The women that first Easter morning were shaken.  They went expecting to see a closed grave.  Instead they saw an open grave, an empty tomb.  And they heard an angel speak.  The Bible says they were afraid, yet filled with joy.  Then they saw Jesus--alive!  The dead man was alive.  His resurrection was earthshaking!  The events of Good Friday turned their world upside down.  They saw Him die and buried.  Now they saw Him alive.  What's happening?  Their world was turned upside down and inside out -- and the women were filled with JOY!

          Easter is a time of reality and joy.  Good Friday is real, but Easter Sunday is joy.  Christ's death was no myth.  Even non-Christian historians wrote of it.  And His resurrection is real, too.  The Bible tells us hundreds of people saw Him alive.  The Disciples saw Jesus alive at least four times.  Others saw Him as well.  Paul wrote that He appeared to 500 people at once.  Jesus really was alive.  And those who saw Him were filled with joy.  Again and again, they said to each other, as we say today, "CHRIST IS RISEN!"  (HE IS RISEN INDEED!)

          So Easter is a time of supreme joy.  The Holy Spirit gives us that joy in our believing, in our fellowship, joy that spills over to all of life.  First there's bad news, arrest, trial, death.  You almost don't want to read on.  But then comes good news - He isn't dead, but alive!  The women see Jesus and the joy of Easter returns.  He died, but He didn't stay dead.  Joy to the world, the Lord has come - come BACK!!

          Our faith is founded on the joy of Easter resurrection, not the sadness of Good Friday death.  We live on the Easter side of life, not the Good Friday side.  Sometimes we dwell too much on our problems.  They seem huge and overwhelming, and we get caught up in them.  Sin and Law crush us.  When that happens, our joy in life gets lost.

          A District President looked over the agenda of a fall Pastoral Conference and all the topics dealt with problems -- delinquent members, clergy divorce, low church offerings and yet another debate over closed or open communion.  In his devotion he said, "The message of the angel to the shepherds was:  'Behold I bring you good news of great joy which shall be for all the people.'  We've revised that to read, 'Behold I bring you bad problems of great consequence which shall be argued by all the people.'"  The church is too often centered on its problems.  It neglects the joy it has in the risen Lord Jesus.

          The Gospel of Jesus Christ is filled with joy.  Most all the great literature of mankind is sad and pessimistic.  English poets Shelley and Keats found little joy in life, save the beauty of their own words.  Sophicles and Shakespeare wrote of human tragedy.  Sinclair Lewis called all people fools.  F. Scott Fitzgerald said life is emptiness.  Jean Paul Sartre said existence is meaningless.  Ernest Hemingway said life is cruel and futile.  William Faulkner said nothing matters at all.  And those are considered the greatest of human authors!  To all that I say, "Get a life, a new life, because CHRIST IS RISEN!"

          Easter joy is love smiling.  It's love laughing.  It's love exulting.  Easter Joy is love rejoicing because death is defeated.  Our joy is not dependent on our circumstances.  It usually is, but it shouldn't be.  The most joy-filled words in the Bible come from people in prison or under persecution.  Our best example is Jesus Christ Himself, "Who, for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and is now seated at God's right." (Heb. 12:2)

          The joy of a Christian man, Christian woman or a Christian child is truly a fruit of the Holy Spirit.  It's the conviction that Christ has conquered all that is negative.  It's the belief that through Him, we, too, shall overcome suffering -- and troubles -- and sickness -- and greed -- and war -- and poverty -- and stupidity -- all those things life so generously heaps upon us.  Joy even helps us overcome pessimism.

          You and I talk of how bad life is.  Lately we've seen some of the badness.  If there is anyone here this morning that has been living by the philosophy that "Life Sucks!" I have something to say.  "So what's new?"  Life always has.  It's because of sin.  Every generation has felt that way.

          But we have Jesus and we have forgiveness.  With Him we have relief.  Our relationship with Him is all that counts.  Stick with Jesus and life will turn out okay -- if not here, then most certainly in heaven.  How can I believe that?  Because I believe in His resurrection.  Joy to the world the Lord has come BACK!

          The angel told the women, "Don't be afraid, for I know you are looking for Jesus who was Crucified."  He told them, "Don't be afraid."  Are you afraid of things?  Do you fear losing your job, having trouble with your kids or that your parents will get a divorce?  Are you afraid of unpaid bills, strange people in parking lots or unlocked doors?  Do you worry someone will reach out and grab you when you're not looking?  Well, don't be afraid!  Jesus is alive and He is here.  He won't leave you or fail you.  He who raised Christ from the dead will also raise us up to new life with new joy and new meaning.

          Paul told Timothy, "God has not called to a spirit of fear, but of power and of love, and a sound mind." (1 Timothy 1:7)   God is with us - we're not alone.  We don't have to be afraid.  We have His presence and power, His love and forgiveness.

          First the angel said, "Don't be afraid."  Then he said, "Come and see the place where he lay."  There are two places in Jerusalem where people think Jesus was buried.  One's called the Holy Sepulcher and the other the Garden Tomb.  One is lavishly decorated and centuries of pilgrims' footprints have worn down floors and steps.  The other is a quiet garden where you can buy some of the strangest souvenirs.  But where He was buried doesn't matter -- He's not there any more.

          The angel didn't say, "Come and see the place where He lay so you can buy a souvenir."  He said, "Come and see, so you know He's no longer there.  Come and see -- Then go and tell His disciples:  'He has risen..."  Come and See - Go and Tell.  That's the message of Easter we can share.  Come and see the open grave -- now go and tell.  Go and tell your neighbor.  Go and tell your friends.  Go and tell people about Epiphany Lutheran Church.  Go and tell someone who has troubles.  Go and tell them God loves them, no matter what.  Jesus is alive, so go and tell.

          During his heyday, Nikolai Bukharin was as powerful a man as there was on earth.  The Russian Communist was editor of the Soviet newspaper Pravda, and a member of the Politburo.  He was once addressing a huge assembly on the subject of atheism.  For an hour he insulted and argued against Christianity.  When finished he asked, "Any questions?"  Silence, until one man walked up to the lectern and shouted the ancient greeting known well in the Orthodox Church:  "Χριστοσ Ηγερφη" (Christ is risen!)  And the crowd thundered their response:  "Αμην Ηγερφη" (He is risen indeed!)

          Friends, we have seen.  Now let's go and tell.  Amen!

Copyright © 2005 by Pastor Bob Tasler.  All rights reserved.