The Resurrection Of Our Lord (Easter Day)
Preaching
Lectionary Preaching Workbook
Series IV
This passage looks forward to the day when God will offer a
feast for all nations. A banquet is the Old Testament symbol of
the consummation of God's saving purpose in history. The feast
will be a celebration of God's victory over death. God will
swallow death up forever and thus death will no longer plague
mankind. This is the work of God, and people have reason to
celebrate his salvation with joy.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (C); 1 Corinthians 15:19-28 (L)
According to New Testament scholars, this is one of the most
important passages in the New Testament. It is the earliest
account of the resurrection. At the time Paul wrote, none of the
gospels was in existence. In this passage Paul reminds the
Corinthian Christians of the nature of the gospel which they and
he received. The crucifixion was followed by a number of
appearances, even to Paul himself who, he claims, was not worthy
of this appearance because he persecuted the church.
Gospel: Mark 16:1-8 (C, E, L)
At the rising of the Easter sun, three women come to Joseph's
tomb to anoint Jesus' dead body with spices. They are concerned
about removing the stone away from the entrance to the tomb. They
are surprised to find the entrance clear and an angel who
announces Jesus' resurrection. The angel instructs them to tell
the disciples to meet Jesus in Galilee as Jesus told them. Their
reaction is fear and silence. In this passage we note that the
risen Jesus does not appear.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 (C) -- "I shall not die, but I shall
live." (v. 17)
Psalm 118:1-2, 15-24 (L); Psalm 118:14-29 (E)
Prayer Of The Day
"O God, you gave your only Son to suffer death on the cross
for our redemption, and by his glorious resurrection, you
delivered us from the power of death. Make us die every day to
sin, so that we may live with him forever in the joy of the
resurrection."
Hymn Of The Day
"Christ Jesus Lay In Death's Strong Bonds"
Theme Of The Day: Life Conquers Death
Gospel -- Christ rose from the dead.
Lesson 1 -- God promised to swallow up death.
Lesson 2 -- The risen Christ appeared to many.
Obviously Easter day deals with life overcoming death by the
glorious resurrection. In Lesson 1 we have the promise that God
will destroy death. In the Gospel God's Son
overcomes death by coming out of the tomb. Lesson 2 with the
account of various resurrection appearances confirms the fact
that Christ is risen. The liturgical propers contribute to this
glorious fact. The Psalm expresses the assurance, "I shall live."
The Prayer makes mention of our deliverance from death and asks
that we may live with Jesus forever. Today's hymn refers to the
victory over death by means of the resurrection.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS Gospel: Mark 16:1-8
1. Who (v. 3). On the way to the tomb, the three women asked,
"Who will roll away the stone ...?" The question indicates that
they did not expect a resurrection even though they must have
heard Jesus say several times, "and on the third day rise again."
If the resurrection were a fabrication, the question would not be
asked. Well, who did roll away the stone? The pericope does not
say. We learn from Paul that God raised up Jesus. He moved the
stone. Man could not do it -- not the stone of death. All the
king's horses and men would not be able to conquer death. This
was God's act of grace and victory.
2. Crucified (v. 6). The young man identifies the risen one as
the man from Nazareth who was crucified. This gives reality to
the Easter story. The risen Christ is not a spirit. The
resurrected person was the youth from Nazareth. He was killed on
a cross. He was truly dead and buried. There is no room here for
Docetism or for a spiritualizing of the account. It was not a
resurrection of the spirit or soul of Jesus, but the body, the
whole person.
3. Peter (v. 7). The angel gives a special invitation to Peter
-- "the disciples and Peter." Why this special mention of Peter?
Was it because he was the leader of the disciples? Perhaps it was
because Peter needed to be reclaimed. Peter denied Jesus, and a
reckoning had to take place. Judas was dead. Only Peter among the
disciples needed special attention. Here we see the grace of God
in Christ's desire to give a disciple another chance.
4. Trembling (v. 8). The women trembled at the fact of the
empty tomb, the sight of the angel and the announcement of the
resurrection. If this were a story made up by the first
Christians, the reaction would have been rather casual.
Instinctively the women reacted normally to such fantastic news
and to a confrontation with an angel. They trembled out of
respect and awe at the event of life coming out of a grave. This
was the greatest event of history. The women responded with
normal astonishment and amazement.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 25:6-9
1. All (v. 6). There is nothing sectarian about God. "All
peoples" are to get the benefit of God's conquest of evil,
including death. This must have been a shocking and revolutionary
message for nationalistic Israel. Israel's enemies are among "all
peoples." There is a universalism to God's concern and salvation.
