“And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting at the right clothed long white robe, and they were amazed. But he said to them, ‘Don’t be amazed, you seek Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen, He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.’” (St. Mark 16:1-8)
In the name of Jesus. Amen. Alleluia! Jesus Christ is risen from the dead! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
The world has all sorts of religions where someone rises from the dead. That someone rose from the dead isn’t the good news of Easter Sunday.
The angel proclaims the Gospel to us: Jesus the Nazarene, Who was crucified, has risen! He is not here. He is not dead. He lives!
The One who, for us and for our salvation, set His face toward Jerusalem on Transfiguration Sunday; Who, for us, moved all through Lent toward the Cross;
Who, for us, was betrayed into the hands of sinful men; Who, for us, suffered at the hands of the chief priests and teachers of the Law; Who, for us, was crucified; Who, for us, died...THAT ONE, Jesus the Nazarene, is risen from the dead. The One who went through Calvary for all our sins is risen from the dead. That’s the Gospel!
“Jesus Christ is risen today, Alleluia! Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia! Who did once upon the cross Alleluia! Suffer to redeem our loss. Alleluia!” (TLH 199, v.1)
The One who conquered death for you, comes to you today in His Feast. He gives His Body, crucified for you, and His Blood, shed for you, right into your mouth for the forgiveness of all your sins. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead will raise all who eat His Flesh and drink His Blood.
Everything that He won for you on the Cross, everything that the Father showered on Him at His resurrection is delivered to you today in the Sacrament. Jesus gives you His life, His forgiveness, His Father, everything, into your mouth!
Jesus Christ is risen from the dead! He is risen indeed. Alleluia! In the name of Jesus. Amen.
“Almighty God, who through Thine only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, hast overcome death and opened unto us the gate of everlasting life, we humbly beseech Thee that as Thou dost put into our minds good desires, so by Thy continual help we may bring the same to good effect; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son,our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.” (the Collect for Easter Sunday)
Higher Things Reflections are written by Rev. George F. Borghardt III, Assistant Pastor at St. Mark Lutheran Church, Conroe, TX.