EASTER SUNRISE – April 4, 2021 – Is. 25:6-9
“THE FEAST”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Old Testament Lesson just read, from Isaiah 25. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- Our text speaks of feast that God is making for all peoples. It is a marvelous feast, the kind you get only at a fancy restaurant! Rich food, full of marrow; and well-aged and well refined wine. Sounds expensive too.
- But it’s a little too early in the morning for me to be much interested in a feast. Maybe a good breakfast, but the feast will have to wait until the noon meal, or even the evening meal!
- But the prophet is not writing about a literal meal – although I have no doubt that our food in heaven will be perfect. Rather, he is talking about what God is going to do for us and for our salvation! And it is interesting that he talks about is what God is going to be “swallowing up.” So, we first consider:
I. God’s Feast – What He Swallows Up
A. He Swallows Up The Covering – Our Sinful Ignorance Of God, Based On The Law
Text: “He will swallow up on this mountain the covering that is cast over all peoples, the veil that is spread over all nations.”
2 Cor. 3:14-18 “But their minds were hardened. For to this day, when they read the old covenant, that same veil remains unlifted, because only through Christ is it taken away. Yes, to this day whenever Moses is read a veil lies over their hearts. But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord Who is the Spirit.”
B. He Swallows Up Death Forever – Tears, Suffering, Sorrow, Sadness
Text: “He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces.”
Rev. 21:2-4 “And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
C. He Swallows Up The Reproach Of His People
Text: “The Lord God will take away . . . the reproach of His people from all the earth.”
Rom. 8:33,34 “Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the One Who died—more than that, Who was raised – Who is at the right hand of God, Who indeed is interceding for us.”
Statement: When does this all take place? It is taking place right now, and has been since the suffering, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. It will culminate in the kingdom of heaven, the new Jerusalem! The veil of the law has been removed from us in Christ Jesus – we know the grace and mercy of God, the salvation which is His free gift. We know God Himself, His very heart! And already we are being defended by Jesus Himself – the One Who through His death has already paid the punishment for all our sins! No one can condemn us, Christ’s death vindicates us. We are justified, declared righteous by God, through faith in Jesus!
Application: This is what God has taken away from us, we who are His people of faith! This is what we celebrate in the resurrection of Jesus – fulfillment of what “the Lord has spoken,” the beginning of God’s full and complete victory and our own perfect blessedness. It may be difficult for us to continue enduring some of the trials of this life, where our mortal nature is still returning to dust. But the fulfillment, the rich feast, is soon to come! And consider:
II. Our Feast – What We Enjoy Even Now, And Will Enjoy In The Future
A. Forgiveness, And Salvation
Text: “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, that He might save us.”
B. Gladness And Rejoicing
Text: “This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; let us be glad and rejoice in His salvation.”
C. Eternal Celebration Of Great Richness And Fulfillment
Text: “The Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of rich food, a feast of well-aged wine, of rich food full of marrow, of aged wine well refined.”
Statement: This is the will of God for each and every one of us! The feast is prepared “for all peoples.” It is received by faith in Jesus Christ. This is what He was willing to suffer and die for, and He rose again to insure it. He wants us to have this gladness and joy in His salvation right here and right now! He wants us to also have joy and gladness, even as we wend our way through this present world, looking forward to the complete joy to come in heaven!
Application: Yes, we confess our sin, and yes, we also mourn many things in our lives in this world. But we have forgiveness, and eternal life, and salvation, and these joys are to outweigh our sorrows and grief.
Conclusion: I hope that your Easter meal will indeed be at least somewhat of a feast. Obviously, the use of this analogy means that “feasting” is not a bad thing!
Even more importantly, I hope that today and every day you “feast” on the blessed love of God, the salvation of Jesus, and the sure and certain hope of eternal life in heaven, and your own resurrection on the Last Day.
All of this is certain for “the Lord has spoken.” He assures these things to us, and He is absolutely faithful to His promises! Thanks and praise be to God! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.