John 20:1-18

To the disciples Jesus was their hope, redemption, faith - their very life. When He died their hope was shattered. They did not have the Scriptures as we have it today. They did not understand that He had to suffer and die and rise again from the dead.

Even if we try to imagine the state of despondency the disciples were in we will not be able to because today we have the full picture. But when the women returned from the grave and reported what they had seen hope began to live again. Peter and John ran to the tomb and we read that when John saw the empty tomb and the grave clothes lying he believed. It was still a feeble faith but he believed.

Later Jesus revealed Himself to them in various ways and proved that He was the Victor over death. Then he opened their understanding also that they could understand the Scriptures.

And we find that those feeble, fearful disciples were transformed into bold proclaimers of the Gospel for they were transformed by the Lord's victory over death. Each one of them lived their lives for the Lord and died a martyrs death for Him. They loved not their lives unto death.

The sting of death is sin and Christ has removed that sting if only we would confess our sin and apply His precious Blood to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Rev Heino Stegen then related a number of examples of how Jesus' precious Blood cleanses from all unrighteousness and enables those who trust in Him to die in peace, even if their bodies are destroyed because of their sin.

May we not be like the pharisees who trusted in their own righteousness and perished. Let us trust in Christ's righteousness and apply His precious Blood to cleanse us and give us the victory over eternal death and sin.

(Here are more summaries of the Easter services)