Easter Sunday April 4, 2021
Job 19:23-27
Where’s the Joy?
v.25-26 For 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...
Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Beloved, it seems like just about anywhere you look on the news there is death: talk of death, fear of death, numbers of death—especially this last year of pandemic. Obituaries fill the newspaper columns, wars, earthquakes, traffic accidents, and murders fill the internet media, television screens, and radio waves. In a world loaded down with so much death and devastation, leading to ever more heartache, sorrow, and pain, where is the hope? What is there to look forward to? What is there to cling to in order to keep going? Where’s the happiness? The peace? The joy? All too often those moments are few and far between in days that seem to be jam packed with grief, anger, and shame.
Job certainly knew a thing or two about loss—about pain—about death. Unbeknownst to him, the Lord God had entered into an agreement with Satan, with Job serving as the object of scrutiny. God gave Satan permission to do anything he wished to Job, with the exception of killing him. Satan quickly got to work taking away all of Job’s earthly wealth and possessions, depriving him of his house and home, his goods, his dear children—eventually, even his wife left him—and he was afflicted with painful sores and horrible disease. It seemed like Job had nothing to hope for.
The same could be said for the women who went to Jesus’ tomb that first Easter morn. They had been some of Jesus’ closest and most beloved disciples. They had heard Him preach and teach. They had witnessed His miracles. They had truly thought He was the Messiah. Until He was betrayed by Judas and delivered into the hands of sinful men who hurt and murdered Him—depriving them of the joy that Jesus gave. Now they had come to finish their mournful task of preparing Jesus’ body for His final rest. Where is the hope? Where is the joy that accompanied Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem just one week ago? It is gone. Robbed by death.
Quickly however, the women’s expressions change from sadness to surprise to eventual joy—such joy! Why the change? As they approach the tomb they discover the gigantic stone they had so worried about was already moved out of the way. What is more, they see what appears to be a young man in a white robe seated where Jesus’ body had lain. More startling than this, however, is his announcement to the women, “You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here.”
Such an incredible announcement! He is not here! Can you even imagine? It would be like going to the cemetery to visit your loved one’s grave—as you approach you notice that it has been dug out and opened up—they are gone! Where? And then a strange being of light and glory, sitting at the bottom of the grave, tells you in no uncertain terms that your loved one has arisen—they live! Can you imagine the shock? The joy? The great amazement? Yet that is exactly what awaits all those who die trusting in Jesus of Nazareth!
For even in the midst of great suffering and trials (be it the death of loved ones, or pandemics and world distress) we can confidently say with Job, “I know that my Redeemer lives—in my flesh I shall see God—myself, and not another.” For our hope of resurrection and life is inextricably bound up with Christ’s. Through the miracle of faith we are joined to Him—His sacrificial death for our sin has become ours—as well as His glorious new and eternal life!
This is the amazingly great Good News of the Christian faith. This is what separates us from all the false religions of the world. Eternal life awaits us—not because of any of our good deeds, but solely by the work of Jesus. For His resurrection has heralded the incredible triumph and victory He earned for all people with His own perfectly lived life, substitutionary death, and wondrous resurrection. Because He lives, He has promised that all those who cling to Him by faith shall also live.
Note with wonder and joy that our Redeemer did not long lay in the tomb—death could not hold Him back. He has burst forth from the bonds of sin and death—our sin and death that He took to the cross in His own perfect flesh—and has risen in shining triumph. So, too, you know and trust and believe that He shall on the Last Day call your body from its sleep of death and awaken you, both body and soul, to a new and everlasting life with Him in His kingdom—along with all the saints—all those who believe: mothers and fathers, grandparents, spouses, siblings, friends, etc. We shall ALL be united on the Last Day in the resurrection of all flesh—to live in Christ's kingdom with exceeding joy!
For, dear friends, the curse of sin has been broken. The death that seeks to consume you has been undone, swallowed whole by the Prince of Life. What fears plague your life? COVID? Loss of home? Loss of job? Loss of health? Family or friends? Your own life? Such was the terrible situation in which Job found Himself. What kept him going? The Promise. The promise of the Messiah who would rescue Him from this world of sorrow and death.
And that promise is for you. It has been realized in the Promised One—Jesus of Nazareth. He has risen from the grave and He promises to raise all those who believe in Him to everlasting life with Him in paradise—where there will no longer be any loss, any grief, shame, sorrow, or tears—but only joy—sweet joy!
This is not merely some sort of pipe dream fantasy. This is real. Listen to Job once again, “in my flesh I shall see God, my eyes shall behold—not another’s.” Our hope, our faith, our life—is grounded in our Lord Jesus Christ’s resurrection that we celebrate not only this day, but every day; especially as we gather each week around His gifts to His church, wherein He pours into us through His Word and Sacrament the Good News that we so desperately need. He forgives you of all your sin—He paid for it in full—with His own life’s blood. His resurrection is the proof that His payment was more than enough. And now, as He lives, so shall you. Where’s the joy? Where it always has been and always will be—in the cross of Christ and His empty tomb. For Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.
