The Power of the Resurrection

CHRIST IS RISEN!

(response) He is risen indeed!

This liturgy will resound around the world on Resurrection Sunday! My most memorable connection to this liturgy goes back to Easter 1988 in Moscow, Soviet Union, at the millennium celebrations of Christianity.

The beginning of Christianity in 988 AD was a pivotal event in Eastern European history when the ruler of Kievan Rus officially adopted Christianity and ordered the mass conversion of his people. It is closely associated with Vladimir the Great (also called Vladimir I of Kyiv). After his conversion, Vladimir ordered the people of Kyiv to gather at the Dnieper River, where large numbers were baptized. This event symbolized the official Christianization of Kievan Rus.

Easter Sunday in 1988, I was at Moscow Baptist Church where every speaker who came to the pulpit began with CHRIST IS RISEN! (In Russian, “Khristos Voskres”… and all the people responded “Voistinu Voskres!”). This was repeated three times by every speaker with each time being louder than before.

Today, we celebrate the most significant event in the Christian faith—the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. This day is not just a historical event; it is a transformative reality that has the power to change our lives, our communities, and the world. As we reflect on the resurrection, let us open our hearts to the hope, joy, and renewal that it brings.

Let us begin with the reading of Scripture from John 20:1-18 (NIV):

“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. So, she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!’

So, Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen.

Finally, the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 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.’

At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. 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.’

Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, ‘Rabboni!’ (which means ‘Teacher’). Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”’ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’ And she told them that he had said these things to her.”

1. The Significance of the Resurrection:

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our faith. It affirms that Jesus is who He claimed to be—the Son of God. His resurrection validates His teachings and demonstrates that God’s love is more powerful than death. When Jesus rose from the dead, He conquered sin and death, offering us eternal life and hope.

2. The Message of Hope:

In our lives, we often encounter situations that feel like death—broken relationships, dreams that seem lost, or personal struggles that weigh us down. But the resurrection reminds us that, just as Jesus emerged from the tomb, we too can experience new life. We can rise from our challenges, renew our spirits, and embrace the hope that God offers.

3. The Role of Mary Magdalene:

Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Christ is a powerful reminder that Jesus sees us, knows us, and calls us by name. Mary was the first to witness the resurrection, and she was entrusted with the message of hope. This teaches us that God uses ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things. Each of us has a role to play in sharing the good news of Jesus’ resurrection with the world.

4. Our Response:

As we celebrate this Easter, let us reflect on how we will respond to the resurrection. Are we willing to share the hope we have in Christ with others? Are we ready to let go of our fears and trust in God’s promises? Just as Mary went to tell the disciples, we too are called to share the message of hope and renewal with those around us.

As we conclude, let us remember that Easter is not just a day on the calendar; it is a continual invitation to experience the life-changing power of the resurrection every day. Let us walk in the light of Christ, embodying His love, grace, and hope in a world that so desperately needs it.

Let us pray together: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, and for the hope that His resurrection brings. Help us to embrace this hope in our lives and to share it with others. May we be transformed by Your love and empowered to live out the message of the resurrection. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.