How the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus give us the hope we need to try life again

3 min read

“ Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.'”

John 20:21

There’s no escaping it, life blows up on all of us from time to time. Personal failures, plans that go sideways, and unforeseen circumstances all have a way of crashing our hopes. In these moments it is easy to feel discouraged and defeated. The wreckage in front of us can make it difficult to believe that we will ever get back on mission and enjoy life again.

But the recent SpaceX Starship rocket launch underscores a couple of vital life lessons in this regard. One, even a so-called failed mission gives you valuable information about what to do differently next time. And two, there’s always the possibility of a re-launch when you need one.

When everything crashes…

Imagine how discouraged the disciples must have been up until the time they realized that Jesus was, in fact, alive. When Jesus died, it appeared that their mission had gone up in flames and with it their hopes and dreams for the future. Even though Jesus had given them a heads-up about what to expect, they didn’t get it. They could not imagine that the Messiah would ever lower Himself that far, to go out in such a humiliating manner…on a cross. A cross? Really? Since childhood they had been taught that a man who died that way was cursed.

It wasn’t until after they saw Him alive that it finally clicked. That’s when they understood that the Cross was more than an execution of an innocent man; it was a sacrifice in which Jesus, the Son of God, offered Himself in their place. Peter, after having some time to reflect and regroup, would later write:

“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”

1 Peter 2:24

When Jesus appeared that Easter Sunday evening and showed the disciples His scars, suddenly it all started making better sense. The mission wasn’t over after all. In fact, it was really just beginning.

When it seems like we have failed in our mission, it’s important to remember that the mission is still underway. In Christ, no matter how badly life may blow up in our faces, there is always opportunity to re-launch. By God’s grace, we are still saved. And by God’ grace, we are still sent – sent by Him who died for us and rose again.

Permission to re-launch needed? Permission to re-launch granted.

It’s a new day with God. Run with it.