EDITOR'S NOTE: On Oct. 23, 2021, I was ordained as a minister of word and sacrament in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and installed as pastor at Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. I also served the same church for four years from October 2017 to October 2021 a synodical authorized minister. The journey together these past seven years has been an amazing one, full of learning, growing and a deepening of my theological mind. This sermon took place on Easter, March 31, 2024.
Faith Family, we all know why we are gathered here today. … Well, at least I hope we know why.
We are gathered here to celebrate Jesus Christ rising from the grave … and conquering all of the sin and evil and death we experience in this earthly kingdom. Amen? … Alrighty, amen!
Christ conquered that same exact sin and evil and death that He, the incarnated Son of God, witnessed when he walked among us 2,000 years ago.
And we know, Faith Family, that thanks to Jesus’ death on that cross … Jesus who is a king for the ages … one like none this earth has ever known or ever will know … a king who willingly sacrificed of himself … so that we no longer have to fear what this world has to offer … including our own mortality.
Thanks to Jesus’ own death, our sins are washed away … we are forgiven and blessed and reminded that we are God’s beloved children. ….
And finally .. we also know that our entrance into God’s heavenly kingdom was granted through Jesus’ sacrifice. … No admittance fee necessary.
All that, thanks to Jesus’ death on that cross.
And similarly … in Jesus’ resurrection, we also know that we too earn eternal life. … You see, in rising from the dead, Jesus defeated death, so that we didn’t have to.
And in doing so, Jesus made sure that we -- God’s beloved children -- also never, ever have to worry about death as well. … We too will dwell in a place where the streets are paved with gold … a land of milk and honey, as the scriptures tell us.
And so … it certainly is right and worthy that we gather here today to celebrate both of those things … Jesus’ sacrifice to take away our sins … and also our salvation being granted through his crucifixion. … Amen?
But this Easter, I want you to consider … one more thing as we gather here to celebrate Jesus rising from the grave.
This year, specifically because I think we need to be reminded of this during this unique time of worldwide strife including multiple devastating wars, of seemingly endless poverty and hunger and the growing divides among the world’s countries and among people of all political, economic and racial makeups.
This year I would invite you to think about Easter in another way … maybe even a new way for some.
A way in which I pray … renews your hope not only about the promises Jesus makes to us about our salvation, but also renews your hope in what Jesus promises us about living in this life right now, right here in this earthly kingdom.
And that is this …
Faith Family … I think we too often forget in our Christian faith … that Easter is as much about living in this earthly kingdom as it is about our salvation in the hereafter.
That’s right … Easter isn’t just about Jesus atoning for our sins so that we can one day make our way to heaven to live out eternity with him and our heavenly Father.
But rather … Jesus makes a point of sharing with us in today’s gospel that he also rose from the dead to live out these days here … in this world … with us … as well.
In other words, to be present in our daily lives … now!
I know some might be thinking right now, “Well, Pastor, what’s so astonishing about that?”
Well, this is astonishing because this means … that Jesus’ resurrection … and all of the promises contained in that resurrection … matter just as much to us in life … as they will to us in our death.
And THAT is no little thing. … So let’s explore this …
Faith Family … Yes, of course, Easter is popular because in Christ’s salvific action of his crucifixion on the cross, he ransomed our sins and assured us eternal life in God’s heavenly kingdom.
This ALWAYS will be important … and a cause to come together on Easter to celebrate.
And yes, Jesus indeed conquered death when he rose from his tomb, thus eliminating death as something we should fear.
Even more reason to gather on Easter morning and shout, “He is risen. He is risen. Christ is risen indeed!”
But, as the Gospel of Mark tells us today, we do not have to wait until our own demise to receive Jesus’ promises.
And that should REVOLUTIONIZE the way that we live our lives here … in the now.
Faith Family, I hope that you are so inspired by this thought today … that when you walk out of those double doors of our church after the LYO brunch today, that you see the world in an entirely new light!
Faith Family please listen to what the Gospel of Mark promises us today … and please take this to heart …
The gospel text tells us that when Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James, and Salome reached Jesus’ tomb … they were met by an angelic messenger … one sent by Jesus.
But I think it’s really important that each us of hears that angel’s words as if they were directed to us as well. … The message that angel relayed from Jesus … is the promise that Jesus goes before us here on earth as well … not just into heaven.
In other words, Faith Family … Jesus not only prepares our way to heaven … but he also promises that wherever this earthly kingdom takes us … he is there too!
And that should be life changing for each of us to hear! … Amen?
Jesus not only promises to be here in this life with us, walking alongside us in all of the ups and downs … but he PROMISES us that he goes BEFORE us!
Here’s already ahead of us in our joys as well as our sorrows!
Faith Family … I don’t know what season in life you are currently in. … It could be joy or sorrow.
I also don’t know what uncertainties you may be facing, or what blessings you may be enjoying!
But the Gospel of Mark … Mark’s Good News in other words … promises us that Jesus Christ is already there in that season with you. … And, in fact, he was there ahead of you, preparing the way!
I think we too often believe … that our faith only benefits us in our afterlife, and therefore we think that we must go it alone in this rough and tumble life here on earth.
After all, Jesus is up there … in heaven … waiting for me. Right? … Sure my entrance there has been bought … it has been assured. … But I still have to live out this earthly life first, Jesus, and sometimes that is frightful.
Does that sound familiar? … Well, I know that I fall into this trap at times.
But this Easter, just imagine that you too have one of God’s own messengers who has come to visit you with a very special message.
And that message is, Faith Family … You no longer need to live in fear of what’s to come next here in this life.
You no longer need to fear the trials here in this life. …
Because our loving God already promises to be there in those moments with you!
Jesus is going to Galilee ahead of us … meaning he will be in the thick of it with us wherever we are at.
And I pray that every one of us receives this Good News with jubilation this Easter, as it means that God isn’t only there for us at the end of our lives, but he’s also living it alongside us right here, right now.
Faith Family … if you remember nothing else from today’s service, please remember this in the days to come after Easter.
No matter the what or the where of our circumstances, Jesus promises that He will meet us in Galilee, already having paved the way there for us!
And if you hold that message in your heart today as you leave this church, it should revolutionize how each of us lives.
It’s a license to check the fears we live with daily. … It’s permission to leave worry behind. … It’s an invitation to stop living in anxiety, but to rather live in joy.
And that is the Good News -- thanks to the Gospel of Mark -- this Easter Sunday, 2024. … Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed!
Happy Easter, Faith Family! … Amen!