HE IS AMONG US FOR HE IS RISEN!

Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. And they remembered his words, And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. (Luke 24:1-11)

Christ Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!

"Unto the church of God… to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Cor. 1:2, 3) Amen.

Dear fellow Christians, 19 years ago, on a day like this, on May 1 there was a demonstration in that time Soviet Kiev. Children and adults had to follow the tradition of giving tribute to their Communist leaders. Thousands of people were marching without suspecting that they are under destructive fire of radiation. Thousands of our compatriots became victims of Communist indifference having. They were walking under a terrible Chernobyl cloud. Thousands are missing among us of those who died under Chernobyl effects.

More dangerous and terrible cloud has covered all mankind. Billions if not dozens of billions of people are missing among us because they were infected by it. Its name is sin. And if one could hide from Chernobyl cloud, no one could hide from sin. Scriptures say, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned" (Romans 5:12).

All have sinned. And all are under one penalty and no one can escape it, "For the wages of sin is death" (Romans 6:23). One can hide from Chernobyl but no one can hide from the wages of sin. This is why billions of people are missing among us.

But we have a reason for joy today. Because One Who tasted death is among us. He is risen! He is our Lord Jesus Christ. Our Gospel text today proclaims the words that were told to unhappy women who came to Jesus' tomb. It was empty! Oh, what a despair for poor women! Maybe Jewish rulers wanted to continue to despise dead body of their Rabbi?

But suddenly two men in shining clothes appeared. That shining has scared women. They bowed down their faces to earth. How could they look at such men? They were overwhelmed by that shining. But even more they were overwhelmed by angels' words, "Why seek ye the living among the dead?" Death could not keep the Author of Life. Death could not have authority over the Lamb of God who took all the sins of mankind on His holy body. There is no Jesus' body in the new tomb of Joseph of Arimathea. He is risen. Because death has no power over God. God has power over it. But not vice versa. Death is overcome now for us, people, too. Full price for our sins was paid. It is accepted by the Father in heaven. This is why there is no Jesus in the tomb. He is risen. And this is a mighty proof that our sins are washed away by His precious blood. Our death is overcome by His holy death. And His resurrection is the proof of our future resurrection.

This is why both Marias and Joanna should not and need not to look for the Living among dead. This happened because the loving, merciful and faithful God promised that as angels say, "e is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again." This is why Paul testifies, "Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles" (Acts 26:22, 23).

Women are rejoicing. The sermon restores the Word of Christ to them. "And they remembered his words, And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest." The rejoice. They are in hurry to share this Good News with the Apostles.

Little time will pass and Apostles will preach this news all around the world. Dear Christians, as women and as all the faithful children of God, we should not keep this great news of Jesus' resurrection for ourselves only. Jesus died and rose for all the people, so that billions human beings could have eternal life through faith in Him.

Thousands of our compatriots are missing among us who have gone through Chernobyl catastrophe. Billions are missing among us who died because sin entered this world. They should hear they are saved so that they could believe. The Living Lord is among us today. He says, "I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me" (John 14:6). He says, "Blessed are they that hear the word of God, and keep it" (Luke 11:28). The risen Lord says, "Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Matthew 11:28, 29). The risen Lord Who is among us today says, "My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me" (John 6:55-57). "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live" (John 11:25). Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you (1 Cor. 16:23). Amen.

Christ Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!