+ The Resurrection of Our Lord – April 12th, 2020 +
Series A: Jeremiah 31:1-6; Colossians 3:1-4; Matthew 28:1-10
Beautiful Savior Lutheran
Milton, WA
Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
I think it’s safe to say that those words have a deeper meaning for us this Easter. This has been a Lent, Holy Week, and Easter unlike any we’ve ever experienced.
We come to Easter, perhaps more aware than we were a few months ago that we live in a fallen, broken world. We come to Easter with heartache and pain. We come to Easter surrounded by death. We come to Easter wrapped in fear.
Not unlike that first Easter, if you think about it.
There was a great earthquake, just as the earth shook at Jesus’ death. Only now the earth shakes with joy at Jesus’ resurrection. Now an angel of the Lord descends from heaven, rolls back the stone to reveal an empty tomb, and sits on it. A sign of Jesus’ triumph over the grave.
And yet, notice how the Easter story is wrapped in fear. The guards around Jesus’ tomb fell to the ground with trembling. Stunned. Scared to death.
The Marys approach Jesus’ tomb expecting to finish the burial; but instead they’re greeted by a group of possum-like Roman guards strewn about the ground and an angel clad in white. Do not be afraid. Stop fearing, he declares.
Later on, when Jesus appears to his disciples in Galilee, he finds them huddled in a room. Behind a locked door. Wrapped in fear.
And again when Jesus first appears to the Marys, he declares: Do not be afraid.
While this Holy Week feels very strange and foreign to us, we’re in good company. God’s people have a long history of rejoicing in the midst of suffering and fear. In fact, God does some of his greatest work in times of weakness, fear, and suffering.
As Noah and his family were huddled in the ark, no doubt enduring many fearful moments, the Lord kept them safe from the raging flood outside.
As the angel of death passed through the streets and homes of the Egyptians, death passed over the homes of God’s people. Even as they huddled in fear, they stood around their table eating the roasted lamb and the unleavened bread, they were safe from the plague by the blood of the Lamb that covered their doorpost.
As the disciples sat in fear and bewilderment in the boat on the storm-tossed Sea of Galilee, the same Lord who by His word ordered and gathered the waters together from the chaos of the deep, spoke his word again and calmed the storm. Do not be afraid. Peace be with you.
As Jesus hung on the cross on Good Friday covered in darkness, wrapped in our fear, bearing our sin, disease, and death. There in his weakness, pain, and suffering God was doing his greatest work for you.
Today, it’s tempting to think that this coronavirus has robbed us of Easter as the Grinch stole Christmas. But this pandemic cannot ruin Easter. It’s the other way around. Easter, ultimately, is the good news that this pandemic, that the great plague of sin, the curse of death, and the sting of the grave - are forever undone in Jesus’ death and resurrection.
Today, as we gather together, huddled in our homes, perhaps fearful of the plague that covers our land, frightened by the darkness of sin and death, worried or wondering about what tomorrow will bring, our Lord sends his word and his messenger to us as surely as he did to the women at the tomb that first Easter morning.
Do not be afraid. I know that you are seeking Jesus who is crucified. He is not here, for he is raised, just as he said.
Notice the present tense. Yes, Christ is risen, but he also is the crucified one for you. Jesus is the Lamb who is slain and yet he stands in victory for you. Crucified for you. Risen for you.
Come, see the place where he used to lie, the angel says. Used to lie. Past tense.
Take courage and comfort in this dear saints of God. Do not be afraid.
Jesus’ tomb is empty. Just as he said.
Jesus rose from the grave. Just as he said.
And one day, he will raise us from the dead. Just as he said.
Yes, today we may still be fearful. We may be filled with grief, anger, pain, and sorrow. And yet, like the women at the tomb, we also have a great joy. A joy that no social distance or quarantine can contain. A sure and certain hope that is ours no matter what our fears and worries may be. This pandemic cannot and will not undo Christ’s promises to you in his dying and rising for you. Do not be afraid. For Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!
A blessed Easter to each of you…
In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
The peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
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