“O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. (Luke 24)
Alleluia! Christ has risen! In the Name + of Jesus. On the road to Emmaus the disciples are filled with unbelief. The risen Lord Jesus Christ shows up to call them to repentance. Repent of disbelieving.
Jesus teaches that it is necessary the Christ should suffer. Jesus suffers for you. Jesus dies the death of sinners. The wages of sin is death. Jesus pays your debt. “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” (Luke 9)
Jesus is our Passover Lamb. The charge God the Father has given to His Son. Drink the cup of wrath against all their sin. The Cross and Empty Tomb is the foundation of the Christian faith. Hold fast to the word I preached to you — unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures. (1 Cor. 15)
First IMPORTANCE – GOOD FRIDAY & EASTER! This is the same preaching that the Angel preached the first Easter. “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” (Luke 24)
FEAR NOT! CHRIST HAS RISEN! Christians still have problems. There are things that still cause are hearts to fear. Money is scarce. Loved one dying. Sickness. War. Terrorism. Tornados. We live in a sinful world. We ourselves are sinners.
When life gets scary, turn your ears and hearts to the Word of God. The first importance. CHRIST HAS RISEN FOR YOU. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you....For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God. (1 Peter 3)
Christians bathe in the glow of the empty tomb. The resurrection of the body. The Baptized gather around our Crucified and Risen Lord Jesus. Gather to hear Christ’s living Word preached into your ears. Gather around the Waters of Life in Holy Baptism. Gather at Christ’s Altar to feast on Holy Communion.
“Death is swallowed up in victory.”“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”...Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 15)
The Alleluia's are back. Christ’s resurrection gives life eternal. The Kingdom of God has come in Christ. Rejoice in hearing Christ’s living voice. The calling of sinners to repentance and faith. Christ has risen! He has risen indeed. Alleluia. Amen.
Jesus Lives! The Victory's Won LSB 490:4
Jesus lives! I know full well Nothing me from Him shall sever.
Neither death nor pow’rs of hell Part me now from Christ forever.
God will be my sure defense; This shall be my confidence.
Rev. Lance D. Berndt is a pastor of Zion Lutheran Church in Omaha, NE.