Plan for: Thanksgiving | Advent | Christmas
This sermon explores the transformative power, profound answers, and promise of new life found in Jesus Christ's resurrection, emphasizing its central role in Christian faith.
Good morning, beloved family of God. I stand before you today, not as a stranger, but as a fellow traveler on this road we call faith. We gather here, not as individuals, but as a community united in our love for Christ and our desire to grow closer to Him.
Today, we find ourselves standing at the foot of an empty tomb, peering into the darkness with wonder and awe. We are here to discuss the resurrection of our Savior, Jesus Christ. This isn't a simple story we tell to comfort ourselves in times of sorrow or uncertainty. No, this is a cornerstone of our faith, a beacon of hope that lights our path and guides us home.
In the words of the great theologian, Tim Keller, "If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn't rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what he said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead."
Let's turn to the Scripture that brings us here today, John 20:11-15: "But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' She said to them, 'They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.' Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?' Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, 'Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.'"
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a moment that forever changed the course of human history. It is a moment that displayed the incredible power of God, a power so great that it could overcome even death itself. This is not just a story of survival, but a story of victory. A story of a God who loved us so much that He was willing to die for us, and then rise again to prove that His love is stronger than death.
Imagine, if you will, the scene at the tomb. The stone has been rolled away, the guards have fled in fear, and the tomb is empty. This is not a scene of defeat, but of triumph. The grave could not hold Jesus. Death could not defeat Him. He rose again, displaying a power that is beyond our human understanding.
This power is not just a display of God's might, but also of His love. It is a love so strong that it could not be defeated by death. It is a love that chose to endure the cross, to suffer and die, so that we might have life. This is the power of the resurrection.
But the power of the resurrection is also about what happens to us. Because of the resurrection, we too can have new life. We too can experience the power of God's love.
The resurrection is not just a historical event. It is a personal experience. It is something that we can know and experience for ourselves. Because of the resurrection, we can have a personal relationship with God. We can know His love, His grace, and His power. We can know the hope of eternal life.
The resurrection is also a promise. It is a promise that God will never leave us or forsake us. It is a promise that He will always be with us, even in the darkest moments of our lives.
Finally, the resurrection is a call. It is a call to live a new life. It is a call to follow Jesus, to love as He loved, to serve as He served. It is a call to be transformed by the power of God's love.
As we continue to reflect on the words of John 20:11-15, we find ourselves drawn into the raw emotion of the scene ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO