Now Hurry!

 

[The following is a manuscript of my meditation delivered on Easter Sunday morning during our Sunrise Service, the 31st of March, 2024, at Pilgrim Reformed Church.]

It was a quiet morning, much like it is now with most of the followers of Jesus hiding for fear of being arrested and taken away.  The sun was about to rise above the horizon.  Birds lifted their sweet songs toward heaven.  The world had not yet realized it, but Jesus our Lord had already risen from the grave, just like He said He would!

Rejoice, for Christ has risen today!  Let us come together now to worship Christ Jesus our Lord.

Please join me in our call to worship, “The Resurrection of Jesus”, taken from the 28th chapter of the Gospel account of the Apostle Matthew…

Leader: After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

People: There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.

Leader: His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

People: The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

Leader: "He is not here; He has risen, just as He said...  Go quickly and tell His disciples: 'He has risen from the dead.'"

People: So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples.

Leader: Suddenly Jesus met them.  "Greetings," He said.

People: They came to Him, clasped His feet and worshiped Him."

Leader: Amen.

Some of the women who had followed Jesus and His disciples from Galilee watched as He was crucified and died on the cross.  These included Mary, His mother, her sister, Mary, the wife of Clopas and the mother of James the Less and Joses, and Mary Magdalene.

Joseph of Arimathea secured Jesus' body from Pilate, wrapped it in linen cloths, and laid it in a new hewn tomb just before sunset, Friday afternoon.  Mary Magdalene and Mary the wife of Clopas followed Joseph to see where Jesus was laid and saw the huge stone rolled in place to seal the tomb.  Then came the Sabbath, when no labor is allowed and no work can be done.

Sunday marked the first day of the new week, the first opportunity anyone had to visit the tomb.  Sunday was also the third day of the crucifixion, counting Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Did anyone remember what Jesus had told them about that third day?

Please listen to the report the Apostle Matthew left for us describing what happened at the first visit to the tomb that Sunday long ago.  I’ll be reading in the Contemporary English Version of our Holy Bible, from the 28th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel account, verses 1 through 10…

1 The Sabbath was over, and it was almost daybreak on Sunday when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 Suddenly a strong earthquake struck, and the Lord's angel came down from heaven. He rolled away the stone and sat on it. 3 The angel looked as bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards shook from fear and fell down, as though they were dead.

5 The angel said to the women, “Don't be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross. 6 He isn't here! God has raised Him to life, just as Jesus said He would. Come, see the place where His body was lying. 7 Now hurry! Tell His disciples He has been raised to life and is on His way to Galilee. Go there, and you will see Him. This is what I came to tell you.”

8 The women were frightened and yet very happy, as they hurried from the tomb and ran to tell His disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them and greeted them. They went near Him, held on to His feet, and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said, “Don't be afraid! Tell My followers to go to Galilee. They will see Me there.”

--Matthew 28:1-10 (CEV)

Let us pray…  Father God, Thursday night we stood by and helplessly watched as Your Son was arrested.  We were scared that they might take us into custody, too, so we fled, leaving Jesus on His own, denying that we even knew Him.  Friday we were horrified to see Him being crucified.  Many of us hid in rooms in the city, still afraid of what the Romans and temple guards might do to us if they caught us.  And then Jesus took His last breath on the cross, and was buried.  But then this morning, this beautiful morning, Father, we can rejoice, for You have resurrected our Lord Jesus!  You raised Him bodily from the grave so that He could defeat death.  And You and Jesus did it all just for us!  Your Son suffered, and You had to stand by and watch, just so we might enjoy everlasting life in paradise with You both… if we only believe in Him and follow His voice.  We believe, Lord Jesus.  We believe that You are the one true Son of God, and we believe that You rose bodily from the grave.  This morning we celebrate that glorious day.  Bless us Lord, and help us prepare ourselves for Your return.  Help us to better serve You and to never falter in our belief and faith.  In Your sweet name, Christ Jesus we pray.  Amen.

It’s Sunday morning, the day following the Sabbath.  Just two days ago, in our way of reckoning, Jesus died on the cross.  His body was wrapped in linen cloths and placed in a freshly hewn tomb.  And then everything stopped in observance of the Sabbath.

But now the Sabbath is past, the dew is fresh on the grass, it’s still dark but the sun is just beginning to peek over the eastern horizon.  And Mary Magdalene and the other Mary - the wife of Clopas and the mother of James the Less and Joses - have come to the tomb of our Lord.  The Mary’s were among those who had traveled with Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover.  Another Mary, the mother of Jesus, also came and they all watched Him take His last breath and die on the cross.  What a horrible thing for a mother to have to witness!

So now the two Mary’s have come to the tomb under the cover of darkness, right before daybreak, probably hoping no one would see them.  And just as they arrive, suddenly there is a strong earthquake.  An angel descends from heaven, an aura as bright as lightning surrounding him, his clothes as white as snow.  The angel rolled away the large stone that was used to seal the entrance and nonchalantly sat on it.  The temple guards placed there to make sure none of Jesus’ followers came to take the body were absolutely terrified.  They shook with fear and fell to the ground.

