Matthew 28:1-10; John 10:10 · Preached by Dr. Nana Boadum · April 20, 2025 (Easter Sunday)
Easter at Jesus Generation opened with John 10:10 — the thief steals, kills and destroys, but Jesus came that we may have life — and a question that gave the day its title: Friday had the pain, Sunday has the promise, so why are so many of us living stuck in Saturday?
The seven movements
Friday came too fast. Imagine following Jesus — watching Him heal the sick and raise the dead — and then in one Friday He is arrested, tried unfairly, sentenced and crucified (Luke 23). The shock leaves you confused, in pain, and uncertain about tomorrow, wondering whether what He promised about the third day is even possible.
Saturday is the dark middle. Between the cross and the resurrection sits a day of silence — "what is going to happen to my Lord and King?" Many believers live their whole lives in that in-between: the loss already happened, the promise hasn't visibly arrived, and the darkness feels permanent.
Heaven answers with an earthquake. Matthew 28 — an angel descends, rolls the stone away and sits on it. Whatever your Friday was — a depression, an unexpected loss, the breadwinner exiting the scene — the same God who shook the garden can roll the stone off your situation.
Frightened, but filled with great joy. The women left the tomb carrying both at once — and so do we: frightened about the loved one who hasn't surrendered to Jesus, yet joyful there is hope for them; frightened to drop the double life, yet joyful that Jesus gives second chances and makes whole. What a place to be — and they ran with the news.
When good news sounds like idle tales. The eleven heard "He is risen, just as He said" and it fell on their ears as nonsense (Luke 24:11) — men who had walked with Jesus, too bruised by Friday to receive Sunday. If the answer to your prayer is knocking and you can't even rejoice, the resurrection message is for you — and the unease you feel as you hear it is the Holy Spirit, not the preacher.
He meets you on the road. Like the Emmaus pair, some walk away sad, stuck in their Saturday until Jesus Himself draws near and opens their eyes in the breaking of bread. Wounds from the past — including the love a parent never gave — send us looking for answers in the wrong places, but Jesus is the one who truly loves, mends, and restores identity.
Walk into Sunday. He is risen — no longer in the grave — and the promise of the Spirit is released (Luke 24:49): resurrection power to live the life God meant. Believe it for you, not only for someone else; move out of Saturday and walk into the victory, the promise, and the hope of Sunday.
The word closed with a salvation prayer, an extended response — "pray in understanding, pray in the Spirit... and move out of Saturday" — and rejoicing, before the church turned to offering and celebration.