Rev. Otto Menko

Please read John 20:1-18
The narrative of Mary Magdalene encountering the
risen Jesus is a powerful example of how experiencing
the resurrection firsthand can be transformative. Mary’s
encounter profoundly affected her, altering the course
of her life. It is crucial that we, too, have a personal
encounter with the risen Jesus rather than just believing
in His resurrection. Mary’s encounter was not only a
historical event but also a deeply personal experience.
Similarly, our faith in the resurrection should be rooted
in a spiritual experience with the risen Lord. Just as Mary
was shaken by her encounter, our encounter with Jesus
can also transform our lives and faith, filling us with the
promises and power of the resurrection.

Jesus’ resurrection challenges us today. It calls us to
examine our relationship with Jesus and understand the
significance of His life, suffering, death, and victory over
death. Let us, therefore, consider the message of Jesus’
resurrection.

Firstly, Jesus’ resurrection is a powerful proof of the
truthfulness of His ministry, suffering, and death on
the Cross. This is good news for us, as it means that
through Jesus, we have access to the Father! God is
eagerly waiting to welcome us with open arms, just like
the prodigal son’s father did in the parable. All we need
to do is accept God’s forgiveness by putting our faith in
God’s Son. The resurrection is the culmination of God’s
redemptive plan, demonstrating God’s love for us all. It
is a testament to the power of God’s love, as we read in
John 3:16-18a “For God so loved the world that he gave
his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall
not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his
Son into the world to condemn the world but to save the
world through him. Whoever believes in him is not
condemned.” (NIV)

Secondly, Jesus’ resurrection assures us of His
continued and living presence. We do not believe in
an abstract or higher truth; we are people of faith who
experience the living presence of Jesus in our daily lives.
Jesus promised that He would always be with us, and
His resurrection fulfills this promise in a profound way.
Through the Holy Spirit living within us, we experience
the reality of Jesus’ presence. This gives us comfort,
strength, and guidance in our daily walk. It also helps us
develop a closer relationship with God, as we recognize
that Jesus is not just a historical figure but an active and
present reality in our lives.

In John 14:15-19, Jesus says, “If you love me, keep my
commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give
you another advocate to help you and be with you
forever— the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him
because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you
know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will
not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before
long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see
me. Because I live, you also will live.” (NIV)
Thirdly, the resurrection of Jesus provides comfort
to us when we face the reality of death. Death is an
unavoidable reality that often fills us with fear, grief, and
uncertainty. However, the resurrection of Jesus offers
hope and assurance in the face of death. Jesus’ triumph
over death demonstrates His power over the grave and
assures us that death is not the end. Just as Jesus rose
from the dead, we have faith in the promise of our
resurrection. This assurance brings us comfort when we
mourn and gives us the courage to face our own
mortality with hope and confidence.

The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57,
“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is
your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of
sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the
victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Fourthly, through His Resurrection, Jesus offers us
the promise of eternal life —a hope that transcends the
trials and tribulations of this world. In John 11:25, Jesus
declared, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who
believe in me will live, even though they die.” (GNT)
The resurrection of Jesus gives us the assurance that we,
too, will be raised and will have eternal life. This promise
encourages us to look beyond the temporary
constraints of our earthly life and provides us with a
glorious hope for the future.

Jesus says in John 14:1-3 “Do not let your hearts be
troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My
Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so,
would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a
place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I
will come back and take you to be with me that you also
may be where I am.”

Considering the meanings and relevance of Jesus’
resurrection we are called to reevaluate our priorities
and perspective on life. We are invited to live with a
renewed and eternal mindset. Jesus’ resurrection
empowers us to live with purpose, faith, and
perseverance, to face the challenges of life with courage
and resilience, knowing that our hope is anchored in
Jesus Christ’s victory over sin and death, in His
continued presence in our lives and in recognizing that
our ultimate destiny lies beyond the earthly reality of this
world.

The resurrection of Jesus is also a call to each of us to
share the good news of His victory over sin and death
and the transformative power of His love. Just as the
early disciples of Jesus were compelled to proclaim this
message to the world, it is our responsibility and
privilege to bear witness to the reality of salvation
through our lives. By living in the light of Christ’s victory
over sin and death, we offer hope and redemption to
those around us.

Let us be bold in sharing the good news with others and
demonstrating the love of Christ in everything we do.
Let us bear witness to His living presence and spread the
message of hope for the forgiveness of sins and
everlasting life as we live each day in the reality, power,
and promises of His resurrection.

May the joy of the resurrection fill our hearts and
transform our lives, now and always. Amen.

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From Cayman Islands Regional Mission Council March 28 2024

The United Church of the Cayman Islands