The Good News of Jesus Christ 

Easter, March 31, 2024 

Happy Easter! Today is a beautiful day! But there are times when I wonder, is everything going to be all right? There are times when we all have stress, anxiety, and worry. Do you ever wonder, “Does God care about me?” If you do, you know something about what Jesus’ followers felt after he died on a cross. They were traumatized! It did not feel like things would work out! When Jesus died, their hope died too. He was their teacher; they had never seen anyone like Jesus! He taught with authority and spoke so differently from the way the other religious leaders did. At the time of Jesus death, his followers thought he was great, but they did not think he was God.  

At this time, there were no Christians yet, because there was no Christ. He was just Jesus then, not Jesus Christ. The followers had no idea how to continue without him. Who could take his place?  

Jesus died on the cross, was buried in a tomb and his followers went home. They were devastated and heartbroken. Jesus was the best person they ever knew. They thought with Jesus, they were winning, and great things would happen! Then Jesus died a criminal’s death. Now Jesus and all their dreams were gone! But as bad as things were, they were about to get worse! 

The story from John 20 starts, “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.” Jesus body is gone! Mary assumes someone robbed the grave and took his body. She runs and tells Peter and the other disciple, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” The three of them run to the tomb, and still, there is no body.  

Jesus had talked about his resurrection. But the disciples never understood or believed he would rise from the dead. Nobody expected no body. Peter and the other disciple leave. Mary Magdalene stays at the tomb. She is in a panic, crying, and without hope.  

But then, something happened.  

Mary saw two angels, and then she saw the gardener, and she asked him where Jesus body was. The gardener was really Jesus! Jesus says to Mary, “Go tell the disciples that I am ascending to heaven, to your God and to my God. 

Mary suddenly understands! She is filled with joy. She goes to the disciples, and says, “I have seen the Lord!” She has that joy, like imagine you see someone you love, someone you thought you would never see again. And suddenly, here they are! Just to be near them gives you great joy. Well, the good News is God is all powerful, all-loving and He is near. 

Before the resurrection, Jesus’ followers lose faith. After they see the risen Christ, they believe, and they risk their lives for Jesus and the good news. During Jesus three years of ministry on earth, he preached the good news. What’s the good news? If someone asks you, what’s Christianity all about, you might say, “Well, Jesus died for my sins. So, if I believe in him, I’ll go to heaven. And meanwhile, Jesus wants me to be good.” 

That’s some of the good news. But Jesus didn’t talk about how his death would pay the price of our sins, in part because he hadn’t died yet. Instead, Jesus preached a lot about the kingdom of God. He taught that there is a new king, and a new kingdom, the kingdom of God on earth. To Peter and the other disciples, some of the things Jesus taught were disturbing. For example, Jesus said, everyone is invited to participate in the kingdom of God. It would take Peter a while to understand that the good news of Jesus is not just for Jews, it is for non-Jews as well. It’s for everyone!  

Jesus also taught that God is near. It’s like the story Jesus told of the prodigal son, about a thoughtless son who left his family, wasted all his inheritance, then realized life was better at home. Family is the people who, when you have no place to go, take you in. And the son thought his family would hate him. Still, he decides to go home. He didn’t know that every day since he left, his father was out scanning the horizon, maybe today is the day my son comes home. The day he finally spots his son, he goes running to him! It was a joyful reunion! Everyone is invited to God’s kingdom. The good news is that God is all powerful, all-loving and he is near to you. 

If you heard the good news before, and it didn’t sound like good news, it is not the good news Mary Magdalene knew, and that Peter knew. Jesus taught the good news that God gives to all unearned favor, and undeserved forgiveness. God’s mercy has always been there for everyone. God is for you. God accepts you as you are. He invites everyone, he invites you, to turn to God, and put your trust in him. If you reach out, you’ll find him. For he is looking and waiting for you! He is not far from any of us. He is not far from you! 

Let us pray. God, the good news of your love makes each of us each feel something different: it convicts us, or gives us joy, brings us to tears, or causes us to say thank you. However it makes us feel, let us give in to that. Let us step into your presence. Thank you for your love. Please honor our courage as we reach out to you, for you are never far. Amen.