We are a small Episcopal Church on the banks of the Rappahannock in Port Royal, Virginia. We acknowledge that we gather on the traditional land of the first people of Port Royal, the Nandtaughtacund, and we respect and honor with gratitude the land itself, the legacy of the ancestors, and the life of the Rappahannock Tribe. Our mission statement is to do God’s Will in all that we do.

Easter Sunday

From David Lose

“The story of what God is doing in and through Jesus isn’t over at the empty tomb, you see. It’s only just getting started. Resurrection isn’t a conclusion, it’s an invitation. And Jesus’ triumph over death, sin, and hate isn’t what Mark’s Gospel is all about. Rather, it is all about setting us up to live resurrection lives and continue the story of God’s redemption of the world.”

From Lawrence

“It is nothing less than a brand new future for the whole of creation. On Good Friday, the entire old world order of fallenness, despair, decay and death triumphs over Jesus. It is the end of Jesus’ mission and is the human race’s verdict on God’s salvation in Jesus: “Crucify him!” The Word of Resurrection that summons Jesus from the tomb is the freshly uttered Word of God that summons a new creation into being out of the ashes of the old.”

“The resurrection of Christ is no mere pledge of a future resurrection. It is a principle of resurrection now going on within us, and in which we must act, moment by moment.” – Richard Meux Benson, Brothers of St. John the Evangelist

The important truth of Easter Sunday is that God said “Yes” to Jesus even though on Good Friday the empire said “No”. If nothing else, the survival of the Easter stories is proof that Jesus has continued to become very real to Christians that never met him in the flesh.

The resurrection joy of Jesus escapes the clutches of death because it’s the joy of the new creation, a joy broken free from the evil of this fallen world.

And this makes Easter breathtaking. As Jonathan Edwards boldly declared: “The resurrection of Christ is the most joyful event that ever came to pass.” The resurrection of Christ will bring the most spectacularly joy-filled event because it ignites an eternally abiding and forever unconquerable joy.

Mark 16:1-8, Matthew 28:8

Mary Magdalene likely rushes ahead and tells Peter and John before the other women arrive.

John 20:2

Mary Magdalene has an encounter with Jesus in the garden.

John 20:11-18

The other women, still en route to tell the disciples, are met by Jesus, who confirms their decision to tell the Eleven and promises to meet them in Galilee.

Matthew 28:9-10

The women arrive and tell the disciples that Jesus is risen.  Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion

Luke 24:8-11

Peter and John rush to the tomb (based on Mary Magdalene’s report) and discover it empty.

John 20:3-10Luke 24:12

That afternoon Jesus appears to Cleopas and a friend on the road to Emmaus; later Jesus appears to Peter

Luke 24:13-35

That evening Jesus appears to the Ten (minus Thomas) in a house (with locked doors) in Jerusalem. The Upper Room.

Luke 24:36-43, John 20:19-23

Commentaries

Video introduction to Sunday Holy Week Timeline- Easter Sunday What Happened on Easter Sunday of Holy Week ?
Have You Found What You’re Looking For?
Progression of Faith Blog – Easter Sunday
Society of St. John the Evangelist – Praying Easter Sunday
Easter Voices, Year A