Easter Sunday
Easter Sunday
Light of Christ Anglican Church
The Reverend Michael J. Moffitt
April 5, 2026
From Sorrow to Joy, From Fear to Faith
Text: Matthew 28:1–10
I suspect that most of us have found ourselves in situations where something so awful has happened and we can’t imagine how we are going to survive it. We’ve come to the place where there doesn’t seem to be any options that will restore what has been lost. Panic can set in and at least for a moment all joy and hope has been lost. I’ve been there and perhaps you have been too.
I’ve tried to imagine what it was like for the 11 remaining disciples and the women who accompanied them while they followed Jesus. They had walked away from their lifestyle and past occupations but even more importantly they were known as the followers of Jesus Christ who the religious leaders had killed. What was to happen to them? What about their families? Would they be cast out of the temple? Would they be imprisoned? Would they be killed?
I imagine this to be the setting for the disciples and women who traveled with Jesus as they huddled together hiding from those who were responsible for setting in motion the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
This was a real crisis where everything hung in the balance. Why would the Heavenly Father send His Son to be betrayed, beaten mercilessly, tortured, made fun of, and nailed to a cross?
This was a huge problem because if Jesus was not the Messiah then they had followed a charlatan, a fraud. But that wasn’t the only concern. I’ve tried to imagine what it was like for Peter who denied three times that he even knew Jesus. Of course the others had fled when Jesus was arrested and abandoned him. How could they live with that. Even if they had been gullible enough to follow a fraud, did that make them frauds too?
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How had Jesus performed all those miracles, signs and wonders? They had been there time and again seeing him give credibility to his claim that he was the Son of God- the Messiah.
Sometimes in the midst of those dark times we are unable to see the hope that is clearly revealed to us. I believe that’s true here in this story. A lot had happened over the previous week, and they were weak from grief and shame. This effected every area of their lives emotionally, physically, and spiritually. One reason they
were so unraveled is because they seemed to have misunderstood what Jesus taught them. The truth is that for three years he prepared them for this moment, but they were unable to see because they really weren’t ready yet.
Remember that in Luke 22:14–23 while in the Upper Room at Passover Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper, what we call the Eucharist (thanksgiving). Jesus revealed that one of them would betray him. Listen to verse 23,
And they begin to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this.
That seems to me to be a reasonable question. To betray the Master was unthinkable, surely none of his closest friends would even think about it. However, listen to verse 24 the very next verse,
A dispute also arose among them, as to which of them was to be regarded as the greatest.
Of course we have the benefit of the written word revealing to us the details. Before we continue with this account let’s briefly look back to the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. Listen to Matthew 27:50–53,
And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.”
Now I think you’ll agree that this is an important consideration. The curtain that separated the Most Holy place from the larger sanctuary symbolized the unapproachable nature of God (Hebrews 9:8).
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Jesus’ death was his sacrifice at the heavenly alter opening the way to God for us. The symbolic veil in the earthly copy of the Heavenly tabernacle was torn because the true spiritual barrier had been removed. Not only was the veil torn from top to bottom indicating a heavenly miracle but everything that separated God from his people, even death was destroyed by the sacrificial death of Jesus, the lamb of God.
So unbeknownst to the disciples and the women the barrier separating God from man had been removed through Jesus Christ. This was about to unfold for them. So back to our story.
The women who followed Jesus had faithfully stood by likely in prayer and grief. Matthew 27:55–56,
There were also many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him, among whom were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Within their hiding place I imagine that tempers flared and the awful hollow feeling in their guts wouldn’t go away. The scenes of the last few days kept playing over and over in their minds. I’m guessing you could cut the tension in the room with a knife.
Our gospel reading this morning begins with Mary Magdelene and the other Mary (thought to be the mother of James) leaving before dawn to go to the tomb to finish the burial rites cut short by the beginning of the Passover Sabbath on Friday evening. There was a mixture of grief and fear, but they wanted to honor their Lord by attending to his body in the tomb. I can only imagine they also needed to get away from Jesus’ disciples who were suffering from grief and guilt.
I often thought it likely that Mary Magdalene whom Jesus set free when he cast out seven demons was actually feeling the greater loss. Jesus had become her life, the only one who truly knew where she had come from. Everything changed. Her darkness of mind was removed as the demonic was replaced by the Holy. What was she going to do now that her precious Lord was dead.
I think it important that each of the gospels, the Synoptic and John report that Mary Magdelene was the first to encounter the risen Lord. What a kindness.
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Jesus wanted her to know that she was so important to him, and he would always be with her.
It’s the next scene that perfectly expresses for them the transition from sorrow to joy from fear to faith. This is the life altering event that still to this day is the most life changing truth in history. Listen to Matthew 28:2–3,
And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.”
The first thing the women encounter is an earthquake, perhaps like the one that happened when Jesus gave up the spirit. This one would prove to be of even greater importance because the stone was rolled away and an angel from the Lord sitting on the stone that’s probably round or oblong. He is radiant and apparently looking dangerous considering the Roman guards were trembling and playing possum by acting like they’re dead.
That’s exactly the emotional collision Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary” experienced on that first Easter morning. They came expecting to mourn, but instead, they encountered an angel who began with the same sentence that most every story beginning with an angel, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.“ Then he informed them “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.”
