(Using the print feature in your browser will print the sermon without the navigation menu on the left.)
Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go and tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” And they went out quickly and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.(Mark 16:1–8)
On the first day of creation, the first day of the week, God said, “Let there be light” and there was light (Genesis 1:3). The earth was once filled with darkness, but now it is filled with light. On a Sunday, the first day of creation, light defeated darkness.
So also, on a Sunday, the day of resurrection, the first day of the week, the light of Christ defeated the dark ways of the devil. Life defeated death. The angel said to women, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him” (Mark 16:6).
Even today, a Sunday, the first day of the week, the light of the Gospel breaks forth. The light of Christ comes upon us and casts out our dark and evil ways. Christ comes to us bringing life in the midst of death. The color white symbolizes light and new life.
Yes, today is a new day for us. It is the first day of the week. It is the day of resurrection. Good Friday is gone, and Easter is now among us.
Normally, at this time of the year, the sun rises around 7:10 a.m. and sets around 7:50 p.m. Between sunrise and sunset, it has always been light. Never have we seen darkness at 12 noon or at 3:00 p.m.
But when Jesus hung on the cross, it was dark from 12:00 noon until 3:00 p.m. During this time the sun had failed. The Gospel of Luke tells us that “darkness came over all the earth” (Luke 23:44–45). While Jesus hung on the cross, the sun did not rule the darkness. There is no natural explanation for this. It was not an eclipse, for at Passover the moon is full, making a solar eclipse impossible. The sun had failed the same time when the Creator of all things died. Darkness ruled when Jesus died. The sun failed to carry out its rule over the darkness.
We don't like darkness, do we. It's cold, thick, and black. Plants cannot even live in the dark. When it's dark, we turn on the lights in order to see where we are going.
If light is a symbol for life, then darkness is a symbol of sin and death.
Jesus once said, “the light has come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:19–20). When Adam sinned in the Garden of Eden, he hid from God among the trees. He didn't want his evil deeds exposed.
Sin loves darkness. More crimes are committed at night than in the light of the day. Hell is portrayed as a place of outer darkness (Matthew 8:12). It's where Satan and his angels along with all those who have rejected Christ will dwell forever.
Dearly beloved, do you walk in the darkness of unbelief? Does the darkness of sin rule over the light of Christ within you? Does the darkness of sin try to blot out your faith in Christ? Do you fear the approaching shadow of death?
In the beginning, before God created light, the earth was without form and void. In other words, it was empty, formless, and dark. A life without Christ is a life that is empty. It has no meaning. A life without Christ has no purpose. A life without Christ is a life that is dark with unbelief. We pray that this may never happens to us.
Unfortunately, we are all like Adam and Eve. We have inherited from them the darkness of sin and death. All of us have gone astray. There is none righteous; no, not one. Saint Paul says that the wages of sin is death. Therefore, some day, we will surely die and will return to the earth.
On Good Friday, Jesus took upon Himself the darkness of our sin. He suffered the wrath of God on our behalf and for our sake. And then, He died.
On Sunday, the first day of the week, Jesus came alive. He rose from the dead. 2 Timothy 1:10 says that “Jesus has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.” He brought light and life into our world. He overcame the darkness of sin and death. He rose from the dead and lives forevermore.
The crucifixion and resurrection of Christ go together. You can't have Easter without a Good Friday. The cross and the open tomb are different, but you can't have one without the other.
On Good Friday, Jesus was put to death for our sins, but on Easter, He rose to life for our justification (Romans 4:25). On Good Friday, Jesus suffered God's wrath against our sin, but on Easter morning God frees us from His wrath and has declared us to be forgiven. The resurrection of our Lord means that the sacrifice on Good Friday was sufficient and pleasing to the Father. Since sin was paid for, then life and salvation must appear. Since darkness has been defeated, then the light of Christ must shine. Jesus most naturally had to rise.
The resurrection of our Lord will always be attacked by the unbelieving world — the rulers of the darkness of this age. Some claim that the tomb was empty because Jesus' body had been devoured by wild dogs. Others claim that Jesus' body rotted away in the tomb and that the resurrection story was made up by the disciples in order to put a happy ending to a sad story. Others claim that Jesus only appeared to be dead, thanks to a slow–acting poison administered to him on the cross while later he revived. Others claim that Jesus never rose bodily but that He only rose in our hearts.
But nothing is farther from the truth. Christ rose from the dead according to the Scriptures. Jesus was even seen by over 500 people. The eye witnesses to the resurrection wrote the actual account in the Gospels. The apostles even gave up their lives in martyrdom for the sake of the truth. They firmly believed that Christ died for our sins and that He rose from the dead.
If Christ had not risen from the dead, we would never know whether our sins were paid for. If Christ had not risen from the dead, we would always wonder whether there is life for us after we die.
But Christ has risen from the dead. Therefore, there is the forgiveness of sins. Since Christ rose, we too shall rise.
On the first day of creation, the first day of the week, God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light (Genesis 1:3). So also, on the first day of Easter, God created light and life to shine out of death and darkness. Christ rose from the dead.
In your baptism, God basically said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. The benefits of the cross and resurrection shined upon you. You are now “children of the light”. In your baptism, you were not only buried with Christ into death, but you also rose with Him and now live a new life in Christ. Your baptism, then, was both a Good Friday and an Easter. As a baptized lamb of God, let the light of Christ shine through you.
In Holy Absolution, God casts out the darkness of your sin and fills you with His light and life.
The tomb was vacant, but this morning the altar is occupied. Jesus, who rose from the dead, now gives forgiveness and life through His body and blood.
Today is a new day. It is the day of resurrection. Good Friday is gone, and Easter is now among us. Christ lives now and forevermore. Today is a day of life and light.
Dearly beloved, we are on a journey from earth to heaven. As we travel, Jesus and His Word will be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. He will guide us through the darkness of this fallen world to our eternal home in heaven. There will be a day when we will walk through the valley of the shadow of death, but we will fear no evil, because we know that Christ died and rose again for us. And then, in heaven, there will be no need for the sun because Revelation 21:23 says that the Lamb will be its light.
But until this day comes, may the God of peace who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, equip you with everything good for doing His will (Hebrews 13:20–21). Amen.
( TOP )