Easter

There are 13 posts tagged Easter (this is page 4 of 5).

Easter Festival Service 2011 – Mark 16:1-8; Job 19:23-27; Psalm 118

24. April 2011
Easter Sunrise Festival Service
Mark 16:1-8; Job 19:23-27; Psalm 118

In the garden there are two trees. One brings life and the others brings death. One bears the fruit of life eternal. The other bears fruit giving knowledge of good and evil. Both are from God but both are not for man.

Mankind was never meant to know evil. We were created in God’s image, possessing God’s goodness, bearing fruit in keeping with our Father and creator. We were to live in the garden forever, walking with God in righteousness and holiness. We would bask in his glorious radiance, day in and day out. Our lives were to be full of feasting and joy, the bliss of God’s own family in God’s own home.

But one man, Adam, did not love God with his whole heart. He stood by idly while the woman, whom God gave him, blissfully listened to the tempting Serpent. The serpent lies were truthful sounding. They were the truth laced with that poison of doubt, “did God really say?”

“Did God really say not to eat of the tree that would make you like him?” Actually, yes. But we don’t much care for God’s Word, at least not the “thou shalt nots.” We’re like infant children. We love what our parents give us. We love their care and nurture, their love and affection. We love our mother’s milk and our father’s deep voice. But when either parent says “no,” our smile fades, our brow furrows, and we let out a howl like bloody murder.

We’re too quick to judge Adam for his sin. Surely, he knew better than to go against God’s holy command. Surely he should have left that tree and its fruit alone. I’m sure there was a bit of trepidation before Eve took the first bite and handed the delicious and deadly fruit to Adam.

That one sin had fatal consequences. God’s anger was kindled against man and against the tempting snake. The sweat of the brown and the pain raising godly children was their burden. Animals were slaughtered and their hides given for clothing for ashamed man.

God cursed man to live outside the garden, away from him. Their God and Lord banished them from his kingdom. Angels with flaming swords permanently bar the entrance, threatening to slice and dice even the littlest intruder.

Since then mankind is doomed to wander in the wilderness of exile. Our sustenance comes only with by ripping it from the soil or its blood spilt. Our homes and families are tended to with great sorrow, grief, and exhaustion. Even the the forces of nature have turned against us, flooding and tornados, earthquake and tsunami.

That’s what life is without God. Without God, we are parched and barren, devastated and doomed. Our life has become the living hell. Its not God’s fault. Our forefather, his children, and even all of us have followed thereafter in rejecting God and his injunctions, “thou shall not.”

Into this fallen creation, this ugly reality, Jesus is born. The son of a pious Jew named Mary. The illegitimate but adopted son of Joseph. He is like us in most every respect. His life began as the tiny fertilized egg in the womb of Mary. He grew into the zygote, the embryo, and whatever other names science has given to children growing in wombs. His heart beats, his limbs, his senses, and his mind grows. In the safety of a woman’s womb he grows until the day he leaves to shine his radiance upon the earth.

But he isn’t like us in every respect. He was conceived by the Holy Spirit. Through a miraculous word of God, spoke by his angel Gabriel, God the Father beget his Son. Son of Mary, to be sure, but Son of the only and almighty Father. Born of woman but born without sin.

This Christmas miracle is as brilliant then as it is today. For what was once the case is now the case again. God’s image bearer was to conceive and give birth to children who would be God’s own likeness again. Perfect creatures of the perfect God. Yet before the good gift of children was given to our first parents, they entered into corruption. We never saw what life as the family of God have been like in the garden.

Yet, the Father begets a savior to those whom he had cast out to wander. The Father gives the redeemer of the world to the world who has forgotten, neglected, or even hates him. This is the way of salvation. One man brought us to corruption. Now one man returns us to God.

We have heard again how our Lord was baptized with our sin. In the river Jordan he took our trespasses into himself. We have heard how he revealed himself through miracles of healing, over nature, and exorcism. We have heard how he fasted for our sake, showing us true obedience.

Unlike our ancestor Adam, he resisted Satan’s lies. Three times the great Deceiver tried to lead him astray and he resisted.

Then, he travelled from Israel and Judah, to the Decapolis and to Samaria to gather the scattered children of Adam. They gathered about him, pressing on him from every side. They know he is different. They know that he is in this world but most definitely not of this world.

