Alleluia! Christ is risen
Christ is risen indeed. Alleluia! 

Easter Messages from Presiding Bishop Mark S. Hanson
and Bishop Wolfgang D. Herz-Lane

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Christ is risen! Imagine the power in those words of promise.

When the disciples first heard Jesus speak of his death and resurrection, “they kept the matter to themselves” (Mark 9:10). But the news is too good to keep to ourselves. The life of Jesus Christ has been unleashed into the world.

Because Christ is risen, you can embrace life’s complexities and uncertainties with a living, daring confidence in God’s grace. The risen Christ goes ahead of you, meeting you in the most surprising faces and unexpected places. Christ’s resurrection puts us right where God wants us to be — in the thick of life.

Because Christ is risen, you have a word of hope. To those weary from mourning loss and fearing death, the assurance is given that nothing in all creation will separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

The life of Jesus, God’s own life, has burst into the world, restoring community. At the barriers we erect to divide us, the risen Christ meets us, turning those walls into tables of reconciliation. To those who live in fear and feel unworthy, the promise is given. “You are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God” (Ephesians 2:19).

Every morning you awaken with the mark of Jesus’ death on your forehead and the promise of Christ’s resurrection on your lips.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!

In God’s grace,

The Rev. Mark S. Hanson
Presiding Bishop
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
_________________________________________________________________________

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
(John 20 : 1-2, NIV).
One thing you can say about God: God sure is consistent.

First, he decides to have his only begotten son enter the human race in a filthy old stable with a feed box for a crib … what a laugh!

Then, Jesus runs around the Galilean countryside and seems to like nothing more than to consort with tax collectors and thieves and prostitutes and immigrants, with outcasts and with sinners … ridiculous!

Finally, Jesus gets himself killed, nailed naked to a rough cross, executed in the most gruesome way known to humankind … downright scandalous!

And now, in the moment of his greatest glory, at the moment of resurrection and new life, he chooses a woman to be the first witness of this resurrection!

A woman! God is nothing if not consistent, and at every turn, he surprises us with the unexpected.

In Jesus’ day, women were the property of their fathers and husbands. They had no rights, could not own anything, could not testify in a court of law by themselves. And yet it is Mary Magdalene, a woman of allegedly ill repute, who is the first at the empty tomb and so becomes the primary witness to the greatest and most important event in all of human history.

It is that event that has shaped us, has shaped the world, ever since. In Jesus’ resurrection, God has said a loud and final NO to death and the grave. God has rolled away not just the stone that sealed the tomb but the huge rock that blocks our lives. God has rolled away the large stone that keeps us from seeing and from sharing God. God has rolled away the boulder that stands between us and God.

You know the expression, don’t you, “that’s a huge weight off my mind?” When you worry about something, when some situation really weighs you down, and then, unexpectedly perhaps, the situation gets resolved, and you say: that’s a huge weight off my mind.

Well, friends, I am here today to tell you that in rolling away that rock in front of that tomb all these many Easters ago, God has taken a huge weight off your soul. With God, all things are possible, and whatever that rock is in your life that weighs you down, whatever sin is eating at you, whatever addiction has gotten hold of you, whatever broken relationship or illness has you captive, whatever the burden is that you are carrying,

Let God lift that burden
Let God roll that stone away
Let God do the impossible in your life.

The body is gone! Jesus lives!

Alleluia and Amen.

Wolfgang D. Herz-Lane
Bishop
Delaware-Maryland Synod

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.   John 20:1

The “first day of the week” in this passage refers to the first day after the Sabbath, the modern Sunday, and the third day after Jesus’ crucifixion.  In the early church, a tradition existed that it was Mary, the mother of Jesus, and not Mary Magdalene, who is referred to here, but most scholars agree that it was, as John indicates, Mary Magdalene.

Unlike the other biblical accounts, which tell us that Mary was accompanied by other women, and which suggest that the tomb was visited to continue burial rituals, or to look at the tomb, or to mourn, John in this passage does not mention other women, nor does he tell us why Mary came to the tomb.

But we do know this: The stone was gone, and so was our Lord. So, as we will proclaim tomorrow, and as we proclaim every Easter: He is risen!  He is risen indeed!

Prayer:  We thank you Lord, for the missing stone, and for all that this signifies for us.  Amen

John Ziegler

When it was noon, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon.  At three o’clock, Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God why have you forsaken me?”  Mark 15:33-34

I went in to a pretty high powered meeting some years ago, in which I believed that those present were about to make a decision that we had all agreed upon.  Following some previous conversation, it never occurred to me that it would go the way I wanted it.  When the vote was taken, my position lost.  I felt total abandonment by those who I thought were my colleagues and friends.  God,how could you have let this thing happen?  Wasn’t I deserving of a better outcome?

