Easter Sermon
ThemeWhy Do You Look for the Living Among the Dead
TextsACTS 10; 34-431 Corinthians 15:19-26Luke 24:1-12
Opening Prayer God of the empty tomb and the risen Christ, We praise You for breaking the power of death and opening to us the way of life. In a world torn by war, fear, inequality, and despair, help us to live as resurrection people. Where there is grief, bring comfort. Where there is injustice, bring courage. Where there is division, bring unity. And where there is death, speak Your risen life. Make us bold witnesses, humble servants, and people of unwavering hope. Through the Risen Christ we pray, Amen.Introduction
We begin this Easter morning in a place of grief. The women are not coming to celebrate. They are coming to mourn. The crucifixion of Jesus was not only a physical execution; it was an emotional devastation to all who followed Him. Hope had been buried with Him in the tomb.
Background
Luke 24 opens with women walking to the tomb “at early dawn”. In Jewish understanding, the first day of the week signified more than just a new calendar day. It was a symbol of new beginnings, a hint that something radically new was about to happen.
These women; Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, were not just passive bystanders. They had followed Jesus. They had stood near the cross. And now, with spices and sorrow, they approach His grave. They expected death. But instead, they encounter emptiness, the tomb is open, and the body is gone.
Then come the angelic messengers with a striking rebuke:“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:5)This is not a question meant to gather information. It is a question that challenges assumptions. It's God's way of saying: You’re looking in the wrong place. You're expecting the wrong outcome. You're stuck in Saturday, but resurrection belongs to Sunday.
This, beloved, is the turning point of all history. But how does it turn our own lives today, here, in Mallorca, in 2025?
EASTER IN A TROUBLED WORLDWe are not so different from those first disciples.We also live in a world where hope feels buried. Wars rage across continents, from Europe to the Middle East to Africa.Economies are unstable. Climate change, trade wars, and political instability threaten the planet. 
It is easy tempting, even to keep going to the tomb. To keep visiting dead systems, dead dreams, and dead ideologies.To look for salvation in nationalism, materialism, or escapism.But Easter interrupts this cycle. The angel’s words pierce through time and speak to us today:"Why do you look for the living among the dead?"
THE THEOLOGY OF RESURRECTIONThe Resurrection is not just a historical event; it is a cosmic revolution. God has raised Jesus from the dead, not as a private miracle but as the first fruits of a new creation.
1.Resurrection means death does not have the final word.
2. It means injustice will be overturned
3. It means systems that exploit the poor and marginalize the vulnerable are on borrowed time.
Jesus’ Resurrection is God’s verdict on history; a declaration that even the darkest night cannot stop the dawn.The angel reminds the women, “Remember what He told you…” (v.6). Faith is rooted not just in what we see, but in what Jesus has said and keeps saying.
Contemporary Application So, what does Easter mean to us here and now?1. To those struggling to pay rent or find affordable housing ➤ Easter proclaims: You are not forgotten. God lifts up the lowly
2. To immigrants and refugees facing hostility and fear. ➤Easter says: The crucified one was also homeless. 
But God vindicates the rejected
3. To the wealthy and comfortable
➤Easter challenges: You are not called to stay in comfort, but to join the movement of resurrection justice
4. To those in grief, depression, or fear
➤ Easter whispers: You may feel like Saturday, but Sunday is here.
Conclusion Easter is not only about believing in the resurrection. It is about living it.
Let the Church not be a place of empty ritual, but a movement of resurrection. Let us speak boldly where there is injustice. Let us live hopefully where others despairTo be a Christian in the 21st century is not to have all the solutions to the world’s problems. But it is to believe that death will not win, and to live each day as if love is stronger.We are called to be witnesses, just like the women at the tomb. To carry hope into hospitals, prisons, housing blocks, refugee shelters, and neighborhoods.Let us welcome, serve, pray, and work because we know how the story ends. It is to say with our lives: Christ is risen. Hope is alive. Justice is coming.Love wins. Life triumphs.Amen 
Texts
ACTS 10; 34-43
1 Corinthians 15:19-26
Luke 24:1-12
Opening Prayer
God of the empty tomb and the risen Christ,
We praise You for breaking the power of death and opening to us the way of life.
