Sermon -- 2nd Sunday of Easter (Apri 12, 2026)

THE RISEN SAVIOR BRINGS PEACEFUL ASSURANCE.

JOHN 20:19-31

In the name + of Jesus.

M:       Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

C:        He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

      “On the evening of that first day of the week, the disciples were together behind locked doors because of their fear of the Jews” (John 20:19).  The Jewish religious leaders had demanded the crucifixion of Jesus.  Jesus’ disciples feared that they were next.  So, they locked themselves in this upper room while the pilgrims in Jerusalem were still celebrating the Feast of Unleavened Bread.  But the disciples of Jesus had other fears weighing on them.  By the evening of that first Easter, they had already heard the reports of the women.  The women spoke of the angels at the tomb.  They could even report they had seen the risen Jesus.  Peter and John could report that Jesus’ tomb was, indeed, empty.  This should have resulted in joy; it did not. 

     The disciples remembered the last time they had seen Jesus.  For most, that was in the Garden of Gethsemane.  While Jesus was being apprehended, they fled into the night.  Peter had seen Jesus from Caiaphas’ courtyard right after Peter had denied him three times.  John witnessed Jesus’ death from the foot of the cross.  All had failed him.  If they saw Jesus risen from the dead, what could they say to him?  What would he say to them?  They may have feared the Jews, but they probably feared seeing Jesus, too.

     “Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace be with you!’  After he said this, he showed them his hands and side.  So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord” (John 20:19-20).  The risen Savior brought a peaceful assurance.  He did not come to express disappointment or regret.  He did not bear a grudge.  Yes, they all failed him, but he had paid for that sin and for every other sin they had committed. 

     “Peace be with you!” he said.  While our translation says that he showed them his hands and side after he declared peace to them, it is also possible to translate it this way: “As he said this, he showed them his hands and side” (John 20:20, emphasis added).  This gesture would have been more than just an identifier, that is, Jesus showing himself as the crucified one.  It would also have been the proof that God’s peace was theirs.  The marks on Jesus showed that this is how their sins were paid for.  Jesus’ risen body is the proof that the payment was sufficient.  The Lord was not angry with them.  He sought no vengeance against them.  The risen Savior brings a peaceful assurance.  Sins are forgiven.  The Lord blesses you.  His face shines upon you.  He gives you peace.

     Unfortunately, peace eluded one of the apostles.  Thomas was not there.  Thomas had just as much reason for fear and guilt as the other apostles.  Sadly, his fear and his guilt still ruled over him.  He would not believe the testimony of the women.  He would not believe the claims of his fellow apostles.  None of them had a reason to lie to him.  And certainly their joy and enthusiasm should have convinced Thomas that they were telling him the truth.  But when someone is consumed by fear and guilt, that is the only thing they believe.  The prophet Isaiah declared, “There is no peace, says the LORD, for the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22).  If you are weighed down by your sin, you have no peace.  That is when the devil will seize you with unbelief and despair.

     Judas Iscariot is the chief example of this.  Judas had betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.  But St. Matthew notes, “When Judas … saw that Jesus was condemned, he felt remorse.  He brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders and said, ‘I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.’  But they said, ‘What is that to us?  That’s your problem’” (Matthew 27:3-4).  The priests did nothing to atone for his sin.  For Judas, there was no pardon, no peace; therefore, there was no hope or comfort.  Since Judas could not fix or reverse what he had done, he chose to kill himself rather than to live with the burden of guilt.

     Judas’ suicide was tragic enough, but dying in unbelief and despair meant that Judas perished eternally.  Judas’ story is especially sad, because the risen Savior had come to bring peaceful assurance to sinners.  It is also sad that Judas’ story is repeated by so many.  Perhaps you know the terrible burden of sin, the likes of which haunted Judas.  Perhaps you are weighed down by guilt that will not lighten up.  People who are hounded by such guilt often deal with it in destructive ways.  Some medicate with drugs or alcohol.  Some figure they are a lost cause and choose to continue in their sin.  If you’re going to hell anyway, why not?  Others, like Judas, feel the only way to escape guilt and despair is by killing themselves.  But there is no forgiveness in any of these.  There is no peace.  And, saddest of all, there is only hell that awaits those who die in their sins.

     No one should have to live with such a burden of guilt.  No one needs to wallow in despair.  You have a Savior whose wounds testify that your sins have been paid for.  The feet that took Jesus to Mt. Calvary were nailed to the cross for you.  The hands that brought healing to the hurting were driven into the wood to bring healing to your troubled conscience.  Jesus’ heart—so filled with compassion for sinners—was pierced for you.  It brought forth a flow of blood and water which provide cleansing for all sin and guilt.  The Savior who died to rescue from sin, death, and hell now lives and declares, “Peace be with you!  You have been acquitted of all guilt.  You have received a full pardon.  The cloud of guilt has been lifted.  The sun of grace shines upon you now!”  The risen Savior brings peaceful assurance to you.

     To further assure you of that peace, Jesus had commissioned his ministers to deliver it to you.  “Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you!  Just as the Father has sent me, I am also sending you.’  After saying this, he breathed on them and said, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.  Whenever you forgive people’s sins, they are forgiven.  Whenever you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven’” (John 20:21-23).  Jesus has given charge to his ministers not merely to talk about the forgiveness of sins, but to administer it. 

     If you were a defendant in a court of law, you could ponder the idea of being acquitted.  You could dream about it, pray for it, and hope for it.  While such thoughts would be appealing, none of them would acquit you.  Nor would it do you any good if the judge sat in his chamber and thought good thoughts about you.  Even if he sat at his desk and muttered to himself, “That guy should go free,” how would that help you at all?  The only way you can be acquitted in a court of law is to have a judge formally declare you “Not guilty.” 

     Likewise, you don’t find forgiveness in your own private thoughts.  And it would not do you any good if God sat in his heavenly glory and thought good thoughts about you.  How would you know if he did or didn’t?  To know that your sins are forgiven, the judge must formally declare you, “Not guilty.”  All judgment has been entrusted to the Son.  Jesus will come again and sentence people either to everlasting life or everlasting damnation.  His verdict is the only one that matters.  Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection have won your pardon from all sin.  But to know that you are forgiven, it must be formally proclaimed to you.  The Lord Jesus has commissioned his ministers to do just that.  You have forgiveness delivered to you as the minister speaks in the stead and by the command of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The “I forgive you” is the voice of your Savior, delivered through the mouth of his minster.  In this way, the risen Savior brings peaceful assurance to you.

