Job 19:23-27; 1 Cor. 15:51-57; Luke 24:1-12
Easter Sunday 2026
Rev. Keaton Christiansen
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Garrett Indiana
Easter Sunday 2026
Rev. Keaton Christiansen
Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Garrett Indiana
Alleluia, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia!
In the name of the Father, and of the + Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The angel said it: “He is not here, but has risen. Remember how He told you, while He was still in Galilee.” (Luke 24:6) The sight of the empty tomb, the stone rolled away, the linen shroud lying folded neatly on the bed, the awe-inspiring angelic presence… all this was hard evidence observed by those first witnesses of the resurrection... showing, demonstrating the truth they did not yet know: that the God-man Jesus Christ, though He had been slain, is now risen from the dead. Risen back from death to life in the body. Not as a metaphor or a myth, but risen in material flesh and blood. His heart beat again, the blood pumped again through the veins that once lay cold. Life restored. And that's the singularity, the miracle, the one that justifies all the miracle of life, that justifies the resurrection of believers in Jesus. While St. Matthew and St. Mark record how the angels show the women the evidence, the hard facts, telling them to “see the place where [Jesus once laid]” (Mt 28:6, Mk 16:6), St. Luke skips ahead to relay their explanation. They're answering, if you like, the question: “what does this mean?”
Now the women who were there had brought myrrh and aloes, burial spices, with the intent of honoring a dead body. But finding no body, fearing what this might mean, they needed some way to understand. It says they were “perplexed.” Such is the wages of sin, such is what death does to us. It perplexes and vexes us. And the message of the angels to those perplexed by death is to recall to them the words that Jesus said.
Now you might remember that this is not the first time that they had heard the message of the resurrection. Jesus had spoken about it many times before, foretelling according to his prophetic office. On more than a few occasions, he told the disciples what was going to happen. In Luke chapter 9, verse 22, for example, He said: “… “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.”” It may be that the disciples dismissed it, misunderstood, or even rebuked Him for speaking like this (Mk 8:31-32, Luke 9:43-45, Jn 11:8?, Mt 16:22). The message of death does strange things to our thinking, and we don't always process it at the same rate or right away. But nevertheless, the disciples did remember that Jesus said this. Jesus does not speak idly, but every word that comes from his mouth is good for his people (Matt 4:4). It's for nourishing and sustaining us in the true faith.
So even when they did not yet see the body of the living and risen Christ, the words of Jesus interpret the true meaning of the empty tomb. The redemption of our fallen race had been accomplished, just as Jesus had planned and taught, just as the prophets foretold, just as God himself had promised to our forefathers.
Since Jesus is correct, and was right to foretell that He would die and rise... remember. Remember what else He said What else was He right to say? Jesus did say that he would return on the Last Day. He did not stutter when he said to repent and believe in him, to follow him. He meant what He said, when He says: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever lives and believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. For whoever lives and believes in me, Jesus says, shall never die” being raised on the last day to everlasting life. (John 11:25-26). Jesus was right about predicting that He would die, that He would die and rise, and that authenticates and verifies and guarantees the other promises He made. “Remember what He told you, while He was still with you.”
The angels began to interpret the implications of the resurrection, using what we have in scripture as a guide. The tomb was empty. That it was empty meant that the body of the Son of God was no longer there. For how could death hold the Lord of life? That there was a tomb at all means that Jesus had died to make atonement, forgiveness for all sin. The power of sin was the Law, which justly condemns us guilty unto death and hell (1 Cor 15:56). And the sting of death then is a guilty death in sin. Yet thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself up, holy and blameless, as our substitute, to atone for all sins, to ransom us back to God. In this great exchange, He took on the guilt and condemnation that you deserve, that you might be bestowed with the holy, righteous inheritance that is His. Those who believe in Him, who receive His righteousness through faith in His promise, also receive the victory therefore over sin and death that He won for us. Though they die, yet shall they live, being raised on the last day to be with Jesus.
When the sting of death draws near, when our conscience cries out, when our hearts break for very grief, we will not despair. For our Lord Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, and thus death has lost its sting for Him and for us. For we who are united to Christ Jesus in holy baptism will be united with him on the last day, in a resurrection like his, to the blessed life everlasting (Romans 6:3-5).
“Remember what He told you while He was still with you, in Galilee.” That message of the angels is also a call for each of us to continue remembering, not only the good news of the forgiveness of sins, resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting, but remembering everything that Jesus said and did. Everything connected to his Incarnation, rooted in time and history, real places and real people. When Jesus was in Galilee, He was teaching and doing miracles, proclaiming a life of repentance and faith, for the kingdom of God was at hand. To remember is not merely to bring the raw facts to mind, but also to attend to those words in the heart, to abide with, to abide in them as a living reality, for they are true. To have faith in his words.
So it is that even before we rise on the last day, even before we see the body of the risen Jesus and those He brings with him to the resurrection life everlasting, even before then, we still remember what He said, because those words are certain and sure. And that is why we gather every Sunday morning to remember all that Jesus said and did, to abide in His word and to be strengthened and sustained by His gifts. How timely that is.
Life in the world is not easy, nor is it straightforward to live our Christian vocations well, especially amid whatever struggles have afflicted us over the course of a long week or a long year. Whatever griefs or terrors perplex us out there in the world, or whatever weighs on our hearts inside. Hear the message of the angels: Be not afraid. Remember what He told you.
Jesus has won the victory. And so it is that we do not need to seek the living among the dead, nor can we seek righteousness among the ungodly and unbelievers. Look instead to where heaven touches earth, in His Word, in His holy sacrament, where the scripture is remembered to you weekly, attested by no less than the wisdom of the holy angels, saying: “He is not here, He is risen. Remember what he told you while he was still with you.”
