Job 19:23-27; 1 Corinthians 15:51-57; St Mark 16:1-8
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
At the beginning and end of Jesus’ earthly life, God used dreams to communicate important messages. Joseph was about to divorce Mary when God sent him a dream, Don’t do it. After they visited the child Jesus, the Wise Men were about to go back to the bloody tyrant Herod, but God warned them in a dream, Go home a different way. And when God wanted Pilate to hear that Jesus was innocent, He sent a dream to his wife who told her husband, Have nothing to do with that innocent Man.
But on Easter Sunday, God communicates through a nightmare. Easter Sunday is one big nightmare - the devil’s nightmare. The events of those three days - Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday - were one big nightmare for the Author of Death.
On Good Friday Satan though he was going to a funeral for Jesus, but it would be his funeral. God dead in the grave was supposed to be Satan’s victory. But he would lose through the greatest comeback victory the world has even known. And, sometimes before rising on Easter morning, Jesus even descended to make sure hell got the message. Easter is the devil’s nightmare.
It was supposed to be Peter’s nightmare. Peter, Jesus’ friend, and leader of the disciples. Peter, the man who spoke those bold words, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Even if I must die with You, I will never deny You. And sadly, those famous words we heard last week, those words that began Peter’s three-day nightmare: I don’t know the Man.
Jesus befriended Peter. The Scriptures have a lot to say about what friendship is to look like. A friend sticks closer than a bother (Pr 18:24). A friend loves at all times (Pr 17:17). One who has unreliable friends comes to ruin (Pr 18:24). Friends are supposed to there when the chips are down. When its inconvenient. In good times and bad. Friends are supposed to be loyal. Jesus is the Best Friend you can have. The Friend of Sinners. Through Jesus we become friends of God. How loyal a friend are you?
How deep is your affinity for Jesus? Do you deny your Friend Jesus when the chips are down? When it might cost you money of the high opinion of someone? Are you loyal to Jesus, His Word, His Church even if it means someone at work might laugh at what you believe? Are you actually embarrassed about the One who created you, redeemed you, and has been nothing but good to you? Does your silence - or your rotten behavior - say loudly and clearly, I don’t know the Man? Peter is the great denier. Clearly he’s not the only one.
What a nightmare for Peter. What could possibly remove the echo of that rooster crow from his ear drums? Only one thing. A Friend who sticks closer than a brother. A Friend who loves at all times. A Friend of deniers. A Friend of the disloyal. A Friend of those who weep when they think of the past they regret. A Friend with such affinity for sinners that He is willing to be punished on the Cross for their offenses, their denials and disloyalty. And then rise from the dead to be the Friend that calls them back by name.
Mark has a detail in his Gospel the others don’t. The preacher in the tomb add a word so heartwarming and tender, so comforting. It’s just a name. In fact, its a nickname. The name this Friend gave him, Peter. The name that is part of that wondrous Easter proclamation: He is risen. He is not here. Go and tell His disciples and Peter. No more talking Peter. Listen. Listen to the word that will end the nightmare. Listen to the word that will mute the crow of the rooster, which really is the crow of the conscience, of the law which condemns us all. Go and tell Peter the devil didn’t win. I did. Go tell Peter his nightmare is over.
And what a difference the news of the Resurrection made in his life. One of the devil’s cruelest lies is leading us to believe that this world is all there is. That what we have in this life is as good as it gets. That we should just be happy with now. That’s why it was so hard for Peter to do the right thing and stand up for Jesus. He was risking his life. And he was living as though this life was the only one he had. Or that his body, in a mortal state, was the only one he would ever have.
The Resurrection of Jesus is the promise of a greater life to come for those who are baptized and trust Him. We’re not just talking about the promise of our own bodies being raised from the dead and made new. But everything made new and perfect. Everything perfect in the new haven and new earth. Where we will have true peace. Complete wholeness, healing, physically, spiritually, psychologically. In every way.
The Resurrection of Jesus is an historical event witnessed by more than 500 people. This is not just some story someone dreamed up. But Easter isn’t just about tipping out hat to the history. The Resurrection is a promise for our life now. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Gives. Present tense.
That’s why Peter had the courage to be martyred for the faith, to give his body into death to be crucified upside down. That’s why even though Job lost all his possessions, his family, his health, he was still about to confess: I know that my Redeemer lives and at the last He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself. That’s why Christians in every century can face the prospect of illness and death with the courage and joy of a life that cannot die.
Don’t let Satan make your life a nightmare. Confess your sins. Trust that Christ was crucified for them. Believe that He triumphed over death in His Resurrection. And if He is risen, you can face the hard things of life. For sometimes the pain does not go away in this life. You can face the loneliness and hurt of losing a loved one, for you have the promise of a joyful reunion with those who have died in the faith.
You can do the right thing, even if it means giving up some money or ridicule or worse, because in the resurrection you will experience true wealth.
You can handle seeing your body or your loved one’s body being eaten up by cancer, because the resurrection means that one day you’ll have a new and better body, fully restored, never to die again.
Don’t let Satan make your life a nightmare. This life is not as good as it gets. Trust Peter’s Friend and your Friend. Believe that in your Baptism you died with Christ and were raised with Him. He calls you by name. Believe that in partaking of the Sacrament again this morning, not only are your sins forgiven, but you are already participating in the resurrection, and being strengthened to life everlasting in the faith that receives the victory.
Let the devil’s nightmare continue. Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Amen.
