Let Us Be Glad
The Resurrection of the Lord, Easter Sunrise – 3/31/2024
Isaiah 25:6-9
Rev. Christopher W. Brademeyer
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!
That portion from God’s holy Word for consideration this morning is our Old Testament reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah in the twenty fifth chapter, with special emphasis on verses six through eight which read as follows:
“On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined. And he will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the Lord has spoken.”
Thus far the Scriptures.
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is the greatest of all historical events. Yes, it is great because of its singularity, its uniqueness. Only Christ has truly been raised from the dead never to die again. And because He lives, we who are in Him will live as well. Indeed, dear friends, the Resurrection of the Lord is proof in the pudding, as it were, that the things that He says are true and that the promises that He made are trustworthy!
Just as Isaiah foretold, death is now without sting. The grave stands empty and defeated. There is now no condemnation in Christ Jesus! Christ is risen, the victory won! There is nothing more to do. The devil has been routed. The forces of hell are in full retreat. The very armies of the enemy have been laid to waste and defeated. And no matter how the devil, his demons, and death wail and gnash their teeth, they are done. Their power is spent! Their dominion is at an end!
And this was all done because one man, the Godman, Jesus Christ, overcame death and the grave.
In the tradition of the church, the past few days are called the Triduum, which is Latin for the span of three days. Maundy Thursday evening until this morning compose one prolonged church service that recalls the events from our Lord’ s betrayal to His resurrection. And all of these must be taken together. For without the betrayal, there would be no trial that established our Lord’s innocence. Without the trial, there would have been no mob to demand that He die and falsely accuse Him of being a political insurrectionist. Without the mob, fearful Pilate would not have handed Him over to be tortured and crucified. Without the crucifixion, there would be no atonement, no payment for sins nor any righteousness earned, and no resurrection. And without the resurrection there would be no Easter celebration.
The events of those few days, nearly two thousand years ago, changed history in the most fundamental of ways. Where before our Lord’s death and resurrection, we were condemned in sin, patiently awaiting a Savior, someone who could undo the damage of sin and death and restore us again to righteousness, to holiness, to perfection in the eyes of God. Our station has fundamentally changed. What was known only by promise and anticipation has been done! God, our Creator, the One beyond all knowing, greater than the sum total of the universe, this God became man, suffered, and died on your behalf. Yours sins have been atoned for in Christ! They are no more! And more than this, the grave which once devoured without mercy or recourse has been shattered! Our Lord blazed a path right through the grave and even hell itself to grant us entrance to heaven, paradise, and to the resurrection of our bodies in the world to come.
And all this is yours, dear friends, through no cost to you. The price has been paid; your dues have been covered. Not with treasure of this world, not with trinkets that moths eat and thieves steal, but with the precious, innocent suffering and death of the Lord Jesus. And more than this, this forgiveness of sins, this eternal life, this blessedness and righteousness everlasting has been hand delivered to you through word and Baptism, absolution and the Supper, binding you to Christ and ensuring that all these treasures are now yours. And, through simple faith, simply trusting that this is true, you are now the beneficiary of these things and all their manifold goodness.
Sin has been undone! The devil has been set to flight! The world stands empty! Death has been put to death! And all that the Lord has said and promised has been shown to be true! The tomb stands empty, proving our Lord’s teaching and promise. The tomb stands empty, testifying to the truth that the grave is not the end for God’s people. The tomb stands empty, showing that Christ is victorious. No power in heaven above or hell beneath or here on this earth can stand against such might! The humble Lord, through shame and death, has given to us all good things and ensured our salvation.
So fear not, dear Christians! Christ is victorious! He is King of kings and Lord of lords! And no matter what foul things may set themselves against Him or us, we know that at the end we will be with our King who is victorious!
Dear friends in Christ, the death of our Lord is our life. His resurrection the proof that death has been overcome and that His words and promises are true and valid. And more than this, these things were done for you, to save you, and to grant you eternal life.
The world, full of pagans and unbelievers, will never understand the significance of this day. Let them try and take it. It matters now what lies they spew about the origins of Easter, the source of the name of this day, or what other things they try to supplant this day with their own things.
Sin is still no more. Death is still put to death. And the Devil is still defeated. Easter, the day of the Resurrection of the Lord stands as the most pivotal of all events in history, showing us that Christ has indeed given us salvation and life everlasting!
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
In the Holy Name of + Jesus. Amen.
The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.