     You know Jesus’ words and promises.  They were applied to you in your baptism.  So, day after day, you can be confident that you stand forgiven before the Lord.  However, like the apostles, you may have a sin that haunts you and will not let you go.  For such times, the Lord summons you to private confession and absolution.  It is private; you are the only one present.  So, there is no confusion about who is meant when the absolution is proclaimed.  Jesus, through his minister, brings the peaceful assurance, “I forgive you.”  Jesus sends you home justified; you get to depart in peace.

     The apostle Thomas was not present that first week to hear Jesus proclaim peace.  On the next Sunday, Thomas was with them.  Suddenly, Jesus stood in the midst of his disciples again.  And what did he say to Thomas?  “Tsk, tsk, tsk.  You should have listened to these guys.  I am so disappointed in you”?  Rather than shame Thomas for his guilt, fear, and doubting, Jesus declared, “‘Peace be with you,’ he said.  Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands.  Take your hand and put it into my side.  Do not continue to doubt, but believe’” (John 20:26-27).  Once again, the risen Savior showed the wounds that he received to take away the guilt of sinners.  Once again, the risen Savior showed himself the victor over death and the one who has the right to pardon all offenses.  Once again, the risen Savior brought peaceful assurance. 

     Now, if Jesus’ appearance to Thomas was for his sole benefit, it would not have been recorded for yours.  The Holy Spirit guided St. John to record these things to give you further assurance and greater peace.  John acknowledged that there is much more that he could have written.  No doubt, it would have been fascinating.  But the Holy Spirit does not waste his breath with anecdotes and trivia.  He is intentionally selective about what is written and about what we need to know.  St. John acknowledged that.  He wrote: “Jesus, in the presence of his disciples, did many other miraculous signs that are not written in this book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:30-31). 

     The risen Savior brings peaceful assurance.  It was shown in the wounds he sustained in making the payment for our sins.  It was shown in the immortal, resurrected body which proves the payment is sufficient.  Jesus’ risen body also provides a glimpse of the immortality that awaits us at our resurrection.  That peaceful assurance is proclaimed when sinners are absolved by Christ’s ministers who speak and act in the stead and by the command of Jesus Christ.  And it is bestowed on the pages of Scripture which are written for your hope and comfort. 

     Jesus Christ is risen.  He lives to bring peaceful assurance.  You get to live in peace.  You get to die in peace.  And you will receive everlasting peace.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Lutheran Satire: Best Conspiracy Ever

If last week's post from Lutheran Satire (Ishtar Ruins Easter) was not enough for you, here is another installment of Lutheran Satire.  Entitled, "Best. Conspiracy. Ever.", it demonstrates that the people who claim men invented Christianity for their own personal gain are deluded.  

As for the claim that Christians seek to control others' lives, all the Christian Church does is proclaim what God says.  We also recognize that people who are determined to rebel against God's word are not to be forced to change their ways.  (Note: Those who present examples to the contrary should recognize that those examples are rare and not consistent with God's word.  Christians recognize that, too.)  Those who demand to live apart from God and his word will get their way.  To Christians, however, this is tragic because it means eternal separation from God who is the source of life, love, and blessing.  This is why Christians are persistent in their preaching and calling people to repent.  Our Lord desires all people to leave their wicked ways so that they can live.  Christians have been influenced by God to feel the same way.

In any case, here is a video from Lutheran Satire to show that the early Church did not concoct the story of Jesus' resurrection for personal gain.  Enjoy.

YouTube -- Easter Festival Service (April 5, 2026)

Here is the Divine Service for Easter Festival on Sunday, April 5, 2026.

Sermon -- Easter Festival (April 5, 2026)

JESUS IS RISEN.  THERE IS NOTHING MORE IMPORTANT.

1 CORINTHAINS 15:1-11

In the name + of Jesus.

M:       Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

C:        He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

     Not long ago, there was a Christian theologian who spoke these words from his death bed: “If Jesus is risen, nothing else matters.  If Jesus is not risen, nothing else matters.”  St. Paul said it differently: “I am going to call your attention to the gospel that I preached to you.  … 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” (1 Corinthians 15:1,3-4).  Jesus is risen.  There is nothing more important.

     St. Paul had a lot of issues to address in his letters to the Corinthian congregation.  Among them were divisions in the church and church discipline, sexual ethics and marriage, the office of the holy ministry, and proper decorum in worship.  Much of what Paul had to say are still issues within Christendom; the problems never really go away.  In fact, time seems to add new problems.  How much should the church preach about politicians, immigration, the war in Iran, LGBTQ+ matters, protests, free speech, and the like?  

     First, it should be noted that the Church is not a political action group.  When election season rolls around, we don’t hand out pins or invite candidates to speak (although some have asked).  If the Church is to influence society, it is by changing hearts one person at a time.  That happens through preaching God’s word, not by protests or activism.  It should also be noted that while contemporary issues are not the main thing, they are not meaningless, either.  God’s word has a lot to say about them.  But the Church is not founded upon contemporary issues.  If we devote our time and attention to contemporary issues, we will lose focus on the eternal issue.  Jesus is risen.  There is nothing more important.

     St. Paul told the Corinthians what truly matters.  “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” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).  There is nothing more important.  This is not to minimize your trials and your tears.  It is a broken world, and bad things happen.  You can argue that they are not supposed to happen.  You can work hard to improve your little corner of the world.  But nothing you say or do is going to change the fact that this world is flawed and produces frustration. 

     The flaws and frustrations of this broken world have their finality in death.  That is what produces fear in everyone.  Even if you are going through a trial, there is always hope that things are going to get better.  But death puts an end all hope.  If you have a sick child, you hope things will get better.  You hope to avoid the worst-case scenario, that the child dies.  Just the thought of that would make any mother cry.  Death brings finality.  It puts an end to hope.  Many of our fears arise from the threat of death.  When the news reports war or terrorism, the fear is that it will bring death to your home.  If your trials are financial, it is frustrating, but people have survived through greater hardships than that.  But if your life has been reduced to just surviving, the fear is that you may not.  When COVID first hit, we were told that 1/3 of the population would die.  That terrified almost everybody.  People think that the worst thing that can happen to them is death.  But every life ends in death.  There is no escape from it.  We don’t know the “how” or the “when,” but we all know that it is not “if.” 

     You may wring your hands over politics, pandemics, and the price of gas and eggs, but in the hour of death, you won’t care about any of that.  You need something certain which brings comfort and peace.  St. Paul proclaimed it to the Corinthians, and it has been recorded for you: “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” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). 

