Sermon Title: Empowered by the Risen Lord.
Occasion: 1st Sunday after Easter | April 27, 2025, Sunday.
Textual Foundations: Genesis 28:10–22; Psalm 29; Acts 20:7–12; John 20:11–18.
Original Language Reflections (For deeper study, see Section 12 in the sermon): סֻלָּם (sullām); ἀπιστία (apistia); ἀγαπᾷς με; (agapas me?); Βόσκε τὰ ἀρνία μου… Ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατά μου (Boske ta arnia mou… Poimaine ta probata mou); ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia); ἕως ἐσχάτου τῆς γῆς (heōs eschatou tēs gēs).
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Introduction
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ stands as the axis upon which Christian theology, liturgy, and hope rotate. As St. Paul declared, “if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain” (1 Cor. 15:14). The Resurrection is not merely an article of faith, but the definitive event that redefines the human condition. This first Sunday after Easter invites us to meditate not only on the reality of Christ’s resurrection but on the transformative power it imparts to those who encounter Him. In the words of Pope Benedict XVI, “The Resurrection is not the result of speculation or mystical experience: it is an event that surpasses history, yet leaves a real mark within it.”
Each of our appointed Scripture readings for today offers a window into how the Risen Lord empowers His people — not abstractly or symbolically, but tangibly, through encounters, visions, healing, mission, and leadership. Let us explore how these biblical figures, touched by divine grace, embody the many dimensions of empowerment that flow from the resurrected Christ.
1. Empowerment through Encounter: Jacob at Bethel (Genesis 28:10–22)
Jacob, fleeing from his brother Esau, arrives at Bethel, broken and bewildered. There, in a liminal moment between exile and divine destiny, he encounters the transcendent. The vision of a ladder (סֻלָּם – sullām in Hebrew) connecting heaven and earth becomes a theological axis mundi (Latin for “axis of the world“) – a promise that God’s purposes will be fulfilled through him, despite his frailty. God declares, “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go” (Gen. 28:15). Jacob rises from his vision transformed, and Bethel — the “House of God” — becomes the first altar of his covenantal life.
This episode prefigures the empowerment given to the Church through Christ’s resurrection: not a removal of trouble, but a revelation that God journeys with His people. The Risen Christ empowers us not through immunity from hardship, but through divine accompaniment in our pilgrimage.
2. Empowerment to Proclaim: Mary Magdalene in the Garden (John 20:11–18)
In what is arguably the most poignant post-resurrection encounter, Mary Magdalene becomes the first apostle to the apostles. Her grief turns to astonishment when the Risen Lord calls her by name. Her commission — “Go to my brothers and tell them…” (Jn 20:17) — becomes the prototype of apostolic proclamation. Mary’s transformation from mourner to messenger encapsulates the very heart of Christian mission: to testify, out of personal encounter, to the living Christ.
As Karl Barth observed, “Christian proclamation is the announcement of a history which is completed but still present in its effects.” Mary does not preach dogma; she announces the impossible: “I have seen the Lord” (Jn 20:18). In this act, she inaugurates the apostolic mission of the Church — to witness boldly, even when the world deems the message irrational.
3. Empowerment to Heal and Revive: Eutychus in Troas (Acts 20:7–12)
The resurrection power of Christ does not remain an abstract doctrine; it continues to break into human lives. When Eutychus falls from a window and dies during Paul’s extended sermon, the Apostle, filled with the Spirit of the Risen Lord, brings him back to life. The community is “greatly comforted” (Acts 20:12), and revival sweeps through Troas. The ancient city of Alexandria Troas, where the miracle occurred, is near the modern village of Dalyan in the Ezine District of Çanakkale Province, northwestern Turkey, near the Aegean coast.
This passage signals the Church’s ongoing vocation: to be a vessel of divine power that restores life, renews hope, and confronts death. The empowerment of the Risen Christ is not limited to the extraordinary; it manifests in every moment where despair is turned to joy, where the breath of God reanimates a weary soul.
