Easter – Part 2

April 22, 2025

Broadcast

                            Easter - Part 2
                              John 20:1-2
                              04/22/2025


        1    Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene
             came to the tomb early, while it was still dark,
             and saw that the stone had been taken away from
             the tomb.
        2    So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other
             disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to
             them, ``They have taken the Lord out of the tomb,
             and we do not know where they have laid him.''
             (ESV)

        Without Easter, without Jesus physically rising from the
   dead, the Christian Church has no reason for existence.  Only
   because the Church can point to the empty tomb, only because
   Jesus lives and reigns through all eternity, can the Church bring
   the hope of the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting to those
   who are terrified by their transgressions.

        Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to
        the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that
        the stone had been taken away from the tomb.  So she
        ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the
        one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ``They have
        taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know
        where they have laid him.''


        Mary Magdalene and the other women who went to Jesus' tomb
   to properly prepare Him for burial had a real problem.  On Friday
   evening, minutes before the beginning of the Sabbath, they had
   watched as Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus sealed the door of
   the tomb with a large rock.  Now the tomb was open, and they were
   afraid of what they would find.

        Mary Magdalene knew the best people to inform were the
   leaders of the disciples, Peter and John.  She could do nothing,
   but she thought these two followers of Jesus might have an idea
   of what had happened.

        When we have questions, when we are perplexed by the changes
   and chances of this world, do we also turn to the disciples?  Do
   we turn to the clear truth of God's Word?  Can we trust that the
   tomb is indeed empty, and Jesus lives now and forever?

        Christ is risen.  He is risen indeed.  Alleluia!  Amen.