     Jesus is risen.  There is nothing more important.  Of course, if we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection, that means he died.  St. Paul told us what Jesus’ death was for: “for our sins.”  Jesus absorbed all transgressions into himself.  This man is the substitute for all mankind, absorbing the blows and suffering the hell all mankind deserves.  He was buried, and on the third day, this man rose from the dead, just as the Scriptures foretold.  Psalm 16 states, “My heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices.  Even my flesh will dwell securely because you will not abandon my life to the grave.  You will not let your favored one see decay” (Psalm 16:9-10).  Jesus did not come back as a zombie with a grotesque appearance.  Jesus arose with a glorious body.  Jesus lives and will never die again.  This man rules over death and now can release all mankind from the grave.  Jesus is risen.  There is nothing more important. 

     That resurrection assures us that the Father has accepted Jesus’ payment for all your sins.  It also shows us that the grave has lost its power to Jesus.  The Lord Jesus will come again to raise up all the dead.  In the end, the grave gets nothing.  All will be gathered before Jesus.  There will be a division among the people, however.  Those who believe in Jesus will receive the benefits of his life, death, and resurrection.  Those to whom Jesus was most important are covered in Jesus’ innocence.  They will receive life everlasting.  This is why there is nothing more important. 

     But there will be many others for whom Jesus was never important.  They were devoted to other matters—perhaps social causes or political activism.  Perhaps their Sundays were devoted to sports or sleep.  Perhaps they cared only about partying or porn.  Most do not think that they are bad people.  Granted, most people are not criminals, but all people are sinners.  All need God’s forgiveness.  To despise Jesus is to forsake the only source of forgiveness there is.  Many will be raised from their graves only to be cast into hellfire.  So, there are things worse than death.

     That’s why there is nothing more important than Jesus.  He proclaimed, “Repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).  Repent, and recognize that you have not lived the holy life God demands.  You don’t have to sell yourself to God.  He wouldn’t buy it anyway.  And if you are honest with yourself, neither would you.  But here is the good news: Jesus Christ has redeemed you from your sin.  The proof is that he has conquered death.  Eternal life is God’s gift, won by Jesus, delivered to you.  Jesus is risen.  He delivers the goods to you in word and sacraments.  “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16).  There is nothing more important.

     “If Jesus is risen, nothing else matters.  If Jesus is not risen, nothing else matters.”  If Jesus is risen, it will not matter if you die rich or poor; young or old; married, single, or divorced; beloved or despised; healthy of sick.  It will not matter if you die peacefully or tragically.  If Jesus is risen, nothing else matters.  Your place in heaven is secure, and you can live your life in godliness and in joyful anticipation of a glorious resurrection. 

     But the other end of that statement is, “If Jesus is not risen, nothing else matters.”  If Jesus is not risen, you are still in our sins.  The world remains broken.  Life goes on with trials and tears.  In fact, life is just a march of failings and frustrations to the finality of death.  Even St. Paul observed, “If our hope in Christ applies only to this life, we are the most pitiful people of all.  If the dead are not raised, then ‘let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die’” (1 Corinthians 15:19,32). 

     But St. Paul removes the “If” from these things.  Jesus is risen!  There is nothing more important.  In fact, St. Paul says there is nothing more certain!  Listen to the evidence St. Paul presents: “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.  After that he appeared to over five hundred brothers at the same time, most of whom are still alive, but some have fallen asleep.  Then he appeared to James, and then to all the apostles.  Last of all, he appeared also to me” (1 Corinthians 15:3-8). 

     Jesus is risen!  It is not a metaphor or a myth, a fable or a fairy tale.  It is a historical fact attested by multiple witnesses who saw him, spoke with him, touched him, inspected his wounds, and feasted with him.  As St. Paul noted, the claims of Jesus’ resurrection are not private encounters that cannot be investigated.  In one case, he appeared to over five hundred brothers at the same time.  St. Paul practically dared the Corinthians to verify it since most of them were still alive and could testify what they saw and heard.

     Jesus is risen.  There is nothing more important.  You and I are not able to interview those who saw Jesus’ risen body.  We have only their eyewitness accounts recorded for us.  But we also have their testimony confirmed by their blood.  They chose to rather die rather than deny what they had seen.  Compare that to the men who were involved in the cover-up of the Watergate scandal.  Chuck Colson served as White House special counsel.  He was involved in the cover-up and spoke about the failure to keep the lie going.  He said, “I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me.  How?  Because 12 men testified that they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it.  Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison.  They would not have endured that if it weren’t true.  Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world—and they couldn’t keep a lie for three weeks.  You’re telling me 12 apostles could keep lie for 40 years?  Absolutely impossible.” 

     Dear Christians, the Lord Jesus Christ died for your sins.  He was buried.  He is risen.  The Scriptures prophesied about it.  Jesus himself foretold it.  The apostles witnessed it, proclaimed it, and died for it.  It is the message on which the Church is built.  It is the message on which your life rests and in which you will find comfort in the hour of death.  As sure and certain as death is, just as sure and certain is that Jesus rose from the dead.  Therefore, you can be sure and certain of the resurrection of the dead and the life everlasting.

     You may die having accomplished much, or you may wish you could have done more.  You may die having accumulated much, or you may leave behind precious little.  You may die surrounded by friends and family, or you may die alone.  In the eternal picture, none of that matters.  No matter what, you will die.  But no matter what, Jesus lives.  Jesus will come again and raise you up to a life that will never end, will never know tears, and will never disappoint you.  Jesus is risen.  There is nothing more important. 

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Sermon -- TRIDUUM: Easter Dawn (April 5, 2026)

BAPTISM NOW SAVES YOU.

1 PETER 3:17-22

In the name + of Jesus.

M:       Alleluia!  Christ is risen!

C:        He is risen indeed!  Alleluia!

     “He descended into hell.  On the third day he rose again from the dead” (Apostles’ Creed).  The Apostles’ Creed seems to reverse the order of events.  St. Peter wrote that Jesus “was put to death in flesh but was made alive in spirit, in which he also went and made an announcement to the spirits in prison” (1 Peter 3:18-19).  So, the descent into hell occurred after Jesus had risen from the dead.  If he were still dead, how could he proclaim victory?  But Jesus Christ is risen.  He is the conqueror, the one who holds authority over death and hell. 

     Jesus descended into hell before he appeared to anyone on Easter day—and that seems to be the point of the Apostles’ Creeds order of events.  His suffering was finished on Good Friday.  He had taken his Sabbath rest in the grave.  He rose and descended into hell.  He went to the devil’s home turf.  He preached to the spirits and proved himself the victor.  Then he departed since neither death nor hell nor the devil has any hold on him.

