In the name of Christ Jesus, dear fellow redeemed people of God,

Today we have wonderful news to tell. Jesus didn't stay dead in the tomb. He came back to life! Jesus really, physically rose from death. And yes, it really does matter. If Christ had remained dead, it would have meant defeat, for him and for us. It would have meant that his payment for sin was not sufficient. If Jesus had remained dead, we would perish eternally in our sins. But, we have wonderful news from God's Word! Jesus did not stay dead! He came back to life! And that means that he won the victory, and so we won too. After all, he was serving as our Substitute. Because Jesus rose from death, heaven stands open today. Let us be glad and celebrate, because...

Let us take a closer look at St. Luke chapter 24. I invite you to follow along, if you will.

{1} On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb.

After Jesus had died on the cross, there was very little time to prepare his body for burial. At 6:00 P.M. on Friday, the Sabbath began. The women did not have time to apply the various spices that were appropriate. In keeping with the Sabbath Law, they rested from 6:00 P.M. Friday until 6:00 P.M. Saturday. The decided to do this work first thing Sunday morning. So, very early in the morning, these women who had followed and served Jesus set out for the tomb. They were going to prepare his body properly for burial with the spices they had with them. But, they had a few surprises ahead of them.

{2-3} They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, {3} but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

The stone was rolled away from the tomb. This was the first surprise. And when the entered the tomb, they had another surprise. They did not find Jesus' body. This must have troubled these women. They must have been wondering what happened. They were puzzled.

{4} While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.

Two angels appeared like men in glorious clothing. This was another surprise. The angels appeared quite suddenly. Their appearance must have been quite a shock early on Sunday morning. They were not expecting any of this to happen. They were startled and afraid.

{5-6a} In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? {6a} He is not here; he has risen!..."

The angels had a wonderful message to tell. The first part of their message sounds like a mild rebuke, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" The women were looking for Jesus, but he didn't belong in this tomb anymore. He was alive again! These women should have known. The disciples should have known. Jesus had told them that he would rise from death on the third day. He had predicted it very clearly.

The angels delivered the first Easter sermon. It was brief and to the point: "He is not here; he has risen!" Jesus was raised from death to life. Jesus came back to life! He wasn't dead anymore!

What great news! No human eye was watching when Jesus came back to life. But it happened. Sometime, while it was still dark, very early on this Sunday morning, Jesus rose from death. He came back to life. While we don't know the exact moment, we know that it was before this, for the holy angels said: "He is not here; he has risen!" That is the message of Easter. Jesus did not stay dead. He was alive again! Thanks be to God! It happened just as Jesus said it would. The angels explained this to the women.

{6-7} He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: {7} 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'"

The angels reminded the women of Jesus' words. Jesus had very clearly predicted this. The angels even quoted Jesus' words that "on the third day" he would rise again. According to the Jewish reckoning, this was the third day. The women and the disciples should have known! Jesus said that he would be crucified and rise on the third day. The angel's sermon was clear and had an effect on the women.

{8} Then they remembered his words.

They remembered what Jesus had said. They had been faithful followers and listeners. They knew. They knew very well what Jesus had said. They were probably ashamed of themselves for forgetting.

May we remember our Savior's words. May we follow our Savior by listening to his Word on a regular basis. Let none of us be content with being "Christmas and Easter members" who only show up in God's house on Christmas and Easter. Come regularly. You belong here. Follow Jesus. Hear his word. Remember his word. Believe his word. And you will be blessed. You will grow in faith and knowledge.

{9-10} When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. {10} It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.

The women went straight to the Apostles and others to tell them all about it. This was big news! Jesus had risen! He wasn't dead anymore! He came back to life!

{11} But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

This verse is rather sad. At first, the apostles and others did not believe what the women told them. They thought it sounded like nonsense. Maybe the women were all excited. Maybe they weren't as clear as they could have been. Most likely, these other disciples just didn't believe it.

Yet, even here we have something we can use. Sometimes, unbelievers will say that the disciples were just so eager to have Jesus back they would believe anything. But this verse proves that these disciples were not gullible men. They were not at all ready to believe the first hints of a resurrection. They were not expecting this at all. They were not looking for it at all. When the women tried to tell them that Jesus rose from death and came back to life, their first reaction was to reject it. They were not gullible!

Soon, they would receive very convincing proof. We read some of that proof in our Epistle lesson for today from 1 Corinthians 15. The women would see Jesus, face to face. The disciples would see Jesus face to face. And this would even convince doubting Thomas. But here, they had the opportunity to believe without seeing. And they failed. They did not believe. It seemed like nonsense. Later Jesus would rebuke them for being too slow to believe what had been so clearly foretold.

Do you believe that Jesus rose from the dead or does it seem like nonsense to you? We don't see him here, face to face. Yet, blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed! May God enable all of us to believe that Jesus really came back to life. May God enable all of us to believe that Jesus entered this world as true God and true man to redeem us from sin. May God enable all of us to believe the gospel message, that Jesus lived a perfect life for us, and died on the cross to pay for all of our sins, and that he rose from death because he had won our victory and our forgiveness. Yes, may we all believe, for Jesus said that whoever believes in him will not perish, but have eternal life. Believe in Jesus our crucified and risen Savior. Believe in Jesus, who rose from the dead having won your forgiveness, and you will have eternal life in heaven. Believe that Jesus saved you and came back to life.

One by one, Jesus convinced his disciples that he really did come back to life. May he convince each one of us too, one by one. On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead. This is a truth of God's Word. Check it out. Read all about it. One day, we will all see him, but then, it will be too late. I'm here to tell you that it's true. Jesus saved you. And, then Jesus came back to life! Amen!