Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020
Matthew 28:1–10
There’s plenty of death in this world. Although it’s not usually front and center like it’s been these last few weeks. Every day the news tells us new “death counts” and “mortality rates”. The pundits and politicians offer various interpretations of numbers, bandy about this model and that model. And of course we have the much talked about curve which everyone wants to flatten. But what’s behind all of this is death. The very real possibility that you, or I, or someone we know and love will actually die.
And if the virus doesn’t get you, something will, because sin already has. What the crisis has simply done is remind people what’s been lurking in the shadows the whole time. That unless Christ returns first, all who sin will die, and all sin, so all will die. Death is the common denominator of us all. It may be years, or it may be tomorrow. Denial and distraction don’t change the fact.
But Jesus does. And Jesus will.
This day – Easter – is the highest celebration for us. It is our triumphant holy day, alleluia. It is the best, because death is destroyed. Jesus leaves death in the dust, and he opens the way to life for us all. He is the firstborn of the dead who will bring with him many others. Easter is our great joy, even amidst pandemic – especially amidst this pandemic - because Christ is risen! (He is risen indeed! Alleluia!)
The two Marys who had watched his burial on Friday arose early that morning. They went to finish the grim job of a proper burial, after the hasty measures taken late Friday before sunset. The Sabbath rest prevented them for a day. But the clock was now ticking, and they got to it as soon as possible. They had seen where he was buried. They even saw the stone rolled to seal the tomb. But they had no plan for how to roll it back to finish the burial rites. It turns out they wouldn’t need one.
The same earth that quaked at Jesus death now rattled again as a mighty angel came down from heaven. He had an important task, a glorious mission. He rolled the stone away and sat down on it. This was not to let Jesus out, but to let the women and the others in to see. For the angel’s mission was as a herald of good news. He came with the good news, the best news that ever could be: Christ is risen! (He is risen indeed! Alleluia!)
His appearance was like lightning and his clothes white as snow. Purity and power in the service of God – angels are fierce, fearsome soldiers in the heavenly army. But it only took one to make the human soldiers faint. Ah, yes, the guards at the tomb. As if anyone or anything could stand in the way of what was happening. If death itself cannot hold Jesus, could a detachment of Roman guards stand in the way? No, they became as dead, even as Jesus rose to life.
The angel then spoke to the women. “Do not be afraid. I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, se the place where he lay.”
Do not be afraid, ladies. For the same angel who casts grizzled soldiers into fainting fear comes with good news of great joy for you and for all who would mourn. He comes with a word that is all the opposite of fear could be – a word of hope and joy and victory. A word that becomes a chorus for all Christians who rejoice at death’s undoing: Christ is risen! (He is risen indeed! Alleluia!)
You seek Jesus who was crucified. Ah yes, not just, “You seek Jesus”. But the crucifixion is part and parcel of who he is. There is no Jesus without the cross. And it also goes right along with this, his resurrection. Without the resurrection, that crucifixion really was the end of him. But without the crucifixion, nothing else matters. His death put sin and death to death. His body broken and blood shed secured pardon and peace for his people. Then it was finished. Now is the victory dance, the confirmation and proclamation of such. Now we see the implications of it all – an empty tomb that gives us a preview of our own.
He is not here. Overturning the finality of death – Jesus is not where they were seeking, where he would have been, had death had its way. He is not here, bound in death’s strong bands, oh no, he’s stronger than that. He is not here, where they left him, where they put his cold clay. He is alive and well. He will never die again. Christ is risen! (He is risen indeed! Alleluia!)
And he is risen, “just as he said”. You know, Jesus said a lot of things, taught and preached, parables and sermons, beatitudes and woes. He condemned sin and forgave it. He called for repentance and commended faith. But of all the things he said, perhaps the most striking was his prediction of all this – his death, the manner of his death, and even his resurrection on the third day. Of all of the amazing and wonderful and out-of-this-world predictions, none could ever approach this one. And though he spoke it plainly, and said it repeatedly, his disciples didn’t listen, didn’t believe. They rebuked or ignored or just didn’t get it. But here it is. Here is the angel. And there’s the open, empty tomb which bears witness. It’s just as Jesus said. It’s always just as he said.
And what that means – is that you can always believe everything Jesus says. It means he will never lie or be disproven. He always knows what he is talking about, has the authority to say it and back it up. When he says your sins are forgiven, you can believe it, Christian! When he says, he who believes in me will live, even though he dies – you can take that to the bank – and to the grave – and beyond. How do we know Jesus speaks the truth? Because he called his shot – he promised to defeat death and delivered. So will he deliver on each and every word and promise to you, to me, to all.
“Come, see the place where he lay” the angel went on. You and I weren’t there to see the evidence, but the women were, and later the men. There really was no body. He really had risen. This was the first of many convincing proofs Jesus would give them over the course of the next 40 days. Proof that he is alive, bodily resurrected, never to die again.
Even better, they would see Jesus! Matthew’s account here is short on the details, but as they are running back from the tomb to go and tell the disciples, Jesus meets them and greets them. His very presence, alive and well, is more than enough reason for joy! They humbly grasped his feet and worshiped him. Again he calmed their fears and charged them to tell the good news to the disciples.
What joy it will be when we meet Jesus.
Sure we’ll be with him in paradise when we die. We will rest in peace, when our spirit is commended to the hands of the Father. But think about the joy we will have when we rise from the dead, and at your resurrection you meet the Firstborn of the dead. When in the flesh, he stands upon the earth, and you see him with your own eyes. And it will happen. Jesus has promised it. For if he can defeat death for himself, he can certainly, and will surely do it also for you.
Dear Christians scattered out and hunkered down, it is an unusual Easter, one that we will remember. While our lives are on hold, our pocketbooks uncertain, our so many plans up in the air – there is still great cause for joy.
Our greatest enemy is defeated, and Jesus stands the victor. Do not fear death – for it now lies in ruins. Do not despair in your sins, because they are no more. Rather, rejoice and be glad for Christ is risen! (He is risen indeed! Alleluia!)
No comments:
Post a Comment