Introduction

Good morning, my brothers and sisters in Christ. It is a joy to gather with each of you today, united under the banner of our Risen Savior. As we gather in this sacred space, let us take a moment to reflect on the incredible love of our God, a love that transcends our understanding, a love that triumphed over death itself. This love is not merely a topic for discussion, but a reality that transforms our lives, a reality that we are privileged to celebrate together today.

Our focus this morning is a story that is at the heart of our faith, a story that has echoed through the ages, a story that continues to inspire, challenge, and comfort us. The story of the Resurrection. The story of the first Easter morning. The story of an empty tomb and a divine encounter.

Let us pray. Father, we thank you for the resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ. We thank you for the hope and life that it brings to us. As we reflect on these scriptures today, open our hearts and minds to understand the depth of your love for us. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, our Rock and our Redeemer. In Jesus' name, we pray, amen.

Discovering the Empty Tomb

The narrative of John's Gospel presents us with a scene that is both ordinary and extraordinary. It's the first day of the week, and while it's still dark, Mary Magdalene makes her way to the tomb. This is an act of love, a final act of devotion to the one she had followed and believed in. She expects to find a sealed tomb, a silent testament to the tragic end of Jesus' earthly ministry. But what she finds instead is an open tomb, an absence that speaks volumes.

This absence, this emptiness, is not what she expected. It's not what any of us would expect. It's a disruption, a break in the narrative that we've come to accept. The tomb should be full. It should contain the body of Jesus, wrapped in linen and laid to rest. But it doesn't. The tomb is empty. And this emptiness, this absence, is the first sign of something extraordinary.

The empty tomb is a sign of God's power over death. It's a sign of the resurrection, the promise that death is not the end. But it's also a sign of mystery, a challenge to our understanding. The empty tomb confronts us with a reality that is beyond our comprehension. It invites us to question, to wonder, to imagine. It invites us to believe.

The empty tomb is also a sign of God's presence. Even in the absence of Jesus' body, God is present. God is present in the emptiness, in the mystery, in the hope. God is present in the questions and the wonder and the belief. God is present in the love that brought Mary to the tomb, and in the love that sends her running to tell the others.

The empty tomb is a sign of God's love. It's a sign of a love that is stronger than death, a love that can't be contained by a tomb. It's a sign of a love that is willing to endure the cross, to endure death, for the sake of us all. It's also a sign of a love that is willing to be absent, to be empty, in order to be fully present in our lives.

In the end, the empty tomb is a sign of God's faithfulness. It's a sign of a faithfulness that is not deterred by death, a faithfulness that is not diminished by absence. It's a sign of a faithfulness that is not limited by our understanding, a faithfulness that is not bound by our expectations.

Dawn of the First Day

As we continue to reflect on the dawn of the first day, we find ourselves standing with Mary Magdalene in the dim light of early morning ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO