Easter Vigil + This is the Night…
Text: John 20:1
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
We entered the sanctuary this evening in the silent darkness of night. It's uncomfortable and eerie. We do not like the darkness nor the silence it contains. But, in fact, we are not people of the darkness, nor were we created to be silent creatures.
Yet, “In the beginning…The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep.” (Genesis 1:1-2)
Out of this darkness, “God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light. And God saw that the light was good.” (Genesis 1:3-4)
The light of God’s creation was without impurity.
However, Adam and Eve, the image of God, created in human form, destroy the goodness of God's creation through their fall into sin and death, your fall into sin and death.
The Serpent who led your mother, Eve, and father, Adam, into this pit now strives to lead a history of humanity into a permeating darkness of death - a shadow that now creeps closer for each of you with each step you take throughout this life.
For this reason, it's easy to be led into believing with the disciples and followers of Jesus that the cross is the end, death is the final word, and the darkness now wins.
But as we heard at Christmas,
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:1-5)
Hear these words again, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
In the Gospel just read, Mary Magdalene proceeded to the tomb and grave of Jesus “While it was still dark.”
It’s a beautiful pattern of Scripture we see here, God’s people are often met by darkness, but the darkness always gives way to the Light.
It’s been the pattern of life since the Lord of Life Himself first spoke creation into existence, and now, as we meet the silent darkness of this night – we learn to say again with Mary Magdalene the great Easter news, “Alleluia! Christ is risen!”
“He is risen indeed! Alleluia!”
And for this reason – “this is the night when all who believe in Christ are delivered from bondage to sin and are restored to life and immortality.”
“This is the night when Christ, the Life, arose from the dead. The seal of the grave is broken, and the morning of the new creation breaks forth out of night.” (Easter Proclamation)
So run to the darkness of the baptismal font’s grave and bring your anger, envy, and malice - drown these chains of sin and death in the life-giving flood of baptismal waters.
And then rejoice as God raises you in the Light of His reconciling act of redemption!
For this is the night your heavenly Father has kept His promise of old. His Son Jesus Christ, the Light of the world, has led you, His child, out of the darkness of death and the grave to the Light of His everlasting life; He forgives all your sins and assures you forevermore through His abiding Word.
So shout for joy, for creation is restored, sing with the Mary Magdalene, sing with the saints and angels heaven's song - your Savior lives.
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
AMEN!
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Associate Pastor, Immanuel Evangelical-Lutheran Church
Alexandria, VA
