April 24, 2022 Text: Revelation 1:4-18
Dear Friends in Christ,
We just finished last Sunday our Lenten themed sermons, services and Bible studies on “Witnesses For Christ.” I heard many positive comments on the series. A recurring theme came from many of your comments. “I never knew that.” “I did not know it occurred that way.” “That was fresh insight into what I had always thought.” That is the beauty of God’s Word. This side of heaven we are always learning.
Today we pray that continues. You are here because you believe in the resurrection. You don’t need all the reminders of the proofs but how about a little review? Jesus’ death was not private. It could not have been faked. Hundreds of eyewitnesses saw his death. If the story were “made up” women would not have been the first at the tomb. This didn’t fit the culture of the time. Others then saw him, ate with him, walked with him. Would all the disciples doubt just to “fool people?” What changed these men from fright to bold confessors in a matter of days? None of the disciples ever changed their testimony even in the face of death. The explosive growth of Christianity in the face of opposition. The sudden switch by Jewish believers to worship on Sunday instead of Saturday.
Those are all things you have maybe heard over the years, but what about this question? What happened to the guards at the grave? Humm. Run away? Disappear? Join the witness protection program? Matthew tells us in chapter 28, verse 11, something we quite often forget. “While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place.” They too had witnessed the resurrection! But they were paid, told to lie that the body had been stolen and the lie continues to this day.
How do you see it? What shall we do and . . .
“IS EASTER OVER?”
Let’s be honest, Easter worship is different from most Sundays. But that happens everywhere where emotion comes in. I’ve played in thousands of ball games, but some are remembered more than others. I’ve been to numerous concerts but only a few stand out. I’ve heard hundreds of speeches and lectures, but I can only quote from a handful. Isn’t it the same for you? That is what emotion does. Easter Sunday worship has a different rhythm.
Is Easter Over? Of course not. Our worship today is just as important even if we don’t “feel the same.” Let’s take a look at our text. “John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from him who is and who was and who is to come…”. . . “I am the Alpha and Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (vs. 4 & 8)
Does that sound like a dead Savior? These words are spoken 60 years after He rose from the dead. Christ is the beginning and end of all things. The Lord Himself is present and active in all human events, especially in the lives of His people – His church. Remember the promise? “And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matt. 28:20b)
Easter is never over. It never will be. The last chapter of Revelation says that Christ “will reign for ever and ever.” (Rev. 22:5b)
How about these words in our text? “Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him.” (v. 7) “Even those who pierced him.” I do believe we struggle to see that part.
We struggle with what one Pastor calls “Look-Aroundism.” We watch the news, open the paper, scan the internet and we swear the world is crumbling. The Look-Aroundist concludes the devil is loose and reigning while Christ is just sitting on His throne. We see darkness and death and trouble and think the devil has the controls of the ship. Not true. Listen the last words of our text, “Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.”
Don’t doubt these words. Don’t twist yourself into a pretzel of your own making. Christ has the keys which means He is steering the world. Easter is never over because our Savior cannot stop loving us. Love is who He is. We are freed from our sins by His blood. The eternal salvation of our soul is not a maybe but a promise. He is alive forevermore.
Martin Franzmann wrote this, “He sits enthroned over all the future of men, and in His hand is the book wherein the destinies of men are written. He knows those who are His own…and the prospect of their imperiled future need hold no endless terrors for them”
We can’t say those words enough, the prospect of (our) imperiled future (in this world) need hold no endless terrors for (us). None of us like what is happening in our culture. We are tired of “good” and “evil” being mixed up. The animosity toward the church is disturbing. But Easter is our sure and certain victory – over this world, and death, and hell itself. The familiar words are just as meaningful this morning: “But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:57). Is Easter Over? Not on your life.
Amen.