Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

 

 

1 Corinthians 15:19-20

            If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.  But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

 

            We know why we are here.  It is Easter Sunday.  It is the day Jesus rose from the tomb.  We have watched the hours through Thursday evening’s Last Supper with his disciples, the treason in Gethsemane, the trials, crucifixion, death and burial.  Any one of us would love to have been there that Sunday morning, to see the empty tomb and the glory of angels there telling us that Jesus is no longer in the grave and hear them say, “Why seek the living among the dead?”  Or would you rather have been on the road to Emaus later this evening with those two disciples who at first did not recognize Jesus, but then realized they were among the first that he chose to reveal himself to. 

 

            What a thrill it must have been, to be one of the first to see Jesus alive again!  All of what he had been telling in the past months has come true.  Jesus is alive!  The women who saw and heard the angels’ words.  Peter and John had seen the evidence in the empty tomb.  Mary Magdalene saw an angel, and then saw Jesus.  He even spoke to her.

 

            To your left is the Paschal candle.  Paschal means resurrection.  We light that candle every service beginning today through Ascension.  We light it again at every baptism and at every funeral.  That is because we believe what this passage tells us.  It is not for this life on earth that we have Christian hope.  It is for the resurrection of all flesh and the eternal life in heaven of all who have been born of the water and of the spirit in Christ Jesus. 

 

            Paul writes about these baptismal waters:  “Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.  If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection, [Romans 6:3-5 ].

 

            This morning, when we see Jesus alive as he is resurrected from the dead, that seals all of God’s promises to you.  When he died on the cross, all sins are paid for.  When he rises from the dead, we know for sure that there is victory over the grave.  When Jesus is resurrected, we know that our flesh will be brought to life again too, just like the dry bones in Ezekiel. 

 

            That is why we light the Paschal candle at funerals, because it is at that time that the one who has departed this earth has received in full the gifts given in baptism, the resurrection to life everlasting.  In that baptism we are presented in Jesus’ righteousness, pure and holy just as he is because we are now clothed in him.

 

            What is this all about? 

1. Jesus died for your sins.
2. God accepted his sacrifice and raised him from the dead.
3. Because Jesus lives, we will live also
4. When Christ comes at the last day, all believers will be gathered with him and taken into his kingdom forever.

           

            That is what Easter is all about.  Just as Christ is risen, we will see the same resurrection too.

 

Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

 

Amen.