The Longest Silence, The Loudest Hope

Easter Sunday Sermon - “The Longest Silence, The Loudest Hope”

It is Resurrection Sunday. It is a day that we

Remember Jesus’ triumph over death

Renew our commitment to the One in Whom we believe Who triumphed over death

Proclaim that light is greater than darkness, That God is stronger than Satan

That we are people of the resurrected King Who live resurrected lives

Remember that in Him we are a new creation. The old is gone. The new has come

2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

If you were here 2 days ago on Good Friday, you journeyed with the others who were here through a remarkable dramatization of the events of the first Good Friday.

Marjorie wrote a deeply moving play that was presented in a readers’-theatre style in which we entered into the experience of the 4 key people at the foot of the cross who were witnesses to Jesus hanging on the cross. Mary, the Mother of Jesus, Mary, the wife of Cleopas, Mary Magdalene - WHY are there so many Marys in the gospels? And John the Beloved.

It was powerful, it was moving. It helped us all to more truly appreciate the goodness of Jesus and the very real, human experiences of those who, like us, loved Jesus.

We left afterward after some fellowship time. It was warm and it was quite wonderful, in my experience.

And then we went our separate ways. Pause.

After the death of Jesus on that Friday long ago, then Saturday came.

“The Saturday the day after Good Friday is often known as “Silent Saturday.”

Silent Saturday is the day in between, the space between death and resurrection, grief and glory. It is the day the tomb stayed shut.

The Messiah’s body lay cold and lifeless, wrapped in linen and sealed behind a stone (Matthew 27:59–60). For the disciples, it was a day of unanswered questions.

The One they had followed, the One they had hoped was the Redeemer of Israel, had been crucified (Luke 24:21).

Their dreams had died on Friday, and Saturday brought no clarity or explanation, only silence. But that silence was not abandonment.

It was not a failure in the plan. It was a pause that carried purpose. Just as the earth rested on the seventh day after creation, the Lamb of God rested in the grave, having finished the work of redemption (Genesis 2:2; John 19:30).

Silent Saturday was not a mistake. It was Sabbath fulfillment. It was not defeat. It was the stillness before the shaking of the earth.

Beneath the surface of that silence, something deeper was taking place.

Christ had descended into death, not as a victim but as a victor. He did not lie helpless.

He held the keys of Death and Hades (Revelation 1:18). While the world mourned, the powers of darkness trembled.

The silence of Saturday was a cosmic calm before the ultimate storm of resurrection.

Prophecies were being completed. The grave was being disarmed. And even though heaven seemed quiet, God was not absent.

He was moving in hidden power. For all who feel the ache of delay, the weight of prayers that seem unanswered, or the sting of loss that has not yet turned to joy,

Days like yesterday, like “Silent Saturday” remind us that the waiting is not wasted. Even when God is silent, He is not still.

The stone will roll away. The dawn will break. And when it does, it will bring with it the roar of victory.

It’s always darkest before the dawn, yet God still causes the sun to rise and fulfill its purpose.

In the same way, even when we cannot see it or understand it, God is still working, even in the silence”.

Today’s message is called: “The Longest Silence, The Loudest Hope”

Let’s continue to reflect as we explore today’s Scripture passage.

20:1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.

This is about the morning of the 3rd day after Jesus died

Mary Magdalene was in shock still from the death of Jesus

She went to Jesus' tomb, that belonged to Joseph of Arithramea.

Why? She went to mourn.

Have you ever gone to a gravestone to mourn? Soon after a loved one died? I have.

It’s a wrenching experience.

Did it with my brother and my parents.

You don’t do it without a lot of tears, overwhelming grief.

While it was dark, Mary, the woman from whom Jesus had cast 7 demons and who followed Jesus as a faithful disciple, apparently even before Jesus called the first male disciples, went to the tomb. Her heart was in turmoil. Her soul deep in grief.