Matthew 28:1-7 - He Is Not Here! - April 9, 2023

It’s kind of a strange thing we’re doing here today, isn’t it? I mean, correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t what we have going on here this morning a party? We had lots of food and fellowship at Easter breakfast. We have party flowers and decorations. We have music and singing. We have people wearing special clothes. No doubt about it, this is a party. But that’s not the strange part. The strange part is where this party is taking place. This party is taking place – theologically, at least – in a cemetery. Who throws a party in a cemetery? In fact, there is only one reason anyone should throw a party in a cemetery. That reason? If the person whose death you were going there to mourn was no longer there, was no longer in the grave, was instead, alive. That’s the essence of the Easter story and the Easter angel’s sermon to us this morning: you know that Jesus guy who died, whose body you’re looking for? – yeah, he’s not here!

Matthew sets the stage: two women, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. Why? Well, because they knew the age-old truth that you never send a man to do a woman’s job. These women had watched as Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had hastily brought Jesus’ body down from the cross, wrapped it in cloths and spices, and placed it in Joseph’s tomb (Mark 15:47; John 19:38-42) – but the job was not done to their satisfaction. So they went early on Sunday morning to finish it. I don’t know what they were expecting as they made their way to the cemetery, but they probably weren’t expecting an earthquake to shake the ground as they neared the tomb; they probably weren’t expecting the huge stone that had been placed in front of Jesus’ tomb to have been rolled away; they probably weren’t expecting to see an angel from heaven sitting on it; they probably weren’t expecting the tough men who had been guarding the tomb to be so stunned that they were like dead men. But the angel quickly calmed their fearful hearts: Do not be afraid! I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here. He has risen, just as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. In a few short sentences, the Easter angel summarizes the two most important events in human history and the two pillars of our Christian faith.

Yes, Jesus was crucified. He died on a cross, he was buried, and for three days his body lay in a grave. Sometimes we would rather not think about that part of the story (as evidence I would cite the fact that over half of the people here this morning to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection were not here on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday to commemorate Jesus’ suffering and dying). But the truth is that there would be no Easter if it wasn’t for Good Friday. Why? Why did Jesus have to die? Because of you and because of me. Because God tells us to love him and love each other perfectly and we fall hopelessly short of that demand. Because God has laid out his will for our lives in 10 commandments and we haven’t obeyed even one of them perfectly for even one day in our lives. Because according to God’s holy justice you and I were condemned to die forever in hell. But according to his infinite love, God wouldn’t let that happen – so he sent his Son to take that punishment in our place. Yes, Easter morning is a happy and joyful time – a time to party, but we can’t forget that there would be no Easter if Jesus hadn’t died as the sacrifice for our sins.

At the same time, if Jesus’ story ended on Good Friday, we wouldn’t have any reason to party in the cemetery today – because all we’d be left with is unanswered questions. Was Jesus who he said he was: the Son of God – or was he just some insane madman? Was his sacrifice enough? Was God’s justice satisfied? Are my sins forgiven? Is this life all there is? If there is an afterlife, where will I spend it? Listen again to the Easter angel: He is not here. The fact that the angel had tossed aside the stone to reveal an empty tomb means that Good Friday was enough. God’s justice was satisfied. Easter morning is the proof that every single one of your sins and mine have been paid for. Easter morning proves that this life is not all there is and that all who believe in Jesus will spend eternity in heaven. The Apostle Paul put it this way: he was handed over to death because of our trespasses and was raised to life because of our justification (Romans 4:25). He’s not here; the empty tomb is God’s guarantee of forgiveness for the whole world (1 John 2:2). He is not here; he has risen from the dead. That truth is why we’ve come here to party this Easter morning.

But the Easter angel wasn’t finished preaching. He has risen, just as he said. It’s an unfortunate reality of life in this fallen world that you can’t believe everything you see, hear or read. Despite the prevalence of fact-checkers and honest journalists, most of the news we consume – from any source – is twisted to fit some personal or political narrative. Many people, maybe even many of us, have grown so skeptical that they have become convinced that there is no such thing as absolute truth. But when you open the Bible, you can be sure you are getting the truth and nothing but the truth. Easter is proof of that. Many times during his ministry, Jesus had predicted that he would suffer at the hands of his enemies, die on a cross, and rise again (Luke 13:33; Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:22; Mark 8:31). And even though his disciples failed to understand it until many days later, as Christians living 2000 years later, we have the blessing to be able to see the whole picture. It all happened just as God promised it would – starting with his promise in the Garden of Eden Genesis 3:15); through thousands of years of Israel’s history; 30 years of his Son’s life; and finishing with the empty tomb. Easter is proof that God always keeps his promises.

What a rare comfort and joy that is for us living in this world of lies, broken promises and fake news. Are you looking for identity and purpose – as so many in our nation seem to be? If you’ve been baptized you have both an identity and a purpose in life: you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation…that you may proclaim the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). Do you feel like God couldn’t possibly love someone like you, given all that you’ve done? Come now, and let us reason together, says the LORD. Though your sins are like scarlet, they will be as white as snow. Though they are red as crimson, they will be like wool (Isaiah 1:18). Do you worry that you won’t have enough to make it through life? Jesus promises: seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well (Matthew 6:33). Do you worry about the future? God promises I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Are you searching for certainty in an uncertain life? Are you feeling alone or depressed or confused? Are you looking for truth in a world of lies? Turn to God’s word, this is not fake news, this is good news that you can build your life on. The Easter angel proves it: He is not here, he has risen just as he said.

Finally, the angel reassured the women that Jesus had not simply vanished, no; he has risen and gone ahead. In fact, they should have known that, because Jesus had already told his disciples on Maundy Thursday that after he had been raised, he would go ahead of them and meet them in Galilee (Matthew 26:32). And you know what? He did! He came to see them several weeks after Easter to give them advice as they were fishing on the Sea of Galilee; to forgive and reinstate Peter as an apostle (John 21); and to give them their mission on this earth: go and gather disciples from all nations by baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and by teaching them to keep all the instructions I have given you (Matthew 28:19-20).

The Lord has gone ahead of us, too – he has gone ahead of us in two important ways. First, he has gone ahead of us on the road we will all one day travel – the road that leads to the grave. What comfort this sentence gives especially as we consider our own mortality and the mortality of our loved ones. Yes, Jesus had made his bed in the same place we all will – in the grave. But he didn’t stay there, he rose from that grave in victory, and his victory is our victory. Jesus’ resurrection on that first Easter Sunday set the pattern for all who cling to him in faith. Yes, unless he returns pretty soon, we will die and be buried – but our story won’t end there. We will follow Jesus through death to glory in heaven forever. With joy we can laugh at death and shout with Paul: Death, where is your sting? Grave, where is your victory? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! (1 Corinthians 15:55-57)

Second, Easter morning reminds us that Jesus has risen and has gone ahead of us to prepare a home for us in heaven. Do not let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that you may also be where I am (John 14:1-4). And there we will see him and be with him forever. That is the promise that sustains us through the ups and downs of life. That is the promise that gives us comfort in good times and in bad; in sickness and in health; even when we are standing at the grave of someone we love or we are contemplating our own death. That promise is why we can sing Easter’s party anthem with joy and confidence: I know that my Redeemer lives, and that at the end of time he will stand over the dust. Then, even after my skin has been destroyed, nevertheless, in my own flesh I will see God. I myself will see him. My own eyes will see him, and not as a stranger (Job 19:25-27).

I know it might seem strange to throw a party in a cemetery. Normally it would be. But today it’s not, because the One who died on the cross for our sins – he’s not here! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Amen.