Easter
During the times of the Apostles, the world was a tough place in which to live. They were not a free people. They lived under Roman rule. The world was filled with sickness, death and diseases like leprosy were rampant. People died young even children succumbed to various aliments and accidents. In fact throughout the history of the Hebrew people they had to deal with these worldly woes. They did however remain hopeful for a better life because God had spoken thorough Isaiah about such a time.
He said, “I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my
people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of
distress. No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an
old man who does not fill out his days, for the young man shall die a hundred
years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. They shall
build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
They shall not build and another inhabit; they shall not plant and another eat;
for like the days of a tree shall the days of my people be, and my chosen shall
long enjoy the work of their hands. They shall not labor in vain or bear
children for calamity, for they shall be the offspring of the blessed of the
Lord, and their descendants with them. Before they call I will answer; while
they are yet speaking I will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall graze together;
the lion shall eat straw like the ox, shall be the serpent's food. They shall
not hurt or destroy in all my holy mountain," says the Lord.
This hope the Apostles had, became strengthened through Jesus, the One they believed to be the Messiah. He had come proclaiming the coming of His kingdom, teaching repentance, healing the sick, feeding the hungry, giving the blind sight even giving life to the dead. They believed that it was only a matter of time before Jerusalem would be changed from an oppressed city ruled over by the Romans to the city blessed by God that would rule over the world. But when Jesus was put to death on the cross all of their hope had ended.
He had saved others. He even raised others from the grave, but who would raise Him? They certainly could not. So as the men met together trying to decide what they would do, the women went to the tomb to finish preparing the body of Jesus “And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.”
“While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here,” ‘He is Risen.’ The angel continued to speak, “Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise." And they remembered his words.”
They remembered His words! Jesus had told them this would happen. But they were words that they had not understood and they certainly did not take His words literally. But now a breakthrough occurs to these women. The very word of God, the words Jesus Himself had spoken penetrates into their minds and produces faith. They remembered His words not just as words but words that contained the eternal truth of God’s Word. Their remembrance incorporates them into the New Covenant of salvation by faith in the very work that Jesus has completed on the cross. Their realization that Jesus Christ was alive also awakened their souls to life in Jesus Christ.
So they returned from the tomb and told the good news to the eleven. But they did not understand, and the women’s tale sounded like nonsense. “Peter rose and ran to the tomb.” But Peter did not see Jesus. Jesus was not there, He is risen.
All Peter saw were the linen cloths. Peter did not see Jesus because he was still looking for the wrong Jesus. Peter was still looking for the worldly Messiah, the one would fulfill Isaiah’s prophesy in the world. When he looked inside, he only saw the things of the world, an empty tomb and the strips of cloth. He did not see His Lord because although Jesus was still in the world He was not of the world.
So that brings us to today;Easter morning. When we look around at the world today, not much has changed over the centuries. The world is still filled with evil. Houses are still being repossessed; people get sick or in accidents, there are wars going on where men women and children die, our unborn children are dieing at the hands of men and animals continue to eat other animals. We are still hoping for peace in this world and many are still hoping for a Messiah to come and make this world perfect. If you are here this morning looking for that Messiah, you will not find Him. He is not here, He is risen!
There can be no doubt about it; we live in a fallen world. And precisely because this world is fallen, Jesus came down from heaven to be born as a man and to die on the cross to pay for the sins of all mankind. In this sense He has saved the world. But He did not come to set up His kingdom here on earth.
Remember what Jesus told Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world.
If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I
might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."
Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am
a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the
world— to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my
voice."
Listen, this world will not be made perfect. God had given us His commandments and certainly this world would be a better place if all people obeyed them. And although we should strive to make this world a better place, there will always be pain suffering in this world because sin and evil are our constant companions. Saint Paul tells you, “If in this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.” So Christians look past this world to the world to come.
However, if you are looking for a messiah or a guru or a leader who will make you happy, or rich or powerful only in this life, you will not find him here.
If you want a messiah who will tell you that it is okay for you to continue to live a sin filled life, you will not see him within these walls. If you are looking for a messiah who will tell you that it is all right for you to commit adultery or to marry someone of the same sex, he is not here. If you are looking for a messiah that will tell you to worship him only on Easter, he is not here either.
When you look for that kind of messiah, like Peter all you will find here are the things of this world. What you will see are a cross, an altar, and some guy speaking only meaningless words about someone who died 2000 years ago. You will find nothing that has any relevance to your success here on earth. You will only see a bunch of people speaking what seems to be meaningless nonsense.
But when you come seeking someone who can forgive your sins, and give you eternal life you will see the true Messiah. When you look for that world spoken of by Isaiah in the world to come, you will see Jesus Christ as the One who died and rose again so that you could live with Him in His world. You will find Christ when you look past this world and past the grave to a life in Him.
Then as the Holy Spirit reveals His words to you, you can truly see Jesus. He is here to offer you the forgiveness of sins and to give you encouragement in your times of trail. He is found in the words spoken and sung in the liturgy and the hymns we sing. He is here in the waters of baptism and He shares His very body and blood with you in His supper. He is here in the absolution pronounced by the Pastor and in the waters of Baptism, in His word and by His Supper Jesus makes you alive as you remember Jesus Christ!
When you have been filled with faith in Jesus Christ, you will be like those first women who remembered Jesus. Your soul will be made alive to God and dead to the feeble temptations of this world that can never bring about lasting earthly contentment. As you become dead to this world and alive to Christ, then you will better understand what the Angel meant when He said, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”
Being made alive in Christ, you can go forth through this dying world with all of it trails and tribulations and be strengthened with a peace that passes all understanding.
Jesus said, “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world." (John 16:333 ESV)
Christ has overcome this world! Jesus has ascended to make a new heaven and a new earth and yet He is here with us right now offering you eternal salvation and all of the things you need in this life. That does not mean He will give you everything you may want in this life but He will bless you with eternal life when He calls you into His Kingdom. Listen to His parting words He said to His disciples for He says them to you as well:
"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also
in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told
you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be
also. And you know the way to where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we
do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I
am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except
through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now
on you do know him and have seen him."
In Jesus Name, Amen.