Posted on 03/22/2008 2:59:07 PM PDT by Charles Henrickson
“He Is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!” (Matthew 28:1-10)
Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And 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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then 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.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
Alleluia! Christ is risen! (“He is risen indeed! Alleluia!”)
Over many centuries, this is how the church has joyfully responded to the great Easter proclamation. What calls forth such a response of joy and worship? It is the glorious good news of reassurance and restoration that comes with the resurrection of our Lord. On this most glorious of mornings, the whole church in heaven and on earth rejoices to respond, “He Is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!”
But first comes God’s word to us, “Christ is risen.” That’s what the angel said to the women at the tomb, “I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said.” Here is the great fact of the resurrection stated--or perhaps I should say, understated--in simple yet profound words. The reality of the resurrection itself is the first thing that grabs our attention. Jesus really died and was buried. Now he is alive, risen from the dead! This Jesus is the defeater of death and the Lord of life. Indeed, by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord was declared to be the Son of God in power. The grave could not hold him. Our Savior broke the power of death and by his resurrection brought life and salvation to all creation.
“I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. . . . He has risen.” This announcement by the angel brings together the two central events at the heart of the gospel, namely, Christ’s death and his resurrection. On the cross Christ finished the work of our redemption, and now his resurrection testifies to the infinite worth and the astonishing effects of his atoning sacrifice. You see, on the cross Jesus Christ made the perfect sacrifice for all of your sins and for the sin of the whole world. Nothing else would do, only the holy precious blood of the Son of God come in the flesh. This is how much God loves you and has acted to save you from your sins and the death you deserve: God’s own Son, Jesus Christ, was crucified for you! As a result, God is at peace with you! God is reconciled to men--he must be--for the sacrifice of the Son has been accepted by the Father. Easter shows that Good Friday was enough; it did the job of paying for sin and overcoming death. The crucifixion and the resurrection together declare the glory of the Lord and guarantee our salvation. This “Jesus who was crucified . . . has risen.”
What’s more, the angel says, “He has risen, as he said.” Jesus himself had foretold his own resurrection. Not only had he predicted his Passion, but with it he promised that on the third day he would be raised to life. Therefore the resurrection attests to the truthfulness of all Christ’s teaching. His words, all of them, are sound and sure. There is nothing more trustworthy. You can depend on it. Follow Jesus, keep on following him and listening to him, as he preaches his word to you and teaches you what it means to be his disciple. He has the words of eternal life. “He has risen, as he said.” Our Lord’s resurrection verifies what he himself had said: “I am the way and the truth and the life.” The way to the Father is open through the sacrifice of the Son. The truth of Christ’s word is affirmed, as he fulfills his own prophecy. The life that conquers death is declared, in the angel’s words, “Jesus who was crucified . . . has risen, as he said.”
Now you would think that such a proclamation of a glorious and mighty resurrection would bring nothing but pure joy. But our text says that the women “departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy.” Yes, their joy was great, and it certainly predominated, yet it was mixed with fear. In some way, I suppose this was understandable. Any contact with the awesome power of the Almighty causes us sinners to tremble with fear.
We too find this thing incredible, this amazing power of God which raised our Lord from the dead. But equally impressive, if not more so, is the amazing grace of the risen Lord! This grace is reassuring and restorative. It relieves our fears and restores us to fellowship.
Jesus meets the frightened women and calms their fears. “Greetings!” he says. “Be of good cheer,” is another way to say it. He reassures the astonished women with the sound of his familiar voice. He greets them with a word of happiness and well-being. And happiness and joy certainly come to these women, for now they see Jesus before them and hear his voice.
Then Jesus gives them even more reassurance: “Do not be afraid.” Fear not, for the perfect love of Christ drives out our fears. Fear of punishment, fear of God’s judgment, fear of death--all these are overcome by the comforting voice of Jesus our Savior. Jesus speaks these same words of reassurance to us today: “Greetings! Do not be afraid. I have risen from the dead. I have conquered the grave. I am not angry with you. Indeed, I have good news for you! Be reassured by my resurrection.”
