Rev. Cyril A. Stevens – Sermon 0987B recorded on April 7, 1985 teaching from John 20:1-31 – The Wonder of the Resurrection.
Pastor Cyril A. Stevens emphasizes that the resurrection of Jesus is the indispensable cornerstone of Christian faith, transforming Jesus from merely a good person into the Son of God who rose by divine power. He highlights the varying initial responses of those at the empty tomb—specifically Mary Magdalene, John, and Peter—noting that Peter was the first to grasp the tremendous significance of the linen cloths left behind, indicating a miraculous disappearance rather than a mere theft. The central argument is that true salvation requires not just intellectual acknowledgment, but belief from the heart and a passionate, grateful love for Christ, demonstrated by a willingness to take up your cross and follow Him daily. Ultimately, the resurrection transfigures the cross, vindicating Jesus’s identity as the Messiah and granting believers victory over death and a newness of life.