He is Risen!
He is Risen indeed. Alleluiah!
It was early in the morning: 6AM. The sun was barely peaking over the hills in the distance. The mist swirled with the darkness and was not unlike the dizzy mistiness swirling in the brains of Jesus friends. – you know how it feels when you just wake up – and rise out of your sleep – only to be met by the reality of something terrible that took place the day before. Then the marys woke up Sunday morning, they were met by an awful reality. Their best friend had been crucified right in front of them. But perhaps worse than that, their hope and possible savior was dead!
Friday afternoon, they prepared the necessary spices and oils to complete their final preparations of the body. That’s what Jesus was to them now. A body. They were going to see the savior one more time. To say goodbye for good. To close the tomb stone forever.
As they approached the tomb they expected to see a tomb like every other tomb. A body like every other one they had seen in the past. They expected to see what they always see when death enters theirs lives.
But instead they discovered that the large stone had been rolled away. Curious they still entered the tomb and there they discovered that Jesus body, which they specifically saw laid down there friday, was gone! While they were trying to figure out everything, two angels appeared blinding the women’s eyes with their dazzling appearance. The women bent down in fear, their faces touched the ground. Their cloudy sorrows were replaced by a surreal reality.
The two angels said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 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."
Luke tells us that ‘they remembered His words.’ And in remembering, they were filled with Hope, and their faith turned to action and they ran away from the graveyard to tell others the good news.
Many fools today like to say that people were gullible back then during Jesus day. They believed all sorts of things. Recently some pot smoking ‘biblical’ scholar has been lecturing us that scientists have recently proven that one can not be resurrected from the dead. Well these ladies at the tomb could have told him that! They weren’t gullible. They weren’t looking for a resurrection. They weren’t looking for a way to change the story of Jesus so it sounds cooler than a guy dying on a cross. Luke writes it as it happened! It’s not pretty. These women expected to find a dead body!
But there they were. Jesus body was missing. They were confused. And then the angels came and what did they angels say! They said, “What are you doing here! This is where dead people dwell!” They said, “REMEMBER HIS WORDS – HE TOLD YOU HE WAS GOING TO BE CRUCIFIED AND THAT HE WAS GOING TO RISE AGAIN!” And they remembered His Words!
He is risen!
He is risen indeed!
Remember His Words! The women believed when they remembered Jesus Words! You can count on Jesus Words! You can count on the word of God! .
Jesus told his disciples that he was going to die and rise again. He had told them this many times. Yet here they are surprised! Looking in the wrong place for Jesus! Remember His Words! He told them where to find him!
We are just like these women. We look for divine things all the time. We wander in the strangest places looking for extraordinary things. Remember His Words!
We look for meaning in life. We read philosophies. We consult with scientists. We go to school for 30 years. And the angels say, “why are you looking here!” Remember what God says! You are a sinner, but you have forgiveness in the blood of Jesus. In holy baptism you became a child of God!
We look for experiences with God. We look in rock bands and big screens. We look in altar calls and ‘I’ve seen an angel’ books. And the angels say, “why are you looking here!” Remember what God says! This is my body, this is my blood, given and shed for you for the forgiveness of your sins! I baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – when you are baptized in Christ you are baptized into His death and resurrection! When you forgive someone their sins they are forgiven! We look for places to meet God, all the while He is where he said he would be in His word and sacraments!
Finally, we look for redemption and hope. We wander in the misty graveyards looking for peace. We look at our own works. We think that we can work our way into God’s good favor. Or we are tempted to think that God just accepts us as we are. Or most often than not, we live in fear, shivering at night, wondering whether or not we are saved, if we will live forever. And the angels of God tell us, “what are you doing looking for answers here? Remember God’s Word! You are saved by Grace through Faith!
The angels direct all of us including these women to Remember Jesus words – God’s Word. Yet so often we spend more time looking for answers in everything but.
We are partakers in a greater miracle than jesus rising from the dead. We have been brought to life in Jesus Christ! When you were baptized into Jesus and came to faith in Christ you were resurrected! Yet how quickly we wander away from Him, searching for Him in the strangest places.
when we stay away from his Word, when we stay away from His church where his word is preached and taught, we fall back into that misty dark cloudy morning where sins are not forgiven and dead men don’t rise!
Remember Jesus Words. Cling to them. They are your life. They are true!
He is risen
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Jesus has backed up his words, time and time again! They are factual and can be attested. He died, Rose again, He ascended into heaven and He will come again!
Yet the Good News is not just about Jesus. But it includes you! Remember Jesus Words. He did not just say that He only would rise again from the dead! He also said that you would too! “I am the resurrection and the life! Whoever believes in me yet shall he live! And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die!”
Brothers and sisters in Christ, one day your tombstone will be rolled away too! One day when Jesus comes again, you will embrace all those who died before you in the faith!
But for now – when you find yourself in darkness and doubt. Remember His Words! AMEN. He is Risen
He is Risen indeed! Alleluiah!