     Although the spirits in prison include all who have despised and denied God’s promises, St. Peter focused only on those from the days of Noah.  Those who had rejected God’s word and dismissed it with mockery were forced to acknowledge that their condemnation was deserved.  By contrast, Noah took God’s word seriously and built the ark in which he and his family were saved.  The Flood destroyed all the wicked.  The same waters scrubbed the world clean and produced a new creation—not yet perfected, but renewed.  The Flood also up lifted Noah and his family above that destruction so that they were saved. 

     St. Peter, then, draws this analogy: “Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the body but the guarantee of a good conscience before God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21).  Just as the Flood drowned the wicked and lifted up the ark above the destruction, so the waters of baptism have done for you.  Baptism now saves you.  It wipes out all unrighteousness.  It purifies you from sin.  Through baptism, you have been brought into the ark of the Holy Christian Church.  That is why this part of the church building is called the nave.  “Nave” comes from the Latin word for boat or ark.  It is where you find the deliverance from a damning judgment.  Baptism extinguishes the hellfire that awaits the guilty. 

     Some Christians protest that baptism does not save.  They want to correct you and say, “Baptism does not save; Jesus does.”  But that is like saying, “Food does not sustain you; nutrition does.”  But how does God provide that nutrition to you?  Through food.  Likewise, St. Peter connects baptism to Jesus’ resurrection.  Jesus’ resurrection bestows new life.  How does the Lord deliver that new life to you?  Through holy baptism.  Baptism now saves you—not a symbolic washing, but “the guarantee of a good conscience before God through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21).  Baptism is “the washing of rebirth and the renewal by the Holy Spirit” (Titus 3:5).  It makes you a new creation—not yet perfect, but renewed.  The resurrection and perfection and glory will come at the resurrection of all flesh.  Death will be done.  The Church will be delivered.  For, Jesus lives.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen. 

Sermon -- Funeral for Elaine Swartz Patton (January 23, 2026)

+ (Ruth) Elaine Swartz Patton +

September 13, 1932 – January 17, 2026

ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER WITH RESURRECTION HOPE.

1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-18

In the name + of Jesus.

      At the death of a loved one, we look for different ways to cope and to find comfort.  One of the ways to cope with the death of your mother or grandmother is to tell stories and share memories.  Those memories are good.  They are why you loved her so much and why you will miss her so much.  But the memories also make this hard.  You don’t grieve over people you don’t know.  You grieve because the death of a loved one is final.  It puts an end to any more memories. 

     Another way you could cope with Elaine’s death is recognizing that her health was not very good over the past few years.  She was frustrated that her eyesight was pretty much gone.  She was not as vibrant as in past years.  Just because you knew that Elaine’s death was coming does not make it any easier.  People often console themselves by saying, “She went to a better place.”  But many don’t know where that place is, so how can they know it is any better?

     St. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians who were grieving over their Christian family and friends who had died.  Somehow, they had gotten the idea that their loved ones missed out on the glory that God promised because they died before Jesus returned.  So, St. Paul wrote words to correct and to comfort them.  They are words for you to take to heart, too.  Encourage one another with resurrection hope.

     St. Paul begins, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you do not grieve in the same way as the others, who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).  You will notice that Paul does not forbid you to grieve.  Death is painful.  It rips away those whom we love, and it leaves a wounded heart.  Death is not what God had intended for anyone when he created the world.  But once sin entered the world, death was the result. 

     The Bible declares, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  As much as you loved your mother or grandmother, it does not change the fact that she was a sinner.  As much as she loved you, it does not change the fact that you are sinners, too.  And since we are all sinners, death comes for us all.  Pretending it is not true is no way to cope with that, and it is certainly no way to escape it.

     Even though you grieve, you are not without hope.  You are not hopeless in the face of death, and you are not hopeless in regard to your sin.  Elaine and I got to visit with each other often.  She liked to hear the Scriptures read to her, to ponder what they said, and to partake in the sacrament of holy communion.  The reason is because in God’s word and sacraments, the Lord provides a remedy for sin and death.  It is not merely a way to cope with sin and death; it is how we are delivered from them.

     God’s word reveals God’s love for sinners.  St. Paul referred to that in his letter to the Thessalonians.  He wrote, “If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then in the same way we also believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:14).  Jesus died because he took upon himself the sins of the world, including Elaine’s.  Since the wages of sin is death, Jesus died bearing the sins of Elaine and of us all.  Jesus took God’s curse so that he could deliver God’s blessing.  Jesus was sentenced for our guilt so that he could issue to us a full pardon for all our offenses against God.  Jesus endured death so that he could bestow upon us eternal life.

     Jesus died for our sins; then he rose from the dead.  This confirms that the payment for your sin has been made in full.  More than that, it shows that death does not get the last word.  Jesus has overcome death.  He rose from the dead not as a ghost, but with a glorified body that can never die again.  This is what Jesus grants to all who believe in him.  Jesus delivers us from sin and death.  Encourage one another with resurrection hope. 

     If you went to Jerusalem, you could visit the sites there where Jesus died and rose.  You could take selfies and post them on Facebook for everyone to see.  But you won’t find forgiveness there.  What Jesus won for you 2,000 years ago needs to be delivered to you now.  Jesus’ salvation was delivered to Elaine when she was baptized.  She was washed clean of all guilt and marked as a child of God.  The Lord strengthened her faith through his word.  She received the living body and blood of Jesus in holy communion.  This is how Jesus supplied to Elaine the benefits of his bloody cross and empty tomb.  This is how Jesus delivers them to you, too.  This is Jesus encourages you with resurrection hope.

     If you want to cope with Elaine’s death, our Lord gives you the hope you need.  Now, the way we use the word “hope” tends to leave us with some doubts about the future.  I am sure that Elaine hoped that she would be surrounded by dogs in the heavenly kingdom.  Will she?  I don’t know.  God’s word makes no specific promises about that.  However, since there would have been dogs in the Garden of Eden, and since the Garden of Eden was a perfect home for holy people, it is not ridiculous to hope that there will be dogs in heaven, but it is not a certainty.

     When we speak of the hope of the resurrection and the glories of heaven, we do have certainty because God’s promises are our hope.  It is not called a hope because God’s promises are in question; it is a hope because we haven’t received the fullness of them yet.  We have not entered the glories of heaven.  Well, now Elaine has.  I am sure that she hoped to be reunited with her beloved George.  What hope is there for that?  This is what the Lord says: “We believe that God will bring with (Jesus) those who have fallen asleep through Jesus.  … And so we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:14,17).  This is not a wish, but a promise.  And our Lord’s word is always sure.

