Do Not Be Afraid. Rejoice in the Resurrection!

Pastor Peter Metzger

Easter Festival

Matthew 28:1-10

First Lutheran Church

Lake Geneva, WI

April 16, 2017

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 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.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Do Not Be Afraid

Have you ever stopped to think how different your Easter morning is from what it was like for the women on the first Easter? For me, Easter morning is an exciting time! I get to wake up and go to church right away to sing some of my favorite songs and break the gloom of Lent (and most recently, Good Friday) by shouting out my alleluias. I’m sure that more than one of us carefully planned out what we were going to wear today. Parents, maybe you bought a new Easter outfit for your children. Ladies, maybe it was a swanky new Easter hat or gloves. And kids, how many of you already got or are getting an Easter basket loaded with chocolate and goodies?

For us, Easter is an exciting time! You can wake up with a smile on your face.

It wasn’t that way for Mary Magdalene or the other Mary when they went to look at the tomb. When they woke up on that first Easter morning, I would find it hard to believe that there was a smile anywhere to be found. They didn’t get gussied up or give each other gifts. They probably didn’t have any plans to go out for brunch that day either. They woke up in fear and with a solemn task to be done.

Ever since Jesus was laid to rest late on Friday evening, they had been preparing to give him a proper burial. They were prevented from doing anything for 24 hours because they weren’t permitted to do any work on the Sabbath. But as soon as the Sabbath was over and the sun peaked above the horizon, they were out the door with their burial spices in hand and fear in their hearts.

They had just seen their dear friend die a gruesome death, which all by itself is a terrifying prospect that I can’t imagine, but Jesus’ death also marked the beginning of open war with the Pharisees. For years they had threatened and censored Jesus, but it had mostly been behind the scenes and was limited to veiled threats or hostile looks. But now, by killing Jesus in this way, they had announced for everyone to hear and know that they wouldn’t tolerate anyone who believed what Jesus taught.

That’s why none of the disciples came along. They were still holed up, afraid of what the Jews might do to them if they found them. Even just walking out the door as a known associate of Jesus took courage on that day.

As they continued, however, their reason for fear simply grew. No doubt they had felt the earthquake that morning, much like the one that shook the ground when Jesus died. When they got to the tomb, it seems like they probably saw the soldiers lying lifeless on the ground and the stone rolled away. It would have taken someone with great power to do those things and if that person could overpower armed guards, what could he do to a couple of defenseless ladies?

And then an angel appeared to them, shining in all his splendor, blazingly bright like lightning and pure white as snow. The sight of this unworldly, all-glorious creature must have sent a chill or two down their spine as well, but he didn’t waste time or allow their fear to sink in. Instead, he said, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”

That messenger knew what those ladies were expecting to find there that morning. He knew that they couldn’t possibly comprehend the resurrection while they still carried burial spices in their hands. He knew what it must have looked like to see the tomb so violently opened. He could see the fear in their eyes, but he had a message of peace and comfort.

“He is not here,” he said, “he has risen, just as he said.” He’s not here – which, I think, was probably pretty obvious by that point – but it wasn’t as if Jesus’ corpse was stolen by grave robbers. He had risen from the dead! Death could not claim him, nor could the grave hold him in. He rose from the dead just as he had said – which is a comfort too.

How many times had Jesus predicted this? His death and resurrection were all part of the plan from day one! This shouldn’t have surprised them, and the memory of his promises would serve to calm their fear. If he promised that he would rise and, beyond all belief, he came through on that promise, then what other promises had he made that they could count on too? If Jesus rose from the dead, just as he said he would, then they could count on forgiveness for their sins, hope for salvation, and an other-worldly peace in this life.

“Come and see,” the angel said, as if to say, “Don’t take my word for it. See for yourself!” The place where Jesus’ corpse was supposed to be was empty. And this angel explained that their friend was not dead but alive. And so these formerly frightened women found their hearts not completely void of fear anymore, but filled with a joy that surpassed whatever worry lingered. Not only was their friend alive, but their Savior had risen from the dead as a sign that his work of salvation was accepted by his Father and is something that they could put their trust in.

Jesus’ resurrection gives us the same comfort and assurance. Granted, we did not wake up this morning with the same fears that those ladies did so many years ago, but we have plenty of fears to deal with in our lives.

A dear friend of the congregation died last week, which might make us wonder why God would let that happen or when it will happen to us or someone close to us. The news lately has been filled with enemies of Christ threatening the Church and even killing Christians in places like Egypt. Speaking of the news, there are bombs being built and tested and dropped, with the threat of outright war seemingly just over the horizon. And even if none of that bothers you, there’s still the message of Lent that we recently heard over the course of the last several months and saw visualized on Good Friday, i.e. your sins put Jesus on the cross, because your sins deserve death.

In both a literal and spiritual sense, we have every reason to be afraid, but not today. Today, we hear the angel say, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.”

The last time we gathered for worship, we remembered how our sins snuffed out his life. We remembered how innocent he was, but also how final his death was. And yet today, we celebrate the fact that not even our sins could keep him in the grave. Not even the collective guilt of a lifetime of sinners could bury him forever. No, on Easter Sunday we see the crucified Christ as the risen Christ, who shows us that death is not the end, nor is it anything to fear anymore, because he has conquered death by rising from the grave and he promises that we and all who believe will follow in his footsteps. He is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, and he will raise us from the grave the grave too. Our sins did not hold him down and they can’t keep him from raising us either. Jesus’ resurrection has destroyed the power of sin and of death.

Now that’s not to say that we won’t die. We see death all around us. It’s an inevitable part of life. So is the trouble that we face. Jesus himself sets that expectation for us when he promises that the world will hate us just as it hated him. Jesus promises that in this world we will face trouble, but that shouldn’t cause us to fear, because he has overcome the world. No enemy could beat him – not the fiercest army, not the biggest bomb, not death itself or even all of our sin. Jesus rose from the grave victorious and promising victory to all who believe.

Do you believe that Jesus washed your guilt away by dying on the tree? Do you believe that he will raise you from the dead, just as he raised himself? Don’t take my word for it. Come and see. See in his Word how he keeps his promises. See in his Word how he shows his love to you. See in his Word what he has in store for you. See in his Word the peace that he gives to you, to sustain you and give you joy even when your heart is filled with fear.

Notice that the ladies on that first Easter Sunday, didn’t instantly lose their anxieties. They were still afraid and still had many reasons to be. It’s just that Jesus’ resurrection gave them a joy that surpassed their fear, and he gives you that same joy too. His empty tomb tells us that death is defeated, that sin’s payment was accepted, that you are not a fool for following him, and that you will follow him in the bodily resurrection to life everlasting.

So, don’t be afraid. Come and see the place where Jesus’ body was supposed to be – where your sins threatened to put you – and know that his promises are true. Your sins are forgiven and new life is yours through your crucified and risen Lord. Come and see, then go and tell what you’ve heard here today, so that you and all you know can hear the message of the angel, “Do not be afraid. Christ is risen; he is risen indeed! Alleluia!” Amen.