Church of the Cross · Church of the Cross

4/5, Rev. Sarah Smith, "Resurrection Expectations"

April 8, 2026·31 min·3 clips

Why does Easter feel boring compared to Christmas, yet the resurrection story is filled with fear?

Rev. Sarah Smith delivers an Easter sermon titled 'Resurrection Expectations' from Church of the Cross. She opens by contrasting childhood boredom with Easter against the Gospel's references to fear, setting up a tension between comfort and discomfort. The sermon is structured under three headings: guarding the tomb, looking for Jesus, and greetings. In the first section, Smith discusses the guards at the tomb, comparing their fear to vengeance narratives in 'Kill Bill' and Roman politics, noting they were bought off to maintain the status quo. She then critiques the temptation to use faith as a means to control distress, suggesting instead that staying in fearful places might lead to transformation. The second section focuses on the women at the tomb, who leave without seeing Jesus but with a sign (the empty tomb) and a promise (he will be seen), highlighting how faith often operates without direct sight. Smith connects this to how heralds like pastors point to resurrection in our lives. The third section analyzes Jesus' greeting to the women, where he appears unnecessarily, showing his desire to be with them. She references Dr. Jim Houston's perspective on ongoing communication with Jesus. Smith emphasizes Jesus calling his failed disciples 'brothers,' underscoring restoration over vengeance. The sermon closes by returning to Frederica Matthews Green's reflections, arguing that Easter addresses adult weariness and pain, offering transformative life through resurrection. Throughout, Smith uses pop culture analogies like 'The Office' and 'Harry Potter' to illustrate points, maintaining an educational and narrative tone.

As heard by us

A patient Easter reflection considers what resurrection changes when fear, boredom, and comfort keep the day in place.

Resurrection Expectations opens with Easter's awkward place in the imagination: less immediately cozy than Christmas, and set against a Gospel scene where comfort, routine, and fear all press in at once.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

Press play when Easter feels familiar, uncomfortable, and strangely able to unsettle what you thought was settled.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Church of the Cross