In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Those women were afraid and said nothing. They went to the tomb, expecting death. Armed only with ointments and spices, they went to see a corpse. But that’s not what they found. The stone was moved, the tomb was empty of death. In place of their Master’s dead body was this very much alive, very alarming young man in a shining white robe, telling them, “Don’t be afraid. Jesus is risen! Tell the disciples.” But they were afraid, and they said nothing.
They did not see Jesus, but they heard from the angels. That’s not a bad alternative. But those women did not believe. And they were too afraid to speak. This account from Mark makes for a rather strange and lack-luster Easter. And isn’t that how this Easter is feeling to many of us? Strange, lack-luster—too retrained, too quiet. Not enough bells and organ and trumpet. Not enough voices. Not enough Easter triumph or Easter joy.
In our world right now, many of us are also expecting death. And armed only with medicine, masks, and expert opinions, many of us are left afraid. We also do not see the risen Jesus. We don’t even get to see the angel. But we have heard from God’s other angels, His other messengers. And that’s not a bad alternative either. We hear from the Bible—the Holy Spirit–inspired writings of the prophets and the apostles—words that have been tested, verified, proven true and faithful, certain and clear. In many ways, that’s much better than some startling young man in a flashy coat. And we hear from the pastors—men sent by God through His Church to proclaim the forgiveness of sins on account of this Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified, but has risen. The pastor’s proclamation gives comfort and peace to the weary soul and frightened conscience. And isn’t that really what we need right now? Some comfort, some relief, some assurance that God is in control, He is reconciled to the world, and death does not get the last word.
Sickness and death are very serious things. On Palm Sunday, I said we need to prepare for death. And on Good Friday, we learned from Jesus how to commend our souls into the Father’s hands. And at the Easter Vigil, we heard the great happy twist in the story, that death is not the end. Death is very serious and we do need to prepare. But we also have the final answer to death. We can even face it with joy. Because Jesus lives.
So, don’t be like those women, silent and afraid. You can keep you social distance, but the human voice can carry well over 6 feet. If there’s anything our world needs more of it’s people talking about the fact that Jesus is risen from the dead. Despite all the uncertainty out there, despite all the fear–mongering and conspiracy theories, despite all the pointing and blaming, and hording and panicking, Jesus lives. Do not be afraid.
Our safety measures and stay–at–home orders might not make a difference. But Jesus lives. The economy might not recover and businesses might close. But Jesus lives. The government might collapse, wars might start, and we might find ourselves living in some kind of post-apocalyptic desert. But Jesus lives. More people might get sick, and more might die, even people you know. But Jesus lives. And that really does make all the difference. Because our best efforts and our most expensive medicines were never going to eradicate sickness or poverty. And our hope was never pinned on the stock market, and the real pleasures in this life are not multiplied with more money. And our government and our civil rights were never going to last forever anyway. And no one was ever going to get out of this world alive.
But Jesus lives. Death and virus and storm and violence are all losers. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved. Whoever trusts in the name of Jesus will live. Not only did He rise to life, He IS the resurrection and the life. And everything else in this world pales in comparison—a bunch of junk, all of it, compared to the unsurpassable joy of Easter. St. Paul couldn’t put it in any stronger terms when he said in Philippians, chapter 3: I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I count everything else as rubbish, waste, sewage, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from keeping the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God by faith—in order that I may know Christ and the power of His resurrection, and may share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. That’s what I’m after! That’s what Easter is for. That’s what we need and what our world needs and what God gives: Jesus and our resurrection from the dead.
So, do not stay silent today, or any day. Every day after that first Easter Day has been a day for all the angels and for all Christians to speak those most joyfully shocking words: “Jesus is risen!” We still do not see Him. But He still lives, and He is still with us. “Go into all the world,” declared the risen Lord, “And proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” He gave that charge to us, to His whole Church, to make known the Good News that sins are forgiven, fears are banished, life is victorious, and death is defeated.
So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them. The crucified and risen Jesus is still working through us. He is present and active in His Word. This is the only reason that the Christian Church has been and still is the most powerful force for good in this world. And the most vibrant voice of hope. Because the power of faith, and love, and hope in Christians and in the activity of the Church is the power of the living Jesus Himself.
I know it may not feel like it, but we still have that Easter triumph and Easter joy. You’ve heard me say many times before, “You can’t rely on your feelings to know what’s true.” What we’re dealing with now is exactly what I’m talking about. Even though it doesn’t feel like it, Easter is still true. That cannot be taken from us. And it cannot be silenced either, not entirely. Don’t be like those women who went to the tomb expecting death. Jesus lives. The grave has been broken open and filled in with rubble. It can’t keep you. It can’t keep sick people. It can’t keep your dead loved ones. Don’t be silent and afraid. You may not have an organ or trumpets, but you have a voice. Use it. Sing, hum, shout:
Alleluia! Christ is risen!
He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
In the Holy + Name of Jesus. Amen.
