‘Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.’

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The feast has come, dear Christians, for the end has come. As a king consecrates a banquet after vanquishing the enemies of his lands, after bringing peace and honor and dominion to his people, so now Christ rises, a triumphal entry, processing with glory, and treasure, and prisoners; for the glory of His death now shines over every table and altar and household; the treasure house of innocence and forgiveness, once wickedly stolen from Paradise, He has restored to His brethren, that they may be richly forgiven, and lavishly sanctified, and dressed in the finest raiment of holiness, in the gilded arms and weaponry of faith, and enshrouded in the joyous riot and cacophonous song of righteous victory; with all this we now process down the marble arcade and gold paved path of the heavenly Jerusalem, marching to the song of the angelic host, these many seraphim and cherubim and living creatures, cheering, crying out, in honor of man, and of the Son of Man; and jeering at the wretched faces and grim defeat of Christ’s plunder, these enemies now shackled and dragged like so many thralls: sin, the devil, and death.

We go down to the dwelling place of the Father, for it is with men, to the new Temple of our Lord, to His table, and to His marriage feast, of the Lamb in His kingdom which has no end.

The Lord enters His hall, as we do now with Him. The Christ has created His heaven, now on earth with His friends. Having destroyed every rule and every authority and power, He sheaths His sword, and hangs up his bow in the heavens, for the wars of the heathen have ceased, for now the Lord will reign even until he has put all his enemies under his feet; and kneels before the feet of the Father, to deliver to him the kingdom.

‘For this reason I was born of my mother Mary, O Father, that I might bear witness to You.’

Now the Father races forward to embrace Him. As a prodigal lost, He holds Him, for He was lost, and now is found; He was dead, and is alive again.

Yet as a son who never left His Father’s side, He declares: ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command.’

The Father speaks to Him, as only He can: ‘Enter into the joy of your master.’ For behold ‘You are with me always, and all that is mine is yours.’

Then to us the Christ turns, and declares before the face of the Ancient of Days: ‘Behold, these are my father and mother and sisters and brothers!’ ‘These are the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.’

Now the Father declares: ‘Be glad, and rejoice forever in that which I create!’

Will you now disobey the Father, dear Christians? Will your spurn the hospitality of the Son, our Lord and King, Jesus Christ? For this reason you have come this day, and entered this hall, and sit before this table, that you partake of the feast of fat meats, of wine on the lees full refined, for the LORD of hosts has made it. And this He has earnestly desired to eat with you.

Upon this altar lies the flesh and blood of our Christ, yet it is no dead thing, for even upon the cross crucified, our Lord’s body poured out life to enliven all creation, and water to fill the rivers of Eden, and blood to choke the gods of Egypt. Even upon the cross, He was not dead, but merely pouring out His life.

Why then do you seek the living among the dead? Come now to the altar, and greet the Living God; kiss the Son; and enter into His laughter, for no more will the grave mock us as being mortal, for immortality now is bestowed upon us as a ring upon our finger. No longer shall guilt beguile us, for we are anointed with the myrrh and incense and oil of the light which burned from all eternity, and gave light to every creature. No further shall Satan make his accusations against us, for the king shall rejoice in God; everyone that sweareth by him shall glory: but the mouth of them that speak lies shall be stopped.

Come then, dear Christians, let us feast together,

For Christ is risen!

‘And they marveled at what they had seen.’

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Preached by Pastor Fields

Sermon Texts: Isaiah 65:17-25; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26; Luke 24:1-12.