Then the angel spoke, saying to the women, “Don’t be afraid!”  I imagine the guards heard this too, although it wasn’t directed to them, but I bet it had no affect on lessening their fear.  The angel reminded the ladies of what Jesus had said, and then invited them to look in the tomb to see no body, to see the place where His body had been lying.

Now back up just a second…  When the angel rolled the stone away from the tomb entrance, did anyone come out?  Did Jesus walk out and say, “Hey, Ladies!  How’s it going?  Nice morning, huh.”  No, Jesus didn’t walk out because He was already out.  The angel even told the ladies, saying, “He isn't here! God has raised Him to life.”  Jesus did not need for the stone to be rolled away before He could exit the grave, because He had already defeated death.

Then why did the angel open up the tomb?  So that the women could see for themselves, with their own eyes, that the body of Jesus was no longer in that cold, dark tomb!  And sure enough, the grave was empty.

Then the angel told the ladies to hurry and tell this good news to the disciples, and let them know that Jesus said He would meet them in Galilee, where they can all see Him again.  As can be expected, the Mary’s were frightened by all that had just happened, but overjoyed by this new development, that their Lord had been raised to life again.  So they did as they were told and hurried off to tell His followers the news that Jesus lives!

But then, suddenly, Jesus appeared before them, and greeted them.  They ran to Him, fell down at His feet and worshiped Him.  And Jesus repeated the angel’s message:  “Don't be afraid! Tell My followers to go to Galilee. They will see Me there.”  I imagine that His presence and message had a more calming effect than when the angel delivered it, considering all the circumstances.

Everyone thought that Jesus was dead, dead and buried Friday afternoon.  They expected His body to be in that tomb on Sunday morning.  I guess they just never fully believed all that Jesus had told them, no matter how often He repeated it.  He was dead and that was the end of it, the end of everything they’d worked for these past three years.

Not only was their Master, their Teacher dead, but any of them might be next.  So they hid behind locked doors, venturing out only when necessary.  But then the Mary’s rushed in with an amazing report: “Jesus lives!  We saw Him on our way here!  He said to tell you to go to Galilee where He will meet us and you can all see Him for yourselves!”

Back at the tomb, the angel accomplished what he was sent and instructed to do by delivering the message to the women.  This is made clear by his comment, “This is what I came to tell you.”  And the women did what they were instructed to do by hurrying to tell the disciples this wonderful news.

Before returning to heaven, Jesus gave us the assignment of telling this Good News to the whole world.  He didn’t necessarily tell us to hurry, but He did say, “Go”.  “Go and make disciples of all the world, teaching them to obey all the things I have command you.”

Just that word “go” carries a sense of urgency, doesn’t it?  I mean we can’t “go” by sitting in our nice comfy homes, or even by coming here to worship every Sunday.

We have to get up, get out, and go to the people of the world, sharing the Good News of salvation through Chrit Jesus.  And family, there are just too many signs in our current age that point to the time when Jesus will return to judge the world.  To me, this ups the urgency level for us to do as Jesus commands.  And seriously, it would be rather hypocritical for us to teach others to do as Jesus commands if we’re not willing to do as Jesus commands ourselves.  So let’s hurry and tell others the wonderful news that Jesus the Christ has risen from the dead and lives again!  Hallelujah!  He is risen!  Christ has risen!

In the blessed name of Christ Jesus our Lord.  Amen.

Let us pray…  Lord Jesus Christ, Redeemer, Master…  You came as our Messiah, our Savior.  But You died on the cross, and for a moment the world lost hope.  Then You rose from the grave, just as You said You would, once again alive and full of life!  You conquered death and promised we would share in that victory if we would only believe in You and accept You as Lord.  As the sun rises on us this morning, just as it did on You so long ago, that promise remains our expected and anticipated hope.

Dear Lord, may our faith remain strong and not waiver during our struggles and trials in this present age.  May we continue to see You, our living Lord, always at our side.  And may we be completely prepared for Your return, which You also promised.  May we fully grasp what You told us before, and what You are whispering now in our hearts.  May we serve You, with all that is in us.  This we pray, in Your glorious name, Christ Jesus our Master and Savior.

And now, Father God, hear us as we pray to You as Your Son Jesus taught us…  Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.  Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.  Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.  For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever.  Amen.

Now if you would, please join me in our reading of “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today!”…

Christ the Lord is risen today!

Sons of men and angels say,

Raise your joys and triumphs high!

Sing, ye heavens, and earth reply,

Alleluia!

Lives again our glorious King!

Where, O death, is now thy sting? 

Dying once, He all doth save!

Where thy victory, O grave? 

Alleluia!

Love’s redeeming work is done,

Fought the fight, the battle won,

Death in vain forbids Him rise,

Christ has opened paradise!

Alleluia!  Amen!

He is risen!  Rejoice, for Jesus lives!  Our Lord lives again!  He’s not still hanging from the cross.  His bones are not lying in a tomb somewhere.  His body did not need sweet smelling oils and spices to cover the stench of decomposition, for He rose and walked away from that grave!  Jesus is alive and lives to this very day!  God’s Christ has risen from the dead and opened paradise for all who would follow Him.

Let’s share this Good News with all the world.  Let everyone know that Jesus lives!  Alleluia!  Amen.