The Resurrection and Our Hope for Liberation
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The Resurrection and Our Hope for Liberation
Herb Montgomery | April 3, 2026
If you’d like to listen to this week’s article in podcast version click on the image below:
Our reading leading up to Easter this weekend is found in the Gospel of Matthew.
After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” (Matthew 28:1-10)
This is my favorite time of year in the Christian calendar. It’s a time to reflect on the story truths of the resurrection narratives in the Gospels, to remember that state violence and systemic, imperial injustice do not have to have the final word in our world. The stories of Jesus’ resurrection boldly declare that systems built on domination and death cannot ultimately silence truth, compassion, justice. They proclaim that solidarity with the marginalized, in the end, is worth whatever price we pay along the way. Our efforts to shape our world into a safe, compassionate, just home for everyone are worth it. This time of year calls us to remember when, for those in our Gospels, what empire tried to crush on the cross was raised up again in living defiance. For Jesus followers committed to social justice, resurrection faith becomes more than belief; it becomes courage to resist oppression, stand with the marginalized, and work for a world where we reclaim our humanity again and again despite every force that tries to bury hope or silence love in our world.
Today, Easter stands at the heart of the Christian liturgical calendar as a declaration that death, injustice, and oppressive power do not have the final word. The empty tomb is not merely a miraculous event to be debated within our contemporary naturalistic world view, it is also a story of disruption of systems that continue to “crucify” today. The narrative truth of our story proclaims that the forces of empire, violence, and exclusion, made visible in every crucifixion and used to silence opposition through fear, are undone. Resurrection is not an escape from the world’s injustice. It’s a decisive response to it.
The empty tomb announces that what was meant to silence Jesus’ message of justice and liberation has failed. The execution of Jesus was an act of state violence, a public warning to anyone who would challenge systems of domination. Yet the resurrection exposes the lie at the heart of that power. Empires are not permanent, unquestionable, or unavoidably victorious. No. Love and justice are powers in their own right and cannot be buried forever. The stone is rolled away, not just from a grave, but also from the illusion that injustice will endure forever.
For us today, the resurrection carries important social implications. It calls us to see that the suffering of the marginalized is not invisible or forgotten. Just as God stood in solidarity with Jesus, raising him from death, so too does the Divine stand with those who are oppressed, exploited, and cast aside today. Easter invites us to align ourselves with God in that same solidarity. It challenges us to resist systems that crucify, whether through poverty, racism, patriarchy, economic inequality, LGBTQ phobias, or exclusion, and calls us to participate in the work of liberation, restoration, and justice.
The empty tomb also reframes how we understand hope. Hope is not passive optimism or waiting for change to come from elsewhere. Resurrection hope is active, embodied, and courageous. It is the kind of hope that compels action even when outcomes seem uncertain. The women who first encountered the empty tomb did not fully understand what had happened, but they moved forward anyway, carrying the message. In the same way, we are called to act for justice even when the path ahead is unclear.
Easter teaches us that what appears to be defeat can become the very place where transformation begins. The cross was intended to end a movement, yet became the catalyst for one that would keep challenging injustice across generations. That invites us to reconsider our own moments of discouragement. Setbacks in the struggle for justice are not the end of the story. ew life often emerges from places of loss and despair.
Ultimately, Easter invites us to live differently, to embody resurrection in our daily lives, and to practice compassion, pursue equity and equality, and confront injustice with courage. The empty tomb is more than something to “believe in” in the sense of belonging to a creed; it also tells a truth at the heart of every movement for change: change doesn’t happen without struggle and setbacks. Even in our midnight moments, the dawn is still ahead. Winter gives way to spring. And in that light, the resurrection is something to participate in. It asks us to roll away stones in our own communities, to bring life where there is death, and to come together in the ongoing work of renewal. In a world still marked by injustice and inequality, Easter proclaims that another way is possible, and we are called to be part of bringing it to life.
Lastly, in our reading this week, the role of women as the first proclaimers of the resurrection is both striking and theologically profound. At a moment when the narrative turns from death to new life, it is women, specifically Mary Magdalene and “the other Mary,” who are entrusted with the first announcement of the risen Jesus. This detail is not incidental; it is central to understanding the nature of the gospel itself.
In the cultural and legal context of the first century Mediterranean world, women’s testimony was often marginalized or dismissed. Yet Matthew deliberately places these women at the heart of the resurrection story. They are the first to encounter the empty tomb, the first to receive the angelic proclamation, “He is not here; for he has been raised.” And they are the first to be commissioned to share this good news with the other disciples. Their role subverts conventional patriarchal expectations, signaling that the resurrection inaugurates not only new life but also a rending and reordering of social hierarchies.
