Easter Sunday - 2026

 

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened. (Luke 24:1–12 ESV).

 

I remember the first time I visited the Garden Tomb in Jerusalem. It is located just outside Jerusalem’s Old City walls, near the Damascus Gate. It lies in a quiet, walled garden. It’s shaded by trees, filled with flowers, and isolated from the chaos of the city. It was a profoundly affecting experience. We were allowed to actually enter the tomb and spend a moment in reflection of the event of Jesus’ resurrection. After each of our group had spent some time there we moved to a beautiful flowering vine covered gazebo nearby and I was able to lead us in a celebration of communion. It was amazing.

 

While scholars continue to debate whether this is the actual burial place of Jesus, the Garden Tomb has become less about certainty of location and more about certainty of faith. It’s a tangible reminder that the resurrection wasn’t just a story. I was a real event that happened in a real place, at a real moment in history – the moment that is the foundation for the faith of anyone who calls themselves “Christians.”

 

Similarly, the disciples and the women who had followed Jesus had heard him talk about rising from the dead on the third day, but they had not understood what he had actually meant. So when they saw the empty tomb after the crucifixion, and when they eventually saw Jesus alive again, he took their breath away! Here was the living Jesus, walking and talking, eating food, and holding his damaged hands out for them to see.

 

Today the church remembers that breathtaking surprise: Jesus’ resurrection. We talk about it as, among other things, the beginning of a new creation, with Jesus being the firstborn from among the dead. It’s enough to take our breath away—the miracle itself, and then all of the many other miracles that it set in motion. Please do not get lost in the busy schedules of the day. Family and friends, children’s activities, all of these are good; however, the real significance is found in the life that is ours through Jesus. It is forever and it is perfect in every way! That is the message of Easter!