Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The text on which this morning's message is based comes from our Gospel lesson (Matthew 28: 1-10) read earlier.

You probably do not remember the name Nikolai Bukharin nor should you. But during his day he was a powerful man. A Russian Communist leader, he took part in the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. He was editor of the Soviet newspaper Pravda (which by the way means "Truth" in Russian). During the 1920's, he was one of the most influential Communist leaders after the death of Lenin. One day in 1930 Bukharin traveled from Moscow to Kiev to address a huge assembly of Russians on the subject of atheism. For those of you who are younger, you should know that Communist Russia was officially and passionately atheistic for the 70 years they were in power. The Communists worked hard to exterminate the Christian Church and the belief in God there in Russia. Addressing the crowd in Kiev, Bukharin aimed his heavy artillery at Christianity hurling insult and argument, every proof he could muster against it.

An hour later he was finished. He looked out at what seemed to be the smoldering ashes of human faith in God and Christ. "Are there any questions?" Bukharin demanded. Deafening silence filled the auditorium but then one man approached the platform and mounted the lectern standing near the communist leader. He surveyed the crowd first to the left then to the right. Finally he shouted the ancient greeting we have already used, an ancient greeting known well in the Russian Orthodox Church: "CHRIST IS RISEN!" En masse the crowd arose as one man and the response came crashing like the sound of thunder: "HE IS RISEN INDEED!" (story modified from Brett Blair, esermons.com)

I say to you this morning: CHRIST IS RISEN! (congregational response should be: HE IS RISEN INDEED!). I am convinced! I have faith that Christ was dead and he was buried. That I believe. But, I am equally assured that this is true: He rose from the dead and will come again in glory. This is Easter! To stand here on this day in this pulpit and proclaim this word, I cannot begin to tell you how this defines who I am. I cannot begin to tell you how Easter defines who you are as well.

When that one Russian man stood up to Bukharin and the Communists, he must have been frightened. I don't honestly know what happened to him after this challenge he made to the Communist authorities. I doubt that it went well for his earthly existence. When Mary and the others came to the tomb that Easter morning, they were frightened. Their lives were in danger from the authorities. Who knew but that the Jewish and Roman leaders might try to squash this weak little group of Jesus' followers out of existence entirely? Who knew what the guards at the tomb might do to helpless Jewish women when they arrived at this secluded place outside of town? When they arrived at the tomb, the women, along with the guards, were even more frightened. An earthquake. An angel, bright as lightning, white as snow. These big burly Roman guards are so scared that they go into shock, apparently feinting away. The women gaze in amazement and fear.

What kind of things do you fear this Easter Day? Much has happened since last Easter. Many families have lost loved ones. Many others have faced illness or surgery since last Easter. The World Trade Centers have been dropped to the ground, and we no longer have a sense of national indestructibility. Our community lost a policeman in the line of duty, the only community in Kansas to have such a loss last year. Just two days ago we learned of the deaths of 3 Ft. Riley soldiers in a training exercise, and we all held our breath in fear for hours, wondering if it was one of our friends or loved ones who had died. We know that death, either through disease or injury or accident, or at the hands of evil men, death can always find us. We pray, even in the Lord's Prayer, that God will keep us from every form of evil. But yet, there is much to fear here. How will the WTC disaster effect our children? How will the economy be effected? How will it change our lives? Will more terrorists strike? Where? Will the conflict between Israel and Muslims escalate into something that pulls us into another war? What about the effects of drugs and alcohol and guns and pornography and violence in the entertainment industry? How will these continue to effect our children, our own lives, our society? Will we the Christian church face more and more persecution in the coming years? Will more people treat us who believe that Christ is risen, will more people treat us with disdain? I know that there are some of you out there who have felt the sting of ridicule because of your faith, people who have made fun of you for being someone who believes and attends church to worship this risen Christ.

But in the face of fear for Mary and the others, an acute fear that surely went beyond all the fear we feel here today, the angel turns to them and says (vss 5-7) "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you." Jesus had been crucified, but not because he was powerless to save himself. Jesus, the Son of God, God himself, had come to earth, clothed himself in human likeness, and suffered on the cross to take the sins of the world, including our sins of fear, of not confidently trusting our Lord. But now he had conquered death. He had arisen.

Mary and the others left the tomb quickly, still with fear but also with great joy! Then Jesus himself appears to them and repeats the same words as the angel: "Do not be afraid; go and report to My brothers to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me"

The disciples heard that report. They did go on to Galilee and there they saw Jesus. When they saw him there they did what we are doing here now, they worshipped him. But Matthew is very honest in his appraisal of the disciples. Matthew writes "they worshiped him; but some doubted." Matthew was honest.

He didn't say "they worshipped him and were completely confident and acted without fear and doubt." No "they worshiped him; but some doubted." Do we not fall into the same pattern as the disciples?

We worship him, but still have some doubts, some fears. Do we not ask: "Where is this Jesus now?" Does his presence in my life make a difference? Does he really matter today? What is he doing for me lately? What relevance does my trust in him have for my day-to-day life?

To those types of fears and doubts and questions Jesus speaks these words to his disciples of 2000 years ago and to his disciples, we the church here today. He says "Do not be afraid…" (vss 18ff) "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me." Those are pretty comforting words for doubters and frightened ones like us. We know we're not in authority, but we think that authority rests with someone else like government or terrorists or multi-national corporations. 70 years ago the Communists of Russian thought that authority rested with them, but now we have to explain to our children who the communists were. But here, in Christ's Words we learn who really has the authority.   "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me," Jesus says. Well, if all authority in heaven and earth has been given to him, how are we to respond? He tells us "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations." What? How do we do that? Jesus answers that question as well. "baptizing them… and teaching them to treasure, to guard all the things that I have directed you." How can we do all that, Lord? How can we do all that after you've gone back to heaven, Lord?

Jesus responds: "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Jesus knows that we have fears and doubts, but he answers those doubts and fears here, right here with the strength of his resurrection, here with his words.

All authority has been given to him. He is with us always, to the very end of time as we know it. He has given us his words and his promises, the treasures of his love that cast out all fear, and we, his worshipping community are about telling that message of our risen Lord to each other and to a world that so badly needs to hear it. We have the privilege, the honor from God himself to address our own fears and doubts with his promises "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me" "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." "Do not be afraid, for 'Christ is Risen." C: He is risen indeed.