1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took
the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone
rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body
of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two
men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their
fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said
to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here;
he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in
Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be
crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” 8 Then they remembered
his words. 9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things
to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna,
Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.
11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like
nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending
over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering
to himself what had happened.
- Luke 24:1-12, The New International Version, (Grand Rapids, MI:
Zondervan Publishing House) 1984.
In the name of Jesus Christ our risen Lord, dear friends:
What a difference a week makes! Only seven days earlier, the scene in Jerusalem had the look and feel of a royal coronation. People came out in large numbers to welcome Jesus as he entered the city. They waved their palm branches in the air. They put their coats down on the path as he passed by.
Some were even comparing Jesus to their nation’s greatest king. They proclaimed: “Hosanna to the Son of David” (Matthew 21:9)! Perhaps he was the one who would restore David’s kingdom. Perhaps he was the one who would restore Israel’s glory.
How disappointed they must have been on Good Friday. The one they had hailed in a grand procession had met his match. The one who spoke with such authority had been defeated. The one on whom so many had pinned their hopes and dreams was dead.
But the week, the week we call Holy Week, was not quite over. Jesus was in the tomb on Friday, but he didn’t stay there for long. Few knew what had happened. Even fewer understood what had happened. But on Sunday morning, Joseph’s new tomb was empty. Jesus was alive. Jesus was victorious...over his enemies...over sin...over death itself.
As we stoop down and inspect the empty grave this morning, what we see and hear will help us fully appreciate...
What A Difference A Week Makes
As the women approached the tomb at sunrise on Easter morning, the shouts from the previous Sunday might have still been ringing in their ears. “Hosanna.” “Lord, save us,” the people shouted. These women were some of Jesus’ most faithful followers. They were the ones who stayed by Jesus’ side even when others fell away. They were the ones who put their faith in him. They were the ones who truly looked to Jesus for salvation.
But they were not perfect. When they came to the tomb, they were expecting it to be occupied. When they came to the tomb, they were prepared to give Jesus’ lifeless body a proper burial. And when they saw that Jesus was not there, they needed the angels to remind them that Jesus had told them that all of these were going to happen.
The women were not the only ones who were confused though. They immediately ran and reported what they had seen and heard to the disciples. The disciples had been with Jesus for three years. They listened to him. They learned from him. They saw him raise the dead to life. If anyone should have been prepared for this amazing news, it was them. “But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense” (24:11).
Peter even went to the tomb and found it just as the women
described. He bent down and looked into
the tomb. He saw the strips of linen
lying where Jesus’ body once had been.
And was this visible evidence enough to convince him? Luke says that Peter “went away, wondering
to himself what had happened” (24:12).
The transformation didn’t happen right away. And it certainly didn’t happen that morning. The good news is that the angel’s words, He is not here; he has risen!” (24:6), eventually sank in. Doubt was replaced with hope. Fear was replaced with joy. Their cries of “Hosanna” (“Lord, save us”) gave way to shouts of “Hallelujah,” (“Praise the Lord”).
What a difference a week made! On Palm Sunday, Jesus looked like a king. On Easter Sunday, Jesus proved that he is the King of Kings. On Palm Sunday, Jesus walked through the streets of Jerusalem. On Easter Sunday, Jesus opened the gates to the heavenly Jerusalem. On Palm Sunday, Jesus was hailed as “the one who comes in the name of the Lord.” On Easter Sunday, Jesus came forth from the tomb to complete his Father’s divine mission.
What a difference that week made for his followers! And what a difference that week makes for us! Jesus’ resurrection demonstrates that he is more powerful than death. Jesus’ resurrection proves that God is faithful to his promises. Jesus’ resurrection means that our debt of sin has been paid in full. Jesus’ resurrection guarantees that because he lives, we too shall live. Our worship today is filled with “hallelujahs” today because we have so many reasons to “praise the Lord.”
Those songs of praise begin in our hearts because that is the place where Holy Spirit lives. Hallelujahs jump out of our mouths because it is impossible for us to keep this good news to ourselves.
Because we welcome “hallelujah” back into our worship this morning, and because that word so accurately describes how we feel today, I want to close this morning by using it as an acrostic. And I encourage you to do the same. Sometime today take a piece of paper and write the word, “hallelujah,” vertically, and then use those letters to express what Easter means for you.
This is what it means to me...
H – He is risen.
A – Angels were the first to share the good news.
L – Love beyond all measure.
L – Love prophesied and fulfilled.
E – Eternal life.
L – Life eternal.
U – Unending joy.
J – Jesus lives.
A – All is accomplished.
H – Heaven is ours.
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! Amen.