J. Albrecht…Easter Sunday…April 5^th, 2026…Matthew 28:1-10…Our Easter Hallelujah Chorus

¹ Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. ² And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. ³ His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. ⁴ And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. ⁷ “And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.” ⁸ So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. ⁹ And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

May the Love of God our Father, the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all, Amen.

INJ Whose resurrection dispels all fear in the hearts of all those who hope in Him, DFR:

You probably do not remember the name Nikolai Ivanovich Bukharin. During his day he was as powerful a man as there was on earth. A Russian Communist leader he took part in the Bolshevik Revolution 1917, was editor of the Soviet newspaper Pravda (which by the way means truth), and was a full member of the Politburo. His works on economics and political science are still read today. There is a story told about a journey he took from Moscow to Kiev in 1930 to address a huge assembly on the subject of atheism. Addressing the crowd, he aimed his heavy artillery at Christianity hurling insult, argument, and proof against it.

An hour later he was finished. He looked out at what seemed to be the smoldering ashes of men’s faith “Are there any questions?” Bukharin demanded. Deafening silence filled the auditorium but then one man approached the platform and mounted the lectern standing near the communist leader. He surveyed the crowd first to the left then to the right. Finally, he shouted the ancient greeting known well in the Russian Orthodox Church: Khristos voskres! “CHRIST IS RISEN!” En masse the crowd arose as one man and the response came crashing like the sound of thunder: Voistinu voskrese! “HE IS RISEN INDEED!”

I say to you this morning: CHRIST IS RISEN! [HE IS RISEN INDEED] I am convinced! I have faith that Christ was dead and he was buried. That I believe. But, this too I accept as true: He rose from the dead and will come again in glory. A short, simple phrase, but a phrase with so much power. This morning, we will consider the contrast Easter creates – from the results of Good Friday, the sorrow, tears, and fear; to the results of the stone rolled away, the angel sitting powerfully, the empty tomb, and the risen Savior. It shall be Our Easter Hallelujah Chorus: HE IS RISEN! [HE IS RISEN INDEED.]

Hallelujah! The Stone is Rolled Away!

² And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.

It was a custom in Jesus’ day, to use a large stone to cover someone’s gravesite. There were practical reasons for this: 1. It kept out wild animals from scavenging the dead. 2. It prevents tampering and theft. But for Jesus, the stone had a greater significance. It stood as a testament to the truth: Jesus died. The women who were going to the tomb that Easter morning had seen Jesus’ body laid to rest. They witnessed the large stone being rolled into place. As the approached the tomb, the stone loomed before them…How would they move it? How could they anoint their Lord for whom their hearts were laden with sorrow?

Hallelujah! The stone is rolled away! And not just rolled away, but toppled over! An angel of the Lord had thrown this large stone out of its track and now sat gloriously upon it. What wonder must have filled their hearts! No man could have done this, especially since the tomb was under guard. No, this was the act of God. An act of God that speaks throughout history: The stone could not contain the Savior of the world. That which once stood as a monument of death, now sits as a beacon of hope. All fear be gone! The might of our God overcame death! For the stone being rolled away we say Hallelujah! He is Risen! [He is Risen Indeed!]

Hallelujah! An angel is there!

His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. ⁴ And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. ⁵ But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. ⁶ “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said.

Standing guard at the tomb were two Roman soldiers. These soldiers were the Chief Priests’ effort to remain in control even in Jesus’ death – how fearful they were of Jesus! They thought that so long as the guard stood in place, Jesus would remain dead and His disciples would not be able to fool the people into thinking Jesus had risen from the dead. Now think of the women. Tears welling in their eyes and hearts heavy, they come upon the authority who crucified the one they loved dearly, must now gain permission to even honor His body in death.

Hallelujah and angel is there! The Romans soldiers were the bastion of professional – the best in the entire world. And yet, they fall over as dead men. Fear seized their hearts at the sight of the glorious angel of God, and rightfully so. The security the Chief Priests fearfully requested were made of no avail, as if they were toothpicks being plucked by your finger.

