Sermon - The Resurrection of Our Lord - Luke 24:1-12

 

Christ is risen!  (He is risen indeed, Alleluia!)

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.

First things first.  It is the first order of business.  It happened at early dawn.  The light of the resurrection had to shine!  Just like light burst out of nowhere on the first day of creation, so the darkness of Friday could not remain, and this Sunday would see the return of the Light of the World.  Now the first day of the week becomes “The Lord’s Day”, the day of new creation in Christ.

The women were trying to pick up where they left off on Friday, bringing the spices they had prepared.  But no body needed to be spiced.  No funeral needed to be finished.  Jesus cracked death apart, their grim plans were no longer needed.

2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

The large stone sealing in his body was the first clue that something had happened.  It was rolled away.  The grave was open.  Upon investigation, the women found the second clue:  no Jesus.  No body.  No sign of death at all.  By then they should have known.  But it took more than an empty grave for it to sink in.

4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”

The angels were on the scene, and as usual, with an important message.  Nothing new, really, just a reminder of Jesus’ words.  It had to be this way.  The Son of Man had to be handed over, had to be crucified, and just as certainly had to rise on the third day.

Their dazzling apparel is befitting of their dazzling words.  Why do you seek the living among the dead?  That’s a foolish thing to do.  Why would you expect to find Jesus here?  That doesn’t make any sense. 

8 And they remembered his words,

Without Jesus’ words, this whole thing is really rather perplexing.  It makes so little sense.  The stone should have been in place.  The body should have been where they left it.  Dead men don’t rise again.  We know the usual way of things, and this aint that!

But Jesus’ words must come true.  Everything that he said had to happen, just as he said. 

Without Jesus’ words, and without his resurrection, we too would be perplexed, and worse.  We would be more pitiful than anyone.  If Christ didn’t really rise from the dead then we are all wasting our time.  If Jesus isn’t the first-fruits of the dead, then there’s no chance for us to conquer death, and we are left with only despair.  If that tomb wasn’t empty then our hopes would be empty, our lives would be pointless, and our future just as bleak.

But Christ has been raised from the dead!  Christ is risen!  He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

And his empty tomb points to our empty tomb.  His new life means we have new life.  His resurrection sets the stage for our own, on that day when he comes again in dazzling glory with all his angels, and when all his words and promises come true in the fullest.

9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.

The women couldn’t contain themselves, for who could?  They hurried off to tell the disciples what they had seen and heard.  Angels!  The stone rolled back!  No body!  Could it be true?  Could Jesus be alive?

But as men so often do, they disciples didn’t listen.  Or rather, they thought it was an “idle tale”, like a fairy tale or tall tale, not an eyewitness report of truth.  It was just too hard to believe, too amazing to entertain the possibility.  Perhaps their grief still weighed on them too heavily. 

Should they have listened?  Surely.  Should they have believed?  Certainly. 

But Jesus doesn’t leave them stewing in their own incredulity.  He would give them many convincing proofs that he was, in fact, alive.  He would appear to them, breathe on them, have them touch his wounds, eat with them, and more.

May we be ever quick to hear and believe God’s word, and especially the good news of Christ, and also quick to believe it.  May we also receive the risen Christ eagerly as he comes to us in his body and blood, under bread and wine.

12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

Brash Peter, he had to go and see for himself.  The news from the women did that much, at least, he left wherever it was he was hiding, and made a trip to the tomb.  We know from John’s Gospel that John went too.  Peter went in and saw the grave clothes left behind, and the conspicuous emptiness of the tomb.  And having seen the evidence, he went back to the other disciples, marveling.

Having heard again the great good news of Christ’s resurrection this Easter Sunday, may you also depart in wonder and awe.  May your faith marvel at all that Christ has done for you, and promises still to do.  Death is left in the dust, for Jesus, and one day, for you, too.  For Christ’s resurrection is only the beginning. 

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a marvel.  It is no idle tale.  It is dazzling and perplexing, even now, 2000 years later.  And the words of Jesus still sound forth – the Son of Man had to be handed over to suffer, to die, and to rise on the third day. 

For you, dear Christian, Christ is Risen!  He is risen indeed, Alleluia, Amen.