Resurrection Sunday - He is not here

Matthew 28:6 - He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay

Today is Resurrection Sunday, the glorious day the global Church sets aside to commemorate and celebrate the triumphant resurrection of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. In truth, every Sunday is a reminder of this earth-shaking event — but today, we pause with deeper reflection and greater rejoicing.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not merely a central tenet of Christianity; it is the foundation and cornerstone of our faith. Without the resurrection, the crucifixion would be just another tragic death. The power of the cross lies in the empty tomb. If Christ had not risen, the gospel would be void of hope, and our faith would be meaningless.

As the Apostle Paul so clearly articulates in 1 Corinthians 15:14–19, if Christ has not been raised, then:

• Our preaching is futile,
• Our faith is in vain,
• We are still in our sins,
• Those who have died in Christ have perished,
• And we are, of all people, the most to be pitied.

But thanks be to God — Christ is risen indeed! His resurrection is the divine declaration that He is who He claimed to be — the Son of God, the Messiah, the Saviour of the world. His resurrection vindicates His life, His ministry, His words, and His atoning death. Through His rising, He conquered sin, death, and the grave, offering eternal life to all who believe in Him.

From the very beginning, the resurrection was the heart of the Christian proclamation. Peter’s sermon on the day of Pentecost, as recorded in Acts 2:22–24, centered on the resurrection of Jesus. Every place Paul preached, he proclaimed the resurrection. Every epistle written by him echoes with resurrection power and hope.

Skeptics and atheists may deny it. Critics may attempt to dismantle the evidence. But one of the most compelling proofs of the resurrection is found not in a manuscript or a tomb — but in the transformed lives of the disciples.

After Jesus’ crucifixion, the disciples were filled with fear. They scattered, they hid, they returned to their former lives. But something happened — something so real and so powerful that it changed them forever. They saw the risen Christ. They spoke with Him. They touched Him. They ate with Him. And then they were filled with the Holy Spirit.

What happened next was extraordinary: these once-fearful men boldly returned to Jerusalem — the very place where their Lord was crucified and where their lives were most at risk — and they proclaimed with unwavering conviction that Jesus is alive. Not one of them recanted. Every single one of them was willing to suffer and die for this truth.

And here’s the profound reality:

People may be willing to die for something they believe to be true — even if it’s a mistake. But no one willingly dies for something they know is a lie.

These men knew whether the resurrection was true — because they were eyewitnesses. And they gave their lives, not for a myth, but for a risen Lord.

Today, we do not gather around a memorial of a dead prophet. We gather in the presence of a Living Saviour. Jesus Christ is alive — and because He lives, we too shall live. The resurrection is not just an event in history — it is the power that gives us new life, the hope that anchors our souls, and the promise that our labour in the Lord is never in vain.

So let our hearts rejoice today. Let our faith be renewed. Let our lives reflect the truth that our Redeemer lives!

Closing Prayer

Risen Lord Jesus, we praise You and exalt You on this Resurrection Sunday. You are the King of Glory, the Conqueror of death, the Lamb who was slain and now lives forevermore. Thank You for the cross, and thank You for the empty tomb. Thank You that You are alive, and that in You, we too have life — abundant, eternal, and unshakable.

Fill us anew with resurrection power. Let fear be cast out and hope rise again in our hearts. Just as You transformed the disciples, transform us — that we might boldly proclaim the gospel, live in the power of Your Spirit, and walk in the victory You have won.

We celebrate You today, Lord Jesus. Be glorified in our lives. In Your mighty and matchless name we pray, Amen.