     Encourage one another with resurrection hope.  Just as Jesus rose from the dead, so he will come again to raise up and restore Elaine to glory.  He will grant her a body that will never become frail, will never suffer pain, and will live forever.  This will endure much longer than any memories or stories.  As precious as those are, they don’t save her.  As endearing as those are, they don’t offer a comfort that overrules death.  Jesus does.  His promises remain firm when your world is shattered.  His grace to soothes you when your hearts are hurting.  Jesus lives and rules over all things, even death.  At his word, death must give Elaine Patton back so that she will live and rejoice with her beloved George and all who believe in Jesus.  “And so we will always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).  Therefore, encourage one another with resurrection hope. 

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Sermon -- Christian Funeral for Jim Hobley (December 1, 2025)

Christian Funeral for

+ James Allan Hobley +

(February 10, 1938 - November 17, 2025)

PSALM 91

JAMES HOBLEY HAS AN INDESTRUCTIBLE REFUGE.

In the name + of Jesus.

    “One who lives in the shelter of the Most High will stay in the shadow of the Almighty” (Psalm 91:1).  Jim Hobley knew a thing or two about shelters.  As a financial advisor, Jim knew something about tax shelters.  He could advise people how to protect their income so that they could keep as much of their earnings as possible.  Jim was not unethical, but smart.

     Jim also knew a thing or two about shelters when it came to camping.  He told me a story about a Spring canoe trip at the Rifle River Recreational Area.  After a day of paddling, he set up the tent for the night for himself and his kids.  Apparently, winter had not give up yet.  He woke up to a tent sagging down to his face because of the weight of the snow on it.  But the shelter was enough, and that canoe trip continued.

     Jim Hobley knew a thing or two about a shelter in the Lord.  He could repeat with the Psalmist: “I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust’” (Psalm 91:2).  He was a regular attender in God’s house and served in many ways for the church.  When he was no longer able to come, he welcomed every visit where he heard God’s promises and feasted on the holy sacrament.  He sought shelter in God’s mercy.  He confessed that Jesus Christ was his refuge—or I should say, Jesus Christ is his refuge.  It would be incorrect to say that James Hobley had an indestructible refuge in Jesus.  If it was something he had, then either he no longer has it, or it was able to be destroyed.  But James Hobley has an indestructible refuge in Jesus, and even death cannot destroy it.

     When we need safety and security, we seek a refuge.  We seek refuge from the winter in heated homes.  Our cars provide a refuge in case of an accident with seat belts and air bags.  Without a shelter or a refuge, we expose ourselves to danger.  The danger we all face is sin and death.  Sin earns God’s judgment.  We can try to take refuge in excuses, but they are as flimsy as the fig leaves Adam and Eve tried to cover up with.  The Bible reminds us, “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  Jim Hobley died because he was a sinful human being.  He did not make excuses for it; he confessed it.  You, too, will die because you are a sinful human being.  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).

     Far worse than the physical death we all face is the eternal death that results from sin.  No matter how much we might try to convince ourselves that we are good people, God’s Law exposes us.  Who does not have fits of anger?  Who is not jealous over someone else’s blessings? Who does not become angry with God when life gets hard, or even hate God when his word condemns us for doing things we like?  Defiance of God and of his word brings down a curse on us—an eternal sentence in which we are cast away from the God who is the source of life and goodness and blessing.

     What a marvel, then, that God himself provides a refuge so that we will not be destroyed by that judgment!  James Hobley has an indestructible refuge, and he would want you to know about it so that you can take refuge in it as well.

     The Psalmist wrote, “Yes, you, Lord, are my refuge!  If you make the Most High your shelter, evil will not overtake you.  Disaster will not come near your tent” (Psalm 91:9-10).  The refuge that our Lord provides is found in Jesus Christ.  Whoever believes in Jesus and is baptized into his name receives an indestructible refuge.  That is because Jesus came to take the blows for us.  He is like a castle against which cannon balls are lobbed.  They pound and pound at the castle, but those who are inside remain safe.  So, Jesus took up the sins of the world and put himself under the judgment of the heavenly Father.  Since Jesus bore our guilt, he was treated as the guilty one.  He took all the blows of the damning judgment at the cross.  Those who take refuge in Jesus remain safe and secure.  Evil will not overtake you.  Eternal disaster will not come near your tent.  Like Jim, you have an indestructible refuge in Jesus.

     Jim always enjoyed a good story.  He would often tell me about the books he read.  He seemed to like action most of all.  It is no wonder, then, that he liked to hear from the Bible.  For the Bible tells about the action that our Lord took to deliver us from sin and death.  The Psalmist describes it: “You will tread on the lion and the cobra.  You will trample the young lion and the serpent” (Psalm 91:13). 

     The devil, in the form of a serpent, had lured mankind into rebellion against God.  That sin infects us all.  But as soon as sin entered the world, God gave a gracious promise: “The Lord God said to the serpent: …I will put hostility between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed.  He will crush your head, and you will crush his heel” (Genesis 3:14-15). 

     Jesus is the seed of the woman who let the serpent strike him which resulted in Jesus’ death.  But Jesus rose from the dead.  He crushed the serpent underfoot.  When you crush the head of a serpent, you render it powerless.  The work of the devil is undone.  Now Jesus has authority over death and the grave.  Even in death, James Hobley is sheltered in Jesus’ care.  For, Jesus will come again and raise up these ashes to become a glorious, incorruptible body.  No longer will Jim have a mind that has slipped from what it once was.  Rather, he will be perfect in knowledge, in body, and in spirit. 

     James Hobley has an indestructible refuge in Jesus.  To repeat the words of the Psalm: “You will tread on the lion and the cobra.  You will trample the young lion and the serpent” (Psalm 91:13).  The devil is described as a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.  But Jesus would not let this roaring lion harm Jim at all.  Whatever accusations the devil may have lobbed at Jim have been emptied of any value.  Jesus has acquitted him of every accusation.  Jim’s refuge is Jesus who protects him from every evil forevermore.