Everything that had gone so terribly wrong by Adam is restored by the new Adam. Seas are calmed, bleeding is stopped, demons are cast into the ocean deep to drown, and food never runs out.  The faithful remnant gathers about him, listening with anxious breath.

The pestering multitude has heard of the resurrection of Lazarus. What a miracle, they think. They follow him close, hoping that they will be part of his kingdom when it comes.

Into Jerusalem they go. Now, they have their king, the Son of David, the Messiah. Waving palm branches and strewing their coats before him, they follow. They follow singing “Hosanna in the Highest!”

But Christ is not entering into a kingdom of this world. His kingdom is of God and from God. It is not of Caesar or Jerusalem. Nor does his kingdom come through fanfare and pomp. It comes when the lowly son rides forth to die.

While Adam saw the flaming swords of the cherubim barring his way, Christ saw the murderous swords and clubs of the mob. Roman and Jew alike burned hot for his blood. Both Roman and Jew condemn him to die. He will not escape this world except through the sharp nails, piercing sword, and the fires of hell.

But notice this, he is lifted high upon the wooden cross. They fastened for his death a tree, torturous and deadly. But upon the tree is not the end.

For this tree is not the knowledge of good and evil. This tree is the tree of life. From its boughs hang the fruit of Christ’s death. He is the all-atoning death and all-sufficient sacrifice. He is our Passover lamb, who has been sacrificed.

His blood now covers the door’s posts and lintel. The way that was barred is now open. Freedom from bondage is purchased in his blood. The life is in the blood and it is now poured out for you and the sins of the whole world.

Then they took his body and laid it in the new tomb. This tomb was in a garden. Its probably not as spectacular as the original. But the fruit of the tree, the cross of Christ, lay upon the stone, sealed until his kingdom comes.

That day is today. The garden of God, where we would dwell with him forever is once again opened. The flaming swords no longer swing. Through Christ, we have entrance into God’s own dwelling place, his holy of holies. Through the death of Christ, the bonds of sin are shattered, the way of heaven is opened, and we are led on the path of righteousness for his name sake.

We know that our Redeemer lives. For not even death could hold him. Its stranglehold has been loosed, its death grip broken. Death has no victory nor any sting. Having destroyed sin and crushed Satan with cross, this last enemy is no match for our Lord.

Those women had forgotten how he had said that Son of Man must be crucified and on the third day rise. They fled to the garden, with the tree of death still etched in their mind’s eye. And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back… And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here. See the place where they laid him.”

So it is with the cross. What looks like a tree of death is truly the tree of life. What looks like the sacrifice hated and cursed by God is the only sacrifice that takes away each and every one of our sins. What looks like a garden for the dead becomes a place of rest for those who sleep until the resurrection.

Make no mistake, that’s the point. Resurrection. What Adam destroyed, our Lord restores. The curse of death upon the living is reversed and life is given to the dying. The kingdom of God is opened to all believers. Even after our skin has been thus destroyed, we shall see God for ourself, and our eyes will behold and not another.

The time of death is over. The curse of man has end. Today is a new day, the day of resurrection. It is the day that Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it. Let us rejoice and receive the fruit of the tree. THe lamb that was sacrificed. The blood that is life. Let us eat and drink and never die.

In Name of the Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Rev. Christopher R. Gillespie
Grace Lutheran Church
Dyer, Indiana

 

Easter Matins 2011 – 1 Corinthians 15:12-25; John 20:1-18

24. April 2011
Easter Matins
1 Corinthians 15:12-25; John 20:1-18

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Easter triumph, Easter joy! Where is our joy? It is in Christ our Lord. His death slayed death. Because he dies, death no longer has dominion over us. We are free to live without fear of judgment or of our final day. For no Christian will ever die. No Christian can die. We will all but sleep and in the twinkling of an eye be resurrected to join the whole heavenly host, singing in triumph around the throne and the lamb forever and without end. Amen.

There is yet a problem. We boldly confess that Christ rose from the dead, destroying the grave for the faithful forever. But did it really happen? Can we be sure?

St. Paul knew that this would be a problem for some. Christ’s rising would always be a stumbling block to some. He said: If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith in vain.

Undoubtedly, each year, another unbeliever steps forward with the bold assertion that Jesus did not rise from the dead. They say that anyone dead at point A surely cannot be alive at point B. Dead men don’t walk.

