P: Alleluia! Christ is Risen! C: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
In the beginning, the earth was without form and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. There was no light and no life—only darkness. Then God said, “Let there be light; and there was light.” On the first day of creation, light overcame darkness.
And the same thing on Easter—the first day of the week. The light of Christ overcame the darkness of sin and death.
Not long after God created Adam and Eve, they listened to Satan and ate the forbidden fruit.
And at that moment, darkness entered the world—the darkness of sin and death. Adam and Eve even hid from God among the shadows of the garden because they were ashamed of their sin.
Unfortunately, we have inherited the darkness of sin and death. We do not love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul, and mind. We worship money. We disrespect authority. We harbor anger. Our eyes and hands commit sexual immorality. Out of our mouths come filthy talk and gossip. We are jealous of others and not content with what God has given us. We want more stuff and more money. The darkness of unbelief lives within us. The wages of sin is death. Because of sin, every one of us will die. We will return to the ground from which we were taken.
Brecken Johnston inherited this same sinful nature. Therefore, baptism is God’s solution to her dilemma of sin. God saved her by giving her faith in Christ. Baptism is not optional. It is a necessity.
Sin loves darkness. More crimes are committed at night than in the light of the day because they do not want their evil deeds exposed. We also try to hide our sin. We lie. We cover it up. But nothing can be hidden from God. He knows all things.
So don’t be like Adam hiding in the shadows, but be honest. Say, “I am sorry.” Confess your sins to God and receive His forgiveness. Also, say “I am sorry” to those whom you have offended.
Darkness cannot make itself light. Neither can we poor sinners make ourselves righteous. Unbelief cannot create faith. Death cannot produce life. We cannot fix ourselves. We need help. We need Jesus to bring light and salvation to our dark world.
Jesus once said, “The light has come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (Jn 3:19-20). Jesus is that light. He is the light of the world. He preached the truth. He forgave sins. He healed the sick and dying. Yet, the religious leaders loved darkness rather than Jesus. Their deeds were evil. They hated Jesus so much that they handed Him over to Pilate to be crucified.
As Jesus hung on the cross, darkness covered the land from 12 noon until 3:00 p.m. The Gospel of Luke tells us that “darkness came over all the earth” (Lk 23:44-45). The sun failed. The light did not rule the darkness. This was no ordinary darkness. It was not an eclipse. The darkness was a sign of judgment. As Jesus hung there, He bore the full darkness of our sin. Jesus bore the wrath of God against sin.
And then, He gave up His spirit and died.
The color for Good Friday is black. It’s black because it symbolizes sin and death. But today is different.
We learn from our Holy Gospel for today that the women went to the tomb very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise. When they got to the tomb, the stone has already been rolled away. Inside, they saw an angel clothed in a white robe. And the angel said to them, “You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen from the dead.”
Just as light overcame darkness on the first day of creation—the first day of the week, so also Jesus overcame darkness on a Sunday—the first day of the week. Christ rose from the dead. He is risen. Light shines out of darkness and life conquered death. Light has triumphed both at Creation and on Easter.
The color for Easter is white. It is white because it symbolizes light and life.
St Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:10 that Jesus has “destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel.” Christ is the light of the world. He has overcome the darkness of sin and death. He brought light and life into our world. He rose from the dead and He lives forevermore.
Even today, a Sunday, the first day of the week, the light of Christ comes to you and casts out your darkness. Christ comes to you now by means of the Gospel bringing you life in the midst of death. He comes to you through preaching. He comes to you through His body and blood in the Lord’s Supper.
Christ came to Brecken by means of water and the word. Salvation was given to her freely as a gift from God. She is now united with Christ’s death and resurrection. She has been clothed with the robe of Christ’s righteousness. The light of Christ drove out the darkness within her.
Today is a new day. It is the first day of the week. It is the day of resurrection. Good Friday has passed. Easter is now among us. In Christ there is light. In Christ there is life and salvation. In Christ there is forgiveness. The devil is defeated. Sin is paid for.
The cross and open tomb belong together. You cannot have one without the other. First, there is Good Friday, then there is Easter. On Good Friday, Jesus died for your sins. On Easter, He rose for your justification. On Good Friday Jesus suffered God’s wrath against sin, but on Easter morning God frees you from His wrath and has declared you to be forgiven. The resurrection of our Lord means that the sacrifice on Good Friday was sufficient and pleasing to the Father. The debt is paid. Therefore, life and salvation must follow. Since darkness has been defeated, then the light of Christ must shine. Jesus could not remain in the tomb. He had to rise and He did.
Earlier I mentioned that men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. They hate the light and do not come to the light. So also, today.
The resurrection of our Lord is attacked by the unbelieving world. Some claim that the tomb was empty because Jesus’ body had been devoured by wild dogs. Others claim that Jesus’ body rotted away in the tomb and that the resurrection story was made up by the disciples in order to put a happy ending to a sad story. Others claim that Jesus only appeared to be dead, thanks to a slow-acting poison administered to him on the cross while later he revived. Others claim that Jesus never rose bodily but that He only rose in our hearts.
But nothing is farther from the truth. Christ rose from the dead according to the Scriptures. Jesus was even seen by over 500 people at one time. The eye witnesses to the resurrection wrote the actual account in the Gospels. The apostles even gave up their lives in martyrdom for the sake of the truth. They firmly believed that Christ died for our sins and that He rose from the dead and they were willing to stake their lives on this confession.
If Christ had not risen from the dead, we would never know whether our sins were paid for. If Christ had not risen from the dead, we would always wonder whether there is life for us after we die. But Christ has risen from the dead. Therefore, your sins are forgiven. Because Jesus rose from the dead, you too will bodily rise from the dead on the last day.
Ephesians 5:8 says, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” In other words, you now have a new identity. You are a baptized child of God redeemed with the blood of Christ. You are a light in a dark world. So, walk in love, joy and peace. Turn away from the works of darkness. Stand firm against the “rulers of the darkness of this age” (Eph 6:12). Remain faithful to God’s Word. Let the light of Christ shine through you. Let others see Christ in your words and actions.
Just as the women at the tomb spread the news of the resurrection to the disciples, so also tell others that Jesus died for our sins and that He rose from the dead. Bring a neighbor, a friend, or a family member to the Divine Service.
The tomb is empty, but the altar is not. Here, the risen Christ is present. Here, He gives you His body and blood for the forgiveness of sins.
Today is a new day. It is the day of resurrection. It is a day of light and life.
Let me close with the words of Hebrews 13:20-21, “Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Sheperd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will.”
May our Lord who rose from the dead equip you with everything good that you may do His will. To God be all the glory. Amen.
