Introduction

Good morning, my dear family in Christ. It's a joy to gather with you on this day that the Lord has made. We're here to share in a feast of faith, to be nourished by the Word of God, and to grow together in our understanding of His infinite love and grace. We're here to strengthen one another, to encourage each other, and to remind ourselves of the hope we have in Jesus Christ, our risen Savior.

Before we delve into our topic for today, allow me to share with you a thought from the great preacher Charles Spurgeon. He once said, "I have a great need for Christ; I have a great Christ for my need." This quote, in its beautiful simplicity, captures the heart of our faith. We are a people in need, and we have found our answer in the person of Jesus Christ.

Resurrection's Remarkable Relevance

In the early morning hours, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene made her way to the tomb. She was expecting to find the body of her beloved teacher, Jesus. Instead, she found an empty tomb. The stone had been rolled away, and the body was gone. This was not what she was expecting. It was a shocking, disorienting experience.

This is the first aspect of the resurrection's relevance that we need to understand. The resurrection is not what we expect. It's not a neat and tidy event that fits into our preconceived notions of how the world works. It's a radical, world-shaking event that turns everything upside down. It challenges our assumptions, our expectations, and our understanding of reality.

The resurrection is not a distant historical event that we simply remember once a year. It's a present reality that we live into every day. It's a reality that gives us hope in the midst of despair, peace in the midst of turmoil, and joy in the midst of sorrow.

The resurrection is not a private, individual experience. It's a communal experience that we share with others. It's an experience that calls us to live in solidarity with others, to bear one another's burdens, to share in one another's joys and sorrows, to work together for justice and peace.

The resurrection is an active, dynamic reality that we participate in. It's a reality that calls us to action, to service, to sacrifice. Mary Magdalene was the first to witness this reality. She was the first to encounter the risen Christ. She was the first to proclaim the good news of the resurrection. And in doing so, she became a model for all of us. She became a model of faith, of courage, of perseverance, of witness.

Like Mary, we are called to witness to the resurrection. We are called to proclaim the good news of Christ's victory over death. This is a challenging, demanding, and often daunting calling! But it's also a rewarding, fulfilling, and ultimately life-giving calling. It's a calling that gives us purpose, meaning, and direction.

Redemption Regardless of our Past

As we move forward, we find ourselves confronted with the undeniable truth of redemption ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO