The Empty Tomb

The sermon opens by highlighting the significance of the Resurrection in Christian faith. The pastor emphasizes that the Resurrection is not merely a historical event that changed humanity over 2000 years, but also brings immeasurable hope to believers. Through His resurrection, Christ conquered death—the final enemy that no one can escape. The sermon stresses that because of the Resurrection, we are confident that beyond the door of death lies eternal life in the blessed heaven.

The first section, "I Have Risen," presents powerful historical evidence for the Resurrection. The pastor notes that in the decades before and after Christ's death, many figures claimed to be the Messiah, but all were killed and their movements disbanded. The unique difference is that Christianity alone survived and flourished for 2000 years. The pastor explains in detail why the Gospel of Mark repeats three times the names of the three women who went to the tomb—Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome. According to scholar Bauckham, this demonstrates that these women were living witnesses who actually saw Christ's death and resurrection. Ancient historians valued the testimony of living witnesses, since anyone could verify accounts with them. The sermon also cites evidence from Celsus, a second-century Greek philosopher and opponent of Christianity. Celsus claimed that Christianity could not be true because the testimony about Jesus's resurrection was based on women, who had no legal standing to testify in court. This actually validates the story's authenticity, because if the narrative were fabricated, the founders would never use women as witnesses. The pastor also notes that even the male disciples did not believe the Resurrection, though Jesus had repeatedly said "I will rise on the third day." They only believed when they saw it with their own eyes.

The second section, "I Have Forgiven," emphasizes Christ's unconditional forgiveness. The angel declared: "Go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you into Galilee." This is an extraordinarily tender and gracious word, for Jesus not only remembers the disciples who abandoned him but specifically names Peter—who committed the greatest sin by denying Jesus three times and cursing himself. Christ forgave them before they repented, or more precisely, Christ forgave them so they could repent and change. The sermon applies this lesson to church life: when brothers and sisters sin or offend, we must speak truth in love with the goal of restoration, not to attack or shame them. The pastor uses an analogy of a criminal released after completing his sentence: Jesus Christ came to pay the penalty for our sins, completed the greatest sentence, and on Easter Sunday rose from the dead to bring grace to all people.

The third section, "I Will Send You," explains that the Great Commission begins with "Go" accompanied by the assurance "Do not be afraid." Christ entrusted the proclamation of the Gospel not only in Jerusalem or Galilee, but to the ends of the earth. Those sent were ordinary people: fishermen, those with little education, those slow to believe, prone to sin, lacking faith. They argued about who was greatest, abandoned Jesus at his arrest, and refused to believe even when many witnesses testified to the Resurrection. They had nothing to boast about. The pastor cites 1 Corinthians 1:26-31, explaining how God chose the foolish, weak, and despised things to shame the wise, strong, and honorable, so that no one could boast before God. The sermon concludes with Paul's words: if Christ had not been raised, the Gospel message would be useless and our faith would be useless. But because Christ is risen, this message has infinite power to transform lives.