Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0987A recorded on April 7, 1985 teaching from John 20-1-23 – The Resurrection – Hope for Eternity.
Pastor Cyril A. Stevens emphasizes that in the face of suffering and death, believers should focus intensely on the hope found in the resurrection of Jesus, which promises their own future rising. He recounts the account of Peter and John running to the empty tomb, noting the miraculous way Jesus’s body was extracted from the linen cloths, signifying His supernatural resurrection and causing Peter to finally understand. Stevens’ central focus, however, is on Mary Magdalene, whose massive love and devotion to Jesus—stemming from an intense awareness of her past sin and subsequent profound forgiveness—initially blinded her to reason but ultimately drove her to be the first recipient of the revelation that Christ is risen. Pastor Stevens challenges the listener to set aside excessive intellectualism and cultivate an equally passionate, abandoned love for Jesus, urging them to place their devotion to Him above all else.