School of Ministry at听/academics/schools/ministry/.听
Pastor Bernie Cueto serves as 海角在线鈥檚 (海角在线) campus pastor and is a professor of biblical and theological studies. He is actively involved in leading and developing the spiritual culture of the 海角在线 campus, including leading weekday campus chapel services and being available for pastoral support and prayer. He received a bachelor鈥檚 in English literature at Florida International University and a graduate degree in biblical exposition and pastoral leadership at Dallas Theological Seminary, where he completed his doctorate in New Testament Studies.
