Worship Helps for Easter
Resurrection
Edward Riojas
Worship Theme: What is Easter? For Americans who do not
worship Christ, Easter may be a day for family gatherings, a day for candy,
eggs and rabbits. What is Easter for a Christian? It is the resurrection of our
Lord, a day to sing the praises of our Savior God. It is a day to rejoice in
the victory over death that Jesus won for us. It is a day when the victorious
Christ himself comes in his Word to dry our tears of despair and give us living
hope.
Old Testament: Isaiah 25:6-9
On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a
feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine-- the best of meats
and the finest of wines. 7 On this mountain he will destroy the
shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8
he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears
from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth.
The LORD has spoken. 9 In that day they will say, "Surely this
is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in
him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation."
1. What “day” is Isaiah speaking of in verses one and
four?
2. How does Isaiah encourage us to respond to the
salvation and protection that we have in the Lord?
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 15:19-26
If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are
to be pitied more than all men. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised
from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21
For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also
through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be
made alive. 23 But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits;
then, when he comes, those who belong to him. 24 Then the end will
come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed
all dominion, authority and power. 25 For he must reign until he has
put all his enemies under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be
destroyed is death.
3. Why does Paul call this a “mystery”?
4. Why is Paul so certain that we have the victory over
death?
Gospel: Mark 16:1-8
When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the
mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint
Jesus' body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after
sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each
other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large,
had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young
man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus
the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place
where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, 'He is
going ahead of you into Galilee . There you
will see him, just as he told you.'" 8 Trembling and
bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to
anyone, because they were afraid.
5. Why were the women concerned about the stone that
sealed the tomb? What does this tell us about their expectations on that
morning?
6. What task did the angel give these women?
Answers:
1. As is often the case with Old Testament prophecies,
Isaiah here gives us what some call “telescopic prophecy.” In other words, the
prophecy finds a partial fulfillment in events that occurred soon after the
prophecy. The complete fulfillment, however, would come much later. In Isaiah
1, God had told the Israelites that their enemies would lay them waste, but
that the day would come when God would restore them. God did restore them after
the Babylonian captivity. The “day” of salvation spoken of here finds its
complete fulfillment in Jesus: With his death and resurrection he rescued all
people.
2. Isaiah encourages us to worship God with thanks, to
proclaim his name worldwide, and sing out his praise.
3. Our resurrection is a mystery because at present we
cannot see what we will be. It is also a mystery because by nature we do not
know of Christ’s saving work and the glory that he offers to all who believe in
him. Only through the eyes of faith can we see the truth. Only through God’s
inspired Word can we know and believe in Jesus our Savior.
4. Paul is so certain we will defeat death because he saw
that death results from sin. Jesus suffered death under God's curse in our
place. No more payment for sin needs to be made. With his resurrection, Jesus
proved his victory over sin and death―the victory that is ours by trusting in
him.
5. Apparently the stone was large enough to require help
to roll it away from the opening of the tomb. These dear women came to work on
a dead body. All they expected was a tomb closed with a large stone and
possibly some men to help them roll the stone away.
6. It was their delightful task to bring the good news of
Jesus’ resurrection to the disciples. One can imagine that they were bursting
with joy as the bearers of such wonderful news.
Death has been destroyed. We live in the hope of the
resurrection. With such hope, we look forward to the day when we will live with
the Lord forever. Having such confidence our hearts are ready to serve the Lord
with our talents, time, and treasures.
Christians are not under the Law
but under grace. For by faith in Christ
the persons are freed from the Law’s curse and condemnation. Their good works,
although they are still imperfect and impure, are acceptable to God through
Christ. Because, in so far as they have been born anew according to the inner
man, they do what is pleasing to God.
They act not by coercion of the Law, but by the renewing of the Holy
Spirit, voluntarily and spontaneously from their hearts. However, they still have a constant struggle
against the old Adam.
The old Adam, like an unruly, stubborn ass, is still a
part of them. It must be forced to obey
Christ. It not only requires the
teaching, admonition, force, and threatening of the Law, but it also often
needs the club of punishments and troubles.
This goes on until the body of sin is entirely put off and a person is
perfectly renewed in the resurrection.
Then he will need neither the preaching of the Law nor its threats and
punishments, just as he will no longer need the Gospel. These belong to this imperfect life. Just as people will see God face-to-face, so
they will—through the power of God’s indwelling Spirit—do the will of God with
unmingled joy, voluntarily, unconstrained, without any hindrance, and with
entire purity and perfection. They will
rejoice in it eternally. – Formula of Concord
Jesus Christ is ris'n today, Alleluia!
Our triumphant holy day, Alleluia!
Who did once upon the cross, Alleluia!
Suffer to redeem our loss, Alleluia!
Hymns of praise then let us sing, Alleluia!
Unto Christ, our heav'nly King, Alleluia!
Who endured the cross and grave, Alleluia!
Sinners to redeem and save, Alleluia!
But the pains which he endured, Alleluia!
Our salvation has procured, Alleluia!
Now above the sky he's King, Alleluia!
Where the angels ever sing, Alleluia!
Sing we to our God above, Alleluia!
Praise eternal as his love, Alleluia!
Praise him, all you heav'nly host, Alleluia!
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Alleluia!
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