“Fear Not, Stand Firm”

            1 Corinthians 15:1–2a ¹Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, ²and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you

            “Christ Has Risen, He Has Risen Indeed.  Christ Has Risen, He Has Risen Indeed.”  Alleluia, Alleluia, Christ is Risen, 

            Just when you think the worst has happened, and everything you thought you could believe in is ripped away from you, a light shines in your darkness and your darkness is whisked away.

            John 20:1b Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark,

            Early in the morning while the world was still covered in darkness, Mary Magdalene along with another Mary made her way to the tomb of Jesus.  The possible metaphor “while it was still dark,” might explain the troubled well being of the apostles, as well as the earliness of the day and the time of our risen Lord.  Still, in the dark, may also explain the condition of the world.  Both the world and the apostles were in the dark as they did not yet understand the scriptures they were supposed to know so well.  Was it just another crazy man that was nailed to the cross of a criminal?  Was this man who died in the frenzy of a crowd who shouted “Crucify him,” nothing more than a leader of the opposition that tried to bring down the Sanhedrin?  Or was the beginning of this first Easter day to hold something of proof to who this man really claimed to be, the King of the Jews, the Son of Man, and the Son of God?  Was He really the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior that the scripture foretold of?

            The apostles huddled in fear and confusion, their mood was darkened by the events of the day before, and their hopes were put out like a candle in the rain of Noah’s flood.  Where should they go, what should they do, what does life hold for them now.  Just when everything seemed to be overtaken by the dark, a knock on the door is heard and a voice of familiarity is heard, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”  Could this day get any worse?  Apparently not, in fact the Son rises on the break of day and the darkness recedes away.

            Exodus 14:10—15:13 13And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the Lord, which he will work for you today.

            The people were running for their lives, they knew the Egyptians were in pursuit and gaining on them.  Each adult looked back and wondered why they had ever agreed to this run of folly; was life as a slave to the Egyptians so bad?  What were they thinking?  God left them alone for 400 plus years, and now this Moses claims to be His messenger, and deliverer.  Anxiety was overtaking them, fear for their wives and children’s lives dashed through their minds and they’re all running towards a dead end and nowhere to escape.  And what now, Moses shouts “Fear not, stand firm” is this guy nuts?

             While we are trapped in the dark by our decisions in life; God finds a way to get us through our dilemmas, our crises, and even our bad decisions.  Through prayer and request, faith and belief, God proves who He is and why He sent His Son.  All that we go through in life is taken care of in one occurrence on the cross, and another occurrence outside of the tomb.  Sometimes just reading the words we miss the tree covered by the forest.  Sometimes it takes time and patience, sometimes study and perseverance along with faith and belief and the willingness to listen and to look.  Mary didn’t listen or look until Jesus made Himself known to her when He said her name and got her attention.

            John 20:16 – 18 16Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”   ¹⁷Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” ¹⁸Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

            He calls us by name to get our attention, maybe you do not hear because like Mary you are looking for the Christ in all the wrong places, and you do not listen to His voice, that is, His Holy Scriptures.  He has risen indeed, and calls you to be with Him in all eternity, of the life and relationship He has prepared for us here in His Kingdom on earth and His Kingdom in Heaven as well.  On earth we learn who He is through His Holy Word, and then through the community of Saints, The Church, that is, the Body of Christ He builds His relationship with us so we are all one with Him.

            Christ died for our sins, which is true, He rose to prove who He is, and to show us He succeeds in His plan to give us the gifts of grace, mercy, forgiveness, and everlasting life and relationship with Him our Savior.  This is the love of our God for us and a plan generated by Him to save all whom He loves. Amen.

            “Christ Has Risen, He Has Risen Indeed.  Christ Has Risen, He Has Risen Indeed.”  Alleluia, Alleluia, Christ is Risen,