Matthew 28:1-10

A New Day!

            The older I get, the more I realize the subjectiveness of time. It really is a silly thing to say, and yet, we all experience this. What I mean to say is how we experience time can be different. We’ve all had those days that have sped right by, that when we’re climbing into bed, we suddenly realize that the day felt like the blink of an eye. We’ve also had those days where they seem to drag on and take forever. The moments where an hour feels like three, or a day feels like a week has gone by already. Now, this feeling is neither good nor bad per se… because as I said, it’s subjective. Some days, especially weekends, we wish the day would slow down and feel like forever. Other days, like work or school, we’re hoping it would skip right by. Even though every day is the same amount of time, twenty-four hours, we never experience two days the same. For we’re locked in this endless progression of day-to-day, week-by-week, month-by-month, and year after year. And with all the ups and downs we face in life, we look at time differently, not knowing whether time is for us or against us. But what if I also told you there’s a biblical reason for all of this? What if I told you that the reason we experience this subjectiveness of time is because of sin? Indeed, sin has stained every inch of our human experience. Time is no different from everything else in this regard. But this is also why Easter is such a big deal. Because of time. That Christ who redeems us body and soul, also redeems our time. 

            For on this Easter Sunday, we celebrate that Jesus has been shown victorious over sin, death, and the devil. We celebrate that our battle is already won and our Lord reigns upon his throne. But as wonderful as all of this is, there’s another aspect to it. Time! That by the resurrection, Christ has also redeemed the time we have. For let us learn today:

BY THE RESURRECTION, JESUS HAS BROUGHT US TO THE FIRST DAY OF ETERNITY!

I.

             With all that had happened before the Sabbath, there was an eagerness and longing for the women to travel to the tomb. Of course, there were Jewish customs that they sought to keep for Jesus and some of those are time sensitive, especially when it comes to death. But imagine being one of the women or one of the disciples on Saturday. It would feel like the day would never end. The sorrow and pain from that day would drag them into despair. Hence, there’s this emphasis in the Gospels of this not only being the first day of the week, but also being at the break of dawn, the first light of the day. As we read, “Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb,” Matthew 28:1. They likely even left in the darkness of the early morning, awaiting the sun to break over the horizon. It was truly the start of a new day. They just hadn’t quite grasped what that meant… yet.

            For so, I must ask, have we? Are we like the women, hurriedly walking to the tomb, afraid that death still reigns? Are we like the apostles who for fear of their sin have hidden away in disgrace? Yes, even on this Easter morning, we’re still afraid of the enemies who remain close at hand. For maybe you’re not looking forward to Easter dinner with family because your family is estranged from one another. Or maybe you’re afraid it will disappear too quickly because you don’t know what time you have left with them. For we understand that because of sin and death, we have a limited amount of time, time that we’re afraid to waste. Yet, how often we decide to waste time on our sins. But hear what Paul writes, “Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God,” Colossians 3:2-3. For perhaps our greatest fault this easter is not understanding what our Lord has won for us. It’s misunderstanding the gifts and blessings he gives us and not making the best use of them. 

II.

            For let this be a new day for us. On this first day of the week, we’re to see the stone rolled back, the tomb empty of its victim, and our Lord risen from the dead! For it was in creation that God made the world in seven days. But the fall of man has trapped us in this endless loop of sin and death. Yet, our Lord has today ushered us into a new day! A day no longer governed by our past, but enlightened by the victory and grace of his resurrection! For consider the angel’s words, as he said, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you,” Matthew 28:5-7. The women came to the tomb expecting to find death, but were welcomed by life! They came in darkness, but have now seen the light of Christ shine on them as the first light of this new day!

             This is why these two events are so important, that is, Christ’s death on the cross and his resurrection. For even in his resurrection, Christ remains the crucified one. He’s the one who hung on the cross for you and me. He’s the one who bore the punishment for my sins and your sins. He’s the one who entered into death so that death itself may be undone! For the cross will forever be Christ’s throne. It’s the place where Christ claims victory over sin, death, and the devil. It’s the place where he shall forever be known as our Savior. But in the resurrection, Christ has shown us the beginning of a new day. For the resurrection is the first day of a new creation. The resurrection is the dawn of a new world, a new order, a new way of life! For on this side of the resurrection, while we may still struggle with sin and death, we know that they have been defeated. Because of this, our time has been redeemed. For we’re free from the constraints of time, that is, we now can experience the freedom and joy of eternal life… now, today, at this very moment! We’re no longer limited by death, for death itself has been undone and God has granted us eternal and resurrected life! So may we worship God without fear, and serve him through caring for our neighbors.

            Welcome then, dear brothers and sisters in Christ, to the dawn of the new day. Welcome to the day of Christ, where by Jesus’ resurrection, we may live in the grace, mercy, and love of God, both now and forevermore! In Jesus’ name! Amen!

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed, alleluia!