Mark 16:1-8 (Easter Sunday) "Angel Eyes"

Main Sermon Theme: The angel in the tomb knows the whole story of Jesus’ resurrection, and when he sees the women, he proclaims the Gospel to them, shows them where Jesus’ body had formerly lain, and tells them that they can see Jesus themselves in Galilee. Likewise, the “angels” or messengers of the Church in the apostolic ministry tell God’s people where they can find Jesus and His salvation in the Means of Grace.

I). What did the Easter angel’s eyes See and Testify to?

The phrase “angel eyes” will conjure up different thoughts based on your age and interests. Older music lovers will think of the 1946 jazz standard popularized by Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. Another generation will think of the power ballad of the same name released by The Jeff Healey Band in 1988. Listeners to modern country radio will think of the 2012 song “Angel Eyes” by the band Love and Theft. And dog lovers will recognize “Angels Eyes” as the brand name for products that help clear up tear stains around the eyes of dogs.

But for now, push all those other kinds of angel eyes out of your mind, since today you and I should focus on only one set of angel eyes, and through those eyes see the greatest sight this world has ever seen. I’m talking about the eyes of the Easter angel in the empty tomb of Jesus.

It’s funny that we call it the “empty tomb,” since St. Mark’s account depicts the tomb being a bit overcrowded on the first Easter Sunday. The two Marys and Salome were shocked to discover the large stone rolled away from the tomb, and they went inside to investigate. They were startled to find not a dead Jesus inside but a young man dressed in white, an angel of the Lord. Their alarm was most likely twofold: first, they were distressed that Jesus was not to be found, and second, angels of the Lord are scary! Despite what you see in figurines and artistic depictions, God’s angels usually appear as majestic creatures who strike fear into the hearts of onlookers. That’s why the first words out of the mouths of angels are often “Don’t be afraid!”

On Easter morning, this is exactly what happens. The angel says to the terrified women, “Do not be alarmed” (Mark 16:6). They don’t need to fear this angel, since he has come in peace to be the bearer of Good News. The word we translate as “angel” means “messenger,” so bringing the Gospel is His main job! He announces that they don’t need to fear what happened to the body of Jesus, because He is risen indeed! Alleluia! The angel continues,

Mark 16:6–7 ESV

6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”

The angel directs the women to see with their own eyes that Jesus isn’t there, and then he explains what his own eyes have witnessed. He knows they are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, “who was crucified.” Another way of translating this is “the Crucified One,” which is very significant. The women had gazed upon Jesus suffering for the sin of the whole world under His Father’s wrath on the cross, and they had looked on as Joseph of Arimathea buried Jesus, but that’s all they had seen. The angel, however, has seen the resurrected Jesus with his own eyes but still calls Him “the Crucified One.”

II). What did the Apostles’ “angel eyes” Testify to?

Later that afternoon, Jesus would appear to ten of His apostles and prove His identity by showing them the nail and spear scars on His hands and side. The following Sunday, Jesus invites doubting Thomas to touch those scars, which turns him into believing Thomas as he cries out to the Crucified One, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Still later, St. Paul would encounter the risen Jesus on the road to Damascus and then write to the Corinthians, “I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Corinthians 2:2). Paul characterized his preaching to the Galatians this way: “It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified” (Galatians 3:1b).

You might be thinking, this is Easter, why are we still so focused on the crucifixion? I am so glad you asked. You see, the cross must always be the center of what we believe, the focal point of life. A God who has not been crucified on your behalf would do you no good.

Look through the angel’s eyes and see that Jesus is the Crucified One, put to death for your sins. The cross is our life! St. Paul wrote,

Galatians 2:20 ESV

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

and

Galatians 6:14 ESV

14 But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Of course, the resurrection is essential too.

So you, too, who are hearing this message, you also need to see through the angel’s eyes that Jesus was raised on Easter for your justification. Good Friday and Easter are like two sides of the same coin. You can’t buy anything with a one-sided quarter.

Jesus couldn’t pay for your salvation only by dying or only by living—but by both.

He had to actively obey God’s Law on your behalf and passively suffer for your sins against the Law.

He had to actively fight Satan, whom you couldn’t defeat, and die for all the times you have fallen for the devil’s temptations.

He had to go into the grave and deposit all of your sins there, but He had to come out alive in order to grant you forgiveness of sins and His own righteousness.

And after His resurrection, Jesus continues the pattern established on the first Easter by hiding Himself from the sight of His disciples and by using angels to proclaim His death and resurrection. Though you are like the women at the tomb and cannot see Jesus with your own eyes, the reliable testimony of the Easter angel recorded in Scripture is precious Gospel that you should keep before your eyes at all times.

Though Jesus remains hidden from our physical sight, He has continued to send us angels—messengers—ever since His resurrection to testify to His presence among us. No, I’m not talking about angels from heaven, but messengers who proclaim the Gospel. Remember, angel simply means “messenger.” In the Bible, “angel” doesn’t necessarily imply a heavenly being. The very human and mortal John the Baptist, for example, is called God’s “angel,” or messenger.

After His resurrection, Jesus sent His apostles out to be His angels—messengers—to preach the Gospel to the whole creation. And those angel apostles appointed everywhere they went pastors and teachers to continue sharing the Good News of Good Friday and Easter.

Just as the heavenly angel Gabriel visited Mary with the wonderful news that the Lord was with her in the incarnation,

now earthly angels or messengers proclaim to all who believe and are baptized that the Lord Jesus is with them until the end of the age.

Just as the angel of the Lord brought glad tidings of great joy for all people to the shepherds at Christmas,

now earthly angels proclaim the glad tidings of great joy that Christ has died for all, for the sin of the whole world, and has risen to declare all humans righteous so that they may be saved by believing this message.

