For seven years from 397 to 404, the Archbishop of Constantinople, modern-day Istanbul, in Turkey, was a man named John. In his lifetime, people started calling him John Chrysostom, which means John, golden-tongued, because he was such a good preacher. Back in the day, before the internet, before TV or even radio, going to a good sermon was entertaining, and John preached from the heart, with the power of the spirit; he didn’t even have notes! In fact, he had his secretary write down everything he said so he could publish it later, which is how the greatest Easter sermon ever preached was preserved. So good was John Easter's sermon that every year, all Orthodox churches read it again. One less sermon to write, sounds good to me. I feel there are a few things God’s spirit wants us to hear John didn’t clearly say, so here is my 2026 remix of the best Easter Sermon ever preached.
If anyone here has even the smallest particle of faith and loves God, let them enjoy this fair and shining Easter festival. If anyone is a grateful servant who has exhausted themselves working for God's justice in this world, let them enter into the joy of their Lord. If any have become wearied fasting with tears and guarding their sobriety, let them now enjoy their payment. If any have labored for the good since the start of life, let them today receive their due. If any came as a teenager to love what is righteous, let them feast with gratitude. If any arrived at faith in midlife, let them not hesitate: for there is no penalty for a wild youth. If any delays in finding time for God until after retirement, let them approach without hesitating. If any have come to God only when the very end of life is near, let them not fear because of their lateness: for the Lord is generous and receives the last as the first: he gives rest to the worker of old age as to the laborers of youth. God has pity on the old and cares for the children. Gives to the one, and is generous to the other. Like a mother, God accepts all our work for goodness because we are her children. God welcomes our intentions regardless of their outcome. Honors our righteous achievement, regardless of why we did them. God praises the good purposes of all humanity that reach out to God with the striving of our lives.
Therefore, all of you, enter into the joy of our Lord: first and last, enjoy your reward. Rich and poor dance together. Sober and slothful honor this day. Fasters and non-fasters, be glad today. Jesus has gathered us at God’s table, and it is full; all of you enjoy yourselves. God has enough love, so let none go away hungry. All of you enjoy the banquet of the faith. Enter all into the inheritance of eternal life that begins today. All of you enjoy the richness of God’s goodness. Let none of you grieve at your poverty: for your place in God’s kingdom for all has been revealed. Let no one bewail their faults, your failures or sins: for your forgiveness has risen from the tomb. Let no one fear death: for the Savior’s death has freed us in eternal hope. By enduring life, death, and resurrection, Jesus quenched the burning of fear. Jesus, who descended into Hell, has raided it, leading its people free and rescuing all who would follow Christ out of every personal hell. Jesus's poisoned death. For when death tasted itself in Jesus flesh, God's Spirit consumed death up, as fast as light destroys darkness.
As Isaiah proclaimed in prophecy, ‘Death’, he said, ‘was defeated when it met you there below’. Defeated, for it was destroyed. Defeated, for it was mocked by Jesus rising. Defeated, for it was slain by Christ’s love. Defeated, for it was wiped out for all eternity. Defeated, for it was bound fast and is now limited to a short night of slumber before a glorious day. Death came face-to-face with God and had to bow in submission. It received Jesus, the man of earth, and in him met the God of heaven. It received what it saw, and fell through what it did not see. Where, death, is your sting? Where, hell, is your victory? Christ has risen, and you are abolished! Christ has risen, and the demons have fallen! Christ has risen, and all Angels rejoice! Christ has risen, and life has found freedom! Christ has risen, and there is no corpse in the grave! For Christ, being raised from the dead, has become the first fruits of true liberty, true freedom for eternal life in love, so that we can cry victory is ours, victory is ours through Christ who loves us. To Christ victorious, be all glory and might to the ages of ages. Amen.