What is so shocking for us in the passion story is that Jesus comes to the place where many of us have been; a complete and total sense that God had abandoned him.  Just when all the powers of the dominations seemed to surround Jesus, he feels bereft of God’s grace and presence.  Yet this is also the power of our witness to the Gospel of Christ, that God has so completely entered the human story through the one, Jesus, even to the point of darkness and death!

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, stay and be with us at all times, but especially at those places in our lives when all seems to be lost and new direction is needed. When the darkness closes in, may your light continue to be near.  Amen.

 Pastor Ed Heim

At that moment the cock crowed for the second time.  Then Peter remembered that Jesus had said to him, “Before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.”  And he broke down and wept.  Mark 14:72.

It’s no wonder that Peter broke down and wept.  After all, Peter was the first disciple to proclaim that Jesus was the Messiah. (Matthew 16:13-19)  Jesus had even called Peter the Rock and said he would be the cornerstone of the church.   Sometimes Peter, the Rock, was more like quicksand.  Peter often questioned Christ’s teachings, and even fell asleep during Jesus’ final hours.  But how could he deny Jesus three times; even after he had insisted that he would never deny his Master?  He must have been in the depths of despair as he heard the cock crowing.

What about the rest of the story?  Peter, who on many occasions was forgiven by his Savior, became one of the greatest preachers and leaders of the Church.  What does this say to us?  Jesus, our Savior, is willing to forgive our sins and wants us to learn from our mistakes.   Upheld by the strength of Jesus, we are encouraged to improve the way we live our lives as Christians.

Prayer: Dear Jesus, we are sorry for the ways we deny you.  Forgive us for the things we have done and things we have failed to do.  Give us strength to live and serve and please you in newness of life; for you are our Strength and Redeemer.  Amen.

Mary Ward

Jesus came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Mark 14: 37-38

Jesus took Peter, James and John with him further into the garden and asked them to wait while he went ahead to pray. After praying, he came back and found them asleep and rebuked him for not keeping watch as he had asked. This happened not once but three times, saying the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak. The faith they had in Jesus fought with their need for rest. We are like them in our desire to follow Christ’s teachings and do good. Our human nature does constant battle with our spiritual selves. We are assailed on all sides with greed, envy, jealousy, anger and hatred, causing divisions among people while our spiritual self offers joy, peace, kindness, self-control and faithfulness.

Romans 7: 21-25 – When I want to do good, evil is there with me. In my mind I am happy with God’s law. But I see another law working in my body which makes war against the law my mind accepts. It is the law of sin that makes me a prisoner. What a miserable man am I! Who will save me from this body that brings me death? I thank God for saving me through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Galatians 5: 16-17 -  . . . live by following the Spirit. Then you will not do what our sinful selves want. Our sinful selves want what is against the Spirit and the Spirit wants what is against our sinful selves. The two are against each other so you can not do just as you please.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, be with us each and every day. Keep us wakeful and strengthen our faith daily. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Carl Moser

While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, “Take;  this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all for them drank from it. He said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.”  Mark 14: 22-24

As we come to our Shepherd’s table to receive the gift of life, we are reminded to pray daily to build a personal and mutual relationship with Jesus Christ. We know our Shepherd’s voice and trust his word. And as we profess to be the Shepherd’s sheep, we should willingly care for the needs of God’s children here on earth. We frequently wander off and want our own way, but we can rest assured that our Shepherd will rescue us from all places. Our Shepherd’s heart will guide us to be compassionate and loving to the flock.

The sheep can face death without fear. God’s endless grace assures us that we will have eternal life in heaven with him. So as we wake to each new day, we should let our light shine knowing the Son of Man died to save us from sin.

Prayer: Gracious and loving Heavenly Father, We give you all the praise and glory for giving us life with you. And we pray to be your humble servants as you have served us.

Debbie McElroy

When it was evening, Jesus came with the twelve. And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.” Mark 14:17-18

We can see that Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen. He knew about Judas and about Peter, but he did not change the situation, nor did he stop loving them. In the same way, he knows what we will do to hurt him. Yet he still loves us unconditionally and will forgive us whenever we ask for it. Judas couldn’t understand this and his life was ended tragically. Peter understood, despite his shortcomings, his life ended triumphantly because he never let go of his faith in the one who loved him. Betraying and denying – one is just as bad as the other. The consequences of evil are so devastating that even small lies and little wrongdoings have serious results. We can repent and be forgiven for our sins as long as we have faith.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, please help us from betraying and denying you. Remind us daily that you love us unconditionally. Help to stay steadfast in our faith. In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Margie Stoner

They brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it, and he sat on it.  Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields.  Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting, “Hosanna!  Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” Mark 11: 7-9

In some Bible versions such as the King James Bible and the New International Version, this verse also includes “the Son of David” as in, “Hosanna to the Son of David!  Blessed is the one…”  According to Barnes’ Notes on the Bible and Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible,  “the word ‘Hosanna’ means ‘save now’ or ‘save, I beseech thee’ and was a form of joyful acclamation used by the Jews during their great festivals.  It was also used in applying to the king for help or for a redress of grievances (i.e., give us help from our oppression).”

