“Resurrection Hope”

Scripture – John 20:1-18

Sermon preached by the Rev. Dr. Gregory Knox Jones

Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025

On this highpoint of the year for Christians, children focus on bunnies, egg hunts, and chocolate. But we adults know that the glory of Easter is not detached from the harshness of Good Friday. Resurrection follows crucifixion. Life rises from death.

Roger cannot erase it from his mind – the memorial service for the youngest son of one of his staff members. Michael’s service was held in the backyard of a family friend because the young man loved the outdoors.

Those gathered learned that Michael had battled the twin demons of depression and addiction. And at the far too young age of twenty-two, he took his life.

Early in the service, his father tried to share what Michael had taught him, but he broke down in such grief that he could not continue. Michael’s mother stood up and told a couple of stories about him. His sisters and a few friends did the same. They continuously wiped away tears as they spoke. Most sitting on lawn chairs were also crying because it was all so sad.

Two of Michael’s friends played songs on their guitars. To close, there was a lovely ritual where everyone was given a small plant and asked to take it home and plant it in memory of Michael.

And that was it. That was all. Roger said, “That afternoon I learned that Michael’s family was not a family of faith – any faith. So they did what they could in this tragic moment of unfathomable grief. They shared stories about Michael and cried.”

Roger wanted to stand up and say, “But, wait. That’s not all there is!” Roger believed that, but Michael’s family did not, which is what made the service so tragic and so filled with sorrow. They believed Michael lived a brief life and, when he died, the past, present and future vanished with him. And that was it. Death won. There was nothing else.”¹

Christians of all races and countless cultures gather on Easter Sunday in majestic sanctuaries and humble chapels, in rented auditoriums, and the most sacred place on earth, the Church of the Resurrection in Jerusalem, built over the actual tomb of Jesus. Followers of Jesus gather today to declare that this life is not all there is. Now, we dare not downplay death. It is a mighty force. But we claim there is something else beyond the material world.

Whatever sorrow or pain, whatever deep grief or justifiable fear you are carrying with you these days, our reading from the Gospel of John has a place in the story for you. And whether you are confident about another realm where there is life after death, or you are skeptical about the claim because there is not enough proof, you are in good company in John’s story.

The crucifixion of Jesus screamed the end of hope to his followers. The one they loved and the one who loved them, was brutally killed. The one who taught them with unsurpassed wisdom, the one who brought healing to people in distress, the one who boosted the spirits of those shoved to the margins of society, the one who had the courage to confront those who were unjust, was murdered. And in one of the most torturous methods ever devised.

On that dark Friday afternoon, when Jesus was nailed to the cross, as his life drained out of him, hope seeped out of his followers. Earlier, when they had committed to following Jesus, the disciples experienced a depth of living unlike anything they had ever known. Their lives were bursting with purpose and the future was brimming with beauty. Prior to encountering Jesus, they accepted the trials of their harsh lives as their fate; but after becoming his followers they envisioned new possibilities. Before they encountered Jesus, they thought there was nothing new under the sun; once they became his followers they began to believe that nothing was impossible. But after entering Jerusalem, the dark powers of the world seized Jesus and silenced him. Or so they thought.

According to the Gospel of John, before sunrise on Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene limped her way to the tomb. When she arrived, the stone had been pushed aside from the entrance. Did her heart immediately leap with hope? Hardly. She dashed off to Peter and the other disciple to tell them that body of Jesus had been stolen.

On receiving this news, the two disciples took off as if a starting gun had been fired. Once they reached the tomb, the disciples entered the small cavern and spotted the linen wrappings, but no body. Our gospel writer says that the other disciple believed, but Peter was skeptical. They departed and wandered back to where they were hiding. However, Mary lingered outside the tomb and tears rolled down her cheeks. The messengers of God asked, “Why are you weeping?”

Mary wept because death snatches those we love. Mary wept because fear and cruelty destroy dreams. Mary wept because division and violence crush lives. Mary wept because bullies too often get their way. Mary wept because it seems that winning and wealth are all that count. Mary wept because those in power rewrite the rules to favor themselves and undermine the rule of law.

Perhaps you identify with Mary because you too know how people we love die too soon. And because you know that too often, violence and injustice win the day. And if death and violence and injustice were the final truths in life, then they would drive us to cynicism, bitterness, and despair. But what if these are not the ultimate truths?

Mary was at the end of her hope. Tomorrow and every coming day appeared to be bleak and meaningless. Although she hated to surrender to a view of life that was cynical and utilitarian, she saw no other option. But then. But then Jesus spoke her name. “Mary.” And she perceived a glimmer of light.

After discovering an empty tomb, she encountered the risen Jesus. For some reason, she did not recognize him immediately. He spoke to her, but initially, she thought he was the gardener. However, when he called her name, he pierced her fog and she realized who it was. She wanted to throw her arms around his neck and cling to him, but he instructed her to go and tell the disciples. She did, but they did not believe her. They had to experience the risen Jesus for themselves.

