He Is Risen… Now What?

Reflections on Life After the Resurrection

Last Sunday, we celebrated the resurrection of Jesus Christ—an event central to our faith, filled with triumph and hope, for He Is Risen. We rejoiced in the knowledge that Christ defeated death, rose from the grave, and completed the mission His Father sent Him to fulfill. But as the echoes of Resurrection Sunday fade, one question remains: Now what?

This is not a new question. Jesus’ followers, after witnessing His death and hearing of His resurrection, were left with the same uncertainty. They had seen Him perform miracles, had walked beside Him, and had placed their hopes in Him as the Messiah. Then, He was gone. And though some had heard He had risen, they didn’t yet know what that meant for their daily lives.

Today, we face the same challenge. We believe in Jesus, we accept His sacrifice, and we rejoice in His resurrection. But after the joy of salvation—now what? Do we return to life as usual? Should there not be a transformation in us?

The Road to Emmaus: A Picture of Our Journey

In Luke 24, we’re told of two disciples traveling to the village of Emmaus on the very day Christ rose. They were deep in conversation about the events surrounding Jesus’ crucifixion and the rumors of His empty tomb. Amidst their grief and confusion, a stranger joined them—Jesus Himself—but they didn’t recognize Him.

This is a profound moment. Here were two believers, discussing Jesus, and yet they were blind to His presence walking right beside them. How often do we do the same? How often do we miss God’s presence in our lives because we’re not expecting Him to show up in the ordinary?

Their eyes were “holden,” Scripture says, meaning they were kept from recognizing Him. It wasn’t until later, when they sat down for a meal and Jesus broke the bread, that their eyes were opened. In that moment, they realized: He is risen, and He is with us.

Recognizing the Presence of God

Many of us go through our days unaware of the nearness of God. Whether we’re at work, running errands, or dealing with the stresses of life, Jesus is often walking right beside us—and we don’t see Him. But just as He appeared on the road to Emmaus, He appears in our daily lives. In conversations, in quiet moments, in memories of a loved one’s testimony—He’s there.

Sometimes He speaks through Scripture, other times through the words of a friend or family member. At times, a worship song may stir something within us that reminds us of His faithfulness. In all of this, He is saying, “I am here. I have risen. You are not alone.”

Letting Our Hearts Burn Again

After Jesus vanished from the disciples’ sight, they looked at one another and said, “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the road?” (Luke 24:32). They realized that even when they didn’t recognize Him, something in their hearts was being stirred.

We too can experience those heart-burning moments when God’s presence stirs our spirits. But we must be open, expectant, and attentive. These moments are not reserved for Sundays—they are available in the quiet spaces of everyday life. When we tune our hearts to Him, we begin to see and hear more clearly.

Living in the Aftermath of the Resurrection

So, what do we do now that He is risen?

We live differently, walk in awareness of His presence. Also, we allow His resurrection to not only be a historical fact but a current reality that transforms our lives. We listen for His voice. We seek Him in the mundane and the miraculous. Plus, we don’t wait for mountaintop experiences; we find Him in our Emmaus roads—our daily paths.

We also remember this: Jesus’ resurrection wasn’t the end of His story. After rising from the dead, He spent 40 more days on earth, appearing to His followers, performing miracles, and strengthening their faith. And even now, His story continues—in us.

The power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power available to us today. It brings hope to our hopelessness, clarity to our confusion, and strength to our weakness. As we remember that He is risen, let us also remember: He is here. He is speaking. And He is still moving.

So the next time you feel His presence, don’t let it pass you by unnoticed. Cherish it. Lean into it. Let it transform your heart. And when you ask yourself, “He is risen… now what?”—remember, now we live like He’s alive, because He is.