For therein, in the words and promises of Jesus, we have a safe haven, a guarantee that it is not up to us, a guarantee that our sins are forgiven by God's grace and account of the crucified and risen Jesus Christ, that His righteousness is imputed to you by faith, and that He Who lives is with you always, and will raise you on the last day. The miracle of the resurrection verifies all of His other teaching and promises. You who believe and are baptized will also rise with Christ on the last day.
These are not idle tales. They are the living word of life. And if it is life you want and life you need... remember. Remember, therefore, the command and promise of the Lord, and return to your homes, marveling at all that God has done and all that He continues to do. Remember. In the name of + Jesus. Amen.
Now the women who were there had brought myrrh and aloes, burial spices, with the intent of honoring a dead body. But finding no body, fearing what this might mean, they needed some way to understand. It says they were “perplexed.” Such is the wages of sin, such is what death does to us. It perplexes and vexes us. And the message of the angels to those perplexed by death is to recall to them the words that Jesus said.
Now you might remember that this is not the first time that they had heard the message of the resurrection. Jesus had spoken about it many times before, foretelling according to his prophetic office. On more than a few occasions, he told the disciples what was going to happen. In Luke chapter 9, verse 22, for example, He said: “… “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.”” It may be that the disciples dismissed it, misunderstood, or even rebuked Him for speaking like this (Mk 8:31-32, Luke 9:43-45, Jn 11:8?, Mt 16:22). The message of death does strange things to our thinking, and we don't always process it at the same rate or right away. But nevertheless, the disciples did remember that Jesus said this. Jesus does not speak idly, but every word that comes from his mouth is good for his people (Matt 4:4). It's for nourishing and sustaining us in the true faith.
So even when they did not yet see the body of the living and risen Christ, the words of Jesus interpret the true meaning of the empty tomb. The redemption of our fallen race had been accomplished, just as Jesus had planned and taught, just as the prophets foretold, just as God himself had promised to our forefathers.
Since Jesus is correct, and was right to foretell that He would die and rise... remember. Remember what else He said What else was He right to say? Jesus did say that he would return on the Last Day. He did not stutter when he said to repent and believe in him, to follow him. He meant what He said, when He says: “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever lives and believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live. For whoever lives and believes in me, Jesus says, shall never die” being raised on the last day to everlasting life. (John 11:25-26). Jesus was right about predicting that He would die, that He would die and rise, and that authenticates and verifies and guarantees the other promises He made. “Remember what He told you, while He was still with you.”
The angels began to interpret the implications of the resurrection, using what we have in scripture as a guide. The tomb was empty. That it was empty meant that the body of the Son of God was no longer there. For how could death hold the Lord of life? That there was a tomb at all means that Jesus had died to make atonement, forgiveness for all sin. The power of sin was the Law, which justly condemns us guilty unto death and hell (1 Cor 15:56). And the sting of death then is a guilty death in sin. Yet thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself up, holy and blameless, as our substitute, to atone for all sins, to ransom us back to God. In this great exchange, He took on the guilt and condemnation that you deserve, that you might be bestowed with the holy, righteous inheritance that is His. Those who believe in Him, who receive His righteousness through faith in His promise, also receive the victory therefore over sin and death that He won for us. Though they die, yet shall they live, being raised on the last day to be with Jesus.
When the sting of death draws near, when our conscience cries out, when our hearts break for very grief, we will not despair. For our Lord Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, and thus death has lost its sting for Him and for us. For we who are united to Christ Jesus in holy baptism will be united with him on the last day, in a resurrection like his, to the blessed life everlasting (Romans 6:3-5).
“Remember what He told you while He was still with you, in Galilee.” That message of the angels is also a call for each of us to continue remembering, not only the good news of the forgiveness of sins, resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting, but remembering everything that Jesus said and did. Everything connected to his Incarnation, rooted in time and history, real places and real people. When Jesus was in Galilee, He was teaching and doing miracles, proclaiming a life of repentance and faith, for the kingdom of God was at hand. To remember is not merely to bring the raw facts to mind, but also to attend to those words in the heart, to abide with, to abide in them as a living reality, for they are true. To have faith in his words.
So it is that even before we rise on the last day, even before we see the body of the risen Jesus and those He brings with him to the resurrection life everlasting, even before then, we still remember what He said, because those words are certain and sure. And that is why we gather every Sunday morning to remember all that Jesus said and did, to abide in His word and to be strengthened and sustained by His gifts. How timely that is.
Life in the world is not easy, nor is it straightforward to live our Christian vocations well, especially amid whatever struggles have afflicted us over the course of a long week or a long year. Whatever griefs or terrors perplex us out there in the world, or whatever weighs on our hearts inside. Hear the message of the angels: Be not afraid. Remember what He told you.
Jesus has won the victory. And so it is that we do not need to seek the living among the dead, nor can we seek righteousness among the ungodly and unbelievers. Look instead to where heaven touches earth, in His Word, in His holy sacrament, where the scripture is remembered to you weekly, attested by no less than the wisdom of the holy angels, saying: “He is not here, He is risen. Remember what he told you while he was still with you.”
For therein, in the words and promises of Jesus, we have a safe haven, a guarantee that it is not up to us, a guarantee that our sins are forgiven by God's grace and account of the crucified and risen Jesus Christ, that His righteousness is imputed to you by faith, and that He Who lives is with you always, and will raise you on the last day. The miracle of the resurrection verifies all of His other teaching and promises. You who believe and are baptized will also rise with Christ on the last day.
These are not idle tales. They are the living word of life. And if it is life you want and life you need... remember. Remember, therefore, the command and promise of the Lord, and return to your homes, marveling at all that God has done and all that He continues to do. Remember. In the name of + Jesus. Amen.
Alleluia, Christ is risen! He is risen indeed, Alleluia!
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