“Don’t be alarmed…You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He is risen!”
Resurrection: “Power to Transform and Make Things Right.”
SCRIPTURE : Mark 16 : 1-8
Easter Sermon by Pastor Vicente Martinez
It’s Easter and God’s people must lift up their voices in praise and gratitude, for Jesus Christ is risen! Our Savior is alive! And because He lives, we, too, live. Through Jesus Christ, we have victory over death. Easter must be about singing and praising the Lord of lord and the King of kings. Easter, a precious and blessed day where we see an increase in attendance for those who normally don’t come to church do so. Aleluya! It’s good to see those who we don’t see very often. On this day, we are more in tune with the presence of the Lord in our midst, and we realize that the air is filled with the hope and the joy that only resurrection can bring. Yes, Easter is a special day! Yet, I must remind everyone that the joy and significance of Easter cannot be contained to one Sunday…to one holiday. Easter is RESURRECTON, and the power and the glory of resurrection are ever present each and every day! That special feeling of joy and love; that feeling that lets us know that God has given us a new day filled with hope, and that desire to want to embrace family with all that is good, doesn’t have to be about just one day. Our Savior Jesus Christ has touched you, has touched us, has touched humankind and now we can experience the true meaning of living life abundantly each and every day.
The above-mentioned resurrection story tells us of how several faithful women encountered the glory of resurrection. These women were present in Calvary. They witnessed the torture and the agonizing death experienced by our Savior. Their hearts were filled with pain and fear, and their lives surrounded by uncertainties and abandonment. Because they loved Jesus, they returned to the tomb, and they were determined to provide a proper burial for their Rabbi…they were committed to do something for Jesus. Little did they know that it was Jesus who, once again, was doing something great for them and for the world.
Upon their arrival, the angel appears to them, and proclaims the victory we celebrate today: “He has risen!” Hope has re-appeared! “Don’t be alarmed!” Fear is gone! “He [Jesus] is going ahead…” Uncertainties will be addressed! The risen Savior is leading the way! The worries and the challenges that dominated these women lives have been met with the transformative power of resurrection! Even their pressing concern over who was to remove the stone from the tomb’s entrance was resolved before they arrived. The angels of the Lord took care of that for nothing was going to keep the Savior from rising up, and nothing was going to keep the women from experiencing the glory of resurrection.
Just as with the women, pain and fear as well as uncertainties and abandonment may also dominate our lives. We may be experiencing hardship, and we may be walking in darkness…life is difficult. BUT glory to God for His Son! There is resurrection power! Power to give us strength. Power to give us direction. Power to lift us up. Power to give us Life! Nothing can keep us from the love of God in Jesus Christ. Rejoice! HE HAS RISEN! Jesus resurrected with power…for you, and for me. Resurrection power is ours to claim, to proclaim, and to live! Amen.