John 20:1-18 on April 5th, 2026 (Easter)
Above is audio of the sermon pulled from the video and amplified.
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If it has been a little while since you last worshipped with us, you probably noticed something a little different this Easter. No, we did not change the font in the bulletins. Okay, yes, I have put on a couple extra pounds recently. Thank you for pointing that out. Of course, it's the building renovations. It is great to be gathered in this space for Easter and not to pull the analogy too hard, too quick, but there is certainly new life breathed into this space. It is lighter, brighter, livelier, all with a glorious, stained glass window as the backdrop. And when the sun shines, when the light hits that window, it is beautiful, worshipful and if I may use the word awe-inspiring to walk into this space.
And while I could go on and on about it, I'm glad you're here with us today as we celebrate. And today, we read the most full account of Jesus' resurrection. That there is no shortage of detail here as is the way John likes to do things. He loves to craft a story. And in our story for today, we start in darkness. Mary approaches the tomb on the first day of the week, very early, while it was still dark. The chaos and the turmoil of her life the past few days has left her with no expectations, no hope, just nothingness. And to read a little deeper, she and everyone was still in the dark about what they would find. Those who venture through the tomb have no idea what they're about to discover.
Jesus was dead, crucified, just a few days ago, his relationships with the disciples gone. His message of hope gone, his charisma, his smile, his preaching gone, his love, his proclamation, his ideas about the reign of God gone. Jesus was dead, not moved on, not in a better place. He was in a tomb dead as a door nail because we don't survive death. Death destroys us. That's the way it is. Death is final. Death is pain. Death is dark. Darkness has played a major role through the whole gospel of John. From the start of the book, darkness and light have had their dance back and forth. In the first chapter we hear the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it. And every time that darkness would come, Jesus would shine and hold that darkness at bay.
For example, the most famous Bible verse of all time for God, so loved the world, was uttered under the blanket of night. That is light shining in the darkness. Except as Mary approaches, she knows that darkness did overcome it. It's the darkness that we all feel after death comes. Here the light of the world was extinguished. Jesus, he had a good run, but the darkness won. But then things start to be unexpected. The tomb is open, empty, folded grave clothes, a foot race that unfortunately for Peter gets recorded in the annals of history. And then angels appearing, who are you looking for? And then he says her name. Mary. He simply says her name and somehow that is enough. There is recognition, there is resurrection, there is light standing before her, shining, bold and bright.
Jesus is the life and light of all people. Things are bright, the darkness did not overcome him. The light is victorious, the light shines. What was started in the beginning has come to completion in Jesus. And not just the beginning of the gospel of John. No, there is something much deeper going on. And there are clues planted throughout this story. It's the first day of the week. Our scene is a garden, darkness, chaos, nothingness is present. And then God through resurrection says, let there be light. John is retelling creation. On that first ever day of the week, God pushes back the darkness and speaks light into being. And just a couple pages later, sin enters our world through the Garden of Eden. But now on this first day of the week, God recreates calling not just light from darkness, but life from death. New life springs forth from this garden where Jesus stands alive. Resurrection is nothing short of recreation. In the beginning, God created. In the new beginning, in this beginning, God recreates. God resurrects.
Resurrection shows us that it, God's light shines even in our darkest moments. God makes life possible, even out of the impossible. And because of that, we have hope. Hope that no matter the darkness in our lives, no matter what death does, no matter our hurt, or our grief, Jesus stands in our midst, calls us by name, and shines in our darkness, even our darkest of darkness. And the darkness does not overcome it. This light helps us see the promise of what resurrection means. It is God's stamp of approval on life, life through anything. Jesus is alive, raised, recreated, opening the way for us to, that any and all will be raised, life, life, despite every and anything. So that means our relationships recreated. Hope, some dreams, restored, laughs, and smiles, renewed the love that they felt for us a promised return because of Jesus' resurrection. That is what God's love does to a human being. It gives us everything we are and promises that we will be more. God's light shines in resurrection, in recreation. And when the sun shines, when the light hits our lives, our souls, our world, it is beautiful, worshipful. And if I may use the word awe-inspiring, because death has been defeated. God has recreated everything on this the first day of the week. God says, let there be light and the light shines, shines. And the darkness will never overcome it. Amen.