The Road to Resurrection: From Belief to Living Hope
The Road to Resurrection Series – Renovate Church – Centennial, CO
By Greg Russell
After walking through The Road to Resurrection together, we’ve finally arrived at the destination—the celebration of Jesus’ victory over death. This moment is so central to our faith that it appears in all four Gospels. In this post, we reflect on it through John’s account in John 20.
The First Witnesses: Confusion Before Clarity
Early on that first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb—and found it empty.
She ran to tell Peter and John:
“They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put Him!” (John 20:2b)
The disciples raced to the tomb. John arrived first but hesitated. Peter, true to form, went straight in. They saw the linen cloths lying there—undisturbed, intentional. John tells us he “saw and believed.”
And yet, something striking follows:
They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.
Even standing in front of the evidence, they didn’t fully understand.
Mary remained outside even after John and Peter left, weeping. Then she saw Jesus—but didn’t recognize Him until He spoke her name:
“Mary.”
In that moment, everything changed.
Belief and Hope Are Connected
Imagine someone promised you $100,000.
You’d probably be skeptical.
But what if someone like Elon Musk or Jeff Bezos made that promise? Suddenly, it feels believable—and that belief produces hope.
That’s the connection:
Hope is born from belief.
Easter represents the ultimate hope—but only if it’s believed.
Not All Belief Is the Same
There are different levels of belief.
It’s one thing to say you believe someone is trustworthy.
It’s another to hand them your life savings.
In the same way, belief in Jesus varies. The disciples believed in Him—but when it came time to act on that belief, their understanding and trust were incomplete.
Even though Jesus clearly told them—multiple times—that He would die and rise again, they didn’t expect it.
Why?
Because their beliefs were shaped by wrong assumptions.
They expected a political king, not a suffering Savior.
When belief is misplaced, hope is misplaced.
The Importance of Right Belief
Today, billions of people say they believe in Jesus.
But the real question is:
What do we believe about Him?
Beliefs aren’t neutral—they shape everything:
- How we live
- How we respond to suffering
- What we pursue
- What we trust
Even the disciples had to have their beliefs corrected.
And so do we.
Rethinking Suffering
One of the biggest misunderstandings in our culture is about suffering.
We tend to believe:
- Suffering is the worst thing
- God should prevent it at all costs
But the cross tells a different story.
There is no resurrection without crucifixion.
Jesus wasn’t a victim of circumstance—He was sent by God and willingly gave His life.
There are worse things than suffering, and better things than comfort.
God doesn’t waste suffering—He redeems it.
What Is Real Faith?
The Bible calls the kind of belief that leads to salvation faith.
Faith is not:
- Blind belief
- Wishful thinking
- A last resort when evidence is lacking
Hebrews 11:1 describes faith as:
“The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Faith is:
- Solid
- Substantial
- Grounded
And here’s the key:
Superficial belief produces superficial hope.
But real faith produces deep, unshakable hope.
Seeing Isn’t Always Believing
We often think:
“If I could just see a miracle, then I’d believe.”
But the disciples saw miracles—and still struggled to understand.
Faith doesn’t come from seeing.
Sometimes, believing is what leads to seeing.
When we step out in trust, that’s often when we begin to see God move.
Faith Is Trust, Not Control
Faith is not a tool to make God do what we want.
It’s not:
- A formula
- A guarantee
- A transaction
Faith is confidence in God.
As we grow closer to Him, our desires begin to align with His—and that’s where we see Him move most powerfully.
The Enemies of Faith
Faith and hope go together.
But so do fear and doubt.
When Peter walked on water, he only began to sink when he shifted his focus to the storm.
Jesus said:
“You of little faith, why did you doubt?” (Matthew 14:31b)
Then there’s Thomas—forever known as “doubting Thomas.”
He refused to believe without physical proof. When Jesus finally appeared to him, He said:
“Stop doubting and believe.” (John 20:27b)
And then He adds something powerful for us:
“Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29b)
Faith Is Not a Leap in the Dark
Christian faith is not anti-intellectual.
It’s not about ignoring evidence.
It’s about recognizing a broader reality—one that includes God.
We all believe in things we don’t see:
- The wind
- Atoms
- Gravity
- The North Pole
- Giant clams
In the same way, faith is a form of knowing—grounded in truth, even if not always visible.
A Resurrection Challenge
This Easter, here’s the invitation:
Believe with a deeper kind of belief.
Not just acknowledgment—but trust.
Not just agreement—but surrender.
Live as if:
- God is real
- His way is best
- This life is not the end
Because of the resurrection:
Death is not the end—it’s the beginning.
He is risen.
And because He lives, we have hope.