He is Risen!

John 20:1-9

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

John 20:1

As dawn breaks, nothing will ever be the same!

In a shocking turn of events (even though Jesus had told his disciples just what was going to happen) the death that they all thought had ended everything has been defeated.

And not just defeated to give Jesus a few extra years to walk around doing good. Not just defeated like Lazarus who came back to life after being four days stinky dead. No this time death has been totally undone.

Jesus has been resurrectedand God’s new creation has broken into this world.

And if death can be totally undone, then life has new meaning and hope.

If Jesus is the Son of Man raised to new life, then the violent world powers of his and every day who look to trample the innocent for their own might have lost their power. They will be overcome. They will not prevail forever.

If the Jesus is the Son of God raised to new life, then the religious leaders of his and every day who seek power and influence in the world have lost the place from which they throw their weight around abusing and crushing those who will not conform.

If Jesus is the promised Messiah, if Jesus is the promised King come to fulfill God’s covenant, then God has made a way to overcome the evil and sin that has prowled around since the Garden. If Jesus is risen then new creation can begin to break in as people are made new, as hearts are restored, and as the people of God come together to be a new community of justice and generosity and forgiveness and grace and courage and hope and love.

Jesus is Risen, and nothing will ever be the same!

Happy Easter!