Easter Sunday—The Joy of His Salvation
Voiceover by: Mike Rasmussen – Surrey Hills, Oklahoma, US
The darkness of the tomb has been shattered. The silence of death has been broken by the triumphant cry, “He is risen!” On this glorious Easter morning, we gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has defeated death and ushered in the promise of new life. The empty tomb is more than a miracle — it is the fulfillment of God’s promise to renew all things, to bring about a new heaven and a new earth where weeping and sorrow will be no more, and joy and gladness will reign forever.
This is the joy of salvation — a joy that flows from the heart of our faithful and loving God. Through Jesus, we have been given not just hope for today, but the promise of a future where every tear will be wiped away, and every cry of distress will be silenced. Easter reminds us that God is making all things new.
The resurrection of Jesus is the turning point of history. It is the moment when death is conquered, and life begins anew. It is the first glimpse of the new heavens and the new earth that Isaiah prophesied — a world where pain and sorrow are replaced by joy and celebration. This is not just a future promise but a present reality. In the risen Christ, we see the firstfruits of God’s kingdom breaking into our world.
Through the resurrection, Jesus gives us the joy of salvation. It is a joy that cannot be taken away, even in the face of hardship or loss. It is the joy of knowing that death is not the end, that sin has been defeated, and that God’s love has triumphed. This joy is not a fleeting emotion but a deep and abiding confidence in the faithfulness of God, who fulfills all His promises.
Isaiah 65 paints a picture of what this new creation will look like — a place of gladness, where God’s people will rejoice forever. A place where life flourishes, relationships are restored, and peace reigns. The resurrection of Jesus is the beginning of this new creation. It is the assurance that the brokenness of our world will one day be healed and that God’s kingdom will come in its fullness.
On this Easter Sunday, we celebrate the victory of our faithful and loving God, who has given us the joy of salvation through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Let us live as resurrection people, filled with hope, proclaiming the good news that God is making all things new. And let us hold fast to the promise that one day, there will be no more tears, no more pain, and no more death — only joy and gladness in the presence of our God.
For I am about to create new heavens
and a new earth;
the former things shall not be remembered
or come to mind.
But be glad and rejoice forever
in what I am creating;
for I am about to create Jerusalem as a joy,
and its people as a delight.
I will rejoice in Jerusalem,
and delight in my people;
no more shall the sound of weeping be heard in it,
or the cry of distress.
No more shall there be in it
an infant that lives but a few days,
or an old person who does not live out a lifetime;
for one who dies at a hundred years will be considered a youth,
and one who falls short of a hundred will be considered accursed.
They shall build houses and inhabit them;
they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They shall not build and another inhabit;
they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be,
and my chosen shall long enjoy the work of their hands.
They shall not labor in vain,
or bear children for calamity;
for they shall be offspring blessed by the Lord—
and their descendants as well.
Before they call I will answer,
while they are yet speaking I will hear.
The wolf and the lamb shall feed together,
the lion shall eat straw like the ox;
but the serpent—its food shall be dust!
They shall not hurt or destroy
on all my holy mountain,
says the Lord.
Isaiah 65:17–25
Rejoice, for Christ is risen! Through Him, our faithful and loving God gives us the joy of His salvation. Alleluia!
