Easter Day (1) Framework
(Series One-Year)
The Feast of the Resurrection celebrates the victory of Jesus Christ over sin, death, and the devil. Easter stands at the center of the Church's proclamation because it confirms the saving work accomplished through Christ's crucifixion.
The resurrection demonstrates that Christ's sacrifice for sin was accepted by the Father and that death no longer holds ultimate power over humanity 1.
Within Lutheran theology, Easter is the foundation of Christian hope, affirming both the justification of believers and the promise of the resurrection of the dead 200.
The resurrection accounts recorded in the Gospels proclaim that on the third day the tomb of Jesus was found empty 2.
The empty tomb is significant because:
This event confirms that Christ physically rose from the dead.
The angel at the tomb proclaims:
"He is not here, for He has risen." 3
This message forms the heart of the Easter proclamation.
The resurrection is not merely symbolic but a historical act of God.
After rising from the dead, Jesus Christ appeared to many witnesses:
These appearances confirm that the resurrection was a real historical event witnessed by numerous individuals.
The resurrection demonstrates that God the Father vindicated the work of Christ.
Jesus had claimed divine authority and promised to rise from the dead. When the Father raised Him, these claims were confirmed.
Thus, the resurrection proves that:
The apostolic preaching consistently presents the resurrection as God's decisive act of salvation 8.
The resurrection is directly connected to the doctrine of justification.
Scripture teaches that Christ:
This means that the resurrection confirms that forgiveness of sins has been fully accomplished.
The Lutheran Confessions teach that sinners are justified by grace through faith in Christ's saving work 300.
The resurrection represents Christ's victory over the greatest enemy of humanity: death.
Because Christ rose from the dead:
Paul the Apostle describes Christ as the class=SpellE>firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep, meaning that His resurrection guarantees the future resurrection of believers 10.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ marks the beginning of the new creation.
Just as the original creation began with God's creative power, the resurrection inaugurates the renewal of the world.
Through Christ:
Believers therefore live in the hope that the final resurrection will complete this renewal.
Following His resurrection, Christ sends His disciples to proclaim the Gospel to the world.
The message of the Church centers on the proclamation that:
The ministry of Word and Sacrament exists so that people may receive the benefits of Christ's resurrection 301.
The resurrection is a real historical event witnessed by many individuals.
Christian faith rests upon this historical reality.
Christ's resurrection confirms that His atoning sacrifice accomplished salvation.
The forgiveness of sins is received through faith in Christ.
Because Christ has risen, believers also will rise.
The resurrection therefore gives Christians hope beyond death.
The resurrection transforms the lives of believers.
Easter proclaims that:
Even in the face of suffering and death, Christians live with confidence because Jesus Christ lives.
The Church therefore joyfully proclaims the Easter confession:
Christ is risen. He is risen indeed.
- God raised Jesus from the dead, freeing Him from the agony of death. - The women discover the empty tomb on the first day of the week. - The angel announces that Jesus has risen from the dead. - Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene. - The risen Christ appears to Peter. - Jesus appears to the disciples. - Christ appears to more than five hundred believers. - The apostles proclaim that God raised Jesus from the dead. - Christ was raised for our justification. - Christ is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
- Commentary explaining the theological significance of Christ's resurrection. - Historical study of the resurrection accounts. - Scholarly examination of early Christian belief in the resurrection.
- Teaches that sinners are justified before God by grace through faith in Christ. - Confesses that the ministry of Word and Sacraments was instituted to create faith. - Defends the doctrine of justification by faith. - Explains the righteousness of faith received through Christ.(The Resurrection of Our Lord - Easter Day, Series One-Year)
The reading from Job 19:23-27 occurs during the intense suffering of Job, who endures loss, illness, and accusations from his friends. Despite overwhelming affliction, Job expresses a remarkable confession of faith in God's ultimate redemption.
This passage has long been treasured by the Christian Church as a powerful testimony to the hope of resurrection and the living Redeemer. Within Easter liturgy, Job's confession anticipates the victory accomplished through Jesus Christ.
The text therefore serves as an Old Testament witness to the promise that death does not have the final word 200.
