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#1258. The first day (21/4/25)

  • Writer: Matt Beaney
    Matt Beaney
  • Apr 21
  • 3 min read

Welcome to the Come to Jesus Daily Devotional, posted every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Together, we’ve been journeying through our Luke: Exploring Who Jesus Is series. This week marks the final part of our series, and following on from Easter, we’ll turn our hearts to focus on the resurrection.


In Luke 24, we reflect on that first day of the week—the day of resurrection—when the risen Jesus revives the faith of those who had all but given up. 


You can watch this devotional below:


The women failed to believe

‘On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.’ (Luke 24:1-8)

The women went to the tomb early on Sunday morning—not to celebrate a resurrection, but to prepare Jesus’ body for burial. They weren’t expecting life, they were expecting death. So when they found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty, they were confused, not overjoyed.

It took two angels to shake them awake to the truth: “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!” Only then did they remember Jesus’ own words—that He would suffer, be crucified, and rise again on the third day. Faith began to flicker as they were helped to remember these things. 


The others failed to believe

‘When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.’ (Luke 24:9-12) 

The disciples didn’t believe the women's report. It sounded like nonsense. Even Peter, after sprinting to the tomb and seeing the evidence, only walked away ‘wondering what had happened’!

Their unbelief didn’t disqualify them. Jesus would soon come and stand among them, saying: “Peace be with you.” (Luke 24:36) He meets them where they are—slow to believe, full of doubt—and breathes peace into their fearful hearts.


Grace on the First Day

On this first day—Resurrection Day—we see the grace of Jesus on display. He comes not to the strong, but to the weak. Not to the faithful, but to the faltering. He comes to restore faith, rekindle hope, and bring peace to troubled hearts.


If you feel weak in faith today, or like you’ve failed Him—remember the ‘first day’. Grace met them in their unbelief, and grace will meet you too. Can I also add that every Sunday is a ‘first day’, and the best thing that we can do is to go and meet with God’s people and be encouraged in your faith. 


Let’s pray together

“Lord Jesus, I praise You—my risen Saviour. Come and fill me afresh with Your presence. Let my fears, doubts, and distractions be overcome by the power of Your living presence. Speak to my heart today, and say once more, “Peace be with you.” Amen.”

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