Sermon
Text: Matthew 28:1-10
Title: “HE IS RISEN! CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED! HALLELUJAH!”
I. There must be a Good Friday…
II. In order to have an Easter Sunday.
THROUGH GOOD FRIDAY
AND EASTER SUNDAY WE SINNERS HAVE WHAT IS MOST PRECIOUS IN ALL THE WORLD,
ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS THE RISEN CHRIST!
In
the name of the Father and the Son + and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Grace,
mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from our LORD and Savior Jesus
Christ. Amen.
The
text for the homily this Sunday, is taken from the Gospel lesson…
Now after the
Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the
other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake,
for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the
stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing
white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead
men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you
seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.
Come, see the place where he[a] lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples
that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee;
there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from
the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold,
Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his
feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and
tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
Dear
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I.
“It’s
always darkest before the dawn.” We’ve all heard this phrase before and
understand its meaning to be, “the darkest hour will come before the light
shines into our lives.” We’ve all experienced this feeling before I am sure. We
could all tell stories of how this or that happened which made the situation
seem impossible and then life turned around. Life got better in an instant just
as all hope seemed to be lost.
There
is a story of a Russian writer who was imprisoned for his Christian religious
beliefs. The story goes like this…
The conditions in the labor camp where the
Russian writer was were so intolerable that he eventually began to contemplate
suicide. When he realized that his faith in God would not allow it, he began
formulating a plan of escape that would cause him to be shot by the prison
guards. Without being told about the writer's intentions, a fellow inmate
approached him and drew a cross on the ground. Acknowledging that it was a
message from God, the writer abandoned his plan of escape and entrusted himself
to the Lord. What he didn't know was that people all over the world were
praying for his freedom, and just three days later, he was released from
prison.
Darkest
before the dawn.
We
have a similar situation in the Bible. Three days ago we remembered the
suffering and agony of our LORD upon His cross for the sins of the world, for
the sins of you and me. For the sins against the ten commandments that we
commit each and every day. For the sin of putting ourselves first in our lives,
above family, above friends, and yes, even above God Himself. This is the
reason for the whippings and the beatings and the spitting and the cursing and
the laughing on that Friday so long ago. This is the reason for the nails and
the crown of thorns. This is the reason for the death of an innocent man. And
this Friday of darkness must happen – for a price must be paid in blood for the
world and all of its sins, past, present and future. And Jesus is equal to the
task. He goes where none other would and none other could. He goes the way of
His cross. It is the darkest hour the world has and ever will know.
The
truth of the matter is this – there must be a Good Friday.
II.
The
disciples hide in a room, afraid to show their faces to this crowd that
screamed for the blood of Jesus. They are still feeling the darkness of that
Friday on Sunday morning. But what always follows darkness? Light! And the
Light of the LORD has overcome the darkness of that Friday.
In
our text we find ourselves at the tomb of Jesus and what time is it? Dawn! The light has finally come!
To
these women, disciples of the LORD, they are told the greatest news they could
possibly hear on this Sunday morning. They are told by a messenger – an angel
of the LORD – that the darkness of Friday has been lifted by none other than
God Himself. This Jesus who was crucified – He is not here, He has risen!
They
were then showed where Jesus had laid in the tomb and then they were given very
special instructions. Matthew writes…
Then go
quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he
is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.
These
women were given the Gospel message to bring to the disciples. They were given
the honor and the privilege of being the first ones to tell the Good News of
that first Easter. So they ran to tell the disciples and before they had gone
very far Jesus appears to them. And with great joy they grasped His feet and
began to worship the Son of God who is risen from the dead. You can just
imagine their delight. The tears of joy that must have flowed that first Easter
morning! And then Jesus tells them to be on their way to His brothers, the
disciples to tell them the news.
Here
in this moment at the tomb – at dawn – the darkest hour of the world has been
dispelled. Sins have been forgiven.
And
it is here at the Father’s house – at St’ Paul Lutheran Church – that this forgiveness
of sins is being given out. Through the Word being preached, through Holy
Baptism, through the very Body and Blood of Jesus we are being given the forgiveness
of our sins earned on His Cross some 2000 years ago.
And
the joy? The joy comes from knowing that if Jesus was raised from the dead – we
too, who have been baptized into that death – we who have been called brothers
just as Jesus called His disciples in our text – we too will walk in newness of
life, both now and in eternity. So share
the Good News of Easter morning with those you meet, both believer and
unbeliever.
So
you see – there must be a Good Friday in order that there can be an Easter
Sunday!
HE
IS RISEN! CHRIST IS RISEN INDEED! HALLELUJAH! Amen.
The
peace of the LORD which – surpasses all understanding - will guard your hearts
and minds in Christ Jesus, our crucified and risen Savior. Amen.
+Soli Deo Gloria +
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