Go! And Celebrate the Victory of the Resurrection
Introduction:
What a joy it is to be gathered on this special day, Easter Sunday, the day we celebrate the greatest victory in human history—the resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
As we reflect on this momentous occasion, I want to invite you to consider the words of the angel at the tomb of Jesus: “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said” (Matthew 28:6). Today, we celebrate the fulfilment of the promises of God and the victory over sin and death. But the resurrection is not just an event in history—it is the defining moment of our faith and the foundation of our hope.
Our theme for today is: Go! And Celebrate the Victory of the Resurrection. Let’s explore what that means for us, how the resurrection of Jesus calls us to action, and why it changes everything about how we live.
1. The Resurrection: A Promise Fulfilled
Let’s begin with the words of the angel at the tomb in Matthew 28:6 (NLT): “He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.”
The context of this verse is profound. The disciples and followers of Jesus had witnessed His death on the cross. For them, it seemed as though all hope was lost. Jesus had been laid in the tomb, and the stone had been rolled in front. But this verse marks the turning point—the great news of the resurrection! This is the ultimate confirmation of Jesus' divinity and the trustworthiness of His words.
The phrase "just as he said" is crucial here. Throughout His ministry, Jesus had repeatedly spoken about His death and resurrection (e.g., Matthew 16:21). He had warned them that He would die, but He also promised that He would rise again on the third day.
The Greek word anistemi (???st?µ?) here means “to rise up,” or “to stand up.” It conveys the idea of someone who has been lying down (as Jesus was) but then rises up to stand again. This is no ordinary comeback. This is a victory over the grave. Jesus did not merely resuscitate—He rose in glory and power.
For us, this is not just a historical fact—it’s a life-changing reality. The resurrection of Jesus assures us that God keeps His promises. Every promise made by God is guaranteed, and we can trust Him with our lives today. Jesus is not dead; He is alive, and His resurrection proves the power of God over death.
As Tim Keller wrote, “The resurrection means that the worst thing is never the last thing.” The worst thing, the death of Jesus, was not the end. The resurrection tells us that God has the final word, and it is a word of victory.
Oh, what a hope-filled reminder from Tim Keller, this is Gospel truth wrapped in resurrection glory! The cross looked like the end. The tomb seemed like the final chapter. But Jesus rose, proving once and for all that God has the final word, not death, not despair, not the devil.
In Christ, our story doesn’t end in defeat—it ends in glory. The resurrection is God’s promise that when life hits hardest, hope still lives. The tomb is empty, and that means our future is full.
So no matter what you're walking through today, remember—because He lives, the worst thing is never the last thing!
2. The Resurrection: The Victory Over Sin and Death
Consider 1 Corinthians 15:54-57 (NLT): “Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled: ‘Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?’”
Paul is writing here about the ultimate triumph over sin and death. He is referencing the prophecy of Isaiah 25:8, where death is swallowed up in victory. For centuries, death had been the enemy, the final frontier that no one could overcome. But through the resurrection of Jesus, the power of death was broken.
The Greek word nike (????), which means "victory," highlights the power and triumph of Christ. His victory over death means that believers, too, will share in this victory when they are raised with Him. The sting of death has been removed because, through Jesus, we are promised eternal life.
This victory over death is not just about the future; it changes our present reality. The resurrection means that death no longer has the final say. In Christ, we can face even death itself with hope, knowing that we will be resurrected as He was. The sting of sin and death is gone for the believer in Jesus Christ.
John Stott said, “The resurrection is the demonstration of God's power, and it is the foundation of our hope.”
Without the resurrection, our faith would be in vain, but because Jesus is alive, we have hope that extends beyond this life.
Stott’s words profoundly encapsulate the essence of the resurrection’s significance. He rightly identifies it as the demonstration of God’s power—a power that not only overcame death but also redefined the very nature of life itself.
Without the resurrection, Christianity would lose its defining victory over sin and death, rendering our faith futile and empty. But, as Stott emphasizes, because Jesus is alive, our hope is secure.
The resurrection is not merely a past event; it is the foundation of a present and future hope.
It guarantees that the life we have in Christ is not just for this fleeting moment, but extends into eternity.
It assures us that no matter the trials of this world, our future is one of unshakable hope, rooted in the risen Christ.
It’s this unbreakable hope that empowers us to live with boldness, knowing that death is not the end, but the beginning of something far greater.
3. The Resurrection: A Call to Action
Now let’s consider Matthew 28:7-10 (NLT): “And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”
The resurrection of Jesus is not just a reason to celebrate; it is a call to action. After the angel proclaims the good news of Jesus’ resurrection, he immediately gives a command: “Go quickly and tell his disciples.” The resurrection is not something to be kept a secret. It is to be shared, proclaimed, and declared.
The Greek word poreuo (p??e??), meaning "to go," is used here. It’s not a suggestion; it’s a command. The message of the resurrection is so important that it must be spread immediately.
For us, this is the heart of the Christian mission. The resurrection is not just about celebrating our own salvation; it’s about taking that message to others. Just as the women were told to go and tell, so are we called to share the message of Jesus' resurrection with the world. Easter is not a one-day event—it is the foundation for a lifetime of witness.
As C.S. Lewis puts it, “Christianity is a statement which, if false, is of no importance, and, if true, is of infinite importance. The one thing it cannot be is moderately important.”