Job begins with a passionate request:
"Oh that my words were written! Oh that they were inscribed in a book!" 1
He longs for his testimony to be permanently recorded.
Job desires that his words be engraved in rock with iron and lead 2.
This imagery reflects the desire for a testimony that will endure beyond his lifetime.
Ironically, his request is fulfilled through the preservation of his words in Job, where they continue to testify to believers throughout history.
Job makes one of the most profound statements of faith in the Old Testament:
"For I know that my Redeemer lives." 3
The Hebrew term translated "Redeemer" refers to a kinsman-redeemer, someone who rescues or restores a family member in distress.
Job expresses confidence that a Redeemer exists who will ultimately vindicate him.
Christians understand this Redeemer to be Jesus Christ, who redeems humanity from sin and death 201.
Job's Redeemer is not merely a concept but a living person.
The resurrection of Christ confirms this truth: the Redeemer truly lives and reigns forever.
Job also declares that the Redeemer:
"will stand upon the earth at the last." 4
This statement points toward the final manifestation of God's victory.
Christians interpret this as a reference to the final triumph of Christ over death and the judgment of the world.
Job proclaims:
"After my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God." 5
This statement expresses hope that even after physical death, he will see God.
This verse has traditionally been understood as a reference to the resurrection of the body.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ confirms this hope.
Because Christ rose from the dead, believers also will rise and see God.
The Lutheran Confessions affirm the future resurrection of believers on the Last Day 300.
Job emphasizes the personal nature of this hope:
"Whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold." 6
This vision will not be distant or symbolic but personal and direct.
The believer will stand before God and experience the fulfillment of redemption.
Job's confession ultimately points to the saving work of Jesus Christ.
|
Job's Confession |
Fulfillment in Christ |
|
A living Redeemer |
Christ risen from the dead |
|
Redeemer stands on the earth |
Christ's victorious reign |
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Seeing God after death |
Resurrection of believers |
|
Personal vindication |
Justification through Christ |
The resurrection of Christ reveals that Job's hope was not misplaced.
Job's confession anticipates the redeeming work of Christ.
The Lutheran Confessions teach that Christ redeems sinners through His death and resurrection 301.
This passage affirms the future resurrection of believers.
Christian hope is not limited to spiritual survival but includes the restoration of the body.
Job trusts that God will ultimately vindicate him.
In Christian theology, believers are justified and declared righteous through faith in Christ 302.
Job's confession offers profound comfort to believers, especially in times of suffering and death.
Christians often encounter hardship, loss, and uncertainty.
Yet this passage proclaims a powerful truth:
Our Redeemer lives.
Because Jesus Christ has risen from the dead:
For this reason, the Church often proclaims Job's words during Easter and Christian funerals as a confession of resurrection hope.
- Job wishes that his words were written down. - Job desires his testimony to be engraved permanently. - Job declares that his Redeemer lives. - The Redeemer will stand upon the earth at the last. - After death, Job expects to see God in his flesh. - Job anticipates personally seeing God with his own eyes. - Commentary explaining Job's confession of faith and its connection to resurrection hope. - Lutheran exegesis discussing Job's confession of the living Redeemer. - Devotional commentary connecting Job's words with Christian resurrection faith. - Confesses the resurrection of the dead and the final judgment. - Teaches that sinners are justified before God by grace through faith in Christ. - Defends justification by faith apart from works. - Confesses God's eternal purpose and the believer's hope of eternal life.(The Resurrection of Our Lord - Easter Day, Series One-Year)
Psalm 118 is part of the Egyptian Hallel (Psalms 113-118), a collection of psalms traditionally sung during major Jewish festivals such as Passover. Because of this, it is highly likely that Jesus Christ and His disciples sang portions of this psalm following the Last Supper before going to Mount of Olives 1.
Within Christian liturgy, Psalm 118 has strong resurrection themes, which is why the Church appoints Psalm 118:15-29 for Easter Day.
The psalm celebrates:
These themes are fulfilled in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
The psalm begins this section with a proclamation:
"Glad songs of salvation are in the tents of the righteous." 2
This describes the joyful response of God's people after deliverance.