In a world torn by war, fear, inequality, and despair, help us to live as resurrection people.
Where there is grief, bring comfort.
Where there is injustice, bring courage.
Where there is division, bring unity.
And where there is death, speak Your risen life. Make us bold witnesses, humble servants, and people of unwavering hope.
Through the Risen Christ we pray, Amen.
Introduction
We begin this Easter morning in a place of grief. The women are not coming to celebrate. They are coming to mourn. The crucifixion of Jesus was not only a physical execution; it was an emotional devastation to all who followed Him. Hope had been buried with Him in the tomb.
Background
Luke 24 opens with women walking to the tomb
“at early dawn”.
In Jewish understanding, the first day of the week signified more than just a new calendar day.
It was a symbol of new beginnings, a hint that something radically new was about to happen.
These women; Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, were not just passive bystanders. They had followed Jesus. They had stood near the cross. And now, with spices and sorrow, they approach His grave. They expected death. But instead, they encounter emptiness, the tomb is open, and the body is gone.
Then come the angelic messengers with a striking rebuke:
“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!” (Luke 24:5)
This is not a question meant to gather information. It is a question that challenges assumptions.
It's God's way of saying:
You’re looking in the wrong place.
You're expecting the wrong outcome.
You're stuck in Saturday,
but resurrection belongs to Sunday.
This, beloved, is the turning point of all history.
But how does it turn our own lives today, here, in Mallorca, in 2025?
EASTER IN A TROUBLED WORLD
We are not so different from those first disciples.
We also live in a world where hope feels buried.
Wars rage across continents,
from Europe to the Middle East to Africa.
Economies are unstable.
Climate change, trade wars, and political instability threaten the planet.
It is easy tempting, even to keep going to the tomb.
To keep visiting dead systems, dead dreams,
and dead ideologies.
To look for salvation in nationalism,
materialism, or escapism.
But Easter interrupts this cycle.
The angel’s words pierce through time
and speak to us today:
"Why do you look for the living among the dead?"
THE THEOLOGY OF RESURRECTION
The Resurrection is not just a historical event;
it is a cosmic revolution.
God has raised Jesus from the dead,
not as a private miracle
but as the first fruits of a new creation.
1.Resurrection means
death does not have the final word.
3. It means systems that exploit the poor and marginalize the vulnerable are on borrowed time.
Jesus’ Resurrection is God’s verdict on history;
a declaration that even the darkest night
cannot stop the dawn.
The angel reminds the women,
“Remember what He told you…” (v.6).
Faith is rooted not just in what we see,
but in what Jesus has said and keeps saying.
Contemporary Application
So, what does Easter mean to us here and now?
1. To those struggling to pay rent or find affordable housing
➤ Easter proclaims:
You are not forgotten. God lifts up the lowly
2. To immigrants and refugees facing hostility and fear.
➤Easter says:
The crucified one was also homeless.
3. To the wealthy and comfortable
➤Easter challenges:
You are not called to stay in comfort, but to join the movement of resurrection justice
4. To those in grief, depression, or fear
➤ Easter whispers:
You may feel like Saturday,
but Sunday is here.
Conclusion
Easter is not only about believing in the resurrection.
It is about living it.
Let the Church not be a place of empty ritual,
but a movement of resurrection.
Let us speak boldly where there is injustice.
Let us live hopefully where others despair
To be a Christian in the 21st century is not to have all the solutions to the world’s problems.
But it is to believe that death will not win,
and to live each day as if love is stronger.
We are called to be witnesses,
just like the women at the tomb.
To carry hope into hospitals, prisons,
housing blocks, refugee shelters, and neighborhoods.
Let us welcome, serve, pray, and work
because we know how the story ends.
It is to say with our lives:
Christ is risen.
Hope is alive.
Justice is coming.
Love wins.
Life triumphs.
Amen
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