The resurrection demands a response, and that response is action—telling others the good news of Jesus Christ.
C.S. Lewis' words carry a powerful challenge that strikes at the heart of what it means to follow Christ. Christianity, at its core, is a claim about the nature of reality itself: the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ, His death and resurrection, and the salvation offered through Him.
Lewis cuts through the noise of half-hearted engagement, reminding us that we cannot afford to treat Christianity as just one option among many. If it is false, then we are wasting our time; but if it is true, it changes everything.
The Christian faith demands an all-or-nothing commitment. Jesus’ resurrection is the ultimate game-changer.
If He truly rose from the dead, then we must respond with reverence, obedience, and a radical reordering of our lives. To hold Christianity as “moderately important” is to deny its truth and transformative power.
Jesus' call to follow Him is not a suggestion—it is a summons to eternal significance. When we grasp the weight of that truth, we see that everything in life must align with it. The Gospel is not a side issue; it is the issue.
In this way, we are called to a passionate, wholehearted faith, not a lukewarm approach. Christianity is either of infinite importance, or it is not important at all. There is no middle ground.
4. The Resurrection: The Assurance of Our Future Hope
Finally, let’s consider Romans 6:4 (NLT): “For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.”
This verse speaks of the spiritual implications of the resurrection. Through faith in Christ, we are united with Him in His death and resurrection. When we are baptised, we symbolise our participation in Jesus’ death and resurrection. The resurrection guarantees that we, too, will rise again, living new lives, freed from the power of sin.
The Greek word sozo (s???), meaning “to save” or “to rescue,” is often used in this context. Through the resurrection, we are saved from both the penalty and the power of sin.
The resurrection assures us that we are new creations in Christ. We are not bound by our past failures, our sin, or our shame. In Jesus, we have been given a new life, a new identity, and a new hope. The resurrection is not just a future hope; it’s a present reality. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live differently, to live for Christ.
As N.T. Wright stated, “The resurrection is not only the great vindication of Jesus, it is the great beginning of a new creation.”
Through the resurrection, we are part of the new creation that God is bringing about in the world.
Wright's powerful statement echoes the profound truth that the resurrection of Jesus is far more than a miraculous event in history. It is, in fact, the inauguration of a new order of things—one where death is defeated, sin is overcome, and the hope of new life becomes a tangible reality for all who are in Christ.
The resurrection of Jesus is the decisive act in God's plan of redemption. It not only confirms Jesus as the Messiah, but it also marks the beginning of God's restoration of all things.
In 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT), Paul tells us, "Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun." This new life is not merely about individual transformation; it is the birth of a new creation that will one day encompass the whole of reality, where the Kingdom of God is fully realised.
Through Jesus’ resurrection, we catch a glimpse of what is to come—when all things will be made new -Revelation 21:5 (NLT): "And the one sitting on the throne said, 'Look, I am making everything new!' And then he said to me, 'Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.'”
The resurrection is the first fruits of this new creation, the proof that God's work of renewal has begun. And it invites us to live now in the light of that future reality, as we look forward to the day when Christ will return to bring everything under his perfect reign.
In our world, where suffering and death still seem so prevalent, the resurrection offers hope. It assures us that the story is not over, that a new creation is unfolding even now, and that we are invited to participate in it through the power of the risen Christ. It is a call to live with a Kingdom mindset, proclaiming that Jesus is alive and, through Him, all things are being made new.
Conclusion: A Call to Celebrate and Respond
As we conclude today, let us remember the glorious truth of the resurrection. Jesus is alive! This victory over sin and death is ours in Christ. The resurrection is not just an event to be remembered; it’s a reality that transforms us.
I urge you today, Go! And Celebrate the Victory of the Resurrection! Let the joy of the resurrection fill your hearts, and let that joy compel you to share the good news with others. Live as people who have been raised to new life in Christ. And if you have not yet placed your trust in Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, today is the day to do so. Come to Him, trust in His resurrection, and receive the gift of eternal life.
Invitation:
If you have not yet accepted Jesus as your Saviour, I invite you to take that step. Jesus died for you, and He rose again so that you might have life. Come to Him today, and He will make all things new.
Let me urge you today with the words of the Apostle Paul in Romans 10:9 (NLT): "If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
This is the heart of the Gospel—the call to repentance and the invitation to new life. Repentance is more than a mere acknowledgment of wrongdoing; it is a radical turning away from sin and an embracing of the grace and mercy offered to us in Christ Jesus. The resurrection is not just a historic event; it is the power of God available to you today, to cleanse and transform your life.
Jesus is Lord. He reigns, and in Him, we find forgiveness, healing, and eternal life. But this is not something we can take lightly. It requires that we surrender, that we turn from the old ways of sin, and that we embrace Jesus as Lord and Saviour. To declare Him as Lord is to accept His rule over our lives—no longer living in rebellion, but in obedience to His loving commands.
Today, I call you to respond. If you believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose again, if you confess Him as Lord, you are promised salvation. The old has gone, and the new has come.
So, I ask you, will you repent and turn from sin? Will you embrace the new life that Jesus offers through His resurrection? There is no better moment than now to come to Him and receive the forgiveness He so freely offers. The invitation is open; the door is wide. Come, and find life in Jesus Christ.
Go! And Celebrate the Victory of the Resurrection!