In Easter worship, the Church rejoices because Christ has conquered death.
The psalm repeatedly declares:
"The right hand of the LORD does valiantly." 3
The right hand of God symbolizes divine power and victory.
Christ's resurrection is the ultimate demonstration of God's saving power 200.
The psalmist declares:
"I shall not die, but I shall live." 4
This expresses confidence that God will preserve life.
Christians interpret this verse as prophetically fulfilled in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who conquered death.
The psalmist acknowledges that the Lord disciplines His people but does not abandon them to death 5.
This reflects the pattern of the cross and resurrection:
The psalmist asks for the gates of righteousness to be opened so that he may enter and give thanks to the Lord 6.
In Christian interpretation, these gates symbolize access to God through salvation.
The psalmist praises God because He has become his salvation 7.
This language anticipates the salvation accomplished through Jesus Christ.
The psalm proclaims:
"The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." 8
This verse is directly applied to Jesus Christ in the New Testament 9.
The religious leaders rejected Christ, yet God established Him as the foundation of salvation.
The psalmist declares that this reversal is the Lord's doing and is marvelous in the eyes of believers 10.
The resurrection is the ultimate example of this divine reversal.
The psalm proclaims:
"This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." 11
Within Easter worship, this verse celebrates the day of Christ's resurrection.
It marks the beginning of the new creation.
The psalm includes the plea:
"Save us, we pray, O LORD!" 12
The Hebrew word translated here is Hosanna, meaning "Save us now."
This cry was shouted during Passover and later during Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem 13.
This verse proclaims:
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD." 14
The crowds quoted this verse when welcoming Jesus Christ into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday 15.
The Church recognizes Jesus as the one who truly comes in the name of the Lord to bring salvation.
The psalm acknowledges that the Lord gives light to His people 16.
In the resurrection, Christ brings the light of life to the world.
The psalm concludes with praise:
"Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever." 17
This refrain emphasizes God's enduring covenant mercy.
Psalm 118 is deeply fulfilled in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
|
Psalm Theme |
Fulfillment in Christ |
|
Victory over death |
Resurrection of Jesus |
|
Rejected stone |
Christ rejected by leaders |
|
Cornerstone |
Christ as foundation of the Church |
|
Hosanna |
Salvation through Christ |
|
Day of the Lord |
Easter victory |
The Lutheran Confessions affirm that Christ alone is the foundation of salvation and the Church 300.
The psalm celebrates God's saving work rather than human achievement.
This reflects the Lutheran doctrine of justification by grace through faith 301.
The psalm's language of victory and life finds its ultimate fulfillment in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Psalm 118 invites believers to rejoice in God's salvation.
Christians face suffering, sin, and death in the present world, yet the resurrection of Jesus Christ assures them that:
Therefore, the Church joyfully proclaims:
"This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."
- Jesus and the disciples sing a hymn after the Last Supper before going to the Mount of Olives. - Songs of salvation are heard among the righteous. - The right hand of the Lord acts with power. - The psalmist declares that he will live and proclaim God's works. - The Lord disciplines but does not give over to death. - The psalmist asks for the gates of righteousness to be opened. - God has become the psalmist's salvation. - The rejected stone becomes the cornerstone. - The apostles apply the cornerstone prophecy to Christ. - The Lord's work is marvelous in the eyes of believers. - The day the Lord has made brings rejoicing. - The plea for salvation (Hosanna). - The crowd cries "Hosanna" during Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. - Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord. - The crowd welcomes Jesus with Psalm 118. - The Lord gives light and leads the feast. - Thanksgiving for God's enduring steadfast love. - Commentary explaining Psalm 118 and its messianic significance. - Lutheran exegetical study of Psalm 118 and its liturgical use. - Study of how the Psalms testify to Christ. - Teaches that the Church is founded upon the Gospel and the sacraments of Christ. - Confesses justification by grace through faith in Christ. - Defends justification through faith apart from works. - Explains the righteousness of faith in Christ.(The Resurrection of Our Lord - Easter Day, Series One-Year)
The Epistle reading comes from 1 Corinthians, written by Paul the Apostle to the Christian congregation in Corinth.