     The Lord never asked Jim Hobley to outsmart or outmuscle sin, death, and the devil.  That’s what Jesus did for him.  In his last years, Jim’s strength faded, but God’s promises stood strong.  Jim’s mind had slipped, but God was ever-mindful of him.  The words of the Psalm remain true: “With his feathers he will cover you, and under his wings you will find refuge.  His truth will be your shield and armor” (Psalm 91:4).  James Hobley has an indestructible refuge in Jesus.  The angels who watched over Jim throughout his life have taken him to Jesus’ side.  And when Jesus comes again, he will raise him up to life everlasting, forever free from weakness, sickness, and sadness.  The Savior who could not be destroyed by death lives and remains Jim’s eternal refuge.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Sermon -- Funeral for Cheryl Ann Crenshaw (September 19, 2025)

Christian Funeral for 

+ Cheryl Ann (nee: Edwards) Crenshaw +

November 6, 1948 – September 10, 2025

1 CORINTHIANS 15:54-58

DEATH HAS BEEN SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.

In the name + of Jesus.

    I was listening to the radio in my car the other day, and I heard it reported that the first death by West Nile Virus was confirmed in Michigan.  If it was the first such death and it is already September, that’s pretty rare.  The fact that I could say, “I know who that was,” is even more rare.  For over a week, you were hoping for better test results and for a happier outcome.  We said prayers for her recovery.  We asked for healing so that she could return home.  We committed her to the Lord’s care. 

     It may not have looked like it, but Cheryl Crenshaw was in the Lord’s care the whole time.  Psalm 139 says, “In your book all of them were written.  Days were determined, before any of them existed” (Psalm 139:16).  It may have been rare that the Lord used West Nile Virus to mark the end of Cheryl’s time on earth, but the Lord had this date marked out from the very beginning.  The Lord had never lost control.  Although you may not be happy about the outcome of her stay at the hospital, Cheryl Crenshaw is enjoying the most blessed outcome every Christian hopes for—life in everlasting glory.

     From our side of heaven, it does not look glorious.  How could it?  Death seems to have claimed victory because it has claimed a loved one.  In fact, death seems to have taunted Cheryl and boasted of victory for a long time.  Death claimed her beloved, Bob, some 26 years ago.  Death claimed an infant son from her even before that.  And although Cheryl’s various ailments and health concerns did not result in death, they were a continual reminder that bodies fail and death awaits us all.   

     Everyone knows that all people will die.  No one gets out of this world alive.  Cheryl’s death certificate may say something related to West Nile Virus, but the Bible tells us why all people die.  “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  Not everyone gets West Nile Virus, but everyone is a sinner.  Since everyone is a sinner, and since death comes as a result of sin, death claims victory over all of us. 

     Or so it seems.

     “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57)!  God the Father has had mercy upon us in our sinful condition and sent his Son to rescue us from the tyranny of death.  Our joy is not merely that Jesus Christ wins us eternal life, but that he brings to us the resurrection from the dead.

     If Jesus had come just to give us eternal life and we would go on living forever in this world, just imagine the sorrows and pains that we would endure without end!  How many wars, how many natural disasters, how many pandemics, how many injuries, how many doctor’s appointments would we have to live through?  So, Jesus does not just clear out the hospitals from time to time, sending people home only to become more weary and more frustrated over a world that never gets better.  The Lord loves you too much to let you go on and on with life in a sin-corrupted world.

     God the Father sent Jesus Christ to swallow up death in victory.  To do that, Jesus had to take away our sin.  He bore our sin in his body when he went to the cross.  There, he absorbed the curse for all of it.  Since Jesus has taken your curse and died for your sin, he has rescued you from its condemnation.  Cheryl Crenshaw stood before God in judgment when she left this world, but the Lord had already told her what her judgment would be: “There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).  Having been baptized into Christ, Cheryl already died once.  Sin was put to death in her, and God raised her up a saint.  She was purified and clothed in Jesus’ righteousness.  She may not have known when her last day would be, but she did know what her future was because Jesus secured it for her.  Death has been swallowed up in victory, and life eternal is the prize.

     Although Cheryl’s baptism gave her the status of a saint, her body was not quite there yet.  These bodies of ours are still corrupted.  With Cheryl, that was evidenced by her getting tired, walking with a cane, and contracting a virus.  But the Savior shows us that neither sin nor death has the last word.  Jesus went into death in order to put an end to its rule over us.  Jesus was laid in a grave with a body that was bruised, beaten, flogged, and pierced.  It could not have been pretty.  Jesus let the grave swallow him so that he could destroy it from the inside out.  Jesus burst forth and swallowed death in victory.  When Jesus rose from the dead, he came with a body that was glorified.  His mortal body was raised immortal—forever victorious over death and decay.  Jesus did not merely overcome death; now he owns it.

     This is the victory Jesus won for Cheryl and for all who believe and are baptized.  This body, which has been reduced to dust and ashes, will be restored at the resurrection.  On that day, it will return in glory.  As St. Paul wrote, “Once this perishable body has put on imperishability, and this mortal body has put on immortality, then what is written will be fulfilled: Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:54).  Cheryl will not only have eternal life, she will have a risen body that will be imperishable.  It will never get sick or grow frail.  She will have a risen body that will be immortal.  She will never die again, for she has a living Savior who promises that she will live with him.  He has swallowed up death in victory.

     Maybe it seems like death mocks us and taunts us, but Jesus has turned the tables on death.  Now we get to mock death and taunt the grave: “Death, where is your sting?  Grave, where is your victory” (1 Corinthians 15:55)?  Grave, do you boast that you hold Cheryl’s ashes?  Go ahead.  We will get them back.  Death, do you think you have won a victory?  You are nothing but the door to heavenly glory.  For all who live in Christ live forever.  Here, we live in weakness; there, we live in glory.  “Death, where is your sting?  Grave, where is your victory” (1 Corinthians 15:55)?  In the end, you get nothing.  The victory belongs to Jesus Christ and all those who are his.

     Death has been swallowed up in victory.  Whatever weaknesses Cheryl had to endure are over.  Whatever sorrows she faced have passed.  Whatever struggles she knew she does not have to deal with anymore.  Her anxieties are done.  Now there is only peace and joy and rest.  And soon comes the resurrection where she will be risen, rejuvenated, and restored, body and soul, to live in the new heavens and the new earth where all things are new.  “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57)! 

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Sermon -- Funeral for David Rumics (July 7, 2025)

Christian Funeral for

+ David John Rumics +

May 12, 1946 – June 19, 2025

1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-18

DAVID RUMICS HAD AN INDESTRUCTABLE HOPE.

In the name + of Jesus.

    David Rumics had a positive attitude and a good sense of humor, but he did not live under the illusion that life is always good.  He was grateful for his many blessings, but he also endured his share of hardships.  When he had to deal with heart surgery some years ago, and again, when diminished health had him walking with a walker or a cane, he endured the realities of an imperfect world.  Worse, when Jon died from cancer, Diane, you and David both had to endure the pains of watching him suffer and then bidding farewell.  So, David knew his share of grief.  Despite the grief, David always had hope.