Job 19:23-27
Where’s the Joy?
v.25-26 For 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...
Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Beloved, it seems like just about anywhere you look on the news there is death: talk of death, fear of death, numbers of death—especially this last year of pandemic. Obituaries fill the newspaper columns, wars, earthquakes, traffic accidents, and murders fill the internet media, television screens, and radio waves. In a world loaded down with so much death and devastation, leading to ever more heartache, sorrow, and pain, where is the hope? What is there to look forward to? What is there to cling to in order to keep going? Where’s the happiness? The peace? The joy? All too often those moments are few and far between in days that seem to be jam packed with grief, anger, and shame.
Job certainly knew a thing or two about loss—about pain—about death. Unbeknownst to him, the Lord God had entered into an agreement with Satan, with Job serving as the object of scrutiny. God gave Satan permission to do anything he wished to Job, with the exception of killing him. Satan quickly got to work taking away all of Job’s earthly wealth and possessions, depriving him of his house and home, his goods, his dear children—eventually, even his wife left him—and he was afflicted with painful sores and horrible disease. It seemed like Job had nothing to hope for.
The same could be said for the women who went to Jesus’ tomb that first Easter morn. They had been some of Jesus’ closest and most beloved disciples. They had heard Him preach and teach. They had witnessed His miracles. They had truly thought He was the Messiah. Until He was betrayed by Judas and delivered into the hands of sinful men who hurt and murdered Him—depriving them of the joy that Jesus gave. Now they had come to finish their mournful task of preparing Jesus’ body for His final rest. Where is the hope? Where is the joy that accompanied Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem just one week ago? It is gone. Robbed by death.
Quickly however, the women’s expressions change from sadness to surprise to eventual joy—such joy! Why the change? As they approach the tomb they discover the gigantic stone they had so worried about was already moved out of the way. What is more, they see what appears to be a young man in a white robe seated where Jesus’ body had lain. More startling than this, however, is his announcement to the women, “You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here.”
Such an incredible announcement! He is not here! Can you even imagine? It would be like going to the cemetery to visit your loved one’s grave—as you approach you notice that it has been dug out and opened up—they are gone! Where? And then a strange being of light and glory, sitting at the bottom of the grave, tells you in no uncertain terms that your loved one has arisen—they live! Can you imagine the shock? The joy? The great amazement? Yet that is exactly what awaits all those who die trusting in Jesus of Nazareth!
For even in the midst of great suffering and trials (be it the death of loved ones, or pandemics and world distress) we can confidently say with Job, “I know that my Redeemer lives—in my flesh I shall see God—myself, and not another.” For our hope of resurrection and life is inextricably bound up with Christ’s. Through the miracle of faith we are joined to Him—His sacrificial death for our sin has become ours—as well as His glorious new and eternal life!
This is the amazingly great Good News of the Christian faith. This is what separates us from all the false religions of the world. Eternal life awaits us—not because of any of our good deeds, but solely by the work of Jesus. For His resurrection has heralded the incredible triumph and victory He earned for all people with His own perfectly lived life, substitutionary death, and wondrous resurrection. Because He lives, He has promised that all those who cling to Him by faith shall also live.
Note with wonder and joy that our Redeemer did not long lay in the tomb—death could not hold Him back. He has burst forth from the bonds of sin and death—our sin and death that He took to the cross in His own perfect flesh—and has risen in shining triumph. So, too, you know and trust and believe that He shall on the Last Day call your body from its sleep of death and awaken you, both body and soul, to a new and everlasting life with Him in His kingdom—along with all the saints—all those who believe: mothers and fathers, grandparents, spouses, siblings, friends, etc. We shall ALL be united on the Last Day in the resurrection of all flesh—to live in Christ's kingdom with exceeding joy!
For, dear friends, the curse of sin has been broken. The death that seeks to consume you has been undone, swallowed whole by the Prince of Life. What fears plague your life? COVID? Loss of home? Loss of job? Loss of health? Family or friends? Your own life? Such was the terrible situation in which Job found Himself. What kept him going? The Promise. The promise of the Messiah who would rescue Him from this world of sorrow and death.
And that promise is for you. It has been realized in the Promised One—Jesus of Nazareth. He has risen from the grave and He promises to raise all those who believe in Him to everlasting life with Him in paradise—where there will no longer be any loss, any grief, shame, sorrow, or tears—but only joy—sweet joy!
This is not merely some sort of pipe dream fantasy. This is real. Listen to Job once again, “in my flesh I shall see God, my eyes shall behold—not another’s.” Our hope, our faith, our life—is grounded in our Lord Jesus Christ’s resurrection that we celebrate not only this day, but every day; especially as we gather each week around His gifts to His church, wherein He pours into us through His Word and Sacrament the Good News that we so desperately need. He forgives you of all your sin—He paid for it in full—with His own life’s blood. His resurrection is the proof that His payment was more than enough. And now, as He lives, so shall you. Where’s the joy? Where it always has been and always will be—in the cross of Christ and His empty tomb. For Alleluia! Christ the Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus. Amen.