Christ is risen! (Sermon for Easter Sunrise Service, March 31)

Posted on Posted in: Featured, Sermons under construction
Image of the empty tomb at sunrise, with three crosses visible in the background. Words on the image are: Christ is risen! China community sunrise service, 6:30 a.m. Easter Sunday, March 31, 2024, Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 245 W. Highway 90, China, Texas

The service will be at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, in the rear parking lot, and will be followed by breakfast. China Methodist Church is co-hosting the service, with Rev. Fleming preaching.

It was just after sunrise on the morning of that first Easter that some of the women who followed Jesus were the first witnesses to the miracle of the resurrection. In the words of the gospel of Mark, 16:1-8:

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”

Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

Leave a Reply