Resurrection is More Than Just One Day
Rev. Erik Swanson
April 20, 2025
The essence of Easter is a day of life, renewal, and transformation. While the church often emphasizes the cross, sacrifice, and death, those elements are only a part of the journey leading to resurrection—the real heart of the Christian story. Easter is not merely about Jesus rising from the dead; it’s about the call to embrace life fully, even in the face of hardship, fear, and death. It challenges us to be “Easter people”—those who live as if the resurrection is not just an event in the past but a living reality within us.
The Invitation is Personal
Jesus’ message throughout his time was one of abundant life—deep, connected, Spirit-filled life with ourselves, with others, and with God. The resurrection story invites us to take that message seriously, to let it take root in us and shape how we live. The invitation is personal: can we claim this story as our own, let it stir us, and awaken the life within us that might have been dormant or neglected?
Easter is Also About Our Own Transformation
We are constantly surrounded by signs of life—from the energy and joy of children to the vibrant rebirth of gardens in spring. These serve as reminders of life’s ongoing renewal. Yet often, our religious teachings have narrowed Easter to being only about Jesus’ resurrection, instead of also being about our own transformation and awakening. The Easter story points us to a universal, eternal truth: life, not death, has the final word. God's power is ultimately about life, even when things seem broken or final.
Where We Seek Meaning and Hope
The Gospel of Luke’s version of the resurrection story is curiously sparse on detail—there are no encounters with the risen Christ, only a message from men in dazzling clothes asking, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” This question becomes deeply symbolic, urging us to consider where we seek meaning, hope, and vitality. Do we only return to old pain, loss, and despair? Or are we also seeking life—within ourselves, in our communities, and in spiritual practices that connect us to God?
An Unfolding Path of Spiritual Growth
We must be cautious against magical thinking—resurrection doesn’t mean instant transformation or the immediate resolution of suffering. Instead, it's a long process, an unfolding path of spiritual growth, love, service, and openness to God’s presence. We participate in this resurrection not just by celebrating it once a year, but by staying awake to the moments of new life emerging in us and around us every day.
Make the Easter Story Our Story
Ultimately, Easter is about embodiment—living out our faith in real, tangible ways. It’s not simply about belief, but about living lives that make Spirit, joy, and peace visible in the world. Resurrection is both a divine gift and a human calling: to live fully, love deeply, and be part of creating new life together. Today is an invitation to once again walk out of our tombs and into the light—to make the Easter story our story.