Pastor's Sermon - April 20th, 2025 - Easter Sunday
Luke 24:1-12
Jesus had shown time and time again that He was truly God and the Son of God. His disciples had witnessed Him to the unimaginable. He had turned water to wine, fed thousands with mere bread and fish, cured leprosy, healed every ailment and disease, cast out demons, and even brought the dead back to life. How could there be any doubt in their heads that Jesus was indeed God?
And yet, the very thing Christ had come to do. That which He spoke of time and time again, was elusive to them. He had told them repeatedly that the Son of Man would be killed. He would be crucified. And that He would rise again to life. But they could not believe this. After all, it was unthinkable. Really.
If Jesus was God, then any rational mind would understand that He could not and would not die. God is above dying, is He not? And yet, as Good Friday proved, Jesus Christ could and would die. He did die. Crucified, just as He spoke. But the mind can then say, that if Jesus could be arrested, tried, and killed by mere fallen man, then maybe Jesus isn’t as powerful as was originally thought. After all, despite seeing it with their eyes in Lazarus, the rational understanding of death is that it is permanent. If someone is dead, then they will not be alive.
Yet, Christ, once again, proves that His Word is trustworthy. His power is sure and almighty. His promises stand. Just as He promised that He would die, which He did. He also promised that He would rise again, and He did.
The women went to the tomb to caretake His presumed dead body. And when they arrived, they saw the nearly unbelievable. The tomb was open. The sepulcher empty. They were witnessing the unbelievable. And as they stood there, perplexed, the angels told them. He is not dead, so seek Him not in a grave, He is alive. JUST AS HE SAID!
This should not have been grand news to them. This should have been as expected as rain on a forecasted cloudy, rainy day. Jesus had told them this would happen. The prophets had spoken of this occurrence from of old. This was not shocking news! And yet, they were shocked. For the heart of man struggles to believe.
In amazement, they go to tell the disciples. And they do not believe the women. These crazy women are spinning idle tales! The women remember now the words of Christ, but the disciples didn’t seem to. So, Peter, either curious or desperate to believe that His Lord and friend is alive again, goes to see. And the tomb is indeed empty. Again, this shouldn’t be shocking. This is exactly what Christ said would happen. His resurrection was as sure as the rising sun in the morning. The Word of God does not speak untruths nor does it make mistake.
Let us stoop down and see the empty tomb as well this Easter. Let us use the women’s and Peter’s eyes to see and believe that everything the Lord has spoken to His Church is the absolute and trustworthy truth. Christ’s resurrection is real. The salvation won in this most glorious and foretold miracle is for-sure. There is no room for doubt. There is no possibility that this is fabricated or made up. This is God’s Word. And God’s Word does not speak untruths nor does it make mistake.
Christ’s resurrection has give every credibility to the Word of God, not just on the matter of the resurrection on Easter Sunday, but on everything, for all of Scripture directs the Church to Christ’s death and resurrection. If this blessed sacrifice and following rise from the dead is true, then so are all the promises of Scripture. We can trust every utterance of God in His Word.
We can look at this water and believe God’s Word. This is for the forgiveness of sins and the assurance of life everlasting. This is the adoption we receive as sons and daughters into the eternal family of God to dwell with Him in His Kingdom forever.
We can look at the bread and the wine and believe the mysterious promise. That, in ways that don’t make sense to the rational mind, the Word of God regarding these elements is true. This is the body and blood of Jesus, without a doubt. And the promises He places in this gift is assured. Forgiveness. Faith. Life.
When we hear the pastor proclaim the absolution of the Lord, though we reasonably don’t deserve it, yet the Word of God is to be trusted. The forgiveness of God, even delivered through an unimpressive and imperfect man, is still as true as though God Himself spoke it with His own lips. Forgiveness and life belong to us.
That God will never leave us nor forsake us. That He provides for us. That He prepares a place for us. That He hears our prayers. That He is coming again. That life eternal shall be ours even as we stand before our Lord on judgment day. These crucial promises in God’s Word, which don’t always feel believable, are absolutely believable. For God has spoken it. It is true.
Christ’s resurrection seals this for us. Christ’s resurrection gives us every confidence in His Word. And every trust in His promises. If ever we thought God would leave us to sin, death, or the Devil, look to the cross of Christ. Look to the empty tomb. And know, without a doubt, Christ is Risen. He Is Risen Indeed.
And with His rising, our life is assured. We shall rise too.
In Christ’s Name,
Amen.