God desires all people to live forever with him. God wishes all
people to repent and come to him. He does not desire the loss of
one soul.
2. Feast (v. 6). In the Old Testament a feast is symbolic of
the consummation of God's salvation. He has conquered all evil
powers, including death. Now comes the victory dinner. A
television beer commercial uses this idea. After a difficult and
dangerous task, workers meet for a glass of beer to celebrate. It
is God who prepares and provides the feast. Believers are his
guests. The holy communion is the Christian feast God has
provided to celebrate his victory over death in the resurrection.
It is therefore appropriate to celebrate the holy communion
especially on Easter.
3. Rejoice (v. 9). A Christian's happiness does not depend on
his/her well-being in the world. A person can be oppressed,
persecuted and defeated but can still be happy. The reason is in
the source of one's joy -- God. A person can rejoice because God
defeated our worst enemy, death. God has provided a banquet for
us.
136
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES The Best News Ever!
Need: The gospel is good news -- the coming of the Christ to
redeem us. From this good news comes the best news. It is the
solution to a human being's greatest problem and enemy -- death.
On Easter we have the right and the occasion to celebrate God's
victory over death in the resurrection of Jesus. This victory
will be ours by faith. People need this sermon: people who will
eventually be facing death and people who eventually will
experience the death of loved ones.
Outline: Consider the best news ever.
a. The promise of death's defeat is fulfilled today --
Lesson 1.
b. The promise is actualized in the resurrection -- Gospel.
c. The appearances of Christ confirm death's defeat --
Lesson 2.
Gospel: Mark 16:1-8
1. Easter -- is it true? 16:1-8
Need: The resurrection happened almost 2,000 years ago. How
can we, who are so far removed from the first Easter, be sure it
happened? So much depends on whether it is true. Without the
resurrection there is no hope for life beyond the grave, no
assurance that God is in control, no guarantee that love is
greater than hatred.
Outline: How we know that Easter is true --
a. Circumstantial evidence: the empty tomb -- v. 6.
b. Witness of God's messenger (angel) -- the witness of the
Word -- v. 5.
c. Experience of the living Christ -- he is to be seen in
Galilee -- v. 7.
2. If Christ had not risen. 16:8
Need: In Mark's account the risen Jesus is not seen. The women
have only the experience of an empty tomb and the words of an
angel. Because they do not see Jesus, they have a negative
reaction to Easter. We can consider the evidence for the
resurrection. We can listen to preachers announce the
resurrection. We will not positively respond until we experience
the living Christ.
Outline: If Christ is not risen for you --
a. Fled -- the women "fled from the tomb" -- v. 8.
b. Fear -- the women were "afraid" -- v. 8.
c. Frozen -- the women "said nothing to anyone" -- v. 8.
3. A personal invitation to the resurrection. 16:7
Need: It is unique in Mark's account of Easter that only he
mentions Peter by name -- "tell his disciples and Peter." Easter
is associated with crowds overflowing churches. The individual
may get lost in the mass. In this huge crowd of people the risen
Jesus asks for you as he asked for Peter. Why would he do this --
ask for you by name to come to him?
Outline: The risen Lord wants you because --
a. You need to be reconciled.
Peter denied Jesus during the trial and Peter needed
to be re-won.
b. You are needed to serve Christ.
Peter was the leader of the band and Christ still
wanted him to
lead the future church.
4. Who did it? 16:3-4; Psalm 118:24
Need: The Easter women's biggest problem was the removal of
the stone at the entrance to the tomb that would enable them to
minister to Jesus' body. The text does not say who rolled it away
-- hardly the soldiers who were ordered to keep the tomb sealed,
hardly the religious leaders who were afraid Jesus' body would be
stolen, hardly the disciples who were nowhere to be found. Paul
says God raised Jesus for our justification. This has a practical
application to our lives: What rock is keeping us from getting to
Jesus that we might serve him? Whatever that rock is, only God
can roll it away.
Outline: Who but God could do it?
a. Only God can do the impossible. (The women were unable to
move it.)
b. Only God can forgive sin.
c. Only God can conquer death.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 25:6-9
1. The day God acted. 25:6-9; Psalm 118:24
Need: How can we find an Easter message in an Old Testament
passage? It is in the form of a promise of the future. The future
was fulfilled on Easter. This sermon gives to people a
perspective of God's plan of salvation which was in God's mind
from the time of creation. When Isaiah wrote the text, God gave
us his Word. On Easter God gave us his deed.
