Encountering the Resurrected Christ: The True Transformation

| Easter Sunday Sermon Summary by Jerince Peter |

When we look at Luke 24, we see a profound moment: the disciples who had walked with Jesus for three years finally encounter Him resurrected. They had heard His teachings, seen His miracles, and even witnessed His death — yet it was the resurrected Jesus that truly changed their lives forever.

At first, they were startled and afraid. Why? Because in His resurrected glory, Jesus revealed not just His victory over death, but the true depth of their own weakness, sin, and brokenness. They were not simply seeing a familiar teacher — they were encountering the King of Glory. It shattered their categories and forced them to rethink everything.

This was not unique to the disciples:

• Mary Magdalene, when she encountered the risen Christ, clung to Him, unable to fully grasp what resurrection meant until Jesus redirected her to a new mission (John 20:17).

• John, when he saw the glorified Christ in Revelation, fell at His feet “as though dead” (Revelation 1:17).

• Paul, once a zealous Pharisee, was undone on the Damascus road when he met the risen Lord, transforming him from a persecutor to a world-changing apostle (Acts 9).

What about us today? Whether we are Christians from birth or seekers still exploring, it is not the philosophical Jesus — the moral teacher or inspirational figure — who changes our lives. It is the resurrected Jesus who compels us to surrender, to believe, and to live differently.

Encountering the resurrected Christ demands:

• A new worldview — we see everything through His victory.

• A renewed mind — our values, dreams, and priorities are realigned.

• A transformed life — not just inner spirituality, but every part of our public and private lives becomes a testimony.

The resurrection is not just a comforting doctrine for the future; it is the disruptive, glorious power that demands a total transformation today. The question is: Have we truly encountered the risen Jesus? Has His resurrection startled us, broken us, and rebuilt us into new people who live in the power of His victory?

Because encountering the risen Christ is not the end of the story — it is the beginning of a revolution in our souls and our world.