This passage is not just a record of an ancient miracle—it is the heartbeat of our faith. Without the resurrection, the cross would be a tragedy. With the resurrection, the cross becomes the greatest victory in history. The truth of the resurrection is confirmed by all those over the past 2000 years who have been willing to live and to die for it.
I believe that the details within the story are important to consider. Remember that the word of God was written by men under the influence of the Holy Spirit. So let’s briefly break down and consider the message found in the details.
Matthew tells us it was “after the Sabbath, toward the dawn” the women went to the tomb. Dawn is a powerful image as it’s the moment when darkness gives way to light. This was exactly what they needed and that’s true for us as well. This whole event changed everything for the women and the disciples and has continued to do so for men and women for over 2000 years. It’s just as life
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altering for those today who encounter the risen Savior and follow him in faith and obedience.
The women were experiencing the same shock and trauma as the disciples but rather than sit around in deep depression they chose to be busy and faithful even in grief. They came to honor Jesus, not expecting a miracle, but simply to be near Him. Their love for Him outweighed their fear of the Roman guards or the sealed tomb.
Back then the stone that covered the entrance to the tomb would weigh between 1,000–2,000 lbs. depending on the size of the tomb. These were of course reasonable concerns, but I believe that even in sorrow they were open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. This would lead them to the place they needed to be to encounter the miracle that God had for them. This whole scenario would prepare them to widen their anticipation of what God would do in, around and through them.
God interrupts the ordinary with the extraordinary. The angel’s appearance— dazzling like lightning—and the earthquake remind us that the resurrection is not just a spiritual truth; it was a cosmic event that shook the foundations of the world.
It also is a reminder that sometimes in order to experience the extraordinary we must be faithful in the ordinary things that may seem tedious or even unnecessary. As they traveled with Jesus they weren’t suddenly transported from place to place, they walked. Jesus didn’t just pray and food would suddenly appear they had to find it and prepare it like everyone else. Well, a few times he multiplied a small amount of food to feed thousands.
The text doesn’t tell us about the women’s plan for getting past the guards. The trained Roman soldiers collapse in terror, but the women are invited to stand and listen. This is a reversal of expectations, the powerful are silenced, and the humble are given the message.
Sometimes God’s greatest works begin in the quiet faithfulness of ordinary people. You may feel unseen, but heaven sees your devotion. The model that Jesus left them was that after he ascended back to the Father, he would send back the Holy Spirit to fill them with the power of God that would equip them to carry on His mission, and they would do it in the same way that Jesus did.
Now back to the story. The angel’s words are both comforting and commissioning. Fear is natural in the face of the unknown, but the resurrection
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replaces fear with hope. This is not a shallow “don’t worry”—it’s a deep assurance that God’s promises are trustworthy.
“He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.”
The resurrection is not an accident — it’s the fulfillment of Jesus’ own promise. Every word He spoke about His death and resurrection has come true.
It’s very important to note that most everything that Jesus taught them was foretold by the prophets many, many years before them. As they grew in faith they also grew in understanding as the Holy Spirit brought to remembrance all that Jesus had taught them but also for the first time the Old Testament Torah and the prophets opened up to them.
Then there was the invitation and the mission to go.
“Come and see the place where he lay… go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead..”
Faith is never meant to be hoarded. We are invited to witness and then to share. The angel doesn’t just tell them the truth; he gives them a mission. The Christian life is both contemplative and active. We “come and see”—we experience Christ personally—and then we “go and tell”—we share Him with others.
The women leave the tomb “with fear and filled with joy.” This is the tension of obedient faith—we don’t have all the answers, but we have met and deeply love the One who is the Answer.
I love the next part where Jesus doesn’t make them wait but reveals himself to them before they see his disciples. They are on their way to bring the amazing news that Jesus was alive, but he took the time to comfort them and to insure them of his resurrection and of his love for them. When they see him they fall at his feet and worship. An hour before, they thought everything was lost because they thought Jesus was dead. Now they knew everything was gained because Jesus was alive.
They worship at His feet the proper response to the risen Christ is worship, surrender, and joy. From that one event everything took on a whole different hue from the darkest glow to the most beautiful of brightness. It’s in this transition that God’s people can go from timidity to boldness as they reveal what Jesus has done for them.
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Sometimes we’re waiting for God to show up before we move, but more often than not He meets us as we move in obedience.
As we trust the Lord, Matthew 28:1–10 is not just a historical account; it’s an invitation.
Today if you are in a season of darkness: Dawn is coming. The resurrection means no night lasts forever. If you are paralyzed by fear ask the risen Christ to speak peace over you.
If you have received the good news: You are called to share it—urgently, joyfully, and faithfully. The women’s story is our story. We, too, are called to move from sorrow to joy and from fear to faith, from silence to proclamation, from despair to joy.
Let’s pray
Almighty God our Savior, you desire that none should perish, and you have taught us through your Son that there is great joy in heaven over every sinner who repents: Grant that our hearts may ache for a lost and broken world. May your Holy Spirit work through our words, deeds, and prayers, that the lost may be found and the dead made alive, and that all your redeemed may rejoice around your throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
©2026 The Rev. Michael J. Moffitt
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