4. Empowerment to Forgive: The Disciples in the Upper Room (John 20:19–23)
When the Risen Jesus appears to His disciples, His first words are not rebuke, but peace: “Εἰρήνη ὑμῖν” (Eirēnē hymin – “Peace be with you”). More than that, He breathes on them and says, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven” (Jn 20:22–23). This conferral of spiritual authority is no less than a divine entrustment — the beginning of the Church’s sacramental ministry.
To be empowered by the Risen Lord is to become ambassadors of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5:18–20). The Church becomes a sanctuary of peace not merely by proclaiming it, but by incarnating it — forgiving as Christ forgave, extending mercy where judgment is expected.
5. Empowerment through Doubt: St. Thomas the Apostle (John 20:24–29)
Thomas’s doubt is not disbelief (apistia, ἀπιστία);; it is the yearning for a personal encounter. When Jesus appears again and invites Thomas to touch His wounds, Thomas offers the highest Christological confession in the Gospels: “Ὁ Κύριός μου καὶ ὁ Θεός μου!” (Ho Kyrios mou kai ho Theos mou – My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). His doubt becomes the doorway to divine affirmation.
Far from condemning skepticism, the Risen Christ transforms it into a testimony. According to tradition, Thomas travels as far as India, founding Christian communities and dying a martyr’s death. His life reveals that honest questioning, when met by Christ, becomes a catalyst for global mission.
6. Empowerment to Lead: St. Peter and the Church
Peter’s restoration by the Risen Jesus (John 21) echoes earlier denials, but this time with grace. Each repetition of of “ἀγαπᾷς με;” (agapas me? – “Do you love me?”) reclaims Peter from shame. Christ entrusts him: “Βόσκε τὰ ἀρνία μου… Ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατά μου” (Boske ta arnia mou… Poimaine ta probata mou – “Feed my lambs… Shepherd my sheep” (The lambs being new believers, the sheep representing the mature faithful). Leadership in the Church is never born of ambition, but of repentance. It is not grounded in strength, but in surrender to the One who rose again.
The Acts of the Apostles showcases Peter’s metamorphosis: from fearful denier to bold preacher (Acts 2), from wavering disciple to wise shepherd. The Risen Lord empowers not only individuals but inaugurates a structure — the Church ie, the ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia) — to bear His presence “ἕως ἐσχάτου τῆς γῆς” (heōs eschatou tēs gēs – “to the ends of the earth,” Acts 1:8).
7. Empowerment to Serve: Mary Salome and the Women of the Early Church
Often overlooked, the women who remained at the Cross and journeyed to the tomb — among them, Mary Salome (Mark 15:40–41; 16:1) — are emblematic of the laity empowered to serve. In the spirit of Romans 12:6–8, their spiritual gifts (χάρισματα, charismata) became instruments of divine work: hospitality through Lydia, who opened her home to Paul and the early believers (Acts 16:14–15, 40); charity through Dorcas (Tabitha), “full of good works and acts of mercy” (Acts 9:36–42); and theological instruction through Priscilla, who, alongside Aquila, instructed Apollos in “the way of God more accurately” (Acts 18:24–26).
In a world that relegated women to the margins, the Risen Lord calls them to the centre. Not all are apostles, but all are empowered. Their ministries reflect the heart of Christian service — humble, unseen, faithful.
8. Conclusion: The Empowerment Continues
What links these disparate figures — Jacob, Mary Magdalene, Eutychus, the disciples, Thomas, Peter, and Mary Salome — is the singular event of the Resurrection and the manifold ways its power is revealed. The Risen Christ does not empower uniformly, but uniquely, according to the vocation and need of each recipient.
As the Psalmist declares, “The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty” (Psalm 29:4). That voice still calls, heals, forgives, sends, and leads.
How, then, have you encountered the Risen Christ this Easter? What gift lies dormant within you, waiting to be set ablaze by the Holy Spirit? As Pentecost approaches, may you be empowered anew — not for comfort, but for calling.
Absolutely! Here’s a prayer to accompany the sermon, followed by a table that summarizes the key figures, themes, and types of empowerment discussed.
