How many times in our lives have we been overwhelmed by great blessings?  Has it been restored health when it did not seem possible?  Was it deliverance from harm in an accident or other tragedy?  You were amazed, thankful, and often at a loss of words outside of “Thank you, Lord.”

 

            The Israelites were backed up against the sea.  The decision and actions leading up to their exodus was oh so hasty.  It did seem like a great opportunity.  But there were so many, and Pharaoh and his army was about to overtake them.

 

            A pillar of fire separated them from the Egyptian forces.  By God’s miracle the waters of the Red Sea parted and left dry land for them to easily cross its boundaries.  Then, those waters suddenly crashed in, totally destroying the foe that was oppressing them.  That foe was eliminated and could not even circle around to overtake them at a later time.  They were free from the oppression and forced slavery they had endured.  They were free to travel directly to the land promised them for centuries by the God of their fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  They had Joseph’s bones as he had requested, and were taking his remains back with them.

 

            Moses and Miriam led the people in a great song of thanksgiving and praise in response to this miraculous event.  God had delivered his people.  After centuries of waiting and now hours of fear and wondering what the next moment would bring, the people saw how God did deliver them.

 

            At the Red Sea and today at the empty tomb, God’s power breaks through all barriers to redeem and to save.  At the Red Sea it is the things of creation that are interrupted and man’s greatest armies are destroyed.  Both are by God’s breath that originally gave life.  He breathes and his people are saved.  He breathes again and the enemy is so quickly destroyed. 

 

At the tomb, God does it all by and with himself.  No one else is involved.  It is a battle between God and Satan.  It is a battle between God and sin.  It is a battle between God and death.  And God not only wins, but completely destroys the enemies that seemed for that moment to have succeeded.

 

            At the Red Sea, God tricked Pharaoh by allowing him to rapidly and easily pursue the Israelites on the same dry ground he had provided for them.  So anxious and confident was Pharaoh that he led the charge and left not one on the other side to protect the rear.  All perished.

 

            At Calvary, God tricked Satan.  God’s own son died.  There was no life left in that body.  Jesus had breathed his last, any life that may have been left was poured out when his side was pierced, and he was now secured in the tomb. Then came very early in the morning on the first day of the week.  Satan’s only curse and weapon, death, was soundly defeated and crushed.

 

This morning, the women, Peter and John all saw the empty tomb.  The words of John describe the moment when he says, “He saw and believed.”  The first part of Easter Joy has set in.  The unbelievable has occurred.  Jesus, who said he would rise again has done it.  There is a strange excitement because of a simple thing, faith.  “He saw and believed.”  John had not yet seen the risen Lord.  He saw the evidence and remembered Jesus’ words.  He saw the evidence and believed what he had been told.  He saw the evidence and believed what his eyes did not see, the Jesus was alive. 

 

Today, we too have the first part of Easter Joy.  We have the accounts of those who saw the resurrection, and later did see the risen Lord.  Today we also have our backs up against the wall, backed up there by Satan.  We know these mortal bodies are going to die.  And we think about the different fears associated with dying and death.  Today we have the joy of the Israelites as they looked behind them and saw the enemy conquered by a miracle.  We too look behind us and see death, sin and the devil destroyed at the empty tomb.  The Israelites rejoiced, not knowing how the rest of their journey would unfold.  Today, we too rejoice not knowing how the rest of our earthly journeys are going to unfold.  But in this Easter joy, we know that no matter what happens here on earth, one thing is certain, “that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life,” [Romans 6:4b]. 

 

q       Today we know and believe that God has delivered us.

q       Today we know and believe that Christ is raised from the dead.

q       Today we know and believe that at the end, we will be raised and these bodies will be like his then too.

q       Today we are reassured each time we hear that joyful greeting and response:

 

Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed.  Alleluia!