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This Week's Sermon THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD 12 April 2009 "The Exodus is Complete!" Exodus 15:1-11 LSB Series B Vicar Gerald D. Heinecke Soli Deo Gloria!

I love going on vacation. This is a good thing because our family is getting spread out. They stretch from Ohio to Colorado and from Wisconsin to Texas. This doesn't even include going on a real vacation like going to see Mickey Mouse in Disney World. We even enjoy a weekend away by going on trips to see friends in St. Louis or Fort Wayne. While I could travel for the rest of my life, Erica always looks forward to coming home. Ss he is always ready to exodus to home.

In today's Old Testament text we learn of the joy of an exodus being completed, or at least it appeared to be done. This exodus nor our vacation exoduses are nothing compared to the greatest exodus of all time. It is actually an exodus that began in Genesis 3 and finds its completion in our Gospel text today. It is for that reason we say, "He is Risen! He has Risen Indeed! Alleluia!"

What exactly is an exodus? Well, there is the book of Exodus, which contains our old testament text today. What do we see the Israelites doing? They are beginning a trip back to their homeland, a nation that flowed with milk and honey. It was the land promised to their forefathers-to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The trip was originally meant to last for a couple of years but due to the rebellion of Israel that we eventually learn of in Numbers 14, it turns into a 40 year exodus. What is an exodus? It means to depart, to go out. Literally, it is to take a journey.

Exodus 15 is a celebration of God's victory over the Egyptians. In the previous chapter we find the Jews crossing the Red Sea and Pharaoh's army being drowned in it. Within chapter 14 we find a type of salvation provided. The Israelites are cornered. Their backs are against the sea and an army is charging down upon them. And the people, instead of praying for deliverance, grumble against Moses and God saying, "Is it because there are no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? What have you done to us in bringing us out of Egypt?" Yet God does not leave them in their unbelief. He rescues that unbelieving generation even though they are completely unworthy! They were completely and utterly lost in their unbelief. They had no trust in God who had just brought about ten plagues on mighty Egypt and freed them from their oppression under her.

Just as the Israelites were saved from the wrath of Pharaoh through the waters of the Red Sea, each of us are saved. The Israelites went through a type of rebirth, a renewal, a baptism. God commands the people to walk between the walls of water. It was significant because this is just one more example of God telling the people that he has made them his very own people. In our baptism God tells us he has made us his, not because we are worthy of being saved but because he is a loving God who is faithful in all his promises. He uses the Word, through which the Holy Spirit works, calling us to faith.

Mighty are his ways! Through simple water he destroys a menacing army, not only Pharaoh's literal troops but the devil's menancing demons as well. For this reason Moses' song is a song we sing today! The Lord is a man of war; the Lord is his name...the floods covered them they went down into the depths like a stone. Your right hand, O Lord glorious in power, your right hand, O Lord, shatters the enemy. In the greatness of your majesty you overthrow your adversaries; you send out your fury; it consumes them like stubble. At the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up...the enemy said I will pursue and overtake, I will divide the spoil, my desire shall have its fill of them...You blew with your wind; the sea covered them; they sank like lead in the mighty waters.

Though written about Pharaoh, these words point to a greater victory! The devil attempted to overtake you. The old Adam had you by the scruff of your neck, but your baptism drowned him in all his desires to consume you. Satan will not gather the spoil of your body and soul. He will not drag you into the pit of despair.

Still in this exodus though, what keeps the evil foe from delivering his death blow as we live out our daily life? Baptism now saves you, but what makes this victory so assured? Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds doing wonders? How is the Lord my strength and my song? How has he become my salvation? Our text does not state these as questions but rather as bold and glorious statements.

Why is our exodus safe and secure? The answer is found in the gospels. In Luke 9 Jesus meets with Moses and Elijah and they spoke about Jesus' departure, that is his exodus, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Jesus, in the transfiguration story is being strengthened in order to complete our departure to God by fulfilling all that the law demands. Through his suffering, death, and resurrection he will deliver us from sin, death, and the power of hell. All this will be accomplished in Jesus' exodus to Jerusalem. It is achieved by his glorious entrance into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. It is found in his institution of the Lord's Supper and the new command to love one another that we celebrate on Maundy Thursday. It is given to us in the whipping, the spitting, the beating, and the rejection of Jesus. It is accomplished in the torture of Jesus in his crucifixion and death all of which we contemplated on Good Friday. Our celebration of Christ's victory then begins with the Easter Vigil. This service of light reminds us that the light of Christ is not dead, but lives and reigns to all eternity as we anticipate the resurrection today. Without understanding what his death means we cannot anticipate this resurrection.

Having been through Holy Week though we come upon the empty tomb. It is a scene unreal and unsettling to Jesus' disciples. Where has his body gone? John believes the body is gone but where is it? He has risen! He has risen indeed. Alleluia! Yet that thought escapes him despite all the teaching that Jesus did. You, though, are fortunate because you do not have to wonder what the empty tomb means. We have been given the Bible to tell us what it means. This empty tomb means he rose from the dead! Here in his resurrection this early morning we see the exodus is complete!

We are no longer away from the presence of God. Rather we have been brought near to him through Jesus' work of salvation. Forgiveness has been won. Freedom from sin has been won. Salvation has been won! We now rest secure in our baptism because Jesus has given us victory.

Even though you continue your temporary walk on this earth we can look forward to a completed exodus. From our birth we have been on an exodus to eternal life. During our trip we will have ups and downs in our faith. There is no comfort in our work, but we can rest secure in the comfort of Christ's work. There will be times when we cave into sin, just as the Israelites did on their forty year exodus. You are assured, though, of God's faithfulness because Jesus has already died and rose.

It is for this reason that we confess our faith and sing our praises. We tell the good news of Christ death and resurrection through word and song. It is why the Israelites sang the song of Moses to tell of all God's marvelous wonders. The Alleluias now pop from our mouth as we did in the hymn to enter and as we will do in numerous hymns in the Divine Service at 10:30am. One example is the distribution hymn, At the Lamb's High Feast We Sing, "Where the pascal blood is poured, Death's dread angel sheathes the sword; Israel's host triumphant go through the wave that drowns the foe. Alleluia." It is with this excitement that we look forward to the Divine Service as we drink of the pascal lamb's blood and eat his body. With joy we shall take part in the feast of all feasts, the Sacrament of the Altar. This is the victory meal over the grave.

Our exodus, while still on going, is also completed. It is completed in the blood of Christ shed for you for the forgiveness of all your sins. It is complete because he has risen from the dead. "I know that my Redeemer lives; what comfort this sweet sentence gives! He lives, He lives, who once was dead; He lives, my ever-living head." The Song of Moses is a reminder that our exodus is completed in Christ. "Now hell, its prince, the devil, of all their power are shorn; now I am safe from evil, and sin I laugh to scorn. Grim death with all its might cannot my soul affright. It is a powerless form, however it rave and storm." For he has risen! He has risen indeed, Alleluia!