So impressive, so glorious, is the grace of our risen Lord! Now he says to the women, “Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” It is in reference to his disciples that Jesus says, “Tell my brothers.” But these are the same disciples who had deserted, denied, and disowned their Lord in his hour of trial just a few nights earlier. Yet here Jesus claims them as his own with a term of intimacy and endearment, “my brothers.” In so doing, he speaks pardon for all their lack of faith. He restores them to fellowship. Instead of saying, “Forget those guys, they were faithless when it came to crunch time”--no, instead Jesus says, “Go and tell my brothers.”
Restoration to fellowship is a gift that Christ gives his disciples, both then and now. Today Jesus speaks his word of restoration to us, as well. He calls us his brothers. What hope, what riches are ours as a result! Martin Luther writes: “If now Christ is our brother, I would like to know what we still lack? Brethren in the flesh have common possessions, have together one father, one inheritance, else they would not be brethren. So we have common possessions with Christ, and have together one Father and one inheritance.”
In Holy Baptism, you and I were united to Christ and made God’s children. Now we are heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. Our Lord’s resurrection, therefore, is the guarantee of our own resurrection. This paschal candle, lighted on Easter morning, is a visual reminder that our risen Lord is here present with his church, and that his resurrection life has been delivered to each one of us in the waters of Holy Baptism. On this Easter Day then, baptized Christians, take hope in the victory over death that Jesus gives you.
What’s more, today Christ invites us to share in this his “feast of victory.” “The Lamb who was slain has begun his reign.” At this table he gives us a “foretaste of the feast to come,” the marriage supper of the Lamb in his kingdom, which has no end. Today we celebrate the greatest of all the festivals in the church year, the Resurrection of Our Lord. “So let us keep the festival whereto the Lord invites us.” “Then let us feast this Easter Day on Christ, the Bread of heaven.”
Today the Lord’s messenger announces the good news: “Jesus who was crucified . . . has risen, as he said.” Today our risen Lord himself cheers us with his presence, his familiar and comforting voice, and his reassuring, restorative words: “Greetings! Do not be afraid. I call you my brothers and sisters.” Hearing these words, what other response could we have but one of joy and worship? That’s what those words are, “He is risen indeed! Alleluia!” They are joy and worship! With the women at the empty tomb, we are filled with joy and bow in adoration before our risen Lord. With them--indeed, “with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven”--we and all Christians around the world today join in joyous Easter worship.
Christ, our crucified Savior, is risen from the dead. He is here with us now. The only fitting response is to worship him, to give him the highest honor and praise. “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” This is the Festival of the Resurrection of Our Lord! “Therefore let us joyful be and sing to God right thankfully loud songs of hallelujah!”
Alleluia! Christ is risen! (“He is risen indeed! Alleluia!”)
Ping.
He is risen indeed.
He lives to bless me with His love
He lives to plead for me above
He lives, my hungry soul to feed
He lives, to help in time of need
He lives, my kind, wise heavenly Friend
He lives and loves me to the end
He lives, and while He lives I'll sing
He lives, my Prophet, Priest and King!
He lives, all glory to His name
He lives, my Savior still the same
What joy this blest assurance gives
I know that my Redeemer lives!
Happy Easter, Pastor.....and to Jim Robinson and family......and to all my freeper friends.
Leni/MinuteGal
He lives to bless me with His love
He lives to plead for me above
He lives, my hungry soul to feed
He lives, to help in time of need
He lives, my kind, wise heavenly Friend
He lives and loves me to the end
He lives, and while He lives I'll sing
He lives, my Prophet, Priest and King!
He lives, all glory to His name
He lives, my Savior still the same
What joy this blest assurance gives
I know that my Redeemer lives!
A blessed Easter, Pastor.....and to Jim Robinson and family......and to all my freeper friends.
Leni/MinuteGal
Leni
Good news, He is risen, the stone is rolled away.
