St. Mark 16:8—Easter Morning 2012
Zion Ev. Lutheran Church, McHenry, IL
April 8, 2012
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Alleluia! Jesus Christ is risen from the dead! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! In the name of Jesus. Amen.
Dead. Jesus was dead. Past tense. Dead dead. Not partially dead. Not even mostly dead. He was dead. Past tense dead. Crucified dead.
Dead in the tomb dead. They were going to His grave to prepare the dead body dead. Everyone knows—dead people stay dead-dead.
And it had happened so quickly. He had just ridden into Jerusalem as King last weekend. He preached. He taught. His approval rating was off the chart!
Then, Judas. Betrayal. Abandoned. Denied three times by Peter. False accusations. Good Friday. Beatings. Mockings. Crown of Thorns. Stripped. Shamed. Nails. Crucified. Dead.
We live. We die. Since Adam and Eve, the garden, the fruit. Disobedience. Nakedness. Guilt. Shame. Hiding from God. “Did you eat of the tree I commanded you not to eat?” Judgment. Condemnation and death.
The sting of death is sin. The strength of sin is the Law. God’s Law and all that it requires. Adam’s Broken Law brought death. Sin caused it. And afterwards, every son of Adam all died.
Death stinks. Figuratively. Literally too. So, Jesus’ altar guild, his beloved women, showed up with spices to give Him a proper burial.
They were there early. Sun-up early. And trust me, we’ve learned this year at Zion just how early sunrise is. It’s early!
That stone in front of the tomb was so big, they had to look up at it. And it had to be large. It was supposed to keep Jesus inside. To keep death’s hold over Him. To keep death’s hold over you.
Nope. Not happening. Not Easter. Not our Lord Jesus. The huge stone was already rolled away. There was no one dead in the tomb on Easter morning.
“Don’t be afraid.” says the angel dressed in white sitting on the Gospel right side of the tomb. “You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen. He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.” (Mark 16:8.)
Jesus of Nazareth who kept the Law perfectly for you and did everything that God requires of you. Jesus of Nazareth who suffered and died for all that you deserve. Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified has now risen from the dead.
“Was crucified.” Was dead. Now lives. Jesus has made death a past tense. A past tense!
Death is so Good Friday. Not something that you need to worry about any more. It’s sooo lame now. It’s got nothing. No sting. No victory. It’s no greater than a nap. And who doesn’t like naps?
Death has no hold over Jesus. No hold over you either. No hold over you, or you, or you, me too! For death’s sting is done. Cause the Law is done—it was fulfilled for us and died with Christ’s holy life and bitter suffering and death. There is no condemnation in Jesus. Ever.
You were dead. Dead dead. Not partially dead. Not mostly dead. You were dead. Dead in your sins dead. Dead to God. Dead to each other.
Now, you are alive. Risen from the dead with Christ alive. Clothed in your Baptismal whites alive. Fed the Body and Blood of Jesus alive. Everlasting life alive. Never to die ever alive.
Sure, your heart may stop. You may fall asleep. But, die die? No, death died with Christ. Death is a past tense for you. You will always be alive alive in Christ.
Your loved ones who died in Christ too. They live in Him too. As certainly as Christ is risen from the dead, as surely as He lives, as certainly as the tomb is empty, you and your loved ones will rise from the dead. All y’all’s tombs will be as empty as Jesus’ tomb is today.
Christ was dead. You were dead too. He’s alive. You are alive too—in Him. Alive to God. Alive to one another.
As certainly as Jesus is alive. The old way of death is past tense for you too. Starting today. Past tense it.
Your sins. Your disobedience. Your running from God and His church. Your old way of treating others. Past tense all your sins. Leave them all behind. Leave them in the tomb with Jesus.
For if Christ did indeed die and rise again for you, which He did, then even sinners like you and me are saved. Especially sinners like us are saved.
For Jesus was crucified for your sins, my sins, and the sins of the whole world. But the One who died on Good Friday was raised for our justification before God.
Jesus lives, so every last bit of death in your world is enlivened. All your sins are past tense. Every sin, forgiven. Every stain, wiped out.
Jesus of Nazareth was crucified. Past tense. Was dead. He’s not dead any more. He’s Risen. Alive. Not in the tomb. Not any more.
There is no reason to live any more as if this isn’t true. To doubt it. Or to be afraid of anything – past, present, or future.
For you are alive. Today. Here. Raised from the dead in His gifts. On the Last Day too. You will rise from the dead. As surely as Jesus lives, you live. Today, now, and forever.
For Jesus Christ is risen from the dead! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! In the Name of Jesus. Amen.
