The Resurrection of Our Lord, Easter Sunrise (2024)

John 20:1-18

My Brothers and Sisters, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed Alleluia! How long we have waited to shout these joyful words and celebrate Jesus’ victory on Easter morning and sing again the Songs of Angels and celebrate everything that Christ has accomplished. The chains of death and the grave were not able to hold him, and Christ is Risen! He is risen Indeed Alleluia! This is a reason to celebrate not only for Christians but for all the world!

Even the disciples who had been fearful of what might happen to them, don’t stay hidden, but run to the tomb to see if it is true. They did not yet understand all these things that must happen and take place. For they watched Jesus die with their own eyes, they knew where he was buried, they knew that He was dead in the grave. They didn’t understand that these things had to happen.

They had watched Jesus perform many miracles, and Jesus had even given them authority as Apostles to go out and cast out demons and heal people, but now that Jesus is dead, who will raise Him? Who will send them, and entrust them with that Authority? Death is the end of man isn’t it? How many people had they seen die through natural causes, accidents, and violence in their life and now the one who was supposed to be their champion, the son of David, who would sit on David’s throne, his breathless clay is laid in a tomb.

So when the women who go to anoint Jesus’ body go to see that the tomb is rolled back they run to tell the disciples, and John and Peter make all hast to get to the tomb to see if it is true. They saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth folded up and lying to the side. It was then that the light came on, their eyes were opened and understood that he must rise from the dead. When He spoke about the devil’s stronghold and binding up the strong man. The palace where the devil held humanity captive was death, and none could break its chains, until Jesus allowed himself to be chained up, only to shatter death’s bonds, and cast down this ancient serpent. So that He might leads us to freedom and that is why we rejoice that Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed Alleluia!

But not everyone yet understood. There was Mary Magadalene from whom Jesus had cast out 7 demons, and set her free from an awful torture. We know from the Scriptures as well that she was a woman of some means and had been able to support Jesus during his ministry, but it appeared to have been for nothing. She thought that someone had taken away her Lord, and this was too much. They had been forced to rush things on Friday, and she returned to finish the work, before it would be too late to anoint his body. How could those who cruelly crucified him on Friday now deprive the grieving of this?

She mistakes Jesus at first for a gardener thinking that maybe someone else has taken the body of Christ away, but then Jesus calls to her, and her eyes are opened, as she realizes this is the one whom she has been seeking, and He is alive! That is why the angels and Jesus ask why are you weeping, this is a time for great joy.

This is why we as Christians are to be people of joy, and great joy. For we know the answer to that question of what comes after death, we know that everyone we lay in the ground who trusted and believed Christ’s promises that they will live, we will see again for whoever believes and is baptized shall be saved. Death is not forever for the Christian, rather our grave is a portal by which we are taken to be with our Lord and Savior, and we await the day of His appearing.

Jesus’ resurrection shows that our sins are forgiven, that Jesus has won peace with God the Father, and His promise of eternal life is true. We speak at great length about all the miracles and wonderful things that Jesus did, but those who were given to show us that His Word is truth, and that we can rely on His promises.

If Jesus had been in that tomb, when the women approached. If His corpse was still there, entering into corruption and decay, what would that mean? Well that would mean its over, the best hope that humanity had came to nothing. That is why in Corinthians it says that if Christ has not been raised then our faith is futile and we are still in our sins. For Jesus would be like the rest of us, a man who came and went and was buried in the ground, but His resurrection means, that we can find in him the hope mankind has longed for, rescue from sin and death. The people cried out Hosanna, which means God save us, and Jesus does.

This is the cause for our joy and our celebration here on Easter Morning and why we want everyone to come together in celebration and sing His praises. What Christ promised is that those who believe, that is trust, that Jesus is doing this for you, and is baptized into his death and resurrection have eternal life. All of us here will die, unless Christ returns first, but that’s ok, because Jesus’ victory this day is your victory. We will enter into Christ’s eternal Kingdom, and no more shall the pains and sorrows of this life, that rob us of family and friends leave us weeping at a graveside. For death shall be no more in Christ’s Kingdom.

This is news worth sharing with the world. These women were the first to share the Victory of Christ, John and Peter also went forth and shared this Good news with everyone they could. It is a message the world still needs to hear, and many do not yet know. They see Jesus as a teacher, Christianity is an opinion or personal preference or just a set of morals that one lives by.

Christianity is the rooted in the wonderful and historical fact that the Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God, and this was confirmed on Easter Sunday by His resurrection, which is why we say, Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed. This is the foundation for our faith not our personal feelings, Jesus’ empty tomb. It is our cause for hope, our cause for joy, and it is what we want to share with everyone.

So my Brothers and Sisters, go forth this day, and share the good news, that Jesus has conquered death, that He has cast off the chains that were laid upon him, and death’s strong bands cannot contain Him. For He is the Son of God, who has won the victory and holds the field forever. Christ Is Risen! He is Risen Indeed Alleluia! Amen!