Easter – Part 5

April 25, 2025

Broadcast

                            Easter - Part 5
                             John 20:8-10
                              04/25/2025


        8    Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb
             first, also went in, and he saw and believed;
        9    for as yet they did not understand the Scripture,
             that he must rise from the dead.
        10   Then the disciples went back to their homes.
             (ESV)

        The eyewitness accounts of the life of Jesus Christ, of the
   early Church, do not always put the disciples in the best of
   light.  Indeed, they are frequently shown to be slow to
   understand and slow to act.  This certainly is true of the
   written events of Easter morning.

        After Mary Magdalene had seen the tomb, that the stone had
   been rolled away, she quickly went to tell Peter and John.  They,
   in turn, ran to the tomb.  John looked in and saw the empty tomb,
   while Peter entered and looked at the burial cloths.

        Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb
        first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as
        yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must
        rise from the dead.  Then the disciples went back to
        their homes.


        Did John, at this point, believe that Jesus had risen from
   the dead?  So it seems, but that belief was not very strong.
   Only after they had learned from the Scriptures, from the Old
   Testament prophecies about the Messiah, the Christ, the Savior,
   did they understand what they had actually witnessed.

        Jesus' resurrection is a necessary part of our salvation
   from sin and death.  His death paid the price of our sin.  His
   resurrection proves His power over death, which says that we also
   shall rise on the last day.

        That is the message of hope which we proclaim each Sunday
   morning at 9:00 a.m.  at Trinity Lutheran Church.  Please join
   us, even if this coming Sunday is not the day of Easter, to hear
   more of Christ's work to redeem you, to give to you life
   everlasting.

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