We normally go to church with a joy that escaped the women in our narrative. They have lost their Master and His burial had been left undone and they would come the following day to finish what was undone with sadness only to be met with an empty grave and having to be rebuked as they had forgotten what they had been taught. We too have the fulfillment of the prophesies and the same sadness take hold of us and suppresses the words of our God and the Apostle...."seek the things above...you are risen with Him!"
Questioned: "Why are you seeking the Living among the dead?" It indicts these women! They were saddened. They were seeking Jesus as if He was dead! The truth of the resurrection had not dawned on them until Christ broke bread with them. They were oblivious and so full of grief as they were trying to cope with their Master's death....
Rebuffed: They had not recalled all that they had been taught and many TODAY do the same exact thing! Not just the Judaizers and modernists, but we too are the concern as we also forget the words of our Lord Jesus Christ and they don't come to mind as we are "caught up" in our grief and our sinfulness. We are forgiven and JUSTIFIED and have the power over death and hell and should we not REJOICE in the midst of our sorrow?! We need to take these words to heart and we should celebrate Easter EVERY DAY of our lives!!! He LIVES and the angels rebuff these women as they search for the "Fountain of Life" and the one who had showed them in the rising of Lazarus that He WAS the Life AND the Resurrection! And His life is OUR life! There is no more condemnation for us! Many today want to talk about how we are "broken".....we are justified, sanctified, and one day will be glorified!
Remembering: Is this what we hear? Many go to church...many possibly on just Easter Sunday...and miss His Word! He is NOT in the grave and He LIVES and He lives in OUR HEARTS! And we must live each and EVERY day of our life as we are risen with Him and are principally sitting with Him in heaven and in glory already!
They did not remember His words and how is it that we are sad and often completely dejected and do not live in newness of life??? Shall we not rejoice today, tomorrow, and every day of our life? The grave is empty....and we reside with Him in glory!
We know it to be true. Now let's remember it so we can live in its joy! (everyday!)
Easter-"The Forgiveness of Sins" Psalm 32/LD21 The catechism speaks about forgiveness many times, but in this article the focus is that this belongs to the communion of saints specifically! Technically, sin shows itself in many facets of life. It...[ abbreviated | read entire ]