III). What do Pastors’ “angel eyes” Testify to?

There was nothing particularly angelic about Christ’s apostles then or about Christian pastors today. We are a pretty sorry lot, really. Nobody would look at me and say, “He’s got angel eyes.” But what apostles and pastors of Christ do have are beautiful feet. Not literally, but according to the prophet Isaiah and the apostle St. Paul, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (Romans 10:15). In other words, the footsteps of angels who preach the Gospel to us are beautiful because they proclaim the beautiful message of Christ, and Paul continues, “Faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).

Today receive this word of Jesus through the messenger He has called to preach to you at Christ Lutheran Church, Chippewa Falls: for the sake of Jesus Christ, your sins are forgiven. Baptized into His death and resurrection, you are now clothed with His righteousness, which grants eternal salvation. He has made all things new.

We may be in isolation this Easter secluded from our friends and loved ones, BUT because of technology you are still able to hear this message of Good News. Many have lost jobs because of this coronavirus pandemic, but hear this Good News: “My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:19). Many are anxious and worried about the future, especially with this pandemic running free. Well, hear what our Lord Jesus said:

Matthew 6:25–26 ESV

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?

And if that isn’t enough Jesus has promised, “I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matt 28:20b). The very God of the universe, is waiting and walking with you during this time.

On Easter, the angel told the women where they could find Jesus; likewise, today I have the same wonderful message for all who hear this:

Jesus has promised that you may find Him in His Word and Sacraments.

May your eyes always remain fixed on Jesus Christ, crucified for your sin and raised for your salvation.

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Prayer of the Church

Rejoicing in the resurrection of our Lord and sharing in His peace, let us pray to the Lord on behalf of ourselves and all people as they have need.

Brief silence

O risen Savior, set free our tongues to confess Your resurrection before a world still captive to sin and death. Give us courage to go to every place and to speak in every language the salvation won for us upon the cross and the hope granted to us of life that death cannot overcome. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O risen Savior, make us to burn with the fire of Your love, that we may love You above all things and love our neighbors as ourselves. Deliver us from fear and relieve the anxiety of our hearts, that we may live out fully the hope planted within us and the new lives we received in the waters of our Baptism. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O risen Savior, anoint the words of those Your messengers who preach to us Your Gospel, and open our ears to hear with faith all that He has done to save us. Raise up many who will serve You in the various callings of Your Church and who will serve us in Your name with Your Word and gifts. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O risen Savior, hear us on behalf of our president; our governor; the Congress of the United States; and all state and local elected officials. Guide them according to Your Word, that their labors for our nation’s health and welfare may not be in vain, nor forgetful of the vulnerable, aging and unemployed. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O risen Savior, across our nation so many are imprisoned. Bless all prison workers, that they may be humane and serve with integrity. Bless those incarcerated with hope for the future and amendment of life, help them to serve their sentences with patience and trust in You, and bless their families who love them. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O risen Savior, hear us on behalf of those who cry to You in any need, especially the sick, the suffering, the disabled, the wounded in spirit, those who suffer mental illness, those in their last days on earth and those who mourn. We especially pray this day for: Cheri and her family as they mourn the sudden death of their daughter, Muriel Shervy as she recovers from surgery; Mary Kunhart; Cari Alexander; Jana Clutter; Matt Young; Barb Lynch; Linda Bateman; Holly Weiland; Ed Ray; Tytan Brae; Darsie Hartzell; Sandy Kubes; Angie’s mother, Debbie; Renee; Mike Hansen; Rhonda; Jeff Smiskey, and those who we name at this time _____________. Give them all grace according to their need, sustain them in their afflictions to the day when their sufferings will be exchanged for glory in the life to come, and comfort those who mourn with the assurance that you are the resurrection and the life, all who believe in you, though they die, yet they shall live. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O risen Savior, guide and keep our ministers. Protect them from all ailment, all sadness, and all suffering as they seek to minister during this pandemic. Dear God, give them wisdom to serve their congregations in spite of rising regulations that inhibit our gathering. Send your Holy Spirit, our Comforter to bring comfort and peace to them. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O risen Savior, hear our prayer for mercy. You have said that we are of more value than the birds of the air, so bring those who have lost their jobs back into gainful employment quickly; we especially pray for Jay, Tanya, and those whom we call to mind at this time_______. Protect affected businesses, employers, and employees from all affliction. And for those who are fearful, Lord, attend to their needs, provide for them, and comfort them. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O risen Savior, accept the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving from our lips and the tithes and offerings that are brought, mailed, or given online this day. Increase in the hearts of Your people delight in Your mercy, gratitude for all Your benefits, and eagerness to support the mission of Your Church in word and deed. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

O risen Savior, open the hearts of all who commune this day, that we may receive to our benefit Your body and blood in this Sacrament. Give comfort and certainty for those who long for Your Supper and believe Your Son’s holy testament, that they may know they have what Christ says: forgiveness of sins. By this communion, strengthen us in faith and equip us to love one another as You love us. Lord, in Your mercy, hear our prayer.

All praise to You, dear Father in heaven, for You have opened up to us the way to eternal life in the resurrection of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. We give You thanks for all those who have gone before us in the faith and now rest from their labors. Keep us in that same faith, and embolden us by Your resurrection to be fearless in the face of disease, chaos, loneliness and every sorrow taking place right now in this world. Give us, with Job, the solemn expectation to cheer us: our Redeemer lives, and we, too, shall be resurrected and glorified to live with Him in His eternal Kingdom; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our resurrected Lord, who taught us to pray

Our Father...