Easter Sunday 20/04/2025

WELCOME

New atheists - Chris hitchens, Richard Hawkins Sam Harris and Daniel Bennett.

Let’s be real — a lot of people believe that Jesus existed. A Jewish teacher, first-century Galilee, said some wise things, got a following, and was executed by Rome. Most people don’t doubt He existed. What they doubt… is whether it matters.

That’s what sits underneath so many of our questions, right? “If God is good, why is the world such a mess?” “Why is there suffering?” “What kind of God sends people to hell?” “Why would I need saving if I’m already a decent person?” “Isn’t Christianity just a crutch for weak people?” And maybe the most honest one of all: “I want to believe… but I just don’t see how this fits in real life.”

Here’s why Easter Sunday matters. Because if Jesus actually rose from the dead, then He isn’t just a footnote in history. It means the cross wasn’t a tragedy — it was a strategy. It means the suffering had a purpose. It means sin has been paid for. It means death isn’t the end. It means there’s hope — not just for the world, but for you.

And here’s the thing: the first Easter didn’t start with music and flowers. It started in the dark. Two women showed up to a tomb before sunrise — heartbroken, grieving, not expecting a miracle. They weren’t coming to celebrate a risen King — they were coming to finish burying a dead friend.

But what they found changed everything. An angel. An empty tomb. A message: “Don’t be afraid. He’s not here. He has risen, just as He said.”

And from that moment on — everything changed. For them, and for us.

So the real question isn’t “Did Jesus rise?” It’s “If He did… what does that mean for you?”

POINT 1: You’re Not Too Far Gone

📖 Matthew 28:1–10 Word Count: 584

Matthew 28:1–10 LEB

Now after the Sabbath, at the dawning on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to view the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came up and rolled away the stone and sat down on it. Now his appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. And the guards trembled from the fear of him and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised, just as he said. Come, see the place where he was lying. And go quickly, tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and behold, he is going ahead of you into Galilee. You will see him there.’ Behold, I have told you.” And they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid! Go tell my brothers that they should go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

The first people to witness the resurrection weren’t priests. They weren’t scholars. They weren’t religious professionals. They were two women — Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” — walking to a tomb in the dark.

And I just love that God writes it that way. If you were making this story up, trying to sell a religion in the first century, this is exactly what you wouldn’t do. Women couldn’t testify in court back then. Their word wasn’t trusted. Their presence didn’t count. But Jesus says, “Let them be the first.” Because grace always finds its way to the margins.

And it gets even deeper. One of these women — Mary Magdalene — had a past. We’re told in Luke 8:2 that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her. That’s not a poetic metaphor — that’s real spiritual darkness. She’d been oppressed, tormented, and broken. She wasn’t just “kind of messed up.” She was the kind of person most would’ve avoided. And yet, Jesus loved her. He freed her. He restored her.

And now, on the biggest day in human history, He makes her the first witness of the resurrection. That’s not a coincidence. That’s the Kingdom.

The gospel isn’t for the people who think they’ve earned it. It’s not for the polished, the proper, or the perfect. It’s for people like Mary. It’s for people who walk into church and sit near the back because they don’t feel worthy to be in the front. It’s for people who carry shame like it’s part of their personality. It’s for people who think, “God might love people… but probably not me.”

And maybe that’s where you are today. Maybe you feel like your story is too dark. Maybe you’ve made decisions you wish you could erase. Maybe you think, “If they knew what I’ve done… if God really saw it all… there’s no way I’d be welcome here.”

But let me tell you — God sees it all… and still walked out of that tomb for you.

The resurrection is proof that your worst moment doesn’t get the last word. Your sin doesn’t write the end of your story — Jesus does. The empty tomb isn’t for the religious elite. It’s for the weary, the wandering, and the ones who thought it was too late.

So if you’re thinking today, “I’m too far gone,” hear this:

You’re exactly the kind of person Easter was meant for.

God didn’t send His Son to die and rise again because you were already doing fine. He came because you were lost — and He wants you back. And the good news is: nothing you’ve done can cancel what Jesus did.

RELIGION OR REBELLION

POINT 2: Your Questions Aren’t Too Big

📖 1 Corinthians 15:20–22 Word Count: 733

Let’s be honest — people have questions. Real ones. And Easter is often the one Sunday people show up to church with those questions still unresolved. Maybe it’s not that they don’t want to believe — they just can’t see how it all fits.

But here’s the truth: God’s not afraid of your doubts. The tomb is still empty, and Jesus still welcomes the honest seeker.

Let’s take a moment to walk through some of the real questions people ask — and maybe you’ve asked too.

1. “If God is good, why is there so much suffering?” That’s fair — life is full of pain. But the cross flips that question. If the presence of suffering makes you question God’s love, then look at Calvary. The worst thing that ever happened — God crucified — became the best thing that ever happened — salvation for sinners. God doesn’t waste pain. He redeems it.

2. “A loving God wouldn’t send people to hell.” Yes, God is love — but He’s also holy. If He’s truly good, He can’t just sweep sin under the rug. That’s what the cross is — the place where justice and mercy collided. Hell exists because God takes evil seriously. The real shock isn’t that some go to hell — it’s that any of us get to go to heaven.

3. “What about those who’ve never heard about Jesus?” This question is often more about avoiding Jesus than seeking Him. Still, here’s the truth: God is not unfair. He’s not judging people for what they don’t know — He’s calling us to go and tell them what they can know. The real question is: Now that you’ve heard… what will you do with Jesus?

