Do you remember your rock-bottom? Have you watched someone else hit rock-bottom because of addiction? Did you feel hopelessness and despair?

After watching their teacher suffer and die on the cross, it isn't hard to imagine Jesus' disciples possibly having feelings of hopelessness and despair over the events that transpired between Jesus' arrest in Gethsemane and his crucifixion. Soon enough, their hopelessness would turn into joy. Jesus rose again from the dead just as he said he would.

Because of Jesus' resurrection, we don't need to hang on to the guilt, shame, hopelessness, and despair over our sins. Jesus paid for our sins once and for all. His resurrection guarantees that.