The Great Easter Vigil
In the beginning, God said, "Let there be…."
and there was light, and there was darkness,
there was an expanse,
there was land, seas, and vegetation,
there was sun and moon,
there were swarms of living creatures upon the earth and in the sea,
and there was man – created in God's image.
But through the devil's temptation and one man's disobedience, all creation fell into sin and darkness.
Having been expelled from the Garden, the corruption of mankind propelled creation towards destruction…. God would now send a flood to blot out the wickedness of man.
Still, Noah and his family were kept safe in the ark.
Departing from the vessel of God's protection, He promises Noah and mankind that He will never again permit such destruction to occur.
God keeps His promise, and He keeps Israel safe from the wrath and hardness of Pharoah's heart as they are led through the dry ground of the Red Sea.
Through the prophet Isaiah, God speaks again, calling His people to repentance and promising salvation through His redemptive Word.
A Word that abides with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego as they enter the fiery trials of faith. He grants them protection through this time of testing so that they would boldly confess the name of God in the darkness of this idolatrous world.
We remain in this world of sin and darkness today. The testing of one's faith continues.
But the Father kept His promise and sent His only begotten Son to be your light and salvation.
Still, you are like Mary Magdalene, who approaches the Lord's tomb in the darkness of the morning.
The gloom of sadness haunts your eyes.
Your hearts are weighed down as the world crumbles around you and despair grips you.
Your faith has been shaken with Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter, and John – where is your hope when the body is in the pit of the grave?
But out of the grave's deep darkness, out of its prison, Christ arose, and we now join in saying,
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Today, death is undone, and the grave is but a portal to life everlasting.
Today, Satan and all that haunt you have been defeated and are continually drowned in the life-giving flood of baptismal waters.
Today, the Father has kept His promise, and His Son Jesus Christ has led you out of the darkness of death to the light of life everlasting; He forgives all your sins and has given you His abiding Word.
So shout for joy, for creation is restored, 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!
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
