The Resurrection of our Lord Sermon Text: John 20:1-18 Audio: https://steadfastlutherans.org/clips/sikora/Dr._Sikora,_Easter_Sermon_2015.m4a Christ is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Beloved in the…
The Sabbath is past. The Sun is set. The third day is begun. The women take courage while the men cower in the upper room. Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome buy spices and early in the morning make their way to the tomb. Love for Jesus compels the women to pay homage one last time.
The hour of darkness is at hand. The sun has surrendered its glory and bows before its creator. For three hours deep shadows rule over creation. Men loved the darkness for their deeds are evil. To the delight of many Jesus is crucified, hanging between two criminals, hanging between heaven and earth, hanging as one of them, as one of us.
It is the eve of our Lord’s betrayal and the night of His arrest. Soon they will strike the Shepherd and scatter the flock. The disciples are on edge. Their fellowship cannot bear the events that are about to unfold. Though each of them vehemently confess otherwise, they do not have the strength, determination, nor the moral integrity to follow their Lord into death, not yet, not tonight.