In the Name + of JESUS. Amen.
At the beginning and end of Jesus’ earthly life, God used dreams to communicate important messages. Joseph was about to divorce Mary when God sent him a dream, Don’t do it. After they visited the child Jesus, the Wise Men were about to go back to the bloody tyrant Herod, but God warned them in a dream, Go home a different way. And when God wanted Pilate to hear that Jesus was innocent, He sent a dream to his wife who told her husband, Have nothing to do with that innocent Man.
But on Easter Sunday, God communicates through a nightmare. Easter Sunday is one big nightmare - the devil’s nightmare. The events of those three days - Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Sunday - were one big nightmare for the Author of Death.
On Good Friday Satan though he was going to a funeral for Jesus, but it would be his funeral. God dead in the grave was supposed to be Satan’s victory. But he would lose through the greatest comeback victory the world has even known. And, sometimes before rising on Easter morning, Jesus even descended to make sure hell got the message. Easter is the devil’s nightmare.
It was supposed to be Peter’s nightmare. Peter, Jesus’ friend, and leader of the disciples. Peter, the man who spoke those bold words, You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. Even if I must die with You, I will never deny You. And sadly, those famous words we heard last week, those words that began Peter’s three-day nightmare: I don’t know the Man.
Jesus befriended Peter. The Scriptures have a lot to say about what friendship is to look like. A friend sticks closer than a bother (Pr 18:24). A friend loves at all times (Pr 17:17). One who has unreliable friends comes to ruin (Pr 18:24). Friends are supposed to there when the chips are down. When its inconvenient. In good times and bad. Friends are supposed to be loyal. Jesus is the Best Friend you can have. The Friend of Sinners. Through Jesus we become friends of God. How loyal a friend are you?
How deep is your affinity for Jesus? Do you deny your Friend Jesus when the chips are down? When it might cost you money of the high opinion of someone? Are you loyal to Jesus, His Word, His Church even if it means someone at work might laugh at what you believe? Are you actually embarrassed about the One who created you, redeemed you, and has been nothing but good to you? Does your silence - or your rotten behavior - say loudly and clearly, I don’t know the Man? Peter is the great denier. Clearly he’s not the only one.
What a nightmare for Peter. What could possibly remove the echo of that rooster crow from his ear drums? Only one thing. A Friend who sticks closer than a brother. A Friend who loves at all times. A Friend of deniers. A Friend of the disloyal. A Friend of those who weep when they think of the past they regret. A Friend with such affinity for sinners that He is willing to be punished on the Cross for their offenses, their denials and disloyalty. And then rise from the dead to be the Friend that calls them back by name.
Mark has a detail in his Gospel the others don’t. The preacher in the tomb add a word so heartwarming and tender, so comforting. It’s just a name. In fact, its a nickname. The name this Friend gave him, Peter. The name that is part of that wondrous Easter proclamation: He is risen. He is not here. Go and tell His disciples and Peter. No more talking Peter. Listen. Listen to the word that will end the nightmare. Listen to the word that will mute the crow of the rooster, which really is the crow of the conscience, of the law which condemns us all. Go and tell Peter the devil didn’t win. I did. Go tell Peter his nightmare is over.
And what a difference the news of the Resurrection made in his life. One of the devil’s cruelest lies is leading us to believe that this world is all there is. That what we have in this life is as good as it gets. That we should just be happy with now. That’s why it was so hard for Peter to do the right thing and stand up for Jesus. He was risking his life. And he was living as though this life was the only one he had. Or that his body, in a mortal state, was the only one he would ever have.
The Resurrection of Jesus is the promise of a greater life to come for those who are baptized and trust Him. We’re not just talking about the promise of our own bodies being raised from the dead and made new. But everything made new and perfect. Everything perfect in the new haven and new earth. Where we will have true peace. Complete wholeness, healing, physically, spiritually, psychologically. In every way.
The Resurrection of Jesus is an historical event witnessed by more than 500 people. This is not just some story someone dreamed up. But Easter isn’t just about tipping out hat to the history. The Resurrection is a promise for our life now. Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Gives. Present tense.
That’s why Peter had the courage to be martyred for the faith, to give his body into death to be crucified upside down. That’s why even though Job lost all his possessions, his family, his health, he was still about to confess: I know that my Redeemer lives and at the last He will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself. That’s why Christians in every century can face the prospect of illness and death with the courage and joy of a life that cannot die.
Don’t let Satan make your life a nightmare. Confess your sins. Trust that Christ was crucified for them. Believe that He triumphed over death in His Resurrection. And if He is risen, you can face the hard things of life. For sometimes the pain does not go away in this life. You can face the loneliness and hurt of losing a loved one, for you have the promise of a joyful reunion with those who have died in the faith.
You can do the right thing, even if it means giving up some money or ridicule or worse, because in the resurrection you will experience true wealth.
You can handle seeing your body or your loved one’s body being eaten up by cancer, because the resurrection means that one day you’ll have a new and better body, fully restored, never to die again.
Don’t let Satan make your life a nightmare. This life is not as good as it gets. Trust Peter’s Friend and your Friend. Believe that in your Baptism you died with Christ and were raised with Him. He calls you by name. Believe that in partaking of the Sacrament again this morning, not only are your sins forgiven, but you are already participating in the resurrection, and being strengthened to life everlasting in the faith that receives the victory.
Let the devil’s nightmare continue. Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Amen.
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