Sermon for 24 April 2011, The Resurrection of Our Lord: Easter Day

The Rev. Paul J Cain

Matthew 28:1-10

What’s Next?

The Resurrection of Our Lord: Easter Day, 24 April 2011

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming

In the Name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

The date of Easter is really unique this year. Observing Easter on April 24, means celebrating three weeks later than 2010 and a month later than three years ago. Easter Day cannot be earlier than March 22 or later than April 25. The next time Easter will be as late as it can be is in 2038. When we observed Easter on March 23, 2008 it was only one day later than the earliest it can ever be in Western churches (March 22nd). That hadn’t happened since 1913 and won’t happen again until 2160.  (It's doubtful any Western Christians [alive today] will still be around to celebrate Easter again on March 23.) Even more remarkable, no one alive today has ever, or ever will celebrate Easter earlier than March 23. The last time Easter fell on March 22 was in 1818, and the next time will be in 2285. http://christianity.about.com/od/easter/qt/easter08trivia.htm

But those details are not the most remarkable thing about Easter. This Easter morn we celebrate the very first Easter morn. On that day, nearly two thousand years ago, something exceptionally unique happened: Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Like the virgin birth of Jesus, His Resurrection from the dead only happened once. They are not repeatable, but we shall celebrate Christmas and Easter forever! Jesus’ physical, human body was given the breath of life once more. Sin lost its power over humanity. Death lost its sting. And the devil was reduced to an annoying, snarling, barking dog on a tight leash. He is defeated and under control—unless someone decides to get into his cage with him.

Unlike our annual celebration of Easter and the movable dates for its celebration, The Resurrection of our Lord took place once and only once. You didn’t come here to hear about bunnies and eggs—not even those delicious chocolate bunnies and crème-filled eggs. We are gathered here by the Lord Himself around His gifts because of Jesus. And so we hear of Him. Good Friday was three days ago, according to the ancient Jewish way of explaining time. Back then Jesus’ disciples where asking, What’s next? Now we know.

¹Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. ²And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. ³His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. ⁴And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. ⁵But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. ⁷Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” ⁸So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. ¹⁰Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

And so they did. They believed what the angels proclaimed. And it came to pass! Open up your New Testament this week to the very end of the Gospel according to Matthew. What you heard this morning is fulfilled there. The disciples saw Jesus in Galilee. Some worshiped Him. Others still doubted. Can you imagine? Yet our Lord gave them a great commission to make disciples by means of baptizing and by teaching. A new disciple was washed in the blood of the lamb this very Easter morning. Again we go and tell. And we look for those who have not yet been told, those who have not yet been baptized.

You are not your own. You were bought with a price. That price was not paid in gold or silver but with the holy, precious blood and the innocent suffering and death of Christ our Lord. You are His. Are we really His disciples if we refuse (even for a time) to follow Him? Have you ever dreamed of having the joys of Christianity without the cost of discipleship? Our Lord died and rose for those sins, too. He purchased and won you from all sins, from death, and from the power of the devil…that you may live under Him in His kingdom and serve Him in everlasting righteousness, innocence and blessedness. You are His. And He has need of you—body and soul. What we think we own is merely entrusted to us for a time. We are actually stewards, custodians, and caretakers.

Consider everything you have in this world—everything and everyone that is important to you. Who and what will accompany you to heaven? What can you take with you? The Lord would answer: not much. Cars wear out. Money evaporates. Wood rots or is eaten by termites. Blacktop crumbles. Metal rusts. Electronics have a short life. What endures forever? The Word of the Lord. What else? The Lord’s love for you in Christ and that love reflected through you to others. Anything else? The fellow Christians you know in this life, knew in this life, and those you read about in history and in Scripture. What endures forever? These things: God’s Word, God’s Love, and God’s people.

When we ask the question, “What’s next?” we run to the Lord’s Word for answers we know to be true and sure. Therefore, the Lord calls you to use the things of this world that will pass away to reach those who do not know Christ, do not know of Him accurately according to the Bible, and those who do not follow or love Him. Our Lord does not desire eternal death for sinners, but that they should repent, believe in Christ, and live with Him and us together forever. That is the hope of all those baptized in water according to Jesus’ Word and will. As a response to the gifts of forgiveness, life, and salvation, we are given to respond to the Lord by making the Lord’s priorities our own.

