Good News
Easter Day - 5th April 26
Acts 10: 34-43 and John 20: 1-18
Facing a World of Bad News
I know I’m not alone when I say that opening the news app on my phone these days often fills me with a sense of dread. Headlines seem to be dominated by 'bad news'. This isn’t entirely new—news has always highlighted violence, crime, scandal, disaster... But today, with 24-hour news cycles and social media algorithms shaping what we see, it can feel overwhelming. We are drawn to sensational stories, sometimes without realising it, and it’s easy to feel as if the world is only bad news.
Then there’s the issue of 'Fake News'. While the term is widely associated with modern political debates, often to sway opinion or discredit inconvenient truths, the concept is not new - sensationalised or misleading reporting has existed for decades. In a world where truth can feel manipulated or disputed, distinguishing reality from fiction can be daunting.
Good News in the Midst of Darkness
Into this context, the church offers a profoundly different message: good news, rooted in truth. This is the story of Jesus’ resurrection, which we celebrate today.
The resurrection was good news for the small group of Jesus' followers: For Jesus’ first followers, this was astonishing news. Their hopes had been shattered; their expectations for the future seemed destroyed. Yet the resurrection transformed fear and despair into boldness and hope, starting a movement that continues to shape the world thousands of years later.
The resurrection was unexpected. At that time, it seemed impossible that God’s promised Messiah could die, let alone rise again. Even when the women first discovered the empty tomb, understanding came slowly. Consider the mystery of the actual events. The tomb was heavily guarded. Who moved the stone? What happened to the guards? And what about Jesus' body? If authorities had moved it, the story would have been easily dismissed. If Jesus’ followers had fabricated the story, they would not have endured persecution or given their lives for a lie. Instead, what we see is transformation: ordinary people, once fearful and sceptical, became courageous witnesses to the risen Christ.
John’s Gospel highlights Mary Magdalene as the first witness. This is significant. At the time in that culture, a woman’s testimony carried little weight. By recording her as the first witness, the Gospel writers show that they were faithfully reporting events, not shaping the story to appear more credible. What Mary witnessed was extraordinary, and she could not keep it to herself. Her testimony set the stage for Jesus’ appearances to others, spreading the news and igniting the faith of his followers.
The resurrection was good news for the early church: The resurrection was not just remarkable news for individuals—it became the cornerstone of the early church. In Acts, Peter proclaims to a gathering at Cornelius’ house that Jesus was raised and appeared to witnesses who had eaten and drunk with him. These witnesses were tasked to share the story, and they did so faithfully, even amid persecution. The early church grew rapidly as ordinary people believed this extraordinary message as the good news of resurrection spread through the story of their transformed lives.
Paul’s letters emphasise the centrality of the resurrection to Christian theology. Denying it would undermine the reliability of scripture, the accounts of witnesses, and Paul’s own testimony. Without the resurrection, the defeat of sin and death would remain incomplete, and the promise of salvation would be meaningless. The resurrection is inseparable from Jesus’ death; it gives us hope and confirms that God has triumphed over sin and death.
The resurrection is good news for us: We should not minimise the significance of death. The Bible calls it “the last enemy to be destroyed” (1 Corinthians 15:26). Sometimes, we soften the reality of death with euphemisms like 'passing on' or 'falling asleep,' and sometimes we downplay the resurrection, seeing it as optional or purely spiritual. But death is far more final than we admit, and resurrection is far more glorious than we imagine. Resurrection is at the heart of our faith, not an optional extra.
Living as Witnesses Today
Part of our church’s struggle may be timidity. In our context in England, I see little hostility toward Christianity, but the church is often dismissed as irrelevant or not even given a second thought. Perhaps this stems from us being unsure of what we truly believe or lacking the courage to speak boldly.
We should ask questions, think critically, and work through our faith. There is evidence, but belief in the resurrection ultimately requires a step of faith.
Just as Mary Magdalene, the disciples, and the early church were witnesses, so too are we called to witness today. We have a story to tell—a story that matters deeply.
So how should we live in a world flooded with bad news? We do not bury our heads in the sand. Awareness of the world’s troubles should prompt prayer, compassionate action, and engagement with those in need. Yet we must always remember that bad news is not the whole story. There is good news that endures, and it is worth proclaiming. When we encounter lies, we must challenge them. When truth is confirmed, we must affirm it boldly. In a culture that often suggests that truth is subjective, Christians proclaim an absolute, objective reality: God loves us; Jesus died for us; Jesus rose again.
Resurrection: Not Just History
The resurrection is not just a historical claim—it is a promise for the future. Jesus’ resurrection assures us of victory over sin, death, and all that threatens life. It points forward to the final restoration, when death will be fully defeated. This message is vital not only for personal faith but for the wider world, and the church must recover the courage to proclaim it boldly.
Resurrection is not merely an event to acknowledge intellectually; it shapes how we live today. We are made alive in Christ, and this reality transforms our daily lives. Jesus’ resurrection changes everything: our priorities, our perspectives, and our lives. It calls us to witness, to share our experience, and to live in anticipation of the glory to come. Resurrection is not symbolic or optional; it is real, tangible, and life-changing. Through it, ordinary lives are transformed, and extraordinary hope is offered to the world.
Living Boldly
The world may be filled with bad news, but Christians have a story of hope that overcomes fear and despair. We are called to engage with reality, pray, act, and discern truth from lies. Above all, we proclaim that Jesus Christ has risen—a truth that changes everything. The resurrection calls us to live boldly, witness to others, and trust in God’s ultimate victory over sin and death.
This is good news.
This good news is meant to be shared, lived, and celebrated. It transforms lives, reshapes priorities, and assures us of a new life that starts now and ends with us sharing in Jesus' glory. As we reflect on this truth, let us pray for courage to proclaim it, to live as witnesses to the risen Christ, and to invite others into the joy of resurrection. This is the truth. This is good news. This is the story of Easter.