Luke 24:1-5 (NRSV)

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.

Hear and believe this good news--Christ is Risen. He is Risen Indeed!

If it isn't so--we need to make some changes around the church.
If Easter day is just a myth, just a hoax, just a story made up to make our wishes come true, just another fairy tale, then why does the church even exist?
If Christ is not raised, then the cross, the candles, the paraments--we could sell those. No need. The lights, the pews, the wooden beams. They can go.
If Christ is not raised--the organ, the pianos, the robes--no need for those.
If Christ is not raised--then, well, several acres of prime real estate--think of the money we could get for that.
If Christ is not raised--then, think of it--we could have slept in this morning, and EVERY Sunday!
If Christ is not raised--then why are the pastors wasting our time sharing this message?
If Christ is not raised, then why go to the hospital and visit members and friends of Epiphany? What would I say to them? "Sure sorry you are sick. Have a nice day."

If Christ is not raised, then eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow you may die. Close the doors, turn out the lights--let's go home. There is nothing here to see, nothing here to say, nothing here to do.

BUT - we believe, we teach, we proclaim, we LIVE as baptized children of the LIVING God, who raised Christ from the dead!

And if we truly believe that, may we live that! Seek the things that are above! That is why the church IS here, that is why we get up this Easter morning, that is the message we share! It is the message of hope that is shared at the hospital bedside, the worship, the sermon, the hymns, the music, the fellowship, the graveside, the baptismal font, the altar--Christ is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!

Because of this wonderful, great, fantastic news, we live as children of the resurrection. THAT is what defines us. That is who we are. That is whose we are!

Since Christ is raised, we have a sure and certain hope! God is the one who saves us. Not by our acts, but by his incredible act we celebrate this day. Suffering, dying and rising! Sin and death are beaten. Forgiveness is yours--BECAUSE OF WHAT JESUS CHRIST has done for YOU!

Prayer:

God of mercy, we no longer look for Jesus among the dead, for he is alive and has become the Lord of life. Increase in our minds and hearts the risen life we share with Christ, and help us to grow as your people toward the fullness of eternal life with you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.