The Word Works
This sermon was preached by Pastor Ted Carnahan for the Vigil of Easter, April 19, 2025.
Grace, mercy, and peace be with all of you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.
There's so much in all of the lessons that we've read this evening as we've sat in vigil and prayer awaiting the resurrection of Jesus Christ that it would take me a month of Sundays to even begin to scratch the surface of all that's here. But I want to pull out a common theme that I see running through all of these texts, from the very beginning all the way until now. The Word of God does something.
Sometimes we imagine that it is the Word of God which we read and interpret, getting that knowledge in our heads, and then somehow we do something with it. We think that thing we do is faith. But that's not what Scripture's witness is to us at all. The prophecy of Isaiah talks about this. It says that the Word of God will not return to Him empty, but will accomplish the purpose that God has set out for it.
The Power of God's Word in Creation
The Word of God and its power are woven all throughout this night. Consider the story of the Word of God in creation as God speaks the universe into existence. Yes, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all present at the moment of creation. The earth, a wind from God, a ruach in Hebrew, a spirit from God, is hovering over the face of the deep. That spirit of God is the Holy Spirit.
Then the Word of God speaks, and reality comes into being. God says, "Let there be," and there is. The Word of God creates the reality it declares. God declares that there is light; He creates the heaven and earth, the sea and stars, animals and plants. As the Word of God speaks, creation obeys. Where there was not something good before, now there is, because God's Word has said so.
The Word in the Flood Narrative
Similarly, we come to the moment of the flood, and it is the same. This Word compels Noah to believe that there is a flood coming that no one has ever seen before. God commands him to build a boat, one like no one has seen before. Noah works on it not just for a month or two, but for years and years as he prepares to rescue his family because of the Word of God.
They get on the boat and are rescued from the waters of the flood. The heavens open, the rains come down, and God annihilates sin, demonstrating the true and just punishment for our trespasses. Yet at the same time, His Word rescues through water the people He has chosen and selected to save by His grace.
The Word in Abraham's Faith
The Word of God is active and alive in the story of the Binding of Isaac as God speaks to Abraham and says, "Abraham, you believe me at my Word, and my Word justifies you." This justification is not because Abraham has done good yet; in fact, Abraham sometimes does some pretty terrible things. But because he believes that Word of faith which God has proclaimed to him, that Word does something.
Abraham takes this impossible promise—that God will provide him a son in his very old age. The man is well over a hundred years old, yet he says, "Okay, God, I don't understand how you will still make me the father of many nations if I even sacrifice my son to you, but I will do it." Then the Word of God provides for him a ram stuck in the thicket, for his faith has proven true, and he really does believe. He believes that Word which justifies, which sets our lives in motion, which shows us our sin through the law, and also creates for us the way out.
The Word at the Red Sea
It is the Word of God which compels the people of Israel fleeing from Pharaoh and trapped at the Red Sea not to throw themselves on Pharaoh's mercy, but rather to trust that in spite of their impossible circumstances, God will fight for them. He positions Himself in a pillar of cloud and fire between the army of Egypt and the army of Israel.
Then God says, "Open up your hands, Moses," and the sea parts. He tells the people, "Walk on the seabed," and they do it, which is amazing if you think about it. Would you walk for miles through the middle of the ocean? Perhaps if a bunch of angry Egyptians were chasing you, you might. But this idea that the Word of God changes reality causes people to trust. It transforms hearts and sets people on a path of freedom.
The Word Incarnate: Jesus Christ
The Word of God creates the reality it declares. God says through Isaiah, "I will send my Word out, and it will not return to me empty." This Word which Isaiah prophesies about, this Word which God has put in his heart, is Jesus. Because Jesus is God's Word made flesh. John 1 says, "The Word became flesh and dwelled among us, and we have seen His glory. The glory is of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth."
Here are key examples of how the Word continues to act throughout Scripture:
- It takes the dusty, dry bones in the valley of Ezekiel's prophecy and breathes life into them. Spirit, ruach, comes into the bones; bone is connected to bone, flesh comes over them, and then the Word of God commands life into them.
- It is distrusted by Jonah at first, which gets him into trouble, but also provides for him as he's thrown into the sea. He confesses, "I'm wrong. I've been going in the exact opposite direction of Nineveh. I went to Tarshish." Yet he knows somehow that God will rescue him.
- It compels Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to worship only the God of Israel despite the penalty of death in the fiery furnace. As they are thrown in, Nebuchadnezzar sees not three men but four. I believe that fourth one is the Word of God in person—Jesus Christ Himself.
Celebrating the Resurrection
All you works of the Lord, all you called by His name, all you who have been given His Word and whose hearts now hold this Word—something else impossible yet true has happened, and we celebrate it this night. For this night we celebrate that this man who we say is Son of God died—truly died—crucified and brutally tortured and murdered for something He did not do. He took upon Himself our sin and went to the cross so that we might receive from Him righteousness and peace.
God vindicated Him by the resurrection so that He really is who He said He is. He rose from the dead in accordance with the Scriptures, in accordance with the Word of God laid out for us over and over again throughout the Old Testament and throughout the teachings of Jesus Himself before His death.
We see that the Word of God is living and active and has power over all those things which defy God—all those things which cause us to doubt or worry or be afraid, even those things that threaten to bring us death. For Jesus Christ is not dead but has risen. Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Alleluia!
Because Jesus Christ has risen from the dead, we know and have confirmation that:
- The Word of God is true.
- God is a God who keeps promises.
- God's Word is living and active and transforms the world and our hearts.
- God has made us His people and has set us on His path.
May we, as we celebrate in this first celebration of Easter, be filled with the grace and joy of God who saves. And may the peace of God which surpasses all understanding keep your hearts and minds strong in Christ Jesus our Lord unto life everlasting. Amen.
