I Thought You Were Dead by David Jeremiah

I Thought You Were Dead And they told [Jacob] saying, “Joseph is still alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt.” Genesis 45:26 Imagine meeting someone you thought was dead! That happened twice in the Bible. In the Old Testament, it happened to the brothers of Joseph who had betrayed him years before. They had told their father, Jacob, he was dead. But decades later, those brothers stood before an Egyptian leader who told them, “I am Joseph.” Their shock and surprise reverberated throughout history.

Recommended Reading: Matthew 28:1-8

In the New Testament, something even more dramatic happened on Easter Sunday, when One greater than Joseph rose from the dead. After suffering a gruesome death and hurried burial, Jesus Christ was quickened by the Holy Spirit on the third day, passed through the walls of the sepulcher, and began appearing to His astonished disciples. One day the entire world will be startled when they see Him, whom they pierced, coming down from the clouds of glory. But until then, we serve a risen Savior and our lives are completely different because of the reality of His vitality and life-giving power. So “who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us” (Romans 8:34). The Savior is risen for one and for all, the Savior is risen for great and for small. Adam Geibel, “The Savior Is Risen for You and for Me” hymn