Exactly what happened during those first few days after Jesus was crucified is unclear. But what we do know is this: Something powerful happened. Something jolted all of the disciples, transforming them from frightened men cowering behind locked doors, into courageous believers eager to stake their lives on the Resurrection of Jesus. People who were despairing were suddenly filled with hope and joy.

The Resurrection declares that we can trust our Creator to transform us into another mode of existence when we come to the final chapter of our earthly adventure – a transformation that is far grander than our minute minds can grasp. And yet, the Resurrection not only gives us hope for new life after we die, it also infuses us with hope for events in this world so that we can live a rich life despite the losses we face. The Resurrection trumpets that God is a God of hope who will never tire in leading us to a better day.

Hope is the inner engine that keeps us moving forward when things are at their worst, when the future looks dismal, when a better day seems impossible. Hope is what drives us to keep fighting for a just cause in the face of long odds. Hope is what bolsters our courage to stand for Christian virtues when contrary values are in power.

Proclaiming the resurrection is not only about hope in new life after we perish, but also about possessing hope in a rich life now – this day and every day. Hope can inspire us to keep going when all seems lost. Hope can convince us that there is still a way even when there seems to be no way.

A colleague tells about a woman who tutored students who became hospitalized. One day she received a call from a teacher who asked her to call on a young boy from her class. The teacher said, “We are studying nouns and adverbs. I hope you can help him.”

When the tutor arrived at the hospital, she was stunned to discover that the boy was in the burn unit. He was in critical condition and in terrible pain. When she walked into the room and saw him in such misery, she felt awkward about her assignment, but she did not know what else to do so she pressed on and stumbled through the lesson. As she walked out of the room she felt ashamed of herself for putting him through such a senseless exercise.

The next morning one of the nurses who worked on the burn unit spotted the tutor in the hallway and said, “What did you do to that boy yesterday?” Before the tutor could form the words of her apology, the nurse said, “We had given up on him, but since your visit, he has started fighting back and he’s responding to treatment.”

Some weeks later, as he began to recover, the boy explained that he had given up hope. But all that changed when he came to a simple realization. He said, “I knew nobody would send a tutor to work on nouns and adverbs with a boy who was going to die.”²

Easter proclaims that hope has been let loose in the world. Death tries its very best to snuff out hope and death tries to smother joy, but the God of Resurrection wins the day. Jesus walked through the deepest valley of the shadow of death, but he did not remain there. God resurrected him to new life and promises the same for us.

Easter always begins when the morning dawn is doubtful and death flaunts its victory dance. But light pierces darkness and new life rises from ruins. Never give up your grip on hope. Resurrection is on its way!

NOTES

1. Roger Nishioka, “I am the Resurrection and the Life,” January 29, 2023.
2. Martin Hengel, Atonement, (SCM Press, 1981), p.1.

Prayers of the People

Randall T. Clayton

Living God, in you we have new hope, new possibilities, and new life too. And so, we sing your praises, rejoicing in the love you show creation, rejoicing in the victory that is ours over evil, death and the grave. This day we say, “Alleluia” and we sing “Hallelujah,” knowing that the kingdom of this world is the kingdom of our God and offering thanks and praise that the risen Christ shall reign forever and ever.

In the midst of our joy this day, we pause to remember those whose lives are far from joyous, asking that your resurrection power might fill the places in our world that struggle and know pain. We pray for peace where wars are tearing apart lives and communities, especially remembering this day the people of Ukraine, the people of Gaza and Syria and the West Bank, and all through the Middle East. O God, bring peace to our world. We pray this day for lives that are being cut short around the globe for lack of food, or water to drink, or medicines to cure illnesses. Knowing that those who hail from other parts of the world are as much our brothers and sisters in Christ as those sitting around us this day, help us to advocate for those who have lost so much and who lack the building blocks for life itself. And we lift up to you our mission partners across the globe, especially in Guatemala, and in the Democratic Republic of Congo and our sister church there, and the Middle East, as well as our local mission partners seeking to meet real human need right here in Wilmington. We ask for your abiding and guiding presence to be with each of those faithful ministries.

In a season when so much in our own land feels as if it’s in turmoil, in which the news that greets us daily often is more bad news that good news, we pray for courage to stand up to powers that threaten, demean, or which embrace actions that do not offer life to the least of these in our world. Show each of us, O God, how to stand for justice, how to work for peace, and how we can best demonstrate your love and the hope we have in you, to hurting people. And when that means speaking truth to the powerful, give us the nerve to do so knowing that such is a way of people being fueled by resurrection hope.

For those who are especially lonely on this joyous day, we ask that they might know the comfort of your presence. For those whose bodies hurt this day, we ask that your healing presence might be palpable. For those who are mourning losses, we pray that your compassionate arms might enfold them. For those who have unexpectedly lost employment, we pray for new direction and new possibilities to open up in their lives.

As we here at Westminster move into the season of Easter and on into a new day in our world, continue to let your spirit move in and through this congregation. Continue to show us how we might share your love in these changing times, and let the hope renewed in the resurrection celebration today be lived out among us here in these walls, and in the world beyond.

We pray in your holy name, remembering the prayer Jesus taught…

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen.