Sermon - 2014-04-20 - Easter

Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb, where they laid their friend and loved one, Jesus.  She was going there to care for him, ensure that he would cleaned, and prepared to be laid to rest.  When she arrives, she expects to find a stone against the tomb, Jesus lying still wrapped in bands of cloth from the last time her and the disciples were gathered at his death. But instead, she finds something else.

Entering here today, what did you expect to find? Did you expect a person who had recently died and you came and pay your respects?  While the disciples and many others would expect to find death, sorrow and sadness, today, we celebrate because now things have changed.  Something different has happened.  There is still death, but there is a gift of life!

Death is something that has been part of human existence since Adam and Eve were sent out of the Garden of Eden. They were the first to sin against God and ever since, sin and death have been part of the human existence. The death of a loved one, grandparent, parent, brother or sister, or even a child is a reality and one that we shall all experience.

Jesus also faced death. For he was fully human and fully God,  and being part of the human existence means to face death.   Jesus would indeed face death.   Jesus is beaten and takes up the cross on which he shall die. Not to please some angry God. Not only to make satisfaction for the sins of thousands, but to show to the world the very love and extent of God.  For us to know the extent to which God is willing to go and to do for us in this world. And to quote one of the final time that Jesus spoke, “It is finished.”

Yes, the work has been done, and you have been forgiven of your sins. That's the real miracle here! Our Lord still comes to us…in spite of us! We may cry for his death, but he cries for our life. He comes to this graveyard every single week, not to bring justly deserved fire and brimstone, but to bring us His amazing free gifts of life, salvation, and forgiveness. He comes to us and literally breathes life into us.   Jesus is breathing life into us by means of His life-giving Word and Sacraments. That's the miracle of Easter. It's not a miracle that happened almost two thousand years ago. It's a real and tangible Easter miracle which still happens today in our midst. Our living Lord and Savior comes to us in the midst of our emptiness and deadly sinfulness.  Our Lord comes to us to mercifully bring us life. God gives us His glory, His love, and His mercy in His unassuming, yet almighty means of grace. It is a grace that rains down upon us like the spring rain that nourishes the land. A grace that pours out upon us, for each and every one of us, yes, even for you.

That's where the miracle of faith comes into play; the miracle of believing in what is not seen. In fact today within the Gospel message, we hear precisely that miracle. The women came to the tomb and found it empty. Not to some empty promise, but to a promise that is complete and fulfilled. This promise is something that still continues for us today at the graveside. We lay to rest our loved ones, but we know that death is not the end, but the beginning of the promise. The resurrection is the big word that we use to talk about the new life which Jesus gives to us. It is not something that happened in the past.  It is not something that will only happen when we die and are buried in the grave.  It happens here and now. For it is through the resurrection, the new life,in which we are put to death. Our will and desire causes us to only think of ourselves in this world.  It is destroyed and dies, so that Christ can live and dwell within our hearts and our lives. This is the promise which is given to us in Baptism. We are now set free to live in the love and joy.  Christ has given to us this promise and it is through His love and our obedience to His Will that we gladly live our lives for Jesus Christ. We go out into the world to share the good news with others.

Jesus Christ did indeed die, but today we gather to know that Jesus Christ lives this very day. Jesus puts to death our life, and He lives to give us eternal life and peace with our heavenly Father! So that as we look to the cross, we no longer see death but the forgiveness of sins, the new life in Christ, and Gods love. May this miracle of true Gospel peace and life, which is found only in our crucified and risen Savior, be in your minds, in your hearts, and on your lips, this day and every day.

So as many of you shall gather together today with family and friends for a meal, you shall gather in love but also stop and realize that Jesus Christ is there with you always.  Take a moment to realize how great of a gift each person is and also the love that Christ has given to you all.

Amen.