You are not alone. These are things we have been given to do together. The Lord has gathered us together as His congregation for His purposes. The Law is proclaimed to those who don’t think they’ve done anything wrong. The Gospel is proclaimed to troubled sinners. The Gift of salvation is preached for your comfort and to remind you that it is not earned or deserved. While good works may not be necessary for salvation, good works are still necessary because people in this world need our help. They need physical gifts and the gifts that endure forever—spiritual ones. Together we are given to care for one another’s needs as the Lord provides us with the means to do just that. Today is Easter. What’s next? Monday. I pray that it will be a Monday, an Easter Monday that still remembers Easter Sunday.

We are a baptized people given to celebrate all that Jesus is and all that Jesus does. Every Sunday in a place like this, we celebrate the Lord coming among us—a little Christmas—and we celebrate the new life He gives—a little Easter, too!

At Easter Sunrise we heard the song of praise by the people of Israel after the Lord brought them on dry land through the Red Sea, Exodus 14 and 15. The Lord rescued His people from the oppressive Pharaoh by His servant, through water, and led them to the Promised Land. This morning is no different. The Lord still rescues His people. He rescued you from Pharaoh Satan by His servant Jesus through the waters of Holy Baptism and has prepared you for the Promised Land of Heaven. That is what’s next. You are not there yet. And so He urges you to stay close to His Word and His gifts while you journey through the wilderness of this life.

The Church continues to sing renewed Alleluias! This summer, we will sing it this way in Divine Service, Setting Four, page 205:

C       Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

C       These things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God.

C       Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia! Amen.

In the Name of the Father and of the T Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

Acknowledgments

Divine Service, Setting Four from Lutheran Service Book

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.

Sermon for 24 April 2011, The Resurrection of Our Lord: Easter Dawn

The Rev. Paul J Cain

John 20:1-18

“I Have Seen the Lord”

The Resurrection of Our Lord: Easter Dawn, 24 April 2011

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, WY

Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. [Amen.]
 Psalm 96:1-2 ESV.

This day of Resurrection, we sing a new song of salvation in Christ. The old is new again. 

Enoch walked with God. And then God took him. Enoch didn’t die. He was taken to heaven alive. Elijah was taken to heaven in a chariot of fire. He didn’t die either. He, too was taken to heaven alive. That is rare.

Death curses us as a consequence of sin. Even rarer were resurrections in Scripture. A widow in Zarephath lost her only son. Elijah raised him. And then comes Jesus. Resurrection is no longer so rare. The fruits of Resurrection Day on the Last Day begin breaking through into time. Jesus resurrected three people before His own Resurrection: Jairus’ daughter, a widow’s son, and Lazarus.

Resurrection is not reincarnation. It doesn’t mean merely a spiritual change of some sort. There are physical consequences! Dead tissue is reanimated, brought back to life and God’s intention. Jesus was physically resurrected and His own body glorified. He still bears his crucifixion scars, those by which He makes possible your own resurrection on the Last Day.

 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

Imagine Mary’s shock. There are no guards. The massive stone has been moved. The tomb is empty. What is Mary to think?

 ² So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” ³ So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. ⁴ Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. ⁵ And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. ⁶ Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, ⁷ and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. ⁸ Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; ⁹ for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the disciples went back to their homes.

John outran Peter to the tomb. He saw and believed. Believed what? At this point, John believes that the tomb is empty. That’s it. John believes that Mary Magdalene was telling the truth. Mary, Peter, and John do not yet believe that Jesus has been raised according to the prophecies and promise of Scripture. John and Peter went home.

¹¹ But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. ¹² And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. ¹³ They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”

Angels show up and Mary matter-of-factly announces the same thing she said to Peter and John. She is singing the same old song of sin and death and sadness.

¹⁴ Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

Jesus has been raised. And there is something about His resurrected body that is different. This is more than seeing a pastor or a policeman out of uniform and in civilian clothes. This is different than seeing your teacher out-of-context at the grocery store. Jesus will appear to two walking to Emmaus and to seven of His own disciples by the Sea of Tiberius for breakfast, and they don’t immediately recognize Him either.

 ¹⁵ Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” ¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

Click. Everything makes sense. You can see the lightbulb over her head. By faith, heart and head and soul are finally on the same page. This. Is. Jesus. Teacher! It’s You! Alive! Tears dry. Confusion disappears. Sadness and mourning evaporate on Easter morn. Her song is faith reborn and renewed because of Jesus’ Resurrection.

