“He is not here, for He has risen, as He said (Matthew 28:6). 

“Told you so!”

How many of us have heard these words and cringed. No one wants to be told they missed the boat, or judged incorrectly—especially in the face of an accurate warning.

But what if the prediction foreshadowed something that you wanted to happen? Would you doubt it could happen if it seemed too good to be true?

After Jesus was crucified on the cross and buried, something like that happened to the women who came to see Jesus’ tomb and embalm His body.

Jesus had forewarned the women that on the third day He would rise from the dead. But the women only remembered what they saw three days before—Jesus’ dead body being wrapped and laid behind the stone.

Christ’s claim of overcoming death didn’t stick in their memories. The women clung not to the hope of Jesus’ victory over death, but to the sadness of his defeat. In their human (and thus limited) minds, Jesus had died, just like any other person.

And the Disciples? Yes, the men who dropped everything to follow Jesus? Well, they ran and hid in the aftermath of his death. They wondered what would become of them now that their “Messiah” had failed to become the King. The prediction of Jesus’ resurrection was far from their minds as well.

But the angels who met the women at the tomb had special message to share: “Jesus is not here, for He has risen, AS HE SAID” (Matthew 28:6, emphasis added).

If anything could come as close to “I told you so,” this was it. But instead of cringing, imagine the reassurance and relief that washed over these women. An event they dismissed as too good to be true actually happened, just as Jesus said it would.

Why was it important to remind the women (and us) that Jesus accomplished what He set out to do?

I believe in order to remind us that there’s a difference between our faithfulness and God’s faithfulness.

We can take what God says “to the bank” (so-to-speak). It’s a sure thing; a guarantee. But our faithfulness is fickle and unreliable. We give up easily.

Making plans based on what God says He will or will not do is like getting the answers to a test in advance. It’s guaranteed success. If we study other answers, we might fail. But if we plan to recite God’s answers, we will get it right every time.

Because of God’s faithfulness, Jesus rose from the dead. Because of God’s faithfulness, death was defeated. Because of God’s faithfulness, we too can defeat death through Jesus Christ.

Overcoming death and living in Heaven for eternity may seem too good to be true, but because of God’s steadfast faithfulness, it’s a sure thing through Christ.

Discussion Questions:

1. Did you ever want something to happen and it didn’t? How did you feel? Did it matter whether you believed it would happen or not?

2. Did Christ’s resurrection happen regardless of whether the women and Disciples remained faithful? Why or why not?

3. List three differences between your character and God’s:

4. Do you find it reassuring that God’s plans and promises depend on His character and not yours? Why or why not?

Prayer:

Dear Lord, You are such a faithful God. Your character is the definition of faithfulness. I realize I fall short and often doubt your plans and promises. Forgive me. Give me a measure of faith that can help me with any doubt in my heart. Thank you for being a holy God whom I can trust. Thank you for following through on the difficult task of sacrificing your only Son so I can have eternal life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.