Resurrection Power | 4/5/26
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Where in your life right now do you feel unseen, overlooked, or misunderstood—and what might it mean to believe you are fully known there?
Are there parts of your story you tend to hide or distance yourself from? What would it look like to trust that those parts are still held with compassion?
Think about a moment when you were at a low point—what would it have meant to hear your name spoken with understanding in that space?
How do you typically respond when you feel deeply known—do you lean in or pull away?
Where might you be holding on too tightly to something when you’re actually being invited to step forward into something new?
Transcript:
He is Risen! He is risen, indeed!
But have you ever thought about what that means?
Here we are, celebrating this world-altering moment that happened around 2,000 years ago.
What does it mean for us to proclaim Christ the Lord has risen today, in 2026? How can we experience this resurrection power that we believe exists, here and now?
To help us answer these questions, we turn to the story of Mary Magdaline as she becomes the first witness to the resurrected Christ in the gospel of John 20.
Mary stood outside near the tomb, crying. As she cried, she bent down to look into the tomb. She saw two angels dressed in white, seated where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head and one at the foot. The angels asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
She replied, “They have taken away my Lord, and I don’t know where they’ve put him.” As soon as she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she didn’t know it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who are you looking for?”
Thinking he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him and I will get him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary.”
She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni” (which means Teacher).
Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold on to me, for I haven’t yet gone up to my Father. Go to my brothers and sisters and tell them, ‘I’m going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene left and announced to the disciples, “I’ve seen the Lord.” Then she told them what he said to her.
This is the Word of God for us, the people of God, and together we say, “Thanks be to God”.
Will you pray with me?
God, on this glorious morning, we celebrate that Christ is alive. Christ is risen. Speak to us, once more of this Resurrection power, that we might hear a word that speaks into our hearts and to our lives, right now. It’s in Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
Each of us arrived here with something this morning. Each is unique in their own way. Yet, similar in that we all have one: Each of us has a name. Something that identifies our personhood, our very being.
And you have lived your whole life with your name. And I bet you’ve heard it said in many different ways.
When you introduce yourself to someone for the first time, your name might be repeated back to you slowly, like the other person is trying to permanently etch it into their memory. That moment holds the hope of future encounters.
When you were caught by a parent doing that thing you were told not to do, time and time again, maybe your parents, like my parents, joined your first name with your middle name and said, “Marisa Emily!”; maybe with some other words alongside it, too.
Or, when you hear your name in a high-pitched squeal from the best friend you haven’t seen in forever, and it just sounds like home.
When someone knows your name, they know a part of what makes you who you are. When someone knows your name, they might also know the stories, the experiences, the life that makes up who you are. The life that makes you, YOU.
When Jesus said Mary’s name for the first time, it was at what had to have been the lowest moment of her life. Maybe even the very worst. It was early in Jesus’ ministry, long before the cross, when he was in Galilee. He encountered Mary, who at that time was suffering from what scripture describes as having seven demons within her.
Though her healing is only given a few words in the gospel of Luke, we can imagine together that at the moment she felt relief, Jesus said to her, “Mary, you have been made well.” Her name on his voice, laced with comfort and care.
After that moment, she joined the merry band of disciples who traveled from village to village with Jesus. Though scripture doesn’t often reference her, she was there, with them, listening, watching, learning from Jesus himself. On those dusty paths, I’m sure he addressed her by name to include her in those dirt-road conversations they had from village to village.
He knew her name, as she knelt at his feet, poured some of her finest oil, shed some well-earned tears, and dried those now-clean feet with her hair, just days before what was coming. Preparing him for the death she didn’t realize was on the horizon.
Then, on that fateful day, she was accounted for by name, at the foot of the cross, with her eyes fixed on the one who saved her life, who gave her a purpose, when no one else would have seen her as a valuable part of society.
And now, this very morning, we find her in the garden. A garden much like this one. Replaying all of the moments that had brought her to that moment, hoping for clues as to who might have stolen Jesus’ body.
Can you imagine what that felt like? The person you have looked up to, who you loved, and you thought the body was stolen? Her mind was racing with the worst-case scenarios. Her heart was breaking with overwhelming grief.
Then, he says her name, “Mary”.
But friends, it was so much more than just saying her name. Her name was an affirmation of her entire story. Every moment. Every experience. Mary was seen by Jesus. Known by Jesus, valued, and loved by the Risen Christ, who is alive.
As recognition dawned on her, I wonder if she heard the voice of her own father years and years before, as a little girl reciting the ancient prophecy from Isaiah 43.
Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you,
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
And as she remembered those words, as she heard her name, as she felt her story affirmed, she says, “Rabboni, My Teacher”.
Friends, this morning we celebrate that the Risen Christ knows your name, too.
But Jesus doesn’t just know your name; Christ affirms all of your story. Every part of your being. Your best moments. Your darkest moments. And every moment in between. The moments you’re proud of. The moments you’re ashamed of. The ones where you were just trying to do your best. Christ affirms it all.
Christ knows your name. Jesus sees you, knows you, and values you. And deeply loves you.
This is where resurrection power begins. When we realize that there is nothing and that there has never been a moment when we have been without Christ’s presence. That there is nothing that can separate us from the great love of Christ.
Resurrection begins here, when we realize that our stories are not only seen and known, but are safe in the arms of the Risen Christ. Resurrection begins for us when we, too, say, “Rabboni”, “My Lord”, “My Jesus,” as well. Amen.
