2026.04.05 Sermon Notes: Easter 2026: Death Defeated Hope Restored - Will You Believe?

Westside Family Church

Easter 2026: Death Defeated Hope Restored - Will You Believe? 

Pastor Jonathan Hansen

Matthew 27:50-54

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!”

Matthew 28:1-6

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay."

The angel did not roll away the stone to let Jesus out. The stone was rolled away to let us in—so that Mary and Peter and John and the rest of us could see where he once lay and that he was in fact alive from the dead.

Notes: 

Why did Jesus have to die and rise again?

1. So that death would be defeated and we would no longer have to fear it.

2. To redeem the pain and suffering of the world.

3. And so that the God of all creation could have a relationship with you forever.

Jesus defeated death so we don't have to be afraid of it anymore. He redeemed human suffering with the ultimate hope of resurrection and eternal life. And He made it possible for every human—all of us are eternal souls—to have relationship with Him forever.

But I want to remind us all today: We're living in God's world. We are created in His image. The sun in the sky that brings us warmth was created by God. The breath in your lungs was given to you by God. And if we want to come to God, we have to come to Him on His terms.

Jesus said in John 14:6, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Notes: 

WHY #1: So Death Would Be Defeated

Acts 2:24 says, "But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”

1 Corinthians 15:54-55 declares, "Death has been swallowed up in victory... Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”

Death is our greatest enemy and our greatest fear. It feels final. It's unknown.

 Jesus' resurrection from the dead tells us something that all of us know deep down: There is life after death.

We all want to believe that the end of this life is not the end of the story.

Luke 24:11 tells us, "But the disciples did not even believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.”

Death is no longer final. It's no longer the end of the road. There is life after death. Death isn't final. Death is temporary.

Notes: 

WHY #2: God Wants a Relationship With You

Romans 8:38-39 says:

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

But here's the beautiful part: Easter declares to us that there is no grave too deep for Jesus to reach you.

Because there is no grave too deep for Jesus to reach you. Jesus went to the grave so he could pull each of us out of our graves. There is no grave too deep, no sin so horrific that the grace of God can't cover it.

You're no longer allowed to say your sin is greater than God's grace. You're not allowed to say that you've used up your chances and He won't take you back. You're not allowed to say that you're too far gone. You're not allowed to say it's too late for you.

His faithfulness is deeper than your failure. His patience lasts longer than your problems. His grace is greater than all your sins.

How far will the love of Jesus go? How deep will His grace reach? Far enough to find you. Deep enough to dig you out of whatever grave you find yourself in today. To have a relationship with you.

Notes: 

WHY #3: To Redeem Our Pain And Suffering

John 20:26-28 tells us:

A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."

Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!”

Because a receipt tells you the price was paid, but a scar tells you the Person who paid it loves you.

If the Risen King still has His scars, then your scars aren't a sign of defeat—they are the canvas for God's greatest work.

We follow a Wounded Healer who offers a transformation. If the grave is empty, then anything is possible for your life.

We move forward holding the hand of the One whose scars prove how much you are worth. And that there is hope no matter what you’re facing today

 Because when these disciples saw Jesus suffer, they saw God bring the redemption of the world out of the midst of the greatest pain and injustice the world had ever seen—the death of God's perfect Son on the cross.

We know that God is for us because Jesus died for us, not because things always work out for us.

John 17:3: "This is eternal life, that they know you, the only

true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”