Sunday, April 4, 2021
THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD—EASTER DAY
Christ is risen! It’s hard to imagine someone who was killed on Friday rising to live again on Sunday. It has happened only once and is what we celebrate today: Jesus’ resurrection. Jesus didn’t keep His resurrection a secret. He appeared to many people. He appeared to Mary, to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, to Peter and the apostles, to His brother James, to more than five hundred people, and lastly to the apostle Paul. We believe Jesus rose from the dead because He said He would, because the Scriptures said He would, and because He appeared to many. Today we celebrate Jesus resurrection, His appearance.
READINGS
Old Testament: Isaiah 25:6–9
(The long-awaited Savior will come and make a feast for all nations on His holy mountain.)
Psalm
Psalm 119
Epistle: 1 Corinthians 15:1–11
(Paul delivers to the Corinthians the things of first importance: that Christ died and was raised for our sins.)
Gospel: Mark 16:1–8 (Women come to Jesus’ tomb on Easter morning to anoint Him with spices, but when they arrive, Jesus is not in the tomb.)
PRAYER OF THE DAY
Let us pray. Almighty God the Father, through Your only-begotten Son, Jesus Christ, You have overcome death and opened the gate of everlasting life to us. Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of our Lord’s resurrection, may be raised from the death of sin by Your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.