     Grief comes from what sin has brought into the world.  Whether it is a failed relationship, struggles with health, bouts of doubt or guilt, or the finality of death, it all comes because we are sinners living in a sinful world.  Some griefs are the result of our own sins; other griefs come because of the sinful world we live in.  Sin not only produces grief, it brings death.  David was a sinner in a sinful world.  We are all sinners; therefore, we are all marked for death.

     Hope, on the other hand, comes from outside of us.  It has to if it is going to endure.  Hope that is based on our wishes can be easily destroyed.  You can hope for the best in life, but that is a wish—and such hopes are often dashed.  Hope that comes from the Lord, however, will never be dashed.  In fact, hope that comes from God is indestructible.  David Rumics had an indestructible hope; and so do you.

     St. Paul wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica who had feared that those who died in the faith lost out on the glories that we hope for.  This misunderstanding produced a great deal of grief for those who mourned for their dead.  St. Paul corrected their beliefs and gave them an indestructible hope.  He wrote, “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep, so that you do not grieve in the same way as the others, who have no hope.  Indeed, if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then in the same way we also believe that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep through Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:13-14).  Although grief comes because of sin and death, the hope that we have remains.  Hope from the Lord cannot be destroyed, even by death.

     David Rumics was baptized into this indestructible hope when he was a little boy.  Through baptism, God made a covenant with him.  It was a one-sided covenant.  God made the promise; David received its benefit—the hope of everlasting life.  David’s life as a child of God began then, and it continued through his whole life.  From going to St. Joseph Catholic High School, to attending Lutheran churches with his wife and children, even to partaking in the Lord’s Supper at Good Shepherd on the Sunday before he died, David was sustained and strengthened in the Christian faith.  In fact, David’s life as a child of God has not ended, and it never will.  David Rumics had an indestructible hope, and not even death can end it.

     This is the hope that comforts you through your grief.  St. Paul did not suggest that Christians will not grieve.  He said that you do not need to “grieve in the same way as the others, who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13).  Your hope remains.  It is indestructible because it is based on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection are historical events, not fanciful stories.  That is why your hope is not wishful thinking.  We don’t imagine that David has gone to some nebulous “better place.”  He has gone to be with Jesus—the Savior into whom he as baptized; the Savior who suffered to take away the sins which would have condemned him; the Savior who died and bore God’s curse for him; the Savior who overcame death and now holds the power over the grave.  The Savior who came for David Rumics has taken him to be with him in heavenly glory.

     We hope for even more because Jesus promises even more.  Today, we have the remains of a body.  That seems pretty final—ashes to ashes, dust to dust.  But St. Paul declares that this body which has been reduced to ashes will be raised.  This is the Christian hope: “The Lord himself will come down from heaven with a loud command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16).  The Savior who possesses power over death and the grave will raise up all the dead.  Those who believe and are baptized will be saved—raised from the dead with perfected bodies, minds, and hearts.  This is what David Rumics hoped for.  This is what we still wait for because this is what Jesus has promised.  And just as the Lord has been faithful in all his promises, so he will be faithful in this one.  Death will meet its end.  Grief will turn to joy.  David will live—body and soul, risen and restored by Jesus.  Frailty will turn into glory.  Hope will be fulfilled because this hope is indestructible.

     Back in the 1960’s, David Rumics got to meet a nice girl at a McDonald’s in Benton Harbor.  They were united in Christ in 1967.  Diane, I am willing to bet you would like to have another 58 years with David.  Or at least just one more camping trip.  April, I am sure you would like to have another 50-some years with your father, too.  Anyone who knew him would like just a little more time to share a joke, have one more conversation, or enjoy a tasty meal together. 

     You can set your hopes higher.  For this is what the Lord promises to all who believe in Jesus and are baptized into his name: “We will always be with the Lord.  Therefore, encourage one another with these words” (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18).  This is your indestructible hope: You will get David Rumics back—not for 50 more years, but forever.  It is not wishful thinking.  It is not a nebulous “better place.”  The Lord Jesus will gather into Paradise all who are his.  We will be with the Lord who created us, redeemed us, and set us apart for the resurrection to everlasting glory.  Death may bring grief, but Jesus, who rules over death, encourages you with this indestructible hope.  Death, on the other hand, will be destroyed.  Those who mourn will be comforted.  The dead in Christ will live.  And your hope will be fulfilled.

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Sermon -- Easter Day (April 20, 2025)

Some of the ideas in this sermon were taken from an Easter sermon by Rev. David H. Petersen who serves at Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church (LC-MS) in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  The particular sermon was printed in a book entitled, "Thy Kingdom Come," a devotional book for Lent and Easter seasons.

You can (and should) order it here.

1 CORINTHIANS 15:51-57

DEATH HAS BEEN SWALLOWED UP IN VICTORY.

In the name + of Jesus.

M: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
C: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

     St. Paul asks a question which sounds pretty dumb.  “Death, where is your sting?  Grave, where is your victory” (1 Corinthians 15:55)?  We all have answers for that.  Death is the fate of all of us.  No one gets out of this world alive.  Death rules on the battlefield, in the cancer ward, at the nursing home, and on the highway.  As resilient as the human body is, it is also incredibly fragile.  An infection, a virus, or a blood clot is all it takes to end a life.  Death is cruel, cold, and uncaring; and it takes what it wants.

     But St. Paul’s question is not a curiosity; it is a taunt.  “Death, where is your sting?  Grave, where is your victory” (1 Corinthians 15:55)?  That is because today, death has been swallowed up in victory.  Jesus of Nazareth rose from the dead.  This man did not merely avoid death.  He did not reveal some mystical secret about how to evade the grave.  If Jesus had avoided death, what good would that do you?  Even if Jesus had avoided death, you and I will not.  We are mortal because sin has produced death in us.  We are perishable because sin has corrupted our bodies.  Long before we get to the grave, our bodies are subject to wrinkles, aching joints, loss of balance, loss of memory, and failing senses.  Medicine can only do so much.  The mortician gets the last word.

     But no more.  Death has been swallowed up in victory.  Jesus did not avoid death.  He went right into it.  Jesus was executed by crucifixion.  He laid down his life and gave up his spirit.  His lifeless body was wrapped in cloths and placed in a grave.  But the grave did not keep him.  It could not keep him.  Death holds no victory over him.  Jesus conquered death.  Now, Jesus has authority over it.  And not just authority to conquer death for himself, but Jesus has authority over the graves of all people. 