9. From Encounter to Commission: The Transformative Empowerment of Biblical Figures in the Resurrection Event:
| S. No | Figure | Scripture Reference | Type of Empowerment | Key Theme | Application |
| 1 | Jacob | Genesis 28:10–22 | Empowered through encounter | God’s presence in exile | Assurance in spiritual journey |
| 2 | Mary Magdalene | John 20:11–18 | Empowered to proclaim | Personal encounter leads to apostolic mission | Testimony from experience |
| 3 | Eutychus (via Paul) | Acts 20:7–12 | Empowered to heal and revive | Resurrection power restores life | Ministry of renewal and hope |
| 4 | The Disciples | John 20:19–23 | Empowered to forgive | Peace and authority given by Christ | Living as agents of reconciliation |
| 5 | Thomas | John 20:24–29 | Empowered through doubt | Honest faith deepened by encounter | Faith formed in questions |
| 6 | St. Peter | John 21; Acts 2 | Empowered to lead | Leadership rooted in repentance | Shepherding with humility and courage |
| 7 | Mary Salome & women | Mark 15:40–41; Romans 12:6–8 | Empowered to serve | Faithful service beyond the spotlight | Valuing hidden, faithful ministry |
10. Let us Pray for Our Empowered by the Risen Christ
Gracious and Risen Lord,
You who broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave, We come before You in awe and gratitude,
Marveling at the power that raised You And now empowers us to live, to serve, and to witness.
As You called Jacob in the wilderness, Call us in our wandering — to know that You are with us.
As You spoke Mary’s name at the tomb, Speak to us in our sorrow and commission us to proclaim.
As You revived Eutychus in Troas, Breathe new life into our weary spirits.
You who entered locked rooms and breathed peace, Enter the locked places of our hearts and bring reconciliation.
You who welcomed the doubts of Thomas, Meet us in our questions and turn them into worship.
You who restored Peter by the lakeside, Restore us from shame and raise us to lead in love.
You who honored faithful women in the shadows, Empower all your saints, seen and unseen, to serve in joy.
Risen Christ, May we walk in resurrection power, Not clinging to comfort, but stepping boldly into calling.
Let our lives echo the empty tomb — Not silence, but proclamation; not death, but life eternal.
In Your Name we Pray Amen.
11. Bibliography :
- The Holy Bible – Genesis 28:10–22, Psalm 29, Acts 20:7–12, John 20:11–18, 1 Corinthians 15
- Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics, Volume I.2. T&T Clark, 1956.
- St. Augustine, Sermons on Selected Lessons of the New Testament. Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, First Series, Vol. 6. CCEL
- N.T. Wright, Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church. HarperOne, 2008.
12. Learn Words from the Original Scriptures (For deeper understanding and meditation on today’s theme)
- סֻלָּם (sullām) – Hebrew for ladder (Genesis 28:12); the connection between heaven and earth in Jacob’s vision at Bethel.
- ἀπιστία (apistia) — Greek for unbelief or doubt (John 20:27); St. Thomas’s journey from questioning to confession of faith.
- ἀγαπᾷς με; (agapas me?) — Greek for Do you love me? (John 21:15); Jesus’ restoring question to Peter after his denial. (Note: “ἀγαπᾷς” is the second person singular present active indicative form of “ἀγαπάω.”)
- Βόσκε τὰ ἀρνία μου… Ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατά μου (Boske ta arnia mou… Poimaine ta probata mou) — Greek for Feed my lambs… Shepherd my sheep (John 21:15–16); Christ’s commissioning of Peter for pastoral leadership. ( βόσκω (boskō) — “feed”; ποιμαίνω (poimainō) — “shepherd”)
- ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia) — Greek for assembly or church; the community empowered by the Risen Christ to bear His presence to the world.
- ἕως ἐσχάτου τῆς γῆς (heōs eschatou tēs gēs) — Greek for to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8); the global mission entrusted to Christ’s followers. 9ἕως (heōs); ἔσχατος (eschatos) — root of ἐσχάτου ; γῆ (gē) — “earth”)
Christ is risen — and with Him rises a new humanity, a new hope, and a new commission. Let us not merely admire the Resurrection, but live as those empowered by it.
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