Matthew 28:1-10 – Reports confirm what we already know – church attendance is higher on Easter than on any other day. In 2023, for example, about half of U.S. adults planned to attend church during Easter.[1] People gather for worship on Easter to remember Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. While that might sound like a gruesome memorial, a celebratory mood marks the day because Jesus did not remain in the tomb – he returned to life “on the third day”[2] (Acts 10:34-41). The New Testament writers called Jesus’ resurrection “good news” (Acts 10:36) and explained its significance to their readers through the letters they wrote. We believe the Good News about Jesus, and we celebrate times when people think about Jesus. Therefore, we will use this Easter service to focus on the good news about Jesus’ resurrection, reminding ourselves of its meaning for our lives.
[1] https://wifitalents.com/easter-church-attendance-statistics/
[2] All quotes from the Bible come from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV Permanent Text Edition, Crossway, 2016) unless otherwise noted.