Old Testament Reading Exodus 14:10–11, 21–23, 26, 28, 30; 15:1

When Pharaoh drew near, the people of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them, and they feared greatly. And the people of Israel cried out to the Lord. They said to Moses, “Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?

Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the Lord drove the sea back by a strong east wind all night and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided. And the people of Israel went into the midst of the sea on dry ground, the waters being a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. The Egyptians pursued and went in after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the water may come back upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots, and upon their horsemen.”

The waters returned and covered the chariots and the horsemen; of all the host of Pharaoh that had followed them into the sea, not one of them remained.

Thus the Lord saved Israel that day from the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.

Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord, saying,

“I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider he has thrown into the sea.

Epistle 1 Corinthians 15:1–11

Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Holy Gospel John 20:1–18

Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Alleluia! Christ is Risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Introduction – Where We Left Off

We have walked a long road together. Through this season we listened to Hope in the Dark and Songs in the Night. Songs sung quietly. Songs prayed through clenched teeth. Songs whispered when God felt far away.

We stood with the faithful who waited, wondered, questioned, and endured. We followed Jesus into the wilderness, to the cross, and into the silence of the tomb. That road was not rushed. The darkness was not ignored. The night was real.

The reason and power in Easter begins exactly there. Not at noon. Not in full daylight. Easter begins before sunrise, while fear still lingers and questions remain unanswered. God does His greatest work in our darkest hours.

I. Night at the Edge of the Sea – Fear Before Deliverance

In the first reading the people of Israel stand trapped. Behind them Pharaoh’s army closes in. Ahead of them the sea blocks the way. On either side nothing but fear. The Bible says they cried out to the Lord.¹ Their cry carries more panic than prayerful confidence

They had heard God’s promises. They had seen His awesome power in Egypt. Still, when the night pressed in, and death felt inevitable it was harder to hold on to faith.

The night feels final. The situation looks irreversible. Death appears certain. That is where God meets them.

II. Night at the Tomb – Fear Before Resurrection

In the Gospel reading Mary Magdalene comes to the tomb early, while it is still dark.² She expects death to be found where it was laid. Then she sees the stone has been moved. Fear rises immediately. She runs to the disciples and cries out, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb.³”

Grief clouds her sight. Hope does not yet enter her mind. Peter and John run to the tomb. John arrives first and looks inside. Peter pushes past him and steps into the darkness of the grave.⁴ The linen cloths lie there neatly folded.

Since when does Death give up what it takes? Something strange has begun; something new. Still, no one yet understands what has happened. That first Easter doesn’t begin with understanding. Easter begins with surprise and fear.

III. God Acts While Fear Watches

Mary remains outside the tomb weeping. When she finally looks inside, two angels sit where the body of Jesus had been.⁵ Even heaven bears witness, “The grave cannot hold Him.”

Then there’s a voice behind her. She thinks it is the gardener. She doesn’t look up. Grief still clouds her sight. The resurrected and victorious Christ stands only a few steps away, and she cannot see it.

Then Jesus says one word, “Mary.”

In that moment the night breaks and the Light of the World shines in her eyes.

Recognition floods in. She turns and cries out, “Rabboni!⁶” There is shock, elation, confusion not knowing which way to go or what to believe. The risen Lord is not an idea, a premonition or vision. He is alive. He stands before her.

Just as the sea opened before Israel, the grave has opened before those who follow Jesus. The victory belongs to the Lord. He shuts Fear’s mouth. He silences Doubt’s strength. He brings down our greatest fears. The Bible gives us the Easter song:

The right hand of the Lord does valiantly;
I shall not die, but live⁷

The night does not defeat God’s promise. Darkness cannot overcome His light.⁸

IV. The Gospel Handed On – Victory Proclaimed

Easter faith rests on what actually happened, not on just how it felt. The Bible does not not rely on emotions. It proclaims actual events. The resurrection stands at the center of the Church’s life, purpose, and hope. Without it faith collapses and is meaningless.⁹ With it death collapses and is defeated.¹⁰

V. Fear Gives Way to Mission

Jesus sends Mary with the first Easter proclamation. “Go to My brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.’ ”¹¹

The first witness of Easter is not a king, priest or pastor. It is a grieving woman who has just heard her name spoken by the risen Lord. God does not wait for, or even look for, perfect faith. He sends trembling witnesses. He sends forgiven sinners. He sends those who have heard and seen what death could not hold.

The Church today still is carrying good news instead of burial spices. Life replaces mourning. Proclamation replaces silence.

Easter faith grows because Christ continues to appear, forgive, and send.

Conclusion – Songs After the Night

Israel sang on the far shore of the sea. The Church sings on the far side of death. In both cases the enemy lies in defeat. The night has not been ignored. It has been overcome. We don’t pretend the darkness is not there. We see it has been shattered. Jesus lives!

The risen Lord who called Mary by name still calls His people today: in Holy Baptism, in Confession and Forgiveness, in His Holy Supper and in His living Holy Word.

The reason for our Hope in the Dark, the reason for our Songs in the Night is because the one in whom we have hope, the one who hears our songs, is alive.

Light stands fulfilled.
Light fills the world.
Light is the empty cross.
Light is what fills this sanctuary.

Look to the cross. Look to that place of torture and death. Look and do not be afraid because the cross is empty! He is not there. The cross is as empty as the tomb.

That horrid thing has become the very symbol of our faith. Carry it with you wherever you go. Wear it as a necklace, tie it around your wrist. Let it be known you are saved because of Jesus the Holy Christ of God. Proclaim for all to hear:

Alleluia. Christ is risen.
He is risen indeed. Alleluia.
Amen.

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NOTES

April Calendar

Worship Bulletin

Children Bulletin

As We Gather

Today’s message proclaims the turning point of the Christian faith. After weeks of listening to songs sung in darkness and waiting through silence, Easter announces what fear could not stop and death could not hold. God has acted decisively. The tomb is empty. Christ lives. In the Gospel reading the risen Lord calls Mary by name, turning grief into faith and sending her with the first Easter proclamation: “I have seen the Lord.” This sermon celebrates resurrection victory with power, confidence, and joy, declaring that the night is truly over.

Prayer Before Service

O Lord, who loves mankind, open our hearts to hear Your Word, enlighten our minds by Your Holy Spirit, and grant that we may receive the proclamation of Christ’s resurrection with joy and faith, and live in the power of the life He gives; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Historical Note:

St. John Chrysostom (His last name means: Golden Tongue) (c. 347–407), Archbishop of Constantinople, is one of the most influential preachers in Church history. His prayers emphasize reverent hearing of the Word and transformation through Christ’s saving work. This prayer is especially appropriate for Easter.