Resurrection Leadership

After laying his life down for humanity, two men came to retrieve Jesus’ body and prepare it for burial—Joseph of Arimathea and our old friend Nicodemus. As you read today, pay close attention to these two men. The Lord is risen indeed!

Questions from your reading

• As you study these passages, which verses describe the mental attitude of the disciples?
• Why is the resurrection so essential to the Christian faith (1 Cor. 15:1-19)?
• Because of the resurrection of Jesus, what is now true about his life?
• What questions do you still have?

Reflecting on your reading

He has risen from the dead! Death could not hold him down. Jesus, the Saviour, triumphed over death and rose in victory. Scripture declares:

“‘Death has been swallowed up in victory.’ ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor. 15:54–57).

The power to live comes through the power of Jesus’ victory over death. He rose as the first of many who will follow:

“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 6:8–11).

This is the power of the resurrection—it enables us to overcome sin as we surrender to the transforming work of the Father. The power of Jesus and his resurrection flows through those who lay down their own will and allow him to live in and through them.

Resurrection leadership is about letting Jesus lead through a surrendered life. The servant leader, the humble leader, the passionate and effective leader is someone with Jesus living in and through them. This kind of leadership—Jesus-style—is radically different from what the world models. The world tends to promote self-serving, controlling leadership that forces personal agendas on others. It dominates, demands, and often devalues.

By contrast, Jesus-style leadership is gentle, kind, compassionate, slow to anger, rich in mercy, and filled with grace. Which kind of leader do you want to be?

Now, what did you notice about Joseph and Nicodemus? Joseph, a member of the ruling Council, was described as good and righteous. Nicodemus, a Pharisee, had once come to Jesus by night. Both were leaders in Israel—both were secret disciples (John 19:38). They believed in Jesus but hid their faith out of fear. Fear kept them silent. Fear of suffering. Fear of reputation.

Do you know any undercover disciples? Are you one? What are you afraid of? What if people found out that you follow Jesus? He went to the cross publicly—what holds us back from standing for him? Many of us know that feeling. But remember: there is nothing this world offers that comes close to knowing Jesus—nothing.

Applying what you’ve read

Are you an undercover Christ-follower? Choose to stand for Jesus—and you’ll experience his resurrection power flowing through you. Speak his name. Share his story.

Spend some time talking with your disciples about what fears they have in making it known that they love Jesus. Pray for one another, that together you would make him known.