From the Pastor:

 

EASTER: THE EMPTY TOMB

 

   The angel who had been sitting outside on the tomb stone and from whom the guards of the grave had fled was now gone. Mary of Magdala, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Salome were all worried about how they would gain access to the tomb as they approached the site with the proper funeral ointments. Their great love for Jesus had brought them this far. Perhaps, they thought, the soldiers who had been set as guards would assist them.

 

   When they got to the burial place of Jesus they became even more disturbed. The guards were gone. The tomb stone had already been rolled back. They began to wonder: was the body of Jesus missing? Quickly they lowered their heads so that they could enter the tomb. To their horror the body of Jesus was gone! Instead sitting on the slab where it had once lain, was a young man. He was all aglow and was wearing white clothing. It was a dazzling sight for so early in the morning -- almost too bright for human eyes. Had he removed the body of Jesus? Did he know what had happened here? The young man spoke to them. He said, "Why are you looking for the living among the dead? Jesus is not here. He is risen! Now return to His disciples and tell them that Jesus will meet them again in Galilee."

 

   These three women were all confused. They didn't know what to believe. In fact they were now even more fearful than before. They had seen an angel who had spoken to them, but they did not listen. They were afraid to tell the disciples what they had experienced. Isn't that the way it often is with us. We have heard the wonderful news of the gospel, yet so often we are afraid to tell it to someone else. Is that because we don't really believe it ourselves? Or is it that we are afraid that those to whom we tell it won't believe us? Perhaps they will think that we too are out of our minds.

 

   Instead we need to be bold, bold in our faith, and bold in our witness. Jesus is risen! He is risen, indeed! That is the most wonderful thing in the world. Away with doubt and depression and feelings of timidity. Now we too need to lead the way to Galilee. There we will find Jesus in the Word and the Sacraments. That, this is our Galilee.

 

 

Pastor David M. Albertin

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New Tracy, IN

8705 S 100 E

 WORSHIP SERVICE SUNDAY @ 9:00 AM.