For all intensive purposes, they are right. I suppose some might suggest that resuscitation with paddles and CPR is a rising of sorts. By try doing that to a corpse that has been lying lifeless in a tomb since Friday. Today, there’s no reviving the flesh that has long since stopped breathing, whose heart has long stopped beating, and whose brain’s neurons no longer fire.

So it most definitely was with Jesus. Roman soldiers were skilled at their craft. They could tell when someone was faking death. They and their instrument of torture, of shame, of agony, and of execution knew how to kill. Like a skilled marksman or a trained soldier, they new exactly how to kill and when their mark was dead a doornail.

Yet some fail to acknowledge what is true. They know that Romans had no incentive to bury someone alive. They know the Jews had every incentive to be absolutely, positively sure that Jesus was dead and done away with.

St. John is aware that there may be unreasonable doubt about the efficiency of this death squad. He bore witness on Friday to their effectiveness. He said:

31 Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. 32 Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. 33 But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. 34 But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. 35 And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. 36 For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

Yet, such a testimony from John is not sufficient. Just because the Romans seem to take care of business, what about the Jews. Maybe they were negligent in assuring Jesus was dead? Just last week we heard the testimony of the Evangelist Matthew speak to this very point:

62 On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, “Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, ‘He has risen from the dead.’ So the last deception will be worse than the first.”

65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.

In fact, they were adamant that Jesus not ever be considered alive again. Even after hearing that Jesus was no longer in the tomb, they bribed the soldiers. Matthew reports:

11 Now while they were going, behold, some of the guard came into the city and reported to the chief priests all the things that had happened. 12 When they had assembled with the elders and consulted together, they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, 13 saying, “Tell them, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him away while we slept.’ 14 And if this comes to the governor’s ears, we will appease him and make you secure.” 15 So they took the money and did as they were instructed; and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day.

Even after hearing the report of the Roman guard they appointed, those skilled soldiers had to be bribed to perpetuate the myth that Jesus had not risen. St. Matthew even acknowledges that the lies of Jews continued even to his day.

Even today many continue to be deceived by the same lies. Yet, without the resurrection of the dead, without Christ’s resurrection, our faith is in vain and we have no hope.

St. Paul said: And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

There is real consequence for the denial of the resurrection. Without Jesus alive, his sacrifice is in vain. If God the Father did not raise him up, then he did not deem our Lord’s death the full, complete, meritorious sacrifice necessary for your salvation. If Christ is not risen, then death is still your prison. But if Christ is indeed alive, then death is destroyed and life and immortality have been brought to light.

Not only St. Matthew but also St. Luke, St. Mark, and St. John are keenly aware of this fact. Throughout the Triduum we heard St. John repeatedly testify. He ends his Gospel with the imprimatur: This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

All through the Gospels, the Evangelists riddle the narrative with eye-witness details. They are greatly concerned that their Scriptures be found trustworthy. Guided by the Spirit, they foresaw the barrier so many people have with Jesus, his resurrection, indeed with his death, his life, and most of all, his word. They are quick to find doubt in the first-person account of these closest disciples of our Lord.

But they miss the purpose of writing. They miss why the Gospels exist at all. They are not given principally for moral encouragement or chastisement. They are not principally given as noble examples of faith or courage. They are not given simply to be a great story.

No, as St. John says: Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Dear Christians, hear the testimony of the beloved disciple. Hear the testimony of the other evangelists. If Christ has not been raised from the dead, our faith is in vain. But if he did rise from the dead, then he fulfilled his own prophesy, when he said: The Son of Man must be crucified and on the third day rise again.

An empty tomb wasn’t good enough. Seeing the linen cloths folded wasn’t enough. That’s not enough to understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. But when he appears and says to Mary Magdalene: Mary. [Then] she turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Mary knew him, recognized him, and testified he was risen. She ran and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!”

Listen to women who bear witness to the truth. Listen to Mary Magdalene who first recognized our Lord. Listen to the two disciples who walked with Jesus on the road to Emmaeus, who recognized Jesus as he revealed himself in the Scriptures and the breaking of the bread. Listen to the disciples who saw Jesus in the flesh. Listen to St. Thomas who touched the wounds in our Lord’s hands and side. Listen to Peter, James, and the rest of the twelve. Listen to the 500 who saw him after he rose.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.