Outline: The day God acted --
a. Provided on Easter the paschal feast -- v. 6.
b. Defeated man's enemies, even death -- vv. 7-8.
c. Gave us reason to rejoice -- v. 9.
2. Happiness is ... Easter! 25:6-9
Need: The one thing most people want is happiness. Our
expressions at Easter indicate that Easter is supposed to be a
happy time: "Easter joy" or "Happy Easter." It is a time of
rejoicing not because of our happy circumstances but because of
what God has done for us in the resurrection. True Christians are
happy regardless of the hardships, handicaps and misfortunes they
may be experiencing. Their joy is based on God's victory which
they can share.
Outline: Easter is a happy time because --
a. It is a feast -- v. 6.
b. It is a victory -- v. 7.
c. It is salvation -- v. 9.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
1. A personal Easter experience. 15:3-10
Need: Easter can be only a matter of history, of what happened
to others: Cephas, the disciples, apostles, James, Paul and a
group of 500. As we go through the pages of church history, many
many others could be added to the list. But, the Easter
resurrection must become a contemporary personal experience.
Jesus intended this, for in today's gospel an angel instructed
the women at the tomb to tell the disciples "and Peter." Paul
says, "He appeared to me also." The resurrection can mean nothing
to us until we have a personal experience with the risen Lord.
Outline: How you can have an experience with the risen Christ
--
a. To whom does he come: "He appeared also to me." (v. 8)
Even to me, a sinner. (v. 9)
b. Why does he come: "His grace toward me was not in vain."
(v. 10)
2. Why is Easter so important? 15:3-8
Need: Easter is the keystone of the Christian faith. It is the
greatest day of history, the chief festival of the church, the
beginning of a new era for mankind. Take Easter out of the
Christian religion and it would collapse as a religion of
redemption. Without the resurrection, Christianity would have no
distinctive or original message. Why do we make so much of
Easter? Why is it so important? In this passage Paul speaks of
the gospel of resurrection as "of first importance."
Outline: Why is Easter so important to us?
a. Easter proves: Christ died for our sins -- v. 3.
b. Easter proclaims: Christ was raised from the dead -- v.
4.
c. Easter promises: Christ will appear to you -- v. 8.
feast for all nations. A banquet is the Old Testament symbol of
the consummation of God's saving purpose in history. The feast
will be a celebration of God's victory over death. God will
swallow death up forever and thus death will no longer plague
mankind. This is the work of God, and people have reason to
celebrate his salvation with joy.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11 (C); 1 Corinthians 15:19-28 (L)
According to New Testament scholars, this is one of the most
important passages in the New Testament. It is the earliest
account of the resurrection. At the time Paul wrote, none of the
gospels was in existence. In this passage Paul reminds the
Corinthian Christians of the nature of the gospel which they and
he received. The crucifixion was followed by a number of
appearances, even to Paul himself who, he claims, was not worthy
of this appearance because he persecuted the church.
Gospel: Mark 16:1-8 (C, E, L)
At the rising of the Easter sun, three women come to Joseph's
tomb to anoint Jesus' dead body with spices. They are concerned
about removing the stone away from the entrance to the tomb. They
are surprised to find the entrance clear and an angel who
announces Jesus' resurrection. The angel instructs them to tell
the disciples to meet Jesus in Galilee as Jesus told them. Their
reaction is fear and silence. In this passage we note that the
risen Jesus does not appear.
Psalm Of The Day
Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24 (C) -- "I shall not die, but I shall
live." (v. 17)
Psalm 118:1-2, 15-24 (L); Psalm 118:14-29 (E)
Prayer Of The Day
"O God, you gave your only Son to suffer death on the cross
for our redemption, and by his glorious resurrection, you
delivered us from the power of death. Make us die every day to
sin, so that we may live with him forever in the joy of the
resurrection."
Hymn Of The Day
"Christ Jesus Lay In Death's Strong Bonds"
Theme Of The Day: Life Conquers Death
Gospel -- Christ rose from the dead.
Lesson 1 -- God promised to swallow up death.
Lesson 2 -- The risen Christ appeared to many.
Obviously Easter day deals with life overcoming death by the
glorious resurrection. In Lesson 1 we have the promise that God
will destroy death. In the Gospel God's Son
overcomes death by coming out of the tomb. Lesson 2 with the
account of various resurrection appearances confirms the fact
that Christ is risen. The liturgical propers contribute to this
glorious fact. The Psalm expresses the assurance, "I shall live."