But then come the women upon this puzzling scene – and instead of might and terror like the angels showed to the Roman soldiers, comes, “Do not be afraid!” What greater message can come from the messenger of God!? Do not be afraid, why? “He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. The holy messenger declares the victory of God over human authority and over death! Yes, the women truly had no reason to be afraid, for the angel had come to them bringing a glorious peace – echoing the song of the angels at Jesus’ birth, “Glory to God in the Highest! And on Earth, peace, goodwill toward men.” What a difference Easter makes! From expecting to ask the Roman guard permission to anoint Jesus’ body, to being met by an angel of God, and invited to come and see that Jesus has risen from the dead! That the powers of man who crucified the Son of God are powerless before God’s salvation. For the angel being there we say, Hallelujah! He is Risen! [He is risen indeed!]

Hallelujah! The Tomb is empty.

Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

The tomb or grave, symbolizes death’s finality to the fullest. Picture Jesus as dead, locked fast in death. No open tomb. If opened, then only by human hands. Then no empty tomb. But one with the decaying body of Jesus. Then all the sorrow and the tears and the broken hopes of the women more than justified. Gleefully Satan could rejoice, the victory would be his.

Hallelujah the Tomb is empty! The women had actually entered the tomb, they could see as clear as day how empty it was. They didn’t have to rely upon the angel’s word, though that would have sufficed, but they saw with their own eyes the slab where the Lord lay was bare, and His grave clothes, folded neatly. It is unbelievable. And yet, there is the proof from God Himself. The finality of death made nothing by the living Savior. For the tomb being empty we say, Hallelujah! He is Risen! [He is risen indeed!]

Hallelujah! Jesus Himself Appears!

⁸ So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word. ⁹ And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Fear and great joy filled the women as they departed the tomb. Fear because of the awesome encounter with the angel, but joy overcame fear because of the marvelous testimony he gave, and the great evidence of Jesus’ resurrection. But God wasn’t done. As they went, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” What a beautiful greeting from the Savior! Rejoice and keep on rejoicing! No longer did they have to rely upon the evidence of absence, but here, in the flesh, is the one they saw crucified; the one they saw buried; the one who is alive.

Jesus continues, “Do not be afraid.” Luther said, “By this Christ wants to teach us all how we are to use his resurrection aright, casting out all fear, being happy and joyful, knowing that we have no longer a dead and buried Christ, but by faith comforting ourselves with the risen Christ and his victory, and rejoicing. For there is nothing in the whole world to frighten a Christian who has Christ as his Lord. Sin cannot do it, for we know that Christ has made payment for it. Death also cannot do it, for Christ has overcome it. He has rent asunder hell, bound and captured the devil. Though the world in its way is hostile to the Christians and inflicts all ills, what about it? It is all only temporal suffering, since we know that over against it we are to enjoy the-resurrection of Christ unto eternal life. Be not afraid, be glad, thank and praise God, for Christ is risen and is no longer here.”

Jesus’ comfort went beyond the women, but to His disciples, whom He calls His brothers. What peace this would bring to their hearts, as they were hanging their heads in shame for how they abandoned Jesus in His hour of need. But Jesus will not have it, they are truly His own. They are to be partakers in the ministry of the resurrection, joint heirs with Christ of heaven. All that Christ has in His resurrection is theirs. They are truly His brothers.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, the words of the angel and the words of our Lord, are being fulfilled yet this morning. For you are receiving the same invitation to come and see. The same encouragement, do not be afraid. The same risen Lord is calling you brother.

Again, Luther writes, “If now Christ is our brother I would like to know what we still lack? Brethren in the flesh have common possessions, have together one father, one inheritance, else they would not be brethren; so we have common possessions with Christ, and have together one Father and one inheritance, which does not grow less when divided, but whoever has one part of the spiritual inheritance has it all.” All that Christ has in His resurrection is yours. For Jesus Himself Appearing we say, Hallelujah! He is Risen! [He is Risen Indeed!] Amen.