Christ is Risen! He is Risen, indeed, Alleluia!
On that first Easter, through the dark streets and paths in and around Jerusalem, even before the light of dawn, the faithful Holy women proceeded. How weary and sad their footsteps must have been as they made their way to the tomb. As so many before them and since have done for loved ones who have died, they were going to see the grave of their loved one, their beloved teacher and master who not only died, but was killed so quickly and violently. We know from other Gospels that they had brought spices and oils with the hope that they could anoint the body and so with grief and mourning say their final farewells.
They were on their way to the grave that morning, the same road we all must travel. Death comes to all mortal flesh. It is a direct result and punishment because of sin. The wages of sin is death. Ever since Adam and Eve paid heed to the false teaching and preaching of Satan to eat the fruit that would give them the knowledge of good and evil in direct disobedience to God, there has been the curse of death. Every generation born must also die, so it has been, and so it will be until the end of time. The unnatural cleaving of the soul from the body in death is not what God had intended when He created Adam and Eve, for He created them for life.
Yet because of that original sin, all must die. Death itself points to an even greater punishment, that being an eternal death. Yes, Death brings fear. The threat of death should turn every heart of every man and every woman to fear the Lord and beg for mercy, yet many do not. They fight against it; they fight against man, against God. Fear is ultimately the source of all wickedness and cruelty. The hope that in destroying or controlling others, they may gain some mastery, some reassurance of their own power and security within themselves in the present, but it cannot last. For others, they may seek to escape the thought of death by living as though each day were their last; living carelessly in drunken or doped dissipation wasting their lives and time in numbness. Others may seek to find hope for life now and in the hereafter by works of their own righteousness, through works of the Law. This too is will come to nothing, for St. Paul and St. James note: “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it.”
There was only One who was completely righteous, only One without sin. It was Jesus of Nazareth, He who lightened the darkness, who forgave sins, and healed diseases. He lived as One who was not a slave to fear or sin, yet He was betrayed into the hands of evil men. He was crucified, scorned, and mocked, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross. He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.'” The reality is that He had come to save others by not saving Himself. He allowed Himself to be sacrificed upon the cross to pay for the price of every sin. Jesus was sent by His Father to restore creation, to remove the curse of sin, to remove the power and sting of death. He came to remove fear and its allies, hatred, selfishness, and sorrow.
Therefore, Jesus became a curse on Good Friday. He went and did battle against sin, death, and the devil even as He took the full wrath of His Father upon Himself. This was the only way, and He was the only One who could ever reconcile God and Man again. Therefore, He died upon the cross in bitter agony an innocent Passover Lamb, the crucified King so that your sins and the sins of the world might be forgiven. His Words from the cross, “It is Finished” mark that the work of redemption and atonement was completed in Jesus’ perfect life and perfect death on that Good Friday.
What then of the resurrection? What is its point? The crucifixion of Jesus and His resurrection cannot be separated and neither should be diminished. Through the crucifixion, the work of atonement took place. The wonder and beauty of the resurrection is that it confirms that Jesus’ death was an acceptable sacrifice for sin. It confirms that the Father approved the sin and blood offering for sin and because the power of sin is undone, so too is the power of death undone. In the Father’s justice, He would not let the innocent One remain in death but raised Him up.
The women who came to the tomb did not yet understand what Jesus had done on the cross, the disciples were still hiding in fear, the body of Jesus was still in the tomb or so they thought. In the same way that the Trinity used an earthquake as a drumroll to announce the atonement at Jesus’ crucifixion, so now He uses another earthquake. He sends another great earthquake to underscore the great miracle of salvation that is taking place in the resurrection. An angel descends and removes the stone that had been sealed over the grave announcing life’s triumph over death, yet the guards, in fear, become like dead men. But listen to the words of the angel to the women, but because of Christ it is spoken to all Christian folk: “Do not be afraid!” Do not fear control you. Do not be afraid of death any longer. Do not be afraid of God’s judgment upon sin, for it is fulfilled in Christ. Behold, the angel did not roll the stone back so that Jesus could get out, He was already out. Jesus had already risen. “He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.” Death could not hold Him. Death and its threat is now as empty as the Tomb of Jesus Christ. Then as they departed quickly, Jesus Himself, appeared to them and said, “All Hail” not greetings as our poor translation has it. He literally said “Be Glad, Rejoice!” Then He also repeated the theme, “Do not be afraid.”
On this day of Resurrection and remembrance, know that this message is also yours by faith in Jesus Christ. We too come to seek His presence to worship Him, to hear His Words of Absolution and to grasp by faith to His feet which brings this good news of salvation. Here is where He comes to us and greets us again this happy morning. He greets us with triumph over death, because this resurrection of Jesus is Christ is also yours. In the Epistle reading for Colossians, St. Paul says to you and all believers that you have died and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. “When did this happen you ask?” Well in your Baptism, of course. That is when your creator recreated you to prepare you for the final recreation at the last day. You passed through the water and the blood of Jesus poured from His side at the cross when you were brought to His font of baptism. Believe the power of Baptism as said in God’s Word. It is His pledge to you sealed with His own blood. “Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death. If we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like His.” (Romans 6:3,5)
This day we may rejoice, His resurrection has already become your resurrection. The resurrection of Jesus is not just an historic event. It is for you. Received by faith in Jesus Christ, you have the promise of the resurrection of both body and soul that is yet to come this is your sure pledge from God by His blood. Let us praise the Lord, for Jesus has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. Death is now no more than a slumber. We no longer need fear death or condemnation for we have been reconciled through Christ. Now He comes to us in His feast of triumphant celebration here in His crucified and raised body and blood in the bread and the wine. Here He gives us the strength to go and tell others of this joyous truth of Jesus Christ crucified and raised for the for the forgiveness of sins.
We are able to march forward into the future safely in God’s care in Jesus Christ. Already now and at the last day, our song of triumph is “I know that my redeemer lives. What comfort this sweet sentence gives. He lives to silence all my fears, He lives to wipe away all my tears, He lives to calm my troubled heart, He lives all blessings to impart. He lives and grants me daily breath. He lives, and I shall conquer death. He lives my mansion to prepare; He lives to bring me safely there.” In Jesus Christ’s name, Amen.
Pr. Aaron Kangas