The Prayer makes mention of our deliverance from death and asks
that we may live with Jesus forever. Today's hymn refers to the
victory over death by means of the resurrection.
THEOLOGICAL REFLECTIONS Gospel: Mark 16:1-8
1. Who (v. 3). On the way to the tomb, the three women asked,
"Who will roll away the stone ...?" The question indicates that
they did not expect a resurrection even though they must have
heard Jesus say several times, "and on the third day rise again."
If the resurrection were a fabrication, the question would not be
asked. Well, who did roll away the stone? The pericope does not
say. We learn from Paul that God raised up Jesus. He moved the
stone. Man could not do it -- not the stone of death. All the
king's horses and men would not be able to conquer death. This
was God's act of grace and victory.
2. Crucified (v. 6). The young man identifies the risen one as
the man from Nazareth who was crucified. This gives reality to
the Easter story. The risen Christ is not a spirit. The
resurrected person was the youth from Nazareth. He was killed on
a cross. He was truly dead and buried. There is no room here for
Docetism or for a spiritualizing of the account. It was not a
resurrection of the spirit or soul of Jesus, but the body, the
whole person.
3. Peter (v. 7). The angel gives a special invitation to Peter
-- "the disciples and Peter." Why this special mention of Peter?
Was it because he was the leader of the disciples? Perhaps it was
because Peter needed to be reclaimed. Peter denied Jesus, and a
reckoning had to take place. Judas was dead. Only Peter among the
disciples needed special attention. Here we see the grace of God
in Christ's desire to give a disciple another chance.
4. Trembling (v. 8). The women trembled at the fact of the
empty tomb, the sight of the angel and the announcement of the
resurrection. If this were a story made up by the first
Christians, the reaction would have been rather casual.
Instinctively the women reacted normally to such fantastic news
and to a confrontation with an angel. They trembled out of
respect and awe at the event of life coming out of a grave. This
was the greatest event of history. The women responded with
normal astonishment and amazement.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 25:6-9
1. All (v. 6). There is nothing sectarian about God. "All
peoples" are to get the benefit of God's conquest of evil,
including death. This must have been a shocking and revolutionary
message for nationalistic Israel. Israel's enemies are among "all
peoples." There is a universalism to God's concern and salvation.
God desires all people to live forever with him. God wishes all
people to repent and come to him. He does not desire the loss of
one soul.
2. Feast (v. 6). In the Old Testament a feast is symbolic of
the consummation of God's salvation. He has conquered all evil
powers, including death. Now comes the victory dinner. A
television beer commercial uses this idea. After a difficult and
dangerous task, workers meet for a glass of beer to celebrate. It
is God who prepares and provides the feast. Believers are his
guests. The holy communion is the Christian feast God has
provided to celebrate his victory over death in the resurrection.
It is therefore appropriate to celebrate the holy communion
especially on Easter.
3. Rejoice (v. 9). A Christian's happiness does not depend on
his/her well-being in the world. A person can be oppressed,
persecuted and defeated but can still be happy. The reason is in
the source of one's joy -- God. A person can rejoice because God
defeated our worst enemy, death. God has provided a banquet for
us.
136
PREACHING POSSIBILITIES The Best News Ever!
Need: The gospel is good news -- the coming of the Christ to
redeem us. From this good news comes the best news. It is the
solution to a human being's greatest problem and enemy -- death.
On Easter we have the right and the occasion to celebrate God's
victory over death in the resurrection of Jesus. This victory
will be ours by faith. People need this sermon: people who will
eventually be facing death and people who eventually will
experience the death of loved ones.
Outline: Consider the best news ever.
a. The promise of death's defeat is fulfilled today --
Lesson 1.
b. The promise is actualized in the resurrection -- Gospel.
c. The appearances of Christ confirm death's defeat --
Lesson 2.
Gospel: Mark 16:1-8
1. Easter -- is it true? 16:1-8
Need: The resurrection happened almost 2,000 years ago. How
can we, who are so far removed from the first Easter, be sure it
happened? So much depends on whether it is true. Without the
resurrection there is no hope for life beyond the grave, no
assurance that God is in control, no guarantee that love is
greater than hatred.
Outline: How we know that Easter is true --
a. Circumstantial evidence: the empty tomb -- v. 6.
b. Witness of God's messenger (angel) -- the witness of the
Word -- v. 5.
c. Experience of the living Christ -- he is to be seen in
Galilee -- v. 7.
