Rescued for Life: Resurrection Sunday Devotional
Text: John 11:25–26; Romans 5:8–10; 1 Corinthians 15:54–57
“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.’” — John 11:25–26
On July 14, 2019, a dad from Tennessee named Fred Pepperman was on vacation with his family at Seacrest Beach, Florida. Out of nowhere, a riptide pulled his three daughters—Grace, Olivia, and Kathryn—out into the water. Without hesitation, he went after them. With the help of others, he was able to rescue all three and get them safely back to shore. But he had nothing left. He collapsed on the beach, received CPR, and passed away on the way to the hospital.
His last words to his daughter Kathryn were simple, but powerful: “I got you.”
That’s what love does. It moves toward danger, steps into the current, and gives everything it has to bring someone else back.
And that’s exactly what Jesus has done for us—only on a far greater scale. Every one of us has been caught in a current far stronger than a riptide—the pull of sin, death, and separation from God. We weren’t just struggling; we were powerless to save ourselves. So Jesus stepped in.
Romans 5:8 tells us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. He didn’t wait for us to clean ourselves up or find our way back. He moved toward us in our worst moment and took our place.
But the cross wasn’t the end.
1 Corinthians 15 declares that death has been swallowed up in victory. Jesus didn’t just enter the current—He broke it. And in John 11:25, He says, “I am the resurrection and the life.”
In other words, the resurrection is Jesus looking at you and saying: “I’ve got you.”
Not temporarily. Not conditionally. But completely and forever. Sin doesn’t own you. Death doesn’t win.
Your story doesn’t end in the water. Jesus stepped into the depths, and when He rose, He broke the grip of everything that was pulling you under.
That means we can live secure—no longer striving for approval or just trying to stay afloat, because we are held. From that place, we live surrendered—if He gave everything to rescue us, we can trust Him with everything, loosening our grip on control and leaning into closeness with Him. And that kind of security produces courage—because if death itself has been defeated, what can this world really take from us?
The resurrection frees us to step out, speak up, and live boldly for Christ. It also compels us to live on mission—because there are still people caught in the current, and now we carry the message, echoing the very Gospel Jesus speaks over us: I’ve got you. And through it all, we live with hope—grounded in the reality that no matter what we face, this is not the end of our story; the resurrection has already secured what comes next.
Think about that as you abide in Him this week.
PRAYER
Jesus, thank You for stepping into the current for me. Thank You that You didn’t just die—you rose again, securing my life forever. Help me to live like I’m truly held by You. Teach me to trust You, walk in courage, and carry Your hope to others. Remind me daily that I am safe in Your hands. Amen.
Reflection Questions
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