Easter Sunday 2023
Matthew 27:51-54
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[e] went into the holy city and appeared to many people.54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
The very first person to confess Jesus as Son of God after the crucifixion was the very person who crucified him.
This soldier had seen many crucifixions and was accustomed to violence.
He was involved in constant chaos, crowd control and violent reprisals.
The soldier who had just mocked, beaten, and killed him was now confessing his belief in him.
1. No one is beyond the reach of Jesus.
2. Our trauma does not have the last word.
John 20:11-16 NIV
Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary. ”She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).
1. No one can find Jesus without help from the Holy Spirit.
2. Jesus is always looking for the one.
Maria was her common name. Miriam is the name Jesus calls her.