In this section, Paul addresses issues of sin and discipline within the Church. He uses imagery from Passover and the removal of leaven to illustrate the importance of spiritual purity.
Within the Easter liturgy, this passage highlights the connection between the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the transformed life of believers 200.
Paul warns the Corinthians:
"Your boasting is not good." 1
The congregation had tolerated serious sin in its midst and failed to recognize the spiritual danger it posed.
Paul asks:
"Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?" 2
In biblical symbolism, leaven (yeast) often represents corruption or sin that spreads throughout a community.
Just as yeast permeates dough, tolerated sin can influence the entire Church.
Paul urges the congregation:
"Cleanse out the old leaven." 3
This language recalls the Jewish practice during Passover, when all leaven was removed from the house in preparation for the feast.
Paul then declares:
"For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." 4
This statement directly identifies Jesus Christ with the sacrificial lamb of Passover.
In the Old Testament, the Passover lamb's blood protected Israel from death during the Exodus 5.
Christ fulfills this type through His sacrificial death, delivering humanity from sin and death.
Paul continues:
"Let us therefore celebrate the festival." 6
For Christians, this "festival" points to the ongoing celebration of salvation through Christ.
Within the Easter season, the Church celebrates the victory of the risen Lord.
Paul contrasts two kinds of leaven:
Old Leaven
Unleavened Bread
Believers are called to live according to the new life given through Christ's resurrection.
Paul's teaching centers on the redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
|
Passover Image |
Fulfillment in Christ |
|
Passover lamb sacrificed |
Christ's atoning death |
|
Deliverance from Egypt |
Deliverance from sin |
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Removal of leaven |
Repentance and sanctification |
|
Feast of unleavened bread |
Christian life in sincerity and truth |
Christ's resurrection confirms that His sacrificial death truly accomplished salvation.
The New Testament reveals that Christ fulfills the Old Testament Passover sacrifice.
Through His death and resurrection, believers are delivered from sin and death.
The sacrifice of Jesus Christ accomplishes forgiveness of sins.
The Lutheran Confessions teach that sinners are justified before God by grace through faith in Christ 300.
Believers who receive forgiveness are also called to live in repentance and holiness.
The Christian life reflects the transformation created by the Gospel 301.
Paul's message remains relevant for the Church today.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ calls believers to a new way of life.
Christians therefore:
The Easter proclamation reminds believers that Christ's victory over sin and death empowers them to live as a new creation.
Thus, the Church celebrates with joy:
Christ our Passover Lamb has been sacrificed and has risen again.
- Paul warns the Corinthians that their boasting is not good. - A little leaven leavens the whole lump. - Paul urges the removal of the old leaven. - Christ is declared to be our Passover lamb. - The Passover lamb's blood protects Israel from death. - Believers are called to celebrate with sincerity and truth. - Commentary explaining Paul's Passover imagery and its connection to Christ. - Lutheran commentary discussing Paul's use of Passover symbolism. - Study of the sacrificial imagery surrounding Christ's death. - Teaches justification by grace through faith in Christ. - Describes the new obedience that follows faith. - Defends the doctrine of justification by faith. - Explains the righteousness of faith in Christ.(The Resurrection of Our Lord - Easter Day, Series One-Year)
The passage is taken from 1 Corinthians 15, where Paul the Apostle addresses the resurrection of the dead to the church in Corinth. Earlier in the chapter, Paul argues extensively that Christ's resurrection is the guarantee of the resurrection for all believers 200.
Verses 51-57 form a climactic exhortation to comfort and encourage believers with the certainty of victory over death.
Paul writes:
"Behold! I tell you a mystery." 1
This introduces a divine truth previously hidden but now revealed: the transformation of believers at Christ's return.
Paul explains:
"We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." 2
At the last trumpet, the dead will rise incorruptible, and the living will be transformed 3. This affirms the Christian hope in bodily resurrection, as promised in the Scriptures.
The change will occur in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye 4.
The resurrection is a sudden, divine act, not a gradual process, reflecting God's power and sovereignty.
Paul states:
"For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality." 5
The resurrection transforms corruptible, dying bodies into glorified, imperishable ones.
