Jesus Conquered Death

Matthew 28:1-10

Today is the night of the Easter Vigil – an ‘in-between’ time during the Easter Triduum – the three most holy days between Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday. Horrible things had happened with Jesus’ death and the joy found in Jesus’ resurrection had not yet occurred.

The disciples were mourning, they didn’t know what to do, they had not understood the coming resurrection; instead they were sequestered in a little room afraid to come out, fearful that they may be killed, isolated as a pariahs from society (much like we are now). They thought they had seen their dream of eternal life dashed with Jesus’ death.

We can imagine how the disciples felt. They were in their ‘in-between time’: between the crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter morning. They had suffered in pain while Jesus was betrayed, arrested, tried, convicted, and hung on the cross on Good Friday. Like the veil of the temple, their world was torn apart at the moment of His death.

We also are existing an ‘in-between time’ – the time between when we started ‘sheltering-in-place’ during a worldwide pandemic and whenever that time comes when we are allowed to safely enter back into society without the fear of disease and death. We are all anxious about when that is going to be, and have no doubt about the joy we will feel when we will be able to have personal contact with others.

Probably, the most unnerving thing in all our lives is the fear of death – we don’t what is going to happen. It is a fear that we will go into ‘nothingness’, a big black hole. What we are now and will become will disappear like dust in the wind.

We dream about what it will be like Heaven, where we meet with our friends and family who have gone before us. A place where we will suffer no pain, have no disabilities, have no reason for weeping and mourning.

Fear of death is a morbid, abnormal or persistent fear of one's own death or the process of dying; a “feeling of dread, apprehension or anxiety when one thinks of the process of dying, or ceasing to ‘be’".[1] It’s a fear that some how we will die before we have reached our hopes and dreams. . . that we will leave things unfinished. It can be irrational and often debilitating, keeping us from achieving our hopes and dreams.

But by Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection He conquered the most fearful thing of all –

DEATH.

We have been promised by Jesus:

And after I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to myself, so that you will be where I am. (John 14:3)

Death can no longer hold us in constant fear!

Jesus came as a messenger from God – in fact HE was God made man. He came to tell us that God loves us – that life and death are NOT the whole story. The cross of suffering is bare, the tomb is empty.

The rest of the story is eternity – one message:

Like Jesus, we came from God

and will return to God.

God is with us each day of our lives, living in us and in the love of those we see.

As we find ourselves sheltered right now, we have the courage to stay in this place and invite Christ to meet us there. If you know anyone who is dealing with pain, disappointment, or loss—share hope with them - ask them how they’re doing - listen to them - be with them - pray for them. And when the time is right, point them toward the resurrected Jesus. Because life has a way of killing dreams, but Jesus has a way of bringing them,

and us,

back to life!

We are all part of God’s love, God’s eternity and we have nothing to fear – this is the message of Easter – indeed the most joyous season of all.

Let us love one another as He has loved us – and continues to love us throughout eternity.

Phillip Brook wrote his "Easter Carol" reminding us that death is no longer:

Tomb, You shall not hold Him longer,

Death is strong, but life is stronger

Stronger than the dark, the light;

Stronger than the wrong, the right;

Faith and hope triumphant say;

Christ will rise on Easter Day.

While the patient earth lies waiting

Till the morning shall be breaking

Shuddering beneath the burden dread

Of her Master, cold and dead,

Hark! she hears the angels say;

Christ will rise on Easter Day.

And when sunrise smites the mountains

Pouring light from heavenly fountains

Then the earth blooms out to greet

Once again the blessed feet;