04/19/2026

Happy Easter!

Jesus has risen! Which means, God’s salvation work for you is accomplished! In this context, in Korea, we don’t just say “Happy Easter,” but, Congratulations! So I would say, “Congratulations everyone!”

As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, think about it. When it comes to Easter, what is the first image that pops into your mind? It’s could be the Easter bunny, or perhaps chocolate eggs that are sometimes hard to break. But today, I want to invite you to muse on a much older, much heavier symbol: the removed stone.

Have you imagined the moment of resurrection? Was it like waking up in the morning? Did Jesus wake up slowly, like we do on a holiday morning? Or rise up, freaking out?

Nobody saw it. The first thing the Bible tells us about the Resurrection isn't a description of the "how," but the evidence of the "what": an empty tomb and a massive stone rolled away.

Before that morning, the stone was the ultimate boundary. It was like the "Do Not Disturb" sign. It stood as a hard line between:

• The space of the living and the space of the dead.
• The realm of light and the realm of darkness.
• The place of hope and the place of despair.

But when that stone was moved, the division collapsed. Let’s recall the moment when Jesus revived his friend Lazarus. He shouted, "Remove the stone!"  Jesus removed the stone and brought him out.

In the Resurrection of Jesus, God abolished the stone between Jesus and us. And through his resurrection, Jesus invites us to do likewise.

We all might have stones in our lives—heavy, stubborn obstacles that block our light.

As wrapping up our Lenten journey with Easter, think back to the three Lenten practices we’ve been working on: Fasting, Prayer, and Almsgiving. If we look at them closely, they weren’t just "things to do" to prove we’re pious; they were spiritual weightlifting sessions designed to help us roll away our own stones:

1.  Fasting was about your relationship with yourself—clearing away the "stone" of physical impulses to find your inner strength.

2.  Prayer was about your relationship with God—removing the "stone" of noise and distraction to finally hear His voice.

3.  Almsgiving was about your relationship with others—pushing aside the "stone" of selfishness to reach out to a neighbor.

Lent was our training. Easter is the result. By rolling away the stone, Jesus didn't just exit the tomb; He reconnected the dead and the living, reconciled the world to Himself, and restored joy to His people.

So today, as we celebrate, let’s enjoy the light that finally shines into every dark corner of our lives. The barrier is gone, the tomb is empty, and the relationships we’ve worked so hard to mend are now wide open.

Happy Easter!