¹⁷ Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” ¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her. ^[1]

Jesus prepares the way for His own disciples to believe and join Him in Galilee for Him to commission them to make more disciples of all nations by means of baptizing and teaching. First, Mary goes back to the eleven. Her new song is faith saying: “I have seen the Lord.” “I have seen the Lord Jesus raised from the dead just as He said it would happen.”

And the disciples would believe. News of the Resurrection would reach the people who shouted “Hosanna,” all who cried out “Crucify Him!” and even the one who declared Jesus to be “King of the Jews.” From Jerusalem, the Gospel would spread to all Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth, even to us.

1 Corinthians 15:20 says, “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” At Jesus death, the curtain of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep went into the holy city and were seen by many. First Corinthians 15 continues: “For as by a man came death, [Adam,] by a man [Jesus,] has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at His coming those who belong to Christ.”

The use of the word “firstfruits” means that there are more fruits to come. In the book of Acts, Dorcas was raised by Peter and Eutychus was later raised by Paul. And you, also will be raised. All will be raised on the Last Day, to be sure. But you, His Christians, those He has forgiven and enlivened, you who fear, love, and trust in Him above all things, you who have been washed in the blood of the Lamb and partake of His Body and Blood, will be raised to life everlasting in the new heaven and new earth.

Alleluia. Christ is risen!

He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Because Christ has been raised from the dead, you will be raised. This is our new song in Christ. Amen.

Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.       The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. [Amen.]
Psalm 98:1-2 ESV

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^[1] The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (Jn 20:1–18). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Sermon for 22 April 2011, Good Friday C

The Rev. Paul J Cain

Psalm 51:10-12; John 19:34

Create in Me

Good Friday, 22 April 2011

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, WY

Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. [Amen.]
 Psalm 96:1-2 ESV.

Create in me a clean heart, O God,
    and renew a right spirit within me.
Cast me not away from Thy presence;
    and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation;
    and uphold me with Thy free spirit. Amen.

Faith doesn’t talk about itself. Faith holds on to Jesus, the Savior. Like love, faith bears all things, believes, hopes, endures, and trusts. Human language seems inadequate to speak of heavenly things, yet the Lord Himself has revealed Himself and His salvation in human words recorded in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek, and now translated into many languages of all the nations.

Sometimes we struggle to explain, confess, or make sense of faith in Christ using the language of reason:” I understand” or “They just don’t get it.” At other times, we speak with the words of Scripture: “Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!” or “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” And then we sometimes use the language of emotion: “I am comforted” or “Create in me a clean heart, O God.”

Psalm 51, verses 10-12 are the words of a repentant sinner, King David, and also the words of God the Holy Spirit. David’s adultery and murder had consequences. We are blessed that David, previously described as a man after God’s own heart, was brought to repentance and restored to faith.

Ever since the prophet Nathan rebuked David, the King of the Jews, David’s words, “I have sinned against the Lord.” And Nathan’s absolution, “The Lord also has put away your sin…” have lived on in the confession and comfort of Psalm 51. The Church still calls upon the Lord to have mercy, cleanse us of original sin and our committed sins, and open lips to sing His praise.

Yet how is sin put away? How does God declare and deliver His mercy?

In Christ.

By faith, Abraham trusted in God and it was credited to Him as righteousness. When he was tested, he offered up Isaac, his only son, considering that God was able even to raise him from the dead, if necessary, to fulfill the promises about the Offspring, Christ.

By faith, Moses kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood so that the Destroyer would not touch the people of Israel. Christ fulfilled and renewed the Passover in His suffering and death and Institution of the Lord’s Supper.

David prayed for a right spirit, the Holy Spirit, and the restoration of salvation. By faith, he held to God’s promises that his descendant would reign forever and also be His Lord, the Lord Himself, Jesus, the King of the Jews.

Abraham, Moses, and David are examples to us. Their faith, hope, and trust were in the promised Messiah and Suffering Servant, the true Prophet, Priest, and King, Jesus.

John 19:34 says, “But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.”

You have heard that Jesus has borne your griefs that you may have joy.

He was silent unto death so you may sing praises to the Lord.

He was taken away to the cross so that you would be brought to God.

By His stripes, you are healed.

“But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.” It is also true that Jesus’ heart was pierced to that your heart can be recreated clean.

In Christ, the Lord has indeed created in you a clean heart, renewed your spirit to righteousness and restored unto you His Holy Spirit and the joy of His salvation, accomplished on the cross and delivered in His washing with water and the Word, His Word of Gospel, His forgiveness declared and delivered, and at His Table.

