Sermon for Easter Sunday: "Just as He Said"

+ The Resurrection of Our Lord – April 5th, 2015 +

Redeemer Lutheran, HB

Series B: Isaiah 25:6-9; 1
Corinthians 15:1-11; Mark 16:1-8

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Talk is cheap” we say. “I’ll believe it when I see it.” Good advice if you’re buying a house, looking at colleges, or reading stories on the internet. After all, these days it seems more likely to be taken by someone’s words than you can take them by their word. 

But what about the words in Mark 16? No one’s seen Jesus yet. No resurrection sightings. Only some women at the tomb, an angel, and the angel’s words.

“Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the Crucified One. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, just as He said to you.”

It all sounds too good to be true. We weren’t there when Jesus was crucified. We didn’t hear his voice, touch his hands, or put our finger in his side. How do we know this isn’t just another example of cheap talk and tall tales? How do we know these words of good news – He is risen – are true?

We know this because these words, like your faith, are founded on fact. We have the witness of the Word in history. The witness of the Word from reliable eyewitnesses, the witness of the Word declared in the Church, handed down through the ages. The witness of the Word in the Scriptures. 

Easter is Jesus’ promise that he is risen from the dead for you, just as he said.

Mark’s Gospel ends for us the same way it did for the women, not by touch or sight, but by the witness of the Word. Mark places us at the tomb with the women on Easter. They see the empty tomb and the angel. But no Jesus. Not yet anyway. All the women receive, all we receive, is the eyewitness report. The good news. He is risen.

Many have doubted, disbelieved, and dreaded these words. In all honesty, so have each of us. But we have good reason not to fear today.

Do not be afraid, Jesus’ Word is sure and confident. 

Fear not. What Jesus says happens.

Jesus predicts that the two disciples he sends into the village ahead of him will find a donkey for the Palm Sunday procession, and that someone will object to them taking it…and it is so.

Jesus predicts that the two disciples he sends to prepare the Passover will meet a man carrying a water jar, and that they will follow this man to an upper room for the Passover…and it is so. 

Jesus predicts that he will be betrayed by one of his own disciples…and it is so.

Jesus predicts that the disciples will deny him, fall away, and be scattered like sheep, and that even Peter would deny him three times before the rooster crows…and it is so.

Jesus predicts that he the Scribes and Pharisees will condemned him to death…and it is so.

Jesus predicts that he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and they will mock him, spit upon him, and scourge him…and it is so.

Jesus predicts three times in Mark’s Gospel that he will be crucified…and it is so.

And today, the joyous exclamation point. Jesus predicts that he’ll rise again from the dead on the 3rd day…and, indeed it is so. Christ is risen!

The witness of the Word in the Psalms, Prophets, and Torah, in the Gospels, in history, in our mouths and ears this day is the same…it is so.

Easter is Jesus’ promise that he is risen from the dead for you…just as he said.

Remember the young man’s words to the women at the tomb.

“Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the Crucified One. He is risen! He is not
here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him….just as He said to you.”

The Word is all we get. But do not despair. Repent of your doubt, disbelief, and dread at this Word. And believe the good news: Christ is risen for you. 

Jesus’ Word is all you get. For Jesus’ Word is all you need. Your faith – like the women at the tomb – comes by hearing the Word of Christ. 

Christ is risen for you and Death is swallowed up in victory…just as he said.

Christ will raise you from the dead on the Last Day…just as he said.

You are forgiven all your sins…just as he said. 

You die and rise with Jesus in your Baptism…just as he said.

You receive Jesus’ crucified and risen body and blood for the forgiveness of all your sins…just as he said.

Easter is Jesus’ promise that he is risen from the dead for you, just as he said.

Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the Crucified One. He is risen!

Alleluia! Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleulia.

Just as he said.

In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.