Clearly at this point in Mark’s Gospel, we see Jesus moving through the crowds and being perceived and received by the majority of them as their hero (e.g., miracle worker) and the promised Messiah from David’s line.   Their calls of “hosanna”, “son of David”, and “he who comes in the name of the Lord”—words with specific historical and prophetic context to them—evidence their belief that Jesus was arriving on their behalf to enact the new Kingdom of God.  Literally, as the Messiah, he would overthrow both Roman rule and the existing Jewish political hierarchy in order to rule the Earth from Jerusalem.  None but for the plotters amongst them expected Jesus would be killed by the end of that week, but likely all participants expected that his purpose was to conduct an overthrow and to establish a new political regime within the very near future.

In researching this verse, we came across online sermons centered on its meaning.   In one particular sermon, from Redeemer Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, the pastor noted this verse represented the high point of the people’s expectations of Jesus and, for Mark, illustrated the high point of the people’s blindness as to who Jesus really was and what his kingdom would look like.     No one was looking for—or would have accepted from Jesus, should he have said so plainly—an internal overthrow of self and a new internal regime of forgiveness and love of enemy and oppressor.   The Redeemer pastor noted that despite our 2000-year awareness as to the Jerusalem Jews’ blindness, we live out our own forms of blindness today in defining who Jesus is relative to what we think we need.    Examples he used included Jesus as the tolerant friend, Jesus as a type of ‘salvation vitamin supplement’, and Jesus as the “get out of hell free card”.  All three such views of the present day Jesus involve a similar 33 AD spiritual blindness to Jesus’ true work as the Messiah:  to cleanse us and set us free to forgive and love as we have been forgiven and loved in order to bring about the Kingdom of God.   In this Lenten season of self-examination and preparation, we should ask ourselves – how do we really see Jesus?  What role or parameters do we lock him into in order to satisfy or address our needs?   How deeply do we look at our definitions of him and how seriously or honestly do we beseech him to ‘save us now’?

Prayer:  Dear Lord, thank you for seeing us and loving us when we so often do not really see you.  Let us call on you with hosanna, and trust in your arrival to save us and to bring about the Kingdom of God.

Kathy and Bruce Poole

Whoever wishes to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be slave of all.  For the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.  Mark 10: 43-45

It’s hard for most of us to put our mind around this verse.  We teach our kids to not be selfish and to share but the reality is that for most adults, sharing our money and our possessions is very difficult.  We earned them and worked hard for them and they’re ours.   We’ve all had times were money is tight, where our schedules are jam packed, and when we are so tired that we have a hard time keeping our eyes open and yet we are able to find the money, time, and energy to get the laundry done, run to the market, or buy something that we’ve been wanting even though we know money is tight.  But we have no problem missing church, not tithing, or volunteering.  I’m guilty of these same things and need to take the time to look back at the scriptures and be reminded of what Jesus wants us to do.  Our priorities get in the way of what is truly important and that is to be a Godly person and to serve others.  We need to take the time to look at ourselves and see if we care more for ourselves and our possessions than we do about caring for other people.  We need more Christians aspiring to greatness and more willing to pay the price of servanthood.  This is one of the most Christian things we can do.  There is no greater person than Jesus Christ; he was the greatest servant of all.

Prayer:  God, thank you for reminding me that it is more important to serve than to be served.  Help me live everyday and aspire to pay the price of servanthood.  May we always be reminded to put others before our own needs.  Amen

Sharon Betson

Therefore God so highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2: 9-11

Names are important to us. Names help identify us from others.  Some names immediately bring a particular person to mind; celebrities, athletes, business icons, world leaders…. people we tend to lift higher than others.  As part of today’s culture we follow these “Names” on facebook or Twitter. We can’t wait to buy their products.  We watch them on TV and Youtube.  We anticipate what or who will be the next big “Name” on the horizon.

But there is one name that is above all the rest, the name of Jesus.

In the first chapter of Luke we hear of the angel Gabriel sent by God to Mary.  The angel told Mary that she would have a child “…and you will call him Jesus.” Luke 1:31

God gave the name above all names… to his Son, our Lord…Jesus.  Glory be to God!

Prayer: Dear Jesus, you are the “Name” I choose to follow, you are the “Name” I can’t wait to hear about, you are the “Name” I choose to worship.  Amen

 Debbie Jo Kline