Our Sermons

Bible Passage:Selections from the Four Gospels
Pastor: Pastor Schlicht
Sermon Date:  April 9, 2023

Selections from the Four Gospels

• Easter Joy is Real.
  

The angel, who effortlessly rolled back the massive stone, had clothes of dazzling white and his appearance was like lightning. It must have been terrifying for the two women who came upon this otherworldly being. In fact, his appearance is so spellbinding, that he needs to remind them why they came. “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.” (Oh ya, that’s why we are here!) But then this angel begins to speak to them about the reality of Jesus’ resurrection. “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where the Lord lay.” He wanted them to witness the reality of the physical resurrection first hand. “Come and see the place where he lay.” Come and touch the vacant slab of stone he laid on, come and feel the forgotten grave clothes. Come and see that Easter joy is real. 

Have you ever wondered why God sent angels at the resurrection of his Son? I mean, if you think about it Jesus didn’t need the stone to be rolled away. He could have done it himself. The soldiers certainly wouldn’t have stopped the Son of God. Jesus could have appeared to these women and his disciples without any forewarning. Why did God send the angel? So that in years to come the story would sound even more ridiculous? Would you send an angel if you wanted the story to sound plausible? No. But if Jesus really did rise from the dead, and if his followers were too scared to believe it, if the tomb was guarded by Roman soldiers too attentive and well trained to let anyone in, if the stone was too heavy for the two women to roll away, then you might send an angel to dispatch the guards, roll away the stone, and invite people to know that truth. “Come and see the place where the Lord lay.” The resurrection is real which means that our Easter Joy is real. It is backed up by prophetic prediction (a feat of impossible odds), by the post-resurrection appearances of Jesus to well over 500 eyewitnesses, and by the lives of the apostles who were so convinced of this reality they were willing to die for it. If they really had made it all up, do you think they would have died defending it? Easter joy is real. “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” Amen.

• Easter Joy is for You.
  

When a loved one dies suddenly, family members often wish they could have said something to them before it was too late. I imagine some of you know that feeling. Perhaps you wish you could have told someone that you love them before they passed, you wish you could have shared forgiveness or maybe asked for it. But it was too late. I imagine that is how Peter felt. The last time he saw his Lord was across the high priest’s courtyard just after his three-time denial of Christ. Can you imagine how Peter felt? His Teacher and Lord—his dearest friend—was dead and the last thing he had done was lie and swear that he didn’t even know him. But Easter Joy is personal. And we see that in Mark 16 through the angel’s specific mention of Peter’s name. “But go, tell his disciples and Peter.” In other words, make sure Peter knows. His heart needs to know that no matter what he has done, there is forgiveness; there is joy; there is life. Jesus is alive. He has risen!

Do you feel discouraged? Are you, like Peter, dismayed at the extent of your inadequacies, the pressure of living your faith, and those times when you may have denied Jesus through your words or actions? Don’t worry, it’s not too late. Be encouraged because Easter Joy is for you. Especially you.  The angel’s message is as much for you as it was for the apostle who felt he had gone too far to ever be loved again. You can put your own name there: “Tell his disciples and ______!” Jesus has risen from the dead—for you. No matter what you have done, there is forgiveness; there is hope; there is life. Easter Joy is for you. And because that is true, you will have a chance to say what you wanted to that loved one in faith someday in heaven. Amen.

• Easter Joy Confirms God’s Word.
  

On Jesus’ first visit to Jerusalem the Jews asked him for a sign to prove that he was the Messiah. Jesus responded with a startling statement: “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (Jn 2:19). The Jews thought he was talking about Herod’s Temple, but John says, “He was speaking of the temple of his body” (Jn 2:21) and adds an interesting observation: “When he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; then they believed the Scriptures and the word which Jesus had spoken” (Jn 2:22). Isn’t it interesting that Easter proved to the disciples not only what Jesus said was true, but, as John said, “they believed the Scriptures” as well. You see the disciples understood that Jesus was the fulfillment of the Scriptures. He was the only one who matched the over-300 prophecies of the Old Testament, including Psalm 16 and Isaiah 53 which prophesy of the resurrection. Jesus was also the one who said, “Scripture cannot be broken.” The resurrection proves that Jesus is who he says he is, the very Son of God, and it proves that all the words of the Bible which he inspired are likewise true and unbroken. Easter Joy confirms God’s Word! 

Did you catch that short phrase in Luke’s account of the resurrection? “Remember how he told you…” Remember that Jesus said he would rise from the dead. It was his plan. It was his promise. Why would you doubt him? His Word is reliable! Whatever promises of the Bible you hold most dear, know that since your Savior has risen they are true! As the apostle Paul so beautifully said, “no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ (2 Cor 1:20).” Easter Joy confirms God’s Word. Amen.

• Easter Joy is Vital.
  

When that other disciple whom John does not name, finally walks into the open tomb and views the grave clothes, John tells us very simply, “He saw and believed.” And why not, he had everything to gain, and there was nothing more to lose. I mean, if Jesus hadn’t risen from the dead what would the disciples do? What would they have left? Would there be more than one Judas hanging in a field? All their dreams shattered, their purpose gone, everything they’d given up…all for nothing. But even worse would be the final implication: Death would win. Their lives, their hope, their faith would all be meaningless. As the apostle Paul wrote, “If Christ is not risen from the dead, then our preaching is empty and your faith is in vain… You are still in your sins (1 Cor 15:14-17).” He could not have chosen stronger language. 

Easter Joy is vital. Without it we will lose everything; with it we gain everything! The Apostle Paul continues: “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” Jesus is the first flower of spring that signals thousands more to awake and bloom. Because Jesus lives, we too will live. That’s our ultimate hope. That’s the vital joy and truth of Christian faith. Even when things look bleak, the story of your life ends in victory. Some days feel like a dark Friday of death and heartache, but Sunday and resurrection are coming! “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?…Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Amen.