Amen and Amen.
Bump
1. Halleluia! Jesus Lives!
He is now the Living One;
From the gloomy house of death
Forth the Conqueror has gone,
Bright Forerunner to the skies
Of His people, yet to rise.
2. Jesus lives! Let all rejoice;
Praise Him, ransomed ones of earth.
Praise Him in a nobler song,
Cherubim of heavenly birth.
Praise the Victor-King, whose sway
Sin and death and hell obey.
3. Jesus lives! Why weepest thou?
Why that sad and frequent sigh?
He who died our Brother here
Lives our Brother still on high,
Lives forever to bestow
Blessings on His Church below.
4. Jesus Iives! And thus, my soul,
Life eternal waits for thee;
Joined to Him, thy living Head,
Where He is, thou, too, shalt be;
With Himself, at His right hand,
Victor over death shalt stand.
5. Jesus lives! To Him my heart
Draws with ever new delight.
Earthly vanities, depart,
Hinder not my heavenward flight.
Let this spirit ever rise
To its magnet in the skies.
6. Halleluja, angels, sing!
Join us in our hymn of praise,
Let your chorus swell the strain
Which our feebler voices raise:
Glory to our God above
And on earth His peace and love!
The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn #188 from _The Handbook to theLutheran Hymnal_
Text: John 20:15
Author: Carl B. Garve, 1825, cento
Translated by: Jane Borthwick, 1862
Titled: “Halleluja, Christus lebt”
Composer: Ludvig M. Lindeman, 1871
Tune: “Fred til Bod”
http://www.lutheran-hymnal.com/online/tlh-195.mid
“Christ Jesus Lay in Death’s Strong Bands”
by Martin Luther, 1483-1546
1. Christ Jesus lay in death’s strong bands,
For our offenses given;
But now at God’s right hand He stands
And brings us life from heaven;
Therefore let us joyful be
And sing to God right thankfully
Loud songs of hallelujah!
Hallelujah!
2. It was a strange and dreadful strife
When Life and Death contended;
The victory remained with Life,
The reign of Death was ended;
Holy Scripture plainly saith
That Death is swallowed up by Death,
His sting is lost forever.
Hallelujah!
3. Here the true Paschal Lamb we see,
Whom God so freely gave us;
He died on the accursed tree-
So strong His love!-to save us.
See, His blood doth mark our door;
Faith points to it, Death passes o’er,
And Satan cannot harm us.
Hallelujah!
4. So let us keep the festival
Whereto the Lord invites us;
Christ is himself the Joy of all,
The Sun that warms and lights us.
By His grace He doth impart
Eternal sunshine to the heart;
The night of sin is ended.
Hallelujah!
5. Then let us feast this Easter Day
On Christ, the Bread of heaven;
The Word of Grace hath purged away
The old and evil leaven.
Christ alone our souls will feed,
He is our meat and drink indeed;
Faith lives upon no other.
Hallelujah!
The Lutheran Hymnal
Hymn 195
Text: Acts 2:24
Author: Martin Luther, 1524, cento
Translated by: Richard Massie, 1854, alt.
Titled: “Christ lag in Todesbanden”
Tune: “Christ lag in Todesbanden”
Latin melody, c. 1100
Based on “Christ is erstanden”
I love the Lutheran Hymnal. The awesome, beautiful and unforgettable hymns of the composers and lyricists contained in its pages were truly inspired by men and women of strong faith.
Leni
Hearing the Organist finishing his practice of that piece when I arrived very early for Maundy Thursday made the somber days much more bearable.
Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
"The Promise Fulfilled" is what I teach my son.
Thanks for the ping, and a blessed Easter to you and your family.
Jimbo
Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia!
our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!
Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
unto Christ, our heavenly King, Alleluia!
who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
sinners to redeem and save. Alleluia!
But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!
our salvation have procured, Alleluia!
now above the sky he's King, Alleluia!
where the angels ever sing. Alleluia!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.