The women are not passive observers but active participants. They come to the tomb with intention, and though they experience fear, they also embody “great joy.” This combination of awe and courage becomes the posture of authentic proclamation. When they encounter the risen Jesus himself, they respond with renewed commitment. And Jesus reiterates the commission the angel already gave them: they are to go and tell Jesus’ other disciples to meet him in Galilee. It’s a significant difference from other post-resurrection narratives in the Synoptics. In this moment, these women function as apostles: they are the ones sent with a message, and their witness forms the bridge between the resurrection and the gospel.
If we are to center the gospel in Jesus’ resurrecting rather than his dying, we must receive the gospel first proclaimed by women witnesses. Before any formal preaching, before the commissioning of the eleven, the women carry this good news. The gospel, then, is first proclaimed not in a synagogue or public square but along a road through the voices of those whose authority society often questioned. This underscores a key theme in Matthew: God’s reign is revealed through those on the margins, those overlooked or undervalued by dominant systems of power.
The contrast in Matthew 28 between the women and the Roman guards further highlights their role. While the guards are bribed to spread a false narrative, the women faithfully bear truthful witness despite the risks. Matthew sets up a clear tension between competing proclamations: one rooted in fear and self-preservation, the other in hope. The integrity of the women’s testimony becomes foundational to the teaching of Jesus living on in the lives of his disciples.
Theologically, this moment reshapes how we understand authority in the community of Jesus’ followers. Authority is not grounded in status, gender, or institutional power, but in an encounter with the gospel and a commitment to following Jesus’ teachings in the work to reshape our world into a safe, compassionate, just home for all. The women’s role in this week’s story anticipates that broader work. They bear witness to resurrection in ways that challenge injustice and expand inclusion from the very beginning of the gospel and the proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection.
In our reading this week, we encounter women who are not merely witnesses to the resurrection but are its first heralds. Their voices carry the initial echo of the gospel, reminding readers that the good news begins on the margins, transforming individuals as well as the structures that shape human community.
Discussion Group Questions
1. Share something that spoke to you from this week’s podcast episode with your discussion group.
2. What good news is the story of Jesus’ resurrection reminding you of this year? Share and discuss with your group.
3. What can you do this week, big or small, to continue setting in motion the work of shaping our world into a safe, compassionate, just home for everyone?
Thanks for checking in with us, today.
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My latest book Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political and Economic Teachings of the Gospels is available now on Amazon in paperback, Kindle and also on Audible in audio book format.
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Right where you are, keep living in love, choosing compassion, taking action, and working toward justice.
I love each of you dearly,
I’ll see you next week.
New Episode of The Social Jesus Podcast
A podcast where we talk about the intersection of faith and social justice and what a first century, prophet of the poor from Galilee might have to offer us today in our work of love, compassion and justice.
This week:
Season 3 Episode 15: The Resurrection and Our Hope for Liberation
Matthew 28:1-10
Ultimately, Easter invites us to live differently, to embody resurrection in our daily lives, and to practice compassion, pursue equity and equality, and confront injustice with courage. The empty tomb is more than something to “believe in” in the sense of belonging to a creed; it also tells a truth at the heart of every movement for change: change doesn’t happen without struggle and setbacks. Even in our midnight moments, the dawn is still ahead. Winter gives way to spring. And in that light, the resurrection is something to participate in. It asks us to roll away stones in our own communities, to bring life where there is death, and to come together in the ongoing work of renewal. In a world still marked by injustice and inequality, Easter proclaims that another way is possible, and we are called to be part of bringing it to life.
Available on all major podcast carriers and at:
Finding Jesus: A Fundamentalist Preacher Discovers the Socio-Political & Economic Teachings of the Gospels.
by Herb Montgomery
Available now on Amazon!
In Finding Jesus, author Herb Montgomery delves into the profound and often overlooked political dimensions of the gospels. Through meticulous analysis of biblical texts, historical context, and social discourse, this thought-provoking book unveils the gospels’ socio-political, economic teachings as rooted in a profound concern for justice, compassion, and the well-being of the marginalized. The book navigates the intersections between faith and societal justice, presenting a compelling argument for a more socially engaged and transformative Christianity.
Finding Jesus is not just a scholarly exploration; it is a call to action. It challenges readers to reevaluate their understanding of Christianity’s role in public life and to consider how the radical teachings of the gospels can inspire a renewed commitment to justice, equality, and compassion. This book is a must-read for those seeking a deeper understanding of the social implications of Christian faith and a blueprint for building a more just and inclusive society.
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