Last week, we celebrated the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Out of all the Sundays of the year, Easter is perhaps the busiest. Many churches are full. Attendance is at a record high.

It is an important day for the Christian world. Christ took the sting out of death and robbed the grave of its victory. However, I wonder how many really understand the significant of this great event.

The Christian faith rests upon the fact that Jesus was born of a virgin, Mary, and resurrected on the third day after his crucifixion.

I Corinthians 15:14 says, "And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain."

The Resurrection was an act of God’s love for mankind. He gave his only begotten Son to die on Calvary for our sins. Isaiah said that he was wounded for our transgression, bruised for our iniquity, the chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed. Christ died and rose again to secure our salvation and because he lives, we, too, can live.

I Corinthians 15:20 states, "But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept."

For many, the excitement of Easter has worn off. For many it is business as usual.

In Luke 24:13-25, we find the story of two men who were walking from Emmaus, talking about the Resurrection. Today, we have people like these men who were so close to believing in the Resurrection, but they do not. Many hear the word of God, get excited, but continue in the same way. The Scripture lets us know that as they were perplexed about the events, Jesus joins them, questions them, and enlightens them. Last week we had a lot of excited people about the Resurrection. However, some walked away unchanged.

I have come to the conclusion that some people consider him, but do not believe. Even though the gospel is over 2,000 years old, don’t you wish more people would consider Jesus? That is, his death and resurrection? Wouldn’t that be wonderful? And how could they not come to faith in him if they would consider him?

Our problem is trying to get people to consider the claims of Christ in the Bible. How do we do this? We love people and then point to the truth of Scripture. Hopefully, our love and our lives will provide an "itch" in people that they’ll want to scratch and find out about Jesus. We all need to become more "soul" conscious. We all must become more conscious of the people around us, that they are watching us and they are listening and learning from us. We must live for Christ.

Then you have those who agonize, but find no joy. In the 17th verse, it says he asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?" They stood still, their faces downcast. The world is full of downcast people who for one reason or another have no joy. And the greatest downer of all is not recognizing who Jesus is and what he can do for you.

The men in our text were downcast. Why? The Lord had just been crucified. Their only hope of what life could hold for them was now gone. So they thought. As Christians, we can always find something to rejoice in. Our lives are founded on the solid rock of Jesus. We have the promise of a better life beyond the grave.

The words you heard last week need to come alive in you and move you in a new direction. Do not allow things to be business as usual. Make a commitment to serve the risen Savior.

Jackson is the pastor of St. Luke Missionary Baptist Church and a member of the United Ministerial Alliance of Liberty County.