     So, “Death, where is your sting?  Grave, where is your victory” (1 Corinthians 15:55)?  Death, who have you really conquered?  When Jesus comes again to judge the living and the dead, you, O grave, will be emptied.  Jesus will give the command.  Death, you will submit.  You, O grave, will give back what you have taken.  In the end, O grave, you get no one.  For death has been swallowed up in victory.  The victory belongs to Jesus Christ.  And all who believe in him will live and reign over death with him.

     When St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, he devoted the entire 15^th chapter of his letter to the resurrection of the body.  He explained that Jesus Christ is the firstfruits from the dead.  He also explained that the full harvest, the resurrection of all flesh, will come when Jesus returns on the Last Day.  Jesus told us what will take place.  He said, “A time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and will come out.  Those who have done good will rise to live, but those who have practiced evil will rise to be condemned” (John 5:28-29).  If these words cause alarm, it is because we know that we have failed to do all the good that God demands.  We are guilty of evil that he forbids.  When we stand before God in judgment, we want to be found among those who have done what is good.  After all, no one wants to suffer everlasting torment in hell.  But what can we say in our defense?

     We get to trust in this: “A righteousness from God has been made known. … This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all and over all who believe” (Romans 3:21-22).  You and I cannot boast of a righteousness of our own.  Our impending death is proof that we are sinners; for “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).  But there is a righteousness which comes from God.  It comes through Jesus Christ who lived a perfect, innocent life.  He has avoided all evil, and he performed only what is good.  Now, if Jesus had done it only for himself, that does you no good.  But what does the Bible say?  “This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all and over all who believe” (Romans 3:21-22).  Do not waste your time insisting that you are good enough and should be rewarded accordingly.  If you are going to die, then you are a sinner.  If you are a sinner, then you are not good enough.  Instead, trust in Jesus for your righteousness.  Then you will be judged according to his merits and not your own.  The Bible says, “As many of you as were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ” (Galatians 3:27).  If you are baptized into Christ, you are covered in Jesus’ righteousness.  So, that is your status before God.  That is your hope in the final judgment.  Eternal life is yours. 

     But people crave an eternal life here and now.  In some cases, people hope to come back to this life and live it over and over again in cycles.  But understand this: The world is not going to get any better.  There will always be wars and rumors of wars, kingdom against kingdom, famines, earthquakes, and so forth.  The world has been corrupted by sin.  Living in it forever or repeatedly means that you will endure endless rounds of difficulties and devastation.  What’s more, your own body will not escape its problems.  Sin affects every life and corrupts every body.  Plants, animals, people, even the planet—are all subject to disease, disorders, decline, death, and decay.  Is this the life you want to live forever and ever, or over and over?

     Our Lord Jesus Christ has provided deliverance not only from the curse of sin, but also its effects.  St. Paul wrote, “Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and what is perishable is not going to inherit what is imperishable” (1 Corinthians 15:50).  That’s why these bodies will finally give out.  What has been corrupted by sin cannot live in a holy place.  And what is mortal will not live forever.

     But now, death has been swallowed up in victory.  That victory not only means that the grave must give you up, but also that your body will be transformed.  Death will give way to life.  The perishable will be converted to imperishable.  The mortal will become immortal.  In delivering you from sin and death, Jesus also delivers you to a life of glory and perfection in body, in mind, and in heart.  The righteousness that he has credited to you by faith will be confirmed in you in reality.

     And it is more than being raised with an incorruptible body only to return to a corrupted place.  Our Lord Jesus has opened the way to a new heaven and a new earth.  St. John caught a glimpse of it in his Revelation: “‘(Our God) will wipe away every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain, because the former things have passed away.’  The one who was seated on the throne said to me, ‘Look, I am making everything new’” (Revelation 21:4-5).  It will not just be our bodies that will be restored and renewed, but all creation will be restored and renewed, too.  This is why we confess: “We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come” (Nicene Creed).  We have a living Savior who guarantees it.  Death has been swallowed up in victory.

     We rightly give our attention to the resurrection of the body on Easter Sunday.  Jesus’ resurrection from the dead guarantees our resurrection.  We cling to this even in face of death.  In those bitter moments when we bury those who have died in the faith, our hope remains.  Our fellow Christians depart from our sight, but they do not depart from the kingdom of God.  We bid farewell to them, knowing we will get them back.  That is why we can repeat the taunt of St Paul, “Death, where is your sting?  Grave, where is your victory” (1 Corinthians 15:55)?  It is no victory, grave, if you get nothing in the end.  There is no sting, death, if God’s people go on to live in glory.  Death, you are done.  We have a Savior who lives and who gives eternal life to all who believe in him.  Death has been swallowed up in victory. 

     When Jesus returns on the Last Day, he will come to judge the dead and the living.  That means not all will have to be raised up from their graves.  Some will be alive and will see Jesus descend from the clouds in glory with all the angels accompanying him.  St. Paul refers to the living ones in particular in this section from 1 Corinthians.  He says, “Look, I tell you a mystery.  We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52).  

     The day of resurrection will be unmistakable.  Jesus will appear in glory.  The grave will give up all the dead, believers and unbelievers alike.  Those who are still alive will not experience a resurrection, but they will be changed.  “For this perishable body must put on imperishability, and this mortal body must put on immortality.  But once this perishable body has put on imperishability, and this mortal body has put on immortality, then what is written will be fulfilled:  Death is swallowed up in victory” (1 Corinthians 15:53-54)? 

     These mortal, corruptible bodies will suddenly, like a flash, be renewed and restored to purity and perfection.  The living Savior will convert our bodies to be like his resurrected body—designed to live forever and be forever free from any and all flaws.  And we will live forever in a world that is forever free from any and all flaws.  This is the Christian hope that endures through every moment of life.  Death may bring tears to our eyes, break our hearts, and hit us with unpredictable bouts of grief and sadness.  But death does not destroy our hope.  For, Jesus Christ has overcome death.  Those who belong to Jesus are not lost.  They dwell forever with the Lord.  And when death comes for you, you need not fear.  Rather, you get to taunt the grave: “Death, where is your sting?  Grave, where is your victory” (1 Corinthians 15:55)?  For, you have a living Savior.  You have eternal life.  Death and the grave get nothing.

     Death has been swallowed up in victory.  Its threat is as empty as Jesus’ tomb.  Jesus lives.  And all who believe and are baptized will live with him—resurrected, restored, renewed, and rejoicing forevermore.  “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57)!

M: Alleluia! Christ is risen!
C: He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.