2. If Christ had not risen. 16:8
Need: In Mark's account the risen Jesus is not seen. The women
have only the experience of an empty tomb and the words of an
angel. Because they do not see Jesus, they have a negative
reaction to Easter. We can consider the evidence for the
resurrection. We can listen to preachers announce the
resurrection. We will not positively respond until we experience
the living Christ.
Outline: If Christ is not risen for you --
a. Fled -- the women "fled from the tomb" -- v. 8.
b. Fear -- the women were "afraid" -- v. 8.
c. Frozen -- the women "said nothing to anyone" -- v. 8.
3. A personal invitation to the resurrection. 16:7
Need: It is unique in Mark's account of Easter that only he
mentions Peter by name -- "tell his disciples and Peter." Easter
is associated with crowds overflowing churches. The individual
may get lost in the mass. In this huge crowd of people the risen
Jesus asks for you as he asked for Peter. Why would he do this --
ask for you by name to come to him?
Outline: The risen Lord wants you because --
a. You need to be reconciled.
Peter denied Jesus during the trial and Peter needed
to be re-won.
b. You are needed to serve Christ.
Peter was the leader of the band and Christ still
wanted him to
lead the future church.
4. Who did it? 16:3-4; Psalm 118:24
Need: The Easter women's biggest problem was the removal of
the stone at the entrance to the tomb that would enable them to
minister to Jesus' body. The text does not say who rolled it away
-- hardly the soldiers who were ordered to keep the tomb sealed,
hardly the religious leaders who were afraid Jesus' body would be
stolen, hardly the disciples who were nowhere to be found. Paul
says God raised Jesus for our justification. This has a practical
application to our lives: What rock is keeping us from getting to
Jesus that we might serve him? Whatever that rock is, only God
can roll it away.
Outline: Who but God could do it?
a. Only God can do the impossible. (The women were unable to
move it.)
b. Only God can forgive sin.
c. Only God can conquer death.
Lesson 1: Isaiah 25:6-9
1. The day God acted. 25:6-9; Psalm 118:24
Need: How can we find an Easter message in an Old Testament
passage? It is in the form of a promise of the future. The future
was fulfilled on Easter. This sermon gives to people a
perspective of God's plan of salvation which was in God's mind
from the time of creation. When Isaiah wrote the text, God gave
us his Word. On Easter God gave us his deed.
Outline: The day God acted --
a. Provided on Easter the paschal feast -- v. 6.
b. Defeated man's enemies, even death -- vv. 7-8.
c. Gave us reason to rejoice -- v. 9.
2. Happiness is ... Easter! 25:6-9
Need: The one thing most people want is happiness. Our
expressions at Easter indicate that Easter is supposed to be a
happy time: "Easter joy" or "Happy Easter." It is a time of
rejoicing not because of our happy circumstances but because of
what God has done for us in the resurrection. True Christians are
happy regardless of the hardships, handicaps and misfortunes they
may be experiencing. Their joy is based on God's victory which
they can share.
Outline: Easter is a happy time because --
a. It is a feast -- v. 6.
b. It is a victory -- v. 7.
c. It is salvation -- v. 9.
Lesson 2: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
1. A personal Easter experience. 15:3-10
Need: Easter can be only a matter of history, of what happened
to others: Cephas, the disciples, apostles, James, Paul and a
group of 500. As we go through the pages of church history, many
many others could be added to the list. But, the Easter
resurrection must become a contemporary personal experience.
Jesus intended this, for in today's gospel an angel instructed
the women at the tomb to tell the disciples "and Peter." Paul
says, "He appeared to me also." The resurrection can mean nothing
to us until we have a personal experience with the risen Lord.
Outline: How you can have an experience with the risen Christ
--
a. To whom does he come: "He appeared also to me." (v. 8)
Even to me, a sinner. (v. 9)
b. Why does he come: "His grace toward me was not in vain."
(v. 10)
2. Why is Easter so important? 15:3-8
Need: Easter is the keystone of the Christian faith. It is the
greatest day of history, the chief festival of the church, the
beginning of a new era for mankind. Take Easter out of the
Christian religion and it would collapse as a religion of
redemption. Without the resurrection, Christianity would have no
distinctive or original message. Why do we make so much of
Easter? Why is it so important? In this passage Paul speaks of
the gospel of resurrection as "of first importance."
Outline: Why is Easter so important to us?
a. Easter proves: Christ died for our sins -- v. 3.
b. Easter proclaims: Christ was raised from the dead -- v.
4.
c. Easter promises: Christ will appear to you -- v. 8.
