The Dawn of a New Day

The dawning of a new day
John 20:11-18

Easter remains the most important celebration for the Christian faith, and rightfully so. It is more than just a nice ending to a tragic story. The resurrection is not just about Christ returning to life after a tragic and undeserved execution. The message of the resurrection is the foundation for our faith.
After John and Peter left, Mary remained at the tomb, and it was then that something remarkable happened that would change the course of history and provide the foundation for our hope and faith. At that moment, Mary was filled with sorrow and grief. Not only had Jesus been wrongfully crucified, but his body (in her mind) was defiled by thieves who had desecrated the tomb. We can only surmise what prompted her to take one more look, but when she did, she saw something astounding. Two angles in white were sitting at the head and feet of the place where Jesus's body had been placed. Then she turned around and saw another man standing at the entrance. Assuming that he was the gardener, she asked if he knew where they had taken the body. Then, in one word, everything changed. Rather than answer her question, he simply said her name. In John 10:3-4, Jesus states that he calls his sheep by name, and the sheep know his voice. So even in the depth of her grief, in calling her name, she heard the shepherd. In a moment's time, all her fear and sorrow were replaced with incredible joy as the realization that Jesus rose from the dead!
Yet the resurrection is more than just a story of life and death. The resurrection stands as the foundation of the good news of salvation. As Paul points out in 1 Corinthians 14:1-6, the resurrection is just as central to the gospel as the crucifixion. In the crucifixion, Christ provided the substitutionary sacrifice for our sin. However, the resurrection provided proof of his deity and the hope of humanity.
First, the resurrection is the proof that the redemptive work of Christ was complete. Paul writes in Romans 4:25 that Christ was raised for our justification.   In the resurrection, the Father provided proof that Christ's redemptive work was complete. When we accept the redemptive work of Christ by faith, we no longer need to fear judgment. The justice of God is fully satisfied, and the penalty was fully paid.
Second, the resurrection serves as the confirmation of the person of Christ. The uniqueness of the Christian faith is that we worship one who rose from the dead. It is the validation of both the message and person of Christ—that he was who he claimed to be. He was the God come in the flesh.
Third, the resurrection of Christ provides us with the assurance and hope of our future resurrection. Again Paul writes. 2 Corinthians 4:14, "knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus." We have hope because Christ gives us victory over death and the promise of eternal life.
With the resurrection, everything changes. Without the resurrection, Christianity collapses, even as Paul writes, "if Christ has not been raised then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is vain…and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins" (1 Corinthians 15:14-19). When Mary encountered Christ this early morning, little did she realize how everything changed, and we now have hope and confidence in a broken and dying world. We look to the cross for our assurance of the forgiveness of salvation. We look to the empty tomb for our hope of eternal life.