Emmanuel Lutheran Church Asheville

THE FEAST OF THE RESURRECTION, 4/8/07 
Sir, we would see JESUS!
Emmanuel Lutheran Church
Luke 24: 1-12

In the Name of JESUS!

“Christ Is Risen Indeed!”

In the name of our risen and victorious Redeemer, Jesus Christ, dearly beloved:

“Oh, women, why your senseless fear?
Why do you weep and cower here?
Do you not know your Lord is ris’n?
Christ broke the bars of hell’s dark pris’n!”

But they upon that Easter morn
Were very sad and so forlorn.
For they had seen their Jesus die
Upon the cross ‘gainst darken’d sky.

His pain they knew was so intense.
Their Savior’s death – it made no sense
To troubled minds beset by sin
When Christ’s own words were lost within.

They saw their Lord’s body entombed
On that dark Friday afternoon.
They saw the stone rolled into place,
Soldiers guarding with martial pace.

Christ had said, “I’ll suffer and die,
And in three days I’ll come alive.”
His Word is true. He tells no lies.
Yet tears this morn fell from their eyes.

To them it seemed their Friend was gone.
Sealed in the grave was God’s own Son.
He said His Kingdom was at hand,
But then He died at Jerusalem.

So on that morning, Easter Day,
They came their last respects to pay
To Jesus Christ, their Friend, so dear,
Whom they now thought was buried there.

But who would roll the stone away
From th’grave where their dear Friend was laid?
Yet questions arose as they drew near
For th’stone’s rolled back – the door is clear!

Ent’ring the grave so carefully
And dreading their dead Lord to see,
They were surprised to see in white
The angels there in shining light.


Seeing the angels ‚Äòfore their eyes, 
They were afraid and terrified.
They were holy and pure and bright,
But they were sinners in God’s sight.

Yet kindly words the angel spoke
To these women, those doubting folk.
“Fear not,” said he, “Your Lord is ris’n!
He is not here! He’s crushed Death’s pris’n.”

“He’ll go ahead to Galilee
Along the shore of that great sea.
You tell His friends He’ll meet them there
To bring them peace, His love to share.”

The women hurried from the grave
Where Christ had lain our souls to save,
Now changed by God to Victor’s place,
Where saved was our lost, dying race.

Still – they were full of fear and dread.
Confusion reigned within their heads –
“Can it be true? What have we seen?
What did the angels really mean?”

Foolish women! – So slow to trust
The angels’ words. Believe you must!
Is it too much to ask of you
To trust your Lord with homage due?

Oh, yes, it is too much for you
To trust God’s Word and follow through.
Unless you see the risen Lord
You will not trust His own sure Word.

You want to touch His hands, His feet.
You need your own dear Lord to meet.
Then – you’ll believe and trust His Word,
For you Christ’s own dear voice have heard.

“Oh, women, why such senseless fear?
Why do you weep and cower here?
Do you not hear your Lord is ris’n?
He broke the chains of Death’s dark pris’n!”

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But, women, you are not alone.
The men who followed God’s dear Son –
They, too, are slow in heart to believe;
Their doubts stay, too; they do not leave.

Peter and John saw emptied tomb, 
But they still left with hearts of gloom.
Th’ Emmaus two told Jesus’ friends,
“We’ve seen the Lord!” – but doubts still rend.


Yet Jesus loves! – Praise we the Lord!
He comes to doubters, speaks His Word.
He shows them hands and feet and side,
Saying to all, “My peace abides!”

Christ moved them on to faith and trust,
These folks of sinful, mortal dust.
He points the Way to heav’n above
Through His redeeming, saving love.

We see the weakness of these folk
Sore pressed by unbelief’s dread yoke,
So slow to trust their Lord’s alive
To conquer sin and give them life.

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And yet like them, we people, too,
Have doubts and fears. We’re sinners, too.
We hear God’s Word and love our Lord
But often act against His Word:

“’Tis more bless’d t’give than to receive.”
Yet we to our possessions cleave.
We find it hard to give and share,
Truly from all our hearts to care.

Our lips betray our loving Lord.
We‚Äôre quick to speak an angry word. 
We spit out names – curse e’en our friends.
We give in so to Satan’s ends.

We act as if our Lord were dead
In thoughts we toss about our head.
Too oft the world sees our grave sin
Instead of Christ, who dwells within.

We nurse our fears and doubts and grief;
We sink in dreadful sin so deep.
The good we leave so oft undone.
It even seems the devil’s won.

And so we see we’re just like them,
Those sad and unbelieving friends.
We follow in the devil‚Äôs way, 
Unto our Lord too oft say, “Nay!”

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Yet Jesus comes with love and grace,
Forgiving sin, removes each trace.
He not in terror comes as Lord,
But speaks to us His saving Word.



“Oh, people, why your senseless fear?
Why do you mourn so, fretting here?
Do you not know your Lord is ris’n?
Christ’s won o’er hell, the soul’s dark pris’n?”

Christ shows to us His hands, His side;
He speaks His truth which will abide: 
“I love YOU, child! You’re Mine indeed.
I live for you! I’ve set you free.”

“Your sin is gone, buried with Me,
Who died for you on Calvary.
And now I live! My vict’ry’s yours!
Into your hearts My grace I pour!”

“The devil cannot harm you now;
You really have my saving pow’r.
My Word is sure that you are Mine.
No more o’er sin and death repine.”

“Come unto Me, oh, bless`ed one;
Share now the vict‚Äôry that I‚Äôve won, 
Rest here secure in My strong arm. 
Nothing, My child, will e’er you harm.”

“I’ll take what looks so bad to you
And change it t’good that’s done for you.
I‚Äôll crush what Satan does conceive. 
I’m on your side. I’ll never leave.”

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Oh, Christ, how good You are to us!
You take our debt and its dread curse,
Bury our sins – yes, one and all –
And love us still with man-y’a fault.

Come, fill us with Your Spirit, Lord.
Let joy and peace come through Your Word.
Let HALLELUJAHS to heav ‘n rise
Till we join You above the skies.

AMEN! – O Lamb for sinners slain,
Who lives fore’er for us again!
Abide with us in daily life,
Till we’re removed from earthly strife,

Our praise and thanks to You we sing.
Our hearts to You, oh, Lord, we bring.
Live now in us with love and peace
And never let our praises cease.

Oh, Father, that we ask be done
Through Jesus Christ, Your own dear Son, 
Who with the Spirit we adore,
And praise You, God, forevermore. Amen.


To GOD alone be all glory and praise!

© (Revised – 3/16/2007)
The Reverend Frederick A. Stiemke, DD
Vacancy Pastor