A Day Like No Other

EASTER PROCLAMATION

Jesus Christ is risen!

Christ is risen, indeed! Alleluia!

Rejoice, now, all heavenly choirs of angels, and celebrate the divine mysteries with exultation; and, for the victory of so great a King, sound the trumpet of salvation.

Exult, also, O earth, enlightened with such radiance; and, made brilliant by the splendor of the eternal King, know that the ancient darkness has been banished from all the world.

Be glad also, O mother Church, clothed with the brightness of such a light, and let us resound with the triumphant voices of the peoples.

This was the night in which all who believe in Christ are rescued from evil and the gloom of sin, are renewed in grace, and holiness, by the rising brightness.

This was the night in which, breaking the chains of death, Christ arises from hell in triumph. O night truly blessed in which heaven and earth are joined—things human and things divine.

We, therefore, pray to you, O Lord, that he will continue to vanquish the darkness of this night and faithfully shed light on all the human race. Through the same Lord, Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and rules with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen

Song: Jesus Christ is Risen Today

Singing all four verses.

Prayer of the Day

Let us pray.

God of mercy, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for he is alive and has become the Lord of life. Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ, and help us to grow as your people toward the fullness of eternal life with you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Gospel: Matthew 28:1-7.

Jesus Has Risen

1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

The gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

MESSAGE

Easter Sunday is truly a Day like no other.

Jesus… was gone. He was dead. The crowd demanded His crucifixion and the flow of blood and water only confirmed there was no more life in His body.

After His crucifixion and death, the world would continue going on about it’s business. The community remained in it’s routine. The disciples were mourning the loss of Jesus and perhaps trying to determine what their next steps would be.

But when they reached this day… their entire world… their very reality would be changed… forever!

Jesus truly was and is like no other. And His work and ministry on this earth was like nothing the world had ever seen.

Jesus displayed the power of His name, the gift of God’s grace, a love that is unstoppable, and a life that is victorious. And not only did God display these things through His Son, He made them available to all who would repent of their sins and call on the name of Jesus for salvation!

His name has the power to break any chains that might bind you. His name has the power to set the captive free.

His grace is greater than any sin we may have committed. His grace is offered through Jesus’ substitutional work on the cross. He paid the price for our sins so we could be forgiven!

His love has been evident and available even while we were yet sinners. God’s love is for you and is something we can experience on a daily basis.

His life… a life like no other… is a life made possible because of His resurrection… it is something promised to all who believe in Him. This life is described as life more abundantly… life to the full… and it can only be found in Jesus! This was the life Jesus came to this earth to offer! (John 10:10)

This day would prove to be a day like no other… because the world would soon learn who had the final say regarding the events that had taken place.

The crowd thought they had silenced Jesus once and for all. Once the Shepherd had been taken out, the sheep would scatter. But they would soon learn that the death of Jesus was only the closing of a chapter… it was far from being the end of the story!

The world thought it had the final say, but soon they would see that

God Has the Final Say.

What the world didn’t know was that everything that had happened so far, was God’s plan for His one and only Son.

It was God’s plan for Jesus to give His life as a ransom for many.

Jesus’ life was not taken from Him, Jesus laid down His life… God GAVE His Son… to be the final payment for our sins. Our sins were nailed to the cross… were crucified with with Christ, as Paul makes clear in passages like Galatians 2:20.

And what the world would soon find out was that God’s plan wasn’t over!

Pilate thought He had the final say when he condemned Jesus to be beaten and crucified.

The cross thought it had the final say as the life of its victim, Jesus, slowly drained out of His body. The cross never failed to do what it was designed to do.

The tomb thought it had the final say as it was closed with a stone, sealed with the governor’s authority, and guarded by Roman soldiers.

Death appeared… to be victorious. But death… would NOT have the final say.

Our passage from Matthew does well to tell the story.

The earth began to shake and quake at the power of God

An angel of the Lord broke the governor’s seal, rolled away the stone… and sat on it!

The guards shook and became like dead men

Then came the declaration to the women, “He is NOT here; He has risen!”

Then came the evidence of the empty tomb, “Come and see where He lay.”

Then comes the final word, “NOW I HAVE TOLD YOU.”

You see, on this day, the world did not have the final say, death did not have the final say, GOD HAD THE FINAL SAY.

God was in this from the very beginning. His plan was being revealed and His power and authority was unlike anything the world had ever seen. The grave had to give up its occupant at the Word of our God!

Jesus came walking out of the grave! Death was defeated… and today… we know our Jesus is alive!

And this is hugely significant! Because not only do we serve a living and risen Savior, we have been offered this new life through the resurrection of Jesus!

God wants LIFE for You!

As we close today, I want you to realize something. We know that all have sinned. We know that the wages of sin is death. But Scripture tells us the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

God did not create us for sin. God did not create us to perish. God created us for fellowship, for relationship.

Where sin brought separation in our fellowship with God, the death and resurrection of Jesus brought redemption, forgiveness, and reconciliation to God!

Our sins were nailed to the cross through Jesus… and God offers us eternal life through His resurrection. I want you to hear how Romans 6:8-10 in the Message Bible says it:

Romans 6:8–10 MSG

8 If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. 9 We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. 10 When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us.

Did you catch that? Because He lives… death will never again have the final say… it will never again have the last word. Why? Because Jesus defeated sin, death and the grave! And He offers life like no other on this day like no other to all who would believe!

new life is found when we call on His name. God pours in His love and grace when we call on His name. His name is the way… His name is the answer we have been looking for.

Find new life today in the resurrection of our Savior. Experience life more abundantly as you follow Jesus. Do not listen to what the final words the world would say about you… allow for God to have the final say. His Word is life… His Word is truth… His Word is freedom… and it can all be experienced through the One who conquered death once and for all!

Prayers

O God, on this most holy day, inspire your church around the world, in all its varieties of languages, nations, and tribes. When it speaks the joys of your Gospel, strengthen it. When it is in error, reform it. Lord, in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

O God, for the future of your creation, help us to be good stewards of what you have made. Be with those who work the land. Bring appropriate amounts of rain and help us repair what has been damaged. Lord, in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

O God, for the sake of peace and justice, guide the nations and leaders of the world. Open their hearts to your message of love of neighbor and of enemy. Protect those who serve us in the military and in all forms of public service. Lord, in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

O God, on this day of hope, bring comfort to those who suffer in any way. Help us to tend to the sick, injured, and grieving. Lord, in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

O God, on this day of resurrection, we give thanks for those who have gone before us. Unite us with them on that day when all shall feast at your table. Lord, in your mercy.

Hear our prayer.

O God, for our redemption you gave your only Son to suffer death on the cross, and by his glorious resurrection you delivered us from the power of death. Make us die every day to sin so that we may rise to live with Christ forever; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen

The Lord’s Prayer

Lord, remember us in your kingdom and teach us to pray.

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.

Amen.

Song: I know That My Redeemer Lives!

Sing Verse 1 and 8 only

Blessing

May God who has brought us from death to life fill us with great joy. Almighty God, Father, ☩ Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us now and forever.

Amen

Dismissal

Alleluia! Christ is risen

Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia!

You are the body of Christ raised up for the world. Go in peace. Share the good news.

Thanks be to God.