Listen

S. Easter Sunday.26 Matt. 28:1-10

And behold; Jesus met them and said ‘Rejoice!’

For Christ is Risen!… Amen!

Really, we could just stop there and be well on our way to a new Synodical Easter Sunday time record. But I think I already hold that one, too. And since I don’t get to see some of you very often—especially my two kids who are here today—a little talk about Jesus seems entirely appropriate…

On Good Friday we said that because Jesus is God his death has FINISHED off sin, death, and hell forever, for everyone, so that there is really nothing left for us to do but REJOICE and party with Jesus sin, death, and hell-free, forever… (!)

That is Jesus’ Easter Sermon. It’s really that short. “REJOICE!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him, idolized him (I like to say it that way because you’re like “wait, a minute! You can’t idolize Jesus, because he’s actually God, not an idol. You have that wrong, don’t you, Pastor?” And I just 😉 Because, I rejoice more, as St. Paul did, when you are right even if I appear to be wrong 😉

But we need to say a bit more about this, not the least because the ESV can’t even translate the word χαιρετε “rejoice” properly. They translate it “Greetings” which is so completely and totally lame. Boo! Hiss! You’re missing the point Calvinists, as you usually do! At least the King gets it right “REJOICE!” which is what it quite literally is in Greek, “delight, be full of joy!”

Which we are, today, especially! Because Jesus tells us to be, gives us permission, actually one of the few imperative commands he issues: REJOICE! This is my kind of God and LORD! If all he wants me to do is have a great time with him, well, this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship… 😉

The disciples—Mary Magdalene, and the other Mary, struggled a bit with the command, situation normal for the disciples of Jesus, then as now. We know this because after they took hold of his feet and worshiped him, the first thing Jesus says is: “NO FEAR!” (also an imperative command) which shows that they were quite afraid and filled with joy at the same time. I find the most truly joyful things in life are also a little… scary. You’re not sure you can endure it and yet you’re afraid it’s going to end. We are so hard to please!

I think you can understand the Marys’ fear. They saw Jesus die three days before! They were there; really there (not imaginatively “there” as the hymn asks us to be). They saw the darkness at noon that covered the earth till three, the earthquake at 3 pm, the temple veil torn in two, saints’ graves open. They also saw Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus take the body of Jesus down from the cross and race to anoint him and bury him in Joseph’s new tomb. Matthew tells us the two Marys were sitting there, opposite the tomb watching…

And that was scary, too! Watching men cleaning is always scary!—because you know, we miss so much and we never get it quite… right. Just ask my wife! But it was late and the law required burial before sunset. The body must have been heavy, so the Marys just watched, tutt-tutted, and slapped their foreheads and decided to come back at the end of the Sabbath, 6:01 am Sunday to well, you know get it done… rite. 😉

But they kinda forgot about the big stone Joseph and Nick rolled to seal the tomb. How were they going to move that? You can’t think of everything! But when they got to the tomb, there was a great earthquake and and an angel of the LORD descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. I mean, nice, the stone gets rolled away, but scary that an angel who appeared like a bolt of lightning and had clothing white as snow is sitting on the stone. “No, you go first, I’ll follow you dear Mary…”

I mean, you have to credit the Marys for courage—because the professional soldiers guarding the tomb had fainted and become like dead men at the sight! At least the Marys remain vertical and don’t flee… 😉

The angel says “NO FEAR!” another imperative command just like Jesus will utter in a moment, “for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said (couldn’t resist a little dig at the Mary’s lack of faith because it’s not like they hadn’t been told by Jesus how this’d go down, 3 times before!). 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 were told! And they “departed the tomb quickly with fear (“NO FEAR’s a toughie in that situation!) and great joy and ran to tell his disciples.” And then Jesus meets them and preaches the shortest and best Easter Sermon ever: “REJOICE!” and that they can do! They came up and took hold of his feet (because they are flat on their faces, which is what the Greek word for worship προσκυνεω literally means) and worshiped him…

Maybe… it’s only when we are scared out of our wits that we can actually follow Jesus?, keep his commands?, worship him aright? Maybe… he likes us better scared out our minds, witless, wordless just letting art flow over us? Maybe this is the way to life, joy, peace? 😉

I’m sure they could have stayed there like that forever, filled with joy. You could. I could. But we have miles to go before we sleep. We have our own sharing in Jesus’ dying still to come, and fruit of that still to bear, and wits to be scared out of till we can remain happily in that heavenly state—some sin that only death can get rid of to banish before it’s all sunshine and buttercups, forever.

But you can get a taste of Heaven, right here and now, not only in that lovely word χαιρω, REJOICE!, but with a literal taste at the Table now of the very body of Jesus broken on the cross and risen victorious to save you put in your mouth; the very blood that has washed away the sin of the world making all your death and hell clean gone, forever (the medicine of immortality) put on your lips to drink!

And if the thought that here are not just those we see, but Angels, Archangels and the Whole Company of Heaven! surrounding us unseen with Heaven’s Praise, if that scares you just a little, if the thought of the King of Kings and LORD of Lords communing with you leaves you more shaken than stirred, well; maybe (just maybe 😉 my job is done?

And in the witless wonder of Faith, the Peace, surpassing all understanding, will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus.

For Christ is Risen!

Indeed. Alleluia. Amen.