4. “Christianity is just a crutch for weak people.” You’re not wrong. And I’ll admit it — I’m limping. So are you. Jesus said it’s not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Weak people make the best Christians because they know they need grace. Strong people just fake it… until they fall.

5. “The Bible is full of contradictions and errors.” That’s a common one. But most people who say it haven’t read the Bible deeply. It’s 66 books, over 40 authors, written across 1,500 years in three languages — and somehow it tells one unified story: God saves sinners through Jesus. That’s not random — that’s supernatural.

6. “Jesus was just a good moral teacher — not God.” C.S. Lewis said it best: Jesus didn’t leave that option open. He claimed to be God, forgave sins, accepted worship, and predicted His resurrection. Moral teachers don’t do that — unless they’re actually who they say they are. That means He’s either a liar, a lunatic… or Lord.

7. “Science has disproved Christianity.” Science tells us how things happen — but not why they matter. It can describe gravity — but not why beauty moves your soul or why we long for meaning. Christianity isn’t anti-science — it’s supernatural. Jesus didn’t rise because science failed — He rose because He’s God.

8. “Christians are hypocrites.” Absolutely. That’s the point. The church isn’t a trophy case for the righteous — it’s a hospital for sinners. You’re not gonna find perfect people here. But you will find people learning to live by grace.

9. “All religions basically teach the same thing.” Nope. Most religions say, “Try harder. Do more. Climb up.” The gospel says, “It is finished.” Other religions say do. Jesus says done. That’s not similar. That’s everything.

10. “I’m a good person — why do I need saving?” If being good was enough, then Jesus died for nothing. But Scripture says, “There is no one righteous, not even one.” (Romans 3:10) You don’t need moral improvement — you need resurrection. The gospel isn’t about making bad people good. It’s about making dead people alive.

Here’s the bottom line: Your questions are real — but they’re not bigger than Jesus. And the empty tomb still answers the ache in every human soul.

So don’t let your questions keep you from Him. Let them lead you to Him.

POINT 3: Your Response Is What Matters Most

📖 Matthew 28:1–10

So we’ve talked about your past — and how it doesn’t disqualify you. We’ve talked about your questions — and how they don’t scare Jesus.

But now we’ve got to talk about your response. Because the resurrection is not just something to believe about — it’s something to respond to.

The angel told the women:

“Come and see… now go and tell.” In other words, don’t just admire the empty tomb — let it rewire your entire life.

And listen — everyone responds to Jesus. You can’t not respond. Some worship. Some walk away. But no one stays neutral. Not really.

Even at the tomb that day — You’ve got the women, full of awe, falling at Jesus’ feet. And you’ve got the Roman guards, who saw the same miracle and took a bribe to keep quiet. Same evidence. Same resurrection. Totally different responses.

So let me ask you straight up: What are you gonna do with the risen Jesus?

Because if He’s alive — and He is — Then your response matters forever.

And here’s where we’ve got to get Joby-level clear: You cannot meet the resurrected Jesus and stay the same.

It’s like getting hit by a train.

Imagine me showing up late today, walking in and saying, “Sorry I’m late… got hit by a freight train on the way here.” You’d be like, “Uhhh, bro… no you didn’t. Because if you did, you wouldn’t be standing there talking to us.”

Exactly.

Because when you get hit by something that powerful — it leaves a mark. And if you’ve really been hit by the grace train — I mean, if you’ve truly encountered the love of Jesus, the One who lived in your place, died in your place, and rose to invite you into life…

Then people are gonna notice. Your life changes. Not because you’re trying to impress God — but because God got hold of you.

And here’s the best part of the gospel

“That Jesus lived the perfect life you never could, died the sinner’s death you deserve, and was raised to new life to offer you His righteousness... and you gotta believe, somehow, it applies to you too.”

That’s it.

Not just that Jesus died and rose. Not just that it’s true and historical and beautiful. But that it was for you.

And you’ve got to believe that somehow, by grace, even with your past, even with your doubts, even in your mess — it applies to you too.

So let me ask you: Have you been hit by the grace train? Has Jesus interrupted your life? Has He flipped your story upside-down and called you His own?

Because today’s not just about remembering what happened in a tomb 2,000 years ago. It’s about what could happen in your life right now.

The gospel isn’t a motivational talk. It’s not spiritual advice. It’s not self-help. It’s a rescue mission.

And your rescue begins when you say: “Jesus, I believe. I receive. I surrender.”

So what are you gonna do with the risen Jesus? Because He’s done everything necessary to save you. And now it’s your move.

So here we are. Easter Sunday. Empty tomb. Risen Savior. Grace on the move.

And now, the question is sitting right in front of you: What are you going to do with Jesus?

You’ve heard the story — but more than that, you’ve been invited into it.

Not because you’ve got your life together. Not because you’ve figured out all your questions. But because Jesus came running out of that grave to rescue people just like you.

Broken people. Skeptical people. Shame-filled people. Church people and unchurched people.

People who never thought they’d be sitting in a church on Easter. People who have been in church for years but never really surrendered.

And maybe this moment — right here — is for you.

You don’t need a second opinion. You don’t need to wait for a sign. The tomb is empty. That’s your sign.

So today — would you believe it? Would you trust Him? Would you surrender?

Because the grace train is coming down the tracks. And this could be the day it hits you in the heart — and leaves you never the same.