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Every Easter Sunday, churches around the world proclaim the same bold and beautiful message: Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.

Every Easter Sunday, churches around the world proclaim the same bold and beautiful message: Jesus Christ is risen from the dead.

That’s not just a religious idea — it’s a staggering historical claim. And if you’re anything like many people I talk to, you might carry a quiet skepticism about it. That’s not a bad thing. You’re not alone. In fact, you’re in very good company — even Jesus’ closest followers didn’t believe it at first.

But Easter isn’t just about answers. It’s about asking better questions — questions that invite us to slow down, look within, and wonder whether something bigger is unfolding. Whether you were in church this Easter or not, I believe God has something to say to you through four simple questions.

They’re not test questions. You don’t have to answer them aloud. They’re invitations — the kind of questions that make room for discovery, reflection, growth, and grace.

So here they are:

What brought you here?

That question may land in different ways depending on who you are.

Some people come to church every Sunday because it’s part of how they stay grounded in life and faith. Others show up on Easter because it’s tradition — or because someone asked. And some come without quite knowing why. They feel drawn, restless, unsettled, or just open enough to see what might happen.

Wherever you fall, it’s worth asking: what brought you here? And more than that — what if God did?

What if you’re not reading this by accident, but on purpose? What if God wanted to ask you something? Or maybe just let you hear something that your soul’s been longing for?

You don’t get to the right answers by asking the wrong questions. And maybe this is the right question to start with.

What are you looking for?

On the first Easter morning, a group of women went to Jesus’ tomb carrying spices. They weren’t expecting a miracle. They were preparing a burial. They were looking for closure. Instead, they found an open tomb, a missing body, and an angel asking, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

They were looking for one thing — and they found something more.

That still happens.

What are you looking for?

Maybe you’re searching for peace in a chaotic season. Or for healing from something that’s broken. Maybe you want clarity, or direction, or forgiveness. Maybe it’s less specific — just a longing for something more than the grind of everyday life.

Even when we don’t know how to name it, I think most of us are looking for a few very human things: 
to belong, 
to know we matter, 
to feel like our life has purpose, and 
to have hope for the future.

Let me flip this question around. What if the thing (or person) who can answer these questions — meet these very real human needs — is looking for you?

What if it’s true?

Now we come to the heart of Easter.

Christians believe that Jesus — a real person in real history — was crucified, buried in a sealed tomb, and then, three days later, rose again. Not metaphorically. Not symbolically. Bodily. Physically. Historically.

That’s not easy to believe. But here’s a really imporant thing: Jesus’ own followers didn’t believe it at first either. They were scared, grieving, and hiding behind locked doors. The women who went to the tomb brought burial spices, not confetti. Thomas said he wouldn’t believe unless he touched the body of the risen Jesus.

But something happened — something so real, so undeniable, that it changed them. They claimed to have seen Jesus alive. They touched him. Ate with him. Walked with him. And they were so convinced that they risked — and gave — their lives to share that news with the world.

You don’t have to turn your brain off to believe this. In fact, there’s credible historical evidence that deserves a fair look. (If you’re curious, look on our website www.Redeemer-LCMS.org)

But more important than the evidence is the question: What if it’s true?

If it’s not true, nothing changes. But if it is true — then everything changes.

It means death doesn’t have the last word. Guilt doesn’t have the last word. The worst thing you’ve done — or the deepest wound you carry — doesn’t have the last word.

Love does. Redemption does. Life does.

What if it’s for you?

Even if the resurrection is true, it might feel like something out there. Something religious people believe, or something that happened in ancient times.

But what if it’s not just a historical event — what if it’s a personal invitation?

What if Jesus rose not just to make a point, but to draw you into something new? What if he’s speaking your name today — just like he spoke Mary’s name outside the tomb?

What if he’s saying to you, in this moment:

You belong.
You matter.
You are here for a reason.
Your future is neither empty nor hopeless.

That’s what Easter means.

This message is for the weary believer who’s been walking with Jesus for years. It’s for the doubter who isn’t sure what to believe anymore. It’s for the curious skeptic. It’s for the person who is beginning to wonder, “what if it’s all true?”

The resurrection is for you.

I don’t know where this finds you. Maybe you’re rejoicing. Maybe you’re struggling. Maybe you’re unsure what you believe. That’s okay.

You don’t need all the answers. You don’t need to have it all together. You’re not too late, too messed up, or too far gone.

You are loved.
You are invited.
And this story isn’t over.

The tomb is empty. Jesus is alive.
And his invitation to belong, worth, purpose, and hope is open to you today.