Christ is Risen, Hallelujah!

Sermon April 5, 2026 John 20:1-18

Christ is Risen, Hallelujah!

Reverend Fred Okello

Hope did not start early on Sunday morning. It started with sadness. The people who followed Jesus Christ saw Him die. They no longer had any hopes. They did not know what the future held for them. Mary Magdalene did not go to the tomb to celebrate; she went to mourn.

The stone had been rolled away when she got there. But instead of feeling better, she felt confused. Her first thought was clear: "Someone has taken His body."

Mary runs to tell John the Apostle and Simon Peter. Both men hurry to the grave to look into it. They see the burial cloths still lying there, in a neat pile. Grave robbers did not do this. Something strange had happened.

John starts to believe, but the text makes it clear that they still have not gotten it. They had proof, but it was not clear. They decide to leave, but are unsure of the next step.

While others leave, Mary stays at the tomb. She is still sad. She sees angels, but she still does not get it. Then Jesus Christ appears, but she does not recognize Him. She thinks he is the gardener.

"Mary," Jesus calls her. And at that moment, everything changes. Mary's comprehension evolves not due to new evidence, but rather because of relational dynamics.

From vs. 17-18, Mary wants to stay in that moment, but Jesus tells her not to hold on to Him. He tells her to do something else: go and tell the others. And Mary is the first person to say, "I have seen the Lord."

Mary’s job changes. She goes from being a sad follower to an active messenger. The resurrection not only made her feel better, but it also gave her a sense of purpose.

Think about someone who has a big change in their life, like a death, a failure, or a time of doubt. There is confusion at first. Nothing makes sense. Then things change. It could be a moment of clarity, a conversation, or a quiet realization. Things start to fit together. They move forward with a new goal. They help others, make different choices, and live with more purpose. They go from being confused to understanding to having a purpose. That is similar to what happened to Mary and the disciples in John 20.

Believing that Jesus rose from the dead is not enough to live as resurrection people. Letting that truth change how we live every day is what it means.

The truth of resurrection means we do not ignore confusion. Life will not always make sense. You do not have to pretend to have faith. We can always bring our questions to God just like Mary and the disciples did.

The truth of resurrection means pursuing a real relationship with Jesus Christ. Faith is more than just knowing things like how many disciples Jesus had, which Old Testament books, and the authors of the Bible, and reciting the ten commandments. It becomes real when we see Him in our lives.

The truth of resurrection means we keep going. Mary could not stay at the grave. We are also not supposed to stay stuck in the past, even if it was important. To grow, we have to move.

The truth of resurrection means we help others with our story. Mary told everyone what she had seen. Our experiences, especially the hard ones, can help and guide other people in the same way.

The truth of resurrection means we change how we think about endings. What looked like the end was not the end. The resurrection shows us that loss, failure, and setbacks do not have the last word.

Lastly, the truth of resurrection means we live for something bigger than ourselves. Resurrection life is outward. Resurrection life shows in the way we treat others, how we deal with problems, and how we bring hope into our daily lives.