There is no doubt that Christ was most definitely dead at point A. But there, too, is absolutely no doubt that he was alive at point B. Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom of God the Father after destroying every rule and ever authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

In Name of the Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Rev. Christopher R. Gillespie
Grace Lutheran Church
Dyer, Indiana

 

Easter Vigil 2011 – Genesis 1-2

23. April 2011
Easter Vigil
Genesis 1-2

Tonight the Holy Three Days, the Triduum, ends. We began at in the upper room, proceeded to the Garden and to the judgment seat, escalated to the place of the skull, and was finally laid in the tomb. A bittersweet meal, proceeded to exhaustion, then to condemnation, the dying breath, and the final resting place.

But that’s not the end of the three days. The sign of Jonah doesn’t end with the sealed tomb. Just as the fish could not contain God’s man, so also the grave could not contain the Son of God. He burst the chains of death’s prison, destroying its captive hold forever.

Our Christian celebration of Christ’s bloody triumph is not just three days. It is also seven. Just seven days ago, we rejoiced with our Lord as the multitude declared Jesus the Son of David, King, and Messiah. Hosanna to the highest.

For six days our Lord labored for your salvation. On Sunday, he entered triumphant. Monday, he cleansed the temple. Tuesday, debated in the temple, leading to the condemning charge of blasphemy.  Wednesday, he prepared his disciples through discourse. Thursday, he held his final Passover and his first Supper. Friday, he dies. And now, Saturday, he rests in the tomb from his labor.

Sound familiar? It should. Its not the first time our Lord has labored for a week. The last time began in darkness with nothing. Then, on the first day of the week, there was light and it was good. The next day, the heavens and the earth were separated. The next day, the earth and sea were separated with the blessing of all plants and trees. The next day, the earth was blessed with stars and planets. On the fifth day, the living creatures of the sea and air were made. On the sixth day, the living creatures were made upon the earth and it was good.

Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them…

And God saw everything that he made, and behold, it was very good… Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation.

Then, through the sin of Adam, death entered the world. Mankind tasted of the prohibited fruit, violating God’s command. He ignored God and received the due penalty for his violation. He was cast from the garden. His life became a living hell, struggling against thorns and thistles, against shame and guilt. His wife labors in pain for the good fruit of marriage.

Suffering, pain, and anguish were bad enough. But even worse, their grievous error opened the gates of Hades. Satan and his legions would torment them night and day. The tempter’s charm would drag them further into lawlessness and the despair it brings.

And worst of all, through Adam death entered into the world. Through this one man, all mankind dies. We are the inheritors of the curse. We are cursed to disobedience, to lawlessness, to shame, to death.

Even in the midst of this death, our Lord has not forgotten us. What he made, and we corrupted, he wants to redeem. So great is his love that he promises to restore the world to its former goodness. What took six days to make, and one shameful sin to destroy, our Lord Jesus Christ the crucified restored in six days. This day, we receive the blessings of this week’s recreation.

Tonight is the seventh day. Just as our God rested on the seventh day, the founder of the world, rests from this week. The labor is long but the work is complete. When he declared from the cross tetelestai, which means “it is finished,” he is declaring that the work is done. Our Lord looks down from the cross at those three days, at that week, at the three years of ministry, at the thirty years of life—all lived for your salvation—and he sees that is very good.

So it is each week, each Sabbath, that we rest from our labors, considering all God’s work for us. We consider his baptism, his fasting, his temptation, his teaching, his preaching, his agony, suffering, and bloody sweat. We consider his condemnation and crucifixion. We consider his three day rest in the tomb.

When the dawn rises upon us in the morning, Holy Week will be but a vivid memory and the new week of the new creation will begin. It is our triumph over sin, our victory over death, our everlasting life in paradise. It is our rebirth in Christ in Holy Baptism. It is our conscience renewed in the declaration “you are forgiven!”  It is your body and soul kept in the steadfast faith through Christ’s body and blood.

These precious gifts are ours because we are in Christ and he is in us. Easter is the eighth day, the beginning of our new life with Christ. The work is done, the victory won. Let us enter into the blessed rest that is our Lord.

In Name of the Father, + Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Rev. Christopher R. Gillespie
Grace Lutheran Church
Dyer, Indiana