This confirms the Lutheran teaching that salvation includes the resurrection of the body 300.
Paul triumphantly quotes Old Testament prophecy:
"Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" 6
This quotation combines imagery from Isaiah 25:8 and Hosea 13:14, emphasizing the complete and final defeat of death through Christ.
"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law." 7
Sin, fueled by God's law, brings death to humanity. Paul reminds believers of the consequences of sin.
"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 8
Christ's resurrection destroys the power of sin and death. Believers are assured that eternal life and victory belong to those who trust in Christ.
|
Theme |
Fulfillment in Christ |
|
Mystery revealed |
Christ's resurrection guarantees the resurrection of believers |
|
Mortality overcome |
Christ rises with an imperishable body |
|
Death defeated |
Christ's resurrection triumphs over sin and death |
|
Victory through God |
Believers share in Christ's triumph |
Christ's resurrection is the model and source of our own resurrection. This affirms the continuity of salvation history and the fulfillment of God's promises.
The resurrection of believers is a cornerstone of Christian hope, directly grounded in Christ's own resurrection 301.
The Law reveals sin and death's sting, but through Christ, believers are delivered from these powers 302.
Believers can face death without fear because Christ has already conquered it. The resurrection guarantees the final transformation and eternal life 303.
Paul's words provide profound comfort to Christians:
On Easter Day, the Church proclaims with confidence:
Christ is risen! Death is defeated! Thanks be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ!
This passage strengthens faith in the promises of God and encourages perseverance in the midst of trials, suffering, and the reality of death.
- Paul reveals the mystery of resurrection transformation. - Not all will die ("sleep"), but all will be changed. - At the last trumpet, the dead will rise imperishable. - Transformation occurs instantly, "in the twinkling of an eye." - Mortal bodies are clothed with immortality. - Death is swallowed up; Old Testament imagery of victory over death. - The sting of death is sin; the law reveals its power. - Victory comes through our Lord Jesus Christ. - Commentary on the resurrection of believers through Christ. - Exegetical discussion of Paul's teaching on the resurrection and victory over death. - Historical and theological analysis of resurrection belief in early Christianity. - Confesses the resurrection of the dead. - Teaches justification by grace through faith in Christ. - Explains the defeat of sin and death through Christ. - Confirms eternal life and the believer's future resurrection.Mark 16:1-8 records the discovery of the empty tomb early on the first day of the week following Jesus' crucifixion and burial 1. The narrative follows immediately after the burial account (Mark 15:42-47) 2 where Joseph of Arimathea laid Jesus in a tomb and a large stone was rolled against the entrance.
Three women who had witnessed both the crucifixion and burial return to the tomb: Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome 1. Their purpose is to complete the burial rites by anointing Jesus' body with spices, a customary Jewish practice (John 19:39-40) 3. Scholars note that such burial practices were typical in first-century Judaism and involved spices intended to honor the deceased rather than embalm the body 200.
Within the structure of the Gospel according to Mark, this passage forms the climactic revelation that the crucified Jesus has been raised from the dead, fulfilling His own predictions (Mark 8:31) 4. Many commentators observe that Mark intentionally emphasizes the empty tomb and the angelic proclamation to highlight the historical and theological reality of the resurrection 201.
The women come to honor Jesus' body with spices 1. Their devotion demonstrates genuine love for Christ, yet they still expect to find Him dead.
They worry about who will roll away the stone 1 highlighting the apparent impossibility of their task. This detail underscores that the resurrection is entirely God's work, not the result of human action. Lutheran interpreters emphasize that the Gospel consistently portrays salvation as God's action on behalf of helpless sinners 200.
Upon arriving, the women discover that the stone has already been rolled away 1.
The stone is not removed so that Jesus may leave the tomb, but so that the witnesses may enter and see the evidence of the resurrection. This serves as a visible sign that death has been conquered.
The resurrection demonstrates Christ's victory over death foretold in Scripture (Psalm 16:10) 5. Biblical scholars further note that the empty tomb functions as a necessary historical foundation for the resurrection proclamation in the early Church 201.
Inside the tomb the women encounter a young man dressed in a white robe, understood as an angelic messenger 1.
