Let Us Rejoice and be Glad!

Sermon for Resurrection Sunday, April 12, 2009

1. Good morning. Let’s pray. O Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of our hearts be pleasing to You O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen!

2. So what does all of this mean? Over the last week many of us have entered into the historical events of our Lord’s last 7 days of life – Truly this was a week that changed the world and deserves our full attention.

From Palm Sunday to Holy Thursday to the darkness of Good Friday and the anticipation of the Easter Vigil and now we arrive at the wonder of this Easter Sunday – more than 2000 years after that first Easter Sunday when Jesus Christ did what no other person would ever do – He died and then came back to life!

Now you’ve heard me and other preachers reflect on the wonder of resurrection but this morning I’m sensing that God wants us to meditate on what Christ’s resurrection means to us. And I’m not suggesting that it’s all about us but what I’m edging towards is this idea that the fact of Christ’s resurrection changes everything!

If He really did come back to life then Christianity isn’t just one religion among many but rather it is the Mother and Father of all religions – of all attempts to explain the mystery of our existence.

We really do have the mother load of all explanations of what life is all about!

Now what I just said isn’t hyperbole – its fact – indisputable fact. Jesus was dead and then was alive!

This means that we can bank on what He said.

He said he was going to die and then come back to life and He did! That one fact establishes Christianity as the mother and father of all religions.

You have to somehow discount Christ’s resurrection or you’re stuck with a terrible problem – Jesus defeated death for you and me!

He defeated death! He defeated His death and in so doing He defeated your death and mine!

Now what does that mean?

I’m going to die but I’m not going to stay dead! Because Jesus defeated death I’m going to follow Him! I’m going to experience one day resurrection!

Now ponder that fact in light of your life right now!

No matter what you’re dealing with – it will pass and you will live! You will live beyond your own death! You will live on eternally! You will have no end!

Because of Jesus you and I have hope that extends into eternity – world without end!

Really think that! Really ponder that – you Doug will live forever!

It’s in this reality that our Psalm Response really begins to make sublime sense!

This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it!

Think about that glorious affirmation – This is the day the Lord has made!

The Lord God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – made this day – gave it to you and me! It’s a gift – not to be taken lightly! But rather to be received humbly and with deep thankfulness!

This is the day the Lord has made for you and for me! So truly “We should rejoice and be glad in it!

For this day is ours – a gift from God! - It’s a day that will never ever ever end!

Because of Easter – this day is eternal!

You and I live in the certain hope that our days will never ever ever end!

But rather will go on and on into eternity!

Can you even begin to imagine what that might be like?

Have you ever stopped and wondered what your eternal future is going to look like?

Because of Easter – you have been blessed with eternity – what are you going to do with all of that time? That infinite time?

Ah! The only true virtue that can embrace such a magnificent gift is love. Love – true love glories in eternity. It is at home in eternity! It was made for eternity. For love has no end – it overcomes the darkness of death – it always does and burst forth into eternity!

It was Christ’s love for us that defeated death and its love in us that reaches out in humble gratitude to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and say’s “Thank You! My beloved Lord.”

This is what Eucharist mean – Thank You!

Soon we will come to the Communion Table and receive the Eucharist – and today more than all other days we are being challenged to come to the Table with truly thankful hearts!

Thinking of the fullness and duration of this wonderful life, W. B. Hinson, a great preacher of a past generation, spoke from his own experience just before he died. He said, "I remember a year ago when a doctor told me, 'You have an illness from which you won't recover.' I walked out to where I live 5 miles from Portland, Oregon, and I looked across at that mountain that I love. I looked at the river in which I rejoice, and I looked at the stately trees that are always God's own poetry to my soul. Then in the evening I looked up into the great sky where God was lighting His lamps, and I said, ' I may not see you many more times, but Mountain, I shall be alive when you are gone; and River, I shall be alive when you cease running toward the sea; and Stars, I shall be alive when you have fallen from your sockets in the great down pulling of the material universe!'

What is the measure of your life right now? It’s it ready for eternity? Is it capable of such endless bliss? What needs to change in you to better prepare you for eternity?

Let me suggest that at the end of it all – is love! If you are filled with love – if you love others! If your life is filled with love then you are ready for and capable of eternity!

But perhaps love is not as strong as it must be in you so you are not ready for eternity.

The challenge then for you is to lean in and let our Lord – our resurrected Lord teach you how to love so that you will be ready for eternity! Amen and Amen!

Thank you Lord for your love for us! Thank you Lord for the gift of life eternal. O Lord, may we be worthy of the gift of your life.

Let’s pray . . .