April 4, 2021

EASTER SUNDAY

READINGS FOR THE COMING WEEK

*Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 25:6-9

Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

1 Corinthians 15:1-11 or Acts 10:34-43

John 20:1-18 or Mark 16:1-8

Gospel Reading from John

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 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.”

Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.

Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.

Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.Then the disciples returned to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet.

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.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” 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.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher).

Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because 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.'” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Sermon

In our gospel reading from John, Mary Magdelene brought two disciples to Jesus’ tomb. The other disciples were likely attending to preparations for a funeral. Their hopes were crushed. And they were confused. But the scriptures taught the meaning of the week’s events. The words “death” and “rise again” appear in the scriptures, our Old Testament. Thomas has yet to probe with his finger. They will soon know however. What does it mean? The cross by itself only meant death. And resurrection was deemed a fantasy. But God defeats death and the devil. On the cross he saw conquest. In a sermon, Martin Luther spoke of death and Calvary as being united with Him through crucifixion and then resurrection. The apostle Paul wrote of being unified. A minister in New York City published an article, just before being diagnosed with a deadly form of cancer. When asked, he says that he only half believes in the resurrection. Pastor Stevenson tells us this week that he was distressed over this. It is a problem in our culture. But we should not be concerned. Does God say his promises are unshakable? If united in death, then we too are united in resurrection. We must trust Him.