Jesus’ heart was pierced to that your heart can be recreated clean. Amen.

Create in Me,  LSB 956 (sung)

Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.       The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. [Amen.]
Psalm 98:1-2 ESV

Acknowledgments

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.

Sermon for 21 April 2011, Maundy Thursday C

The Rev. Paul J Cain

Luke 2:14; John 1:29

Gloria in Excelsis

Maundy (Holy) Thursday, 21 April 2011

Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, WY

Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. [Amen.]
 Psalm 96:1-2 ESV.

To God on high be glory

And peace to all the earth;

Goodwill from God in heaven

Proclaimed at Jesus' birth!

We praise and bless You, Father;

Your holy name we sing—

Our thanks for Your great glory,

Lord God, our heav'nly King.

It is somewhat strange to hear the voice of the Christmas angels on the night when He is betrayed. Somewhat, but not completely strange.

The angels announce Jesus’ birth to the shepherds. Why was Jesus born? The angels answer: to demonstrate grace and the peace God would bring us in Christ Jesus.

How is that grace and peace given us? That’s another way of asking the same first question: Why was Jesus born? To die. And not only to die, but to live again and bring you through death to new life and eternal life.  Grace and peace were won on the cross, but not delivered there. Come to Communion for the delivery of God’s grace and peace.

Faith responds in praise to God and by blessing His name, as the angels proclaimed their glory to God in the heavenly realms.

Both the song of the angels and Jesus’ Words of Institution of the Sacrament are located in time. The shepherds were keeping watch over their flocks by night, a specific night. Jesus gave us the Sacrament of the Altar on a specific night, the night He was betrayed.

To You, O sole-begotten,

The Father's Son, we pray;

O Lamb of God, our Savior,

You take our sins away.

Have mercy on us, Jesus;

Receive our heartfelt cry,

Where You in pow'r are seated

At God's right hand on high—

The early church expanded Luke 2:14 with the help of John 1:29 into a three-stanza Trinitarian hymn of praise. We have praised and blessed the Father. We ask Jesus for mercy, for He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. We will adore and worship the Holy Spirit with the Father and the Son as Lord Most High.

Stanza two focuses on Christ, the only-begotten Son of John 3:16. His birth is great and glorious, but it is only part of the picture. Christmas TV specials speak of family, love and forgiveness, but usually leave Jesus out. One does not see the same number of Easter specials. If ever there was hope for the future and the opportunity for a fresh start, it is in the Resurrection of Christ. For some reason, free grace isn’t a popular message because no one can make money off of it.

The Words of Institution are spoken by the Passover Lamb Himself. There is unleavened bread and wine. The table is set for the Exodus 12 Passover. This time, one of the Firstborn of Israel will die. And we shouldn’t be surprised that it is Jesus. He is the Lamb of God as a sacrifice dead on a cross. Like a lamb to the slaughter He was led away by Judas goat. And this unblemished lamb paints your door with His blood so that the destroyer will pass over you.

He gives into your mouth His Body and His Blood for your forgiveness in the greater Exodus, leading you out of bondage from Pharaoh Satan to life eternal in the heavenly promised land. He nourishes you in this wilderness of the shadow of death with Himself, His Word, His Gifts, and His people so that you are not alone. He is holy and gives you His holy gifts as His holy people.

For You alone are holy,

You only are the Lord.

Forever and forever,

Be worshiped and adored;

You with the Holy Spirit

Alone are Lord Most High,

In God the Father's glory.

"Amen!" our glad reply.

The response of faith is “Amen, yes, yes, it shall be so.” Amen adds faith’s “yes” to what has been said, sung, proclaimed, or prayed. Amen trusts that God has our best future in mind. Amen ties together Christmas, Good, Friday, Easter, and Pentecost as God’s will, fulfillment of His ancient promises, accomplishment of His salvation in Christ, and delivery of forgiveness, life and salvation in Word and Sacrament, celebrated with angels, archangels, and all the company of heaven. Amen.

To God on high be glory
And peace to all the earth;

Oh sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things! His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.       The Lord has made known his salvation; he has revealed his righteousness in the sight of the nations. [Amen.]
Psalm 98:1-2 ESV

Acknowledgments

Morning Prayer from Lutheran Service Book

Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Created by Lutheran Service Builder © 2006 Concordia Publishing House.