He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Alleluia!

Easter Sunday Worship 2020

Eastertide: The Season After forty days of repentance and prayer, the Church bursts forth in jubilant praise at the Resurrection of our Lord. The alleluias and

glorias which were muted for Lent ring out again as the Bride of Christ welcomes her Bridegroom back from the dead. Easter is as

the pinnacle of the Church Year, the oldest festival and season celebrated by the worshipping Church. For a full week-of-weeks (49 days) the Church celebrates the resurrection of Christ on the Sundays of Easter which culminate on the 50th day, Pentecost.

The Resurrection of Our Lord: Easter Day Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Sinners should fear God.

Sinners ought to die for their wickedness. The grave should be the place of ultimate defeat for mankind. Yet on this day, the

Second Adam did all that the first had left undone. Bearing our guilt and suffering our verdict, the Son of Man died, but three days

later he rose in glory. As a result, fear is gone, mankind is redeemed, and Christ calls us his own brothers. Jesus came from

death to life, and through baptism he brings us with him.

Greeting by the minister Minister: The Messiah would come as an ordinary man-but would suffer extraordinary punishment. This Man of Sorrows had done nothing wrong. Yet when we look at what happened on Good Friday, we considered him stricken by God and afflicted. It offends our sense of justice. It makes no sense that the innocent should suffer like this. It makes no sense that the Son of God would cry that his Father had forsaken him. What punishment ever brings peace? What wounds ever bring healing? Yet, it was God’s will to crush him, because God made him to be a guilt offering-the offering God prescribed when sin needed to be atoned, and restitution was possible. On Good Friday we saw the fulfillment of every guilt offering. Restitution was possible, but it would be very costly. Only one thing could restore the holiness Man had lost and pay the ransom price necessary: Christ’s holy precious blood and his innocent suffering and death. It is true that he deserved none of this. Yet-in a divine and holy paradox-he did. He deserved it all. Because Christ picked up our transgressions and carried our iniquities. God laid on him the sin of the world. And so, when the Messiah hung on the cross, he suffered there as the world’s biggest sinner—as the world’s only sinner. God made the Sinless One to be sin for us, and the punishment that brought us peace was upon him; by his wounds we are healed. OPENING VERSE: CW Hymn 104 v4 “Go to Dark Gethsemane”

M: After Good Friday, Jesus’ followers were quick to believe all he had said about his crucifixion, but slow to believe any of his promises of the resurrection. In the early morning hours, the women trudged toward the tomb, expecting only to find a dead man. The sight of the empty tomb made Mary Magdalene so despondent that she left before hearing the angels’ message. Peter and John raced to the tomb, but left with only the stirrings of faith. Mary stayed behind at the tomb, alone with her tears and fears. What love we see in our Savior’s appearance to Mary! Though risen and glorious, he does not forget a single soul, but comes to Mary to dry her tears and take away her fears. In that one word, “Mary,” every Christian hears his or her own name on the lips of the Savior, and in Mary’s cry, “Rabboni!” we feel our own joy at the Savior who loves us like this! We do not need to cling to Jesus’ feet to keep him from leaving. No, it was once for all that he died. Now he is the Living One who holds the keys of Death and Hades. THE EASTER GOSPEL: Matthew 28:1-10 (NIV2011)

28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down

from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead

men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are

looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place

where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and

ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him,

clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to

go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

VERSE OF THE DAY: M: Alleluia. Alleluia. Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia. This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. Alleluia. HYMN RESPONSE: CW Hymn 159 “Morning Breaks upon the Tomb”

PRAYER OF THE DAY: M: Almighty God, by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ you conquered death and opened the gate to eternal life. Grant that we, who have been raised with him through baptism, may walk in the newness of life and ever rejoice in the hope of sharing his glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise now and forever. C: Amen. SERMON: based on Revelation 19:11-16 “Victory!”

11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords.

HYMN OF THE DAY: CW Hymn 143 “He’s Risen, He’s Risen!”

THE PRAYER OF THE CHURCH and THE LORD’S PRAYER: M: Precious Savior Jesus Christ, we thank and praise you that by your suffering on the cross you endured the very agony of hell for us, and that by your death you have reconciled us to God. But on this day we especially thank and praise you for your resurrection from the dead, for it proves that you are God’s Son and seals your sacrifice as the full payment for our sins. C: Dear Lord Jesus, may we never cease to praise you with our hearts and lips for all that you have so graciously done for our salvation!

M: Everliving Lord, as you were raised up and glorified in your body, raise us up by the Spirit from spiritual deadness to trust you with all our hearts and to serve you in godliness all our days. Fill our hearts with joy as we look with longing to the day of your glorious reappearing when you will raise all the dead from their graves. C: Comfort us with the knowledge that on that day our vile bodies shall rise in the likeness of your own glorious resurrection body.

M: Our Savior, we need you every moment of every day; be with us and shower upon us your promised grace and blessings. As our exalted Prophet, instruct and encourage our hearts with the gospel of forgiveness and help us grow in our faith and knowledge of salvation. As our exalted High Priest, hear us when we pray in your name and intercede at our Father’s throne in our behalf. As our exalted King, watch over us day by day, protecting us from all danger, guarding and keeping us from all evil. C: Preserve us to your heavenly kingdom by granting us daily repentance and renewal of faith. Special prayers and intercessions: optional, read by the minister

M: O Jesus our beloved Friend, whose continual presence has been promised us, be at our side in all our troubles. Give us strength to bear them and wisdom to overcome them. Grant us grace to endure every sorrow that comes our way and courage to cope with every disappointment. You are the help of the helpless, who lifts up those who are fallen; therefore, comfort and relieve us according to our individual needs. C: As we travel the hard road of suffering and sorrow, may we learn to love you more and eagerly await the treasures you have reserved for us. All this we ask to the glory of your name. Amen.

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and glory are yours now and forever. Amen.

M: Sinners should fear God. Sinners ought to die for their wickedness. The grave should be the place of ultimate defeat for mankind. Yet on this day, the Second Adam did all that the first had left undone. Bearing our guilt and suffering our verdict, the Son of Man died, but three days later he rose in glory. As a result, fear is gone and mankind is redeemed. C: Almighty God, by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ you conquered death and opened the gate to eternal life. Grant that we, who have been raised with him through baptism, may walk in the newness of life and ever rejoice in the hope of sharing his glory. Amen. THE BLESSING: M: The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all. C: Amen. CLOSING HYMN: CW Hymn 149 “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”