Christ is risen! On this glorious day, we read an excerpt from one of Walther’s Easter Day sermons as printed in Gospel Sermons, Volume 1.
Scripture Readings
Isaiah 25:6–9
Psalm 16
1 Corinthians 15:1–11
Mark 16:1–8
Devotional Reading
Lord Jesus Christ! We have joyfully appeared here today. We no longer see You in disgrace and humility because of our sins but in exaltation and glory for our justification. Your form was more offensive than that of other people. You were the most despised and rejected of all, full of sorrows and grief, but lo! disgrace, pain, and suffering have disappeared. Completely transfigured, You today lift up Your head, clothed in divine glory and viewed by angels and men as the fairest of the children of men. You bore a crown of thorns; You had been surrendered into the hands of sinners and the willfulness of Your enemies. Today we see You in triumph, crowned as victor, Your bands torn, and all Your enemies at Your feet. You had been led like a sheep to the slaughter and like a lamb that is dumb before her shearers, but You opened not Your mouth. Today we see You as the conquering Lion from the tribe of Judah. At your voice death, the devil, and all hell tremble and flee. You died forsaken by God, groaning, and bleeding on the cross; today we see You risen from Your grave, and hear You cry out, “I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades” (Revelation 1:18).
Today we joyfully celebrate this festival of Your glorification. We cease our lamentations over Your sufferings and death, once more seize the harps that we laid away, and sing to you—the Resurrected—joyful psalms of praise and adoration. We implore You to let us also experience this day that You live as our Lord and God, as our Savior and eternal Mediator. Take us with You from the grave of sin, doubt, sorrow, weakness, temporal and spiritual misery, and let us share in Your victory, life, joy, power, and glory. Oh, bring that about in us all through the Word of Your resurrection wherever it is preached this day. Hear us for Your own sake. Amen.
Devotional reading is from Gospel Sermons, Volume 1, page 227 © 2013 Concordia Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.