“Easter Makes the Difference”
Matthew 28:1-10

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Pastor Kevin Vogts
Trinity Lutheran Church
Paola, Kansas
Easter Sunday—April 20, 2014

“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”  But, for the woeful women on the way to the tomb, the first Easter began as a sad day, with little to rejoice about.

They faithfully followed Jesus and took care of his needs in his life.  And now they were faithfully going to his grave to lovingly anoint his body, to take care of his needs in his death.

The woeful women on the way to the tomb expected nothing else but to find there the dead body of Jesus.  They watched as he was nailed to the cross.  They stood nearby and witnessed his suffering and death.  They saw him placed into the tomb, and the stone rolled into place.  The only question for the woeful women on the way to the tomb was, “Who will roll the stone away?”

Like those women, in this life we are all, because of our sin, on the way to the tomb.  For our bodies will one day be lowered into a grave, with the stone called death rolled into place.  The question is, who will roll the stone away?

“But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled away.”  “Thanks be to God!  He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”  “Do not be afraid.  He is risen!  He is not here!”

Who will roll away for us the stone called death?  Thanks be to God, the stone has already been rolled away.  “Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first of those who have fallen asleep.”

St. Paul writes in 1st Thessalonians: “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve in the same manner as the rest of men, who have no hope.  We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will raise with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.”  Easter makes the difference! 

Because of Easter your sins are forgiven.  God accepted his Son’s sacrifice for you, full payment for you sins.  The resurrection is God’s announcement to the world that all debts are paid, all guilt cancelled, all sins forgiven.  Easter makes the difference! 

Because of Easter YOUR life is not just a woeful walk on the way to the tomb.  The stone has been rolled away.  God will raise with Jesus those who fall asleep in him.  The dead will live, their bodies will rise, you will wake up and shout for joy.  Easter makes the difference!

Because of Easter you have hope.  Not a vague and iffy hope, but a sure and certain hope: “Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord.”  Your loved ones who died in the Lord are asleep in Jesus.  Do not be afraid.  When your body is lowered into the grave you will be asleep in Jesus.  Even then your soul will be with him in paradise.  And on the last day, the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised.  Just as Christ rose from the dead, your physical body will be raised and transformed into a renewed heavenly body.  Your body and soul will be reunited for all eternity and so we will be forever with the Lord.  Easter makes the difference!

You worship not a dead deity but the living Lord.  He lives!  He lives!  Christ Jesus lives today!  He walks with you and talks with you along life’s way.  He is with you, every day, to hear and answer your prayers, to help in trouble, to supply your wants and needs, to strengthen in weakness, to lift you up, to lead and guide you, to comfort and console you, to forgive, and welcome you always with open, loving arms.

“Because he lives, I can face tomorrow, because he lives, all fear is gone, because I know he holds the future, and life is worth the living just because he lives.”  Easter makes the difference!

Because of Easter you have a mission, your life has a purpose: “He is risen!  He is not here!  Go and tell!”  Go and tell the Good News with your lips and with your life, with your words and with your works, living a life worthy of the Gospel.  Go and tell the Good News that life is not just a woeful walk on the way to the tomb.  The Good News that God has rolled away the stone and opened the gates of paradise.  The Good News that Christ paid for the sins of all.  The Good News that he is your Savior and Lord of your life.  The Good News that Christ has indeed been raised from the dead and God will raise with Jesus those who fall asleep in him.  The Good News that Easter makes the difference!

What a difference Easter made that first Easter morning for the woeful women on the way to the tomb.  Expecting to find a dead deity they were instead chosen to be the first messengers of the living Lord, spreading the Good News that changed the world: “He is risen!  He is not here!  Go and tell.”

What a difference Easter makes in your life.  Because of Easter your life is not just a woeful walk on the way to the tomb.  You too are chosen to be a messenger of the Good News that changes your life for all eternity.  Go and tell—“This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Easter makes the difference—for you.