His message is the core proclamation of the Christian faith:
"You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; He is not here." 1
This declaration affirms two essential truths:
The resurrection fulfills Jesus' repeated predictions that He would rise on the third day (Mark 9:31) 6. Mark's concise wording emphasizes the continuity between the crucified Jesus and the risen Lord, which is central to apostolic preaching 201.
The angel instructs the women:
"Go, tell His disciples and Peter." [1]
The specific mention of Peter is significant because he had recently denied Jesus (Mark 14:66-72) 7. The resurrection message therefore includes restoration and forgiveness for repentant sinners.
The command to tell the disciples marks the beginning of the Church's mission to proclaim the resurrection. The Lutheran tradition emphasizes that this proclamation forms the foundation of the Church's preaching and mission throughout history 200.
The women leave the tomb trembling and astonished 1. Their fear reflects the overwhelming reality of encountering divine power.
Such reactions are common in biblical accounts of divine revelation (Luke 24:5) 8.
In Mark's narrative style, the abrupt ending emphasizes the urgency of the resurrection proclamation and invites readers to respond in faith. Some scholars suggest that Mark's ending intentionally directs readers outward to continue proclaiming the resurrection message themselves 201.
The resurrection confirms that Christ's sacrificial death has accomplished salvation (Romans 4:25) 9.
Without the resurrection, the Christian faith would be empty (1 Corinthians 15:14) 10. With it, believers possess the assurance that sin and death have been defeated.
The Lutheran Confessions teach that Christ's resurrection demonstrates His victory over sin, death, and the devil 300. Lutheran theology consistently emphasizes that the resurrection validates Christ's atoning work on the cross 200.
Through Christ's resurrection believers receive:
Thus the resurrection is not only a historical event but also the foundation of Christian hope. Biblical scholars widely recognize that the resurrection became the central proclamation of the apostolic Church in the book of Acts 201.
The risen Christ continues to deliver the benefits of His victory through the means of grace, especially the preached Word and the Sacraments 301.
In Baptism, believers are united with Christ's death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-5) 14.
In the Lord's Supper, the living Christ gives His body and blood for the forgiveness of sins (1 Corinthians 11:26) 15.
Lutheran teaching stresses that these means are the instruments through which the risen Christ distributes the salvation He accomplished through His death and resurrection 200.
The resurrection vindicates Jesus' identity as the Son of God proclaimed at the beginning of Mark's Gospel (Mark 1:1) 16.
Through His resurrection:
The resurrection therefore stands as the decisive turning point of redemptive history and the foundation of Christian proclamation 201.
Because Christ is risen, believers possess the certainty that death does not have the final word.
Peter's inclusion in the angel's message assures Christians that forgiveness remains available even after serious sin.
The command to announce the resurrection continues through the Church's preaching and teaching.
The women's question about the stone reminds believers that God accomplishes what human beings cannot.
- The women discover the empty tomb and receive the angelic proclamation of the resurrection. - The burial of Jesus by Joseph of Arimathea. - Jewish burial customs involving spices and linen wrappings. - Jesus predicts His suffering, death, and resurrection. - Prophecy that God will not allow His Holy One to see corruption. - Jesus foretells His resurrection on the third day. - Peter's denial of Jesus. - Fear and astonishment at the empty tomb. - Christ raised for our justification. - Without the resurrection the Christian faith would be in vain. - Forgiveness of sins through faith in Christ. - Justification by faith resulting in peace with God. - Jesus as the resurrection and the life. - Baptism unites believers with Christ's death and resurrection. - Proclaiming the Lord's death until He comes. - Jesus Christ proclaimed as the Son of God. - Death swallowed up in victory. - Christ destroys the power of the devil through His death. - Because Christ lives, believers will live also. - Provides Lutheran theological commentary on Mark 16 emphasizing the resurrection as God's saving act and the foundation of the Church's proclamation. - Scholarly analysis of the literary structure and theological emphasis of the Markan resurrection narrative. - Christ's resurrection demonstrates His victory over sin, death, and the devil. - The Gospel and Sacraments are the means through which the Holy Spirit creates and sustains faith.