Isaiah 14,9. Easter Monday

Isaiah 14,9

Ostermontag 36  2624

ad Israel et ad Gentes (Urbi et Orbi : to the city and the world)

1. April 2024

1. Ad Israel et ad Gentes. To Israel and the nations: hear the words of the Prophet Isaiah: ὁ ᾅδης κάτωθεν ἐπικράνθη συναντήσας σοι συνηγέρθησάν σοι πάντες οἱ γίγαντες οἱ ἄρξαντες τῆς γῆς οἱ ἐγείραντες ἐκ τῶν θρόνων αὐτῶν πάντας βασιλεῖς ἐθνῶν (lxx). Hades below met you, all the giants, the mighty ones of the earth, those who rose from their thrones, all the kings of the nations worshiped you. Infernus subter conturbatus est in occursum adventus tui; suscitavit tibi gigantes. Omnes principes terræ surrexerunt de soliis suis, omnes principes nationum (vul). Hell below is troubled to meet your coming; He raised up the giants for you. All the princes of the earth arose from their thrones, all the princes of the nations. καὶ τοῦτο προλαβὼν Ἡσαΐας ἐβόησεν· ὁ ᾅδης, φησίν, ἐπικράνθη συναντήσας σοι κάτω (chrysostom). Hades was embittered/exasperated/made powerless when it encountered Thee in the lower regions. Sheol beneath is stirred up to meet you when you come; it rouses the shades to greet you, all who were leaders of the earth; it raises from their thrones all who were kings of the nations (esv). 

2. In his famous Easter sermon, Chrysostom preached: „Let no one mourn their transgressions, for pardon has dawned from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Savior’s death has set us free. He that was taken by death has annihilated it! He descended into Hades and took Hades captive! He embittered it when it tasted His flesh! And anticipating this, Isaiah exclaimed: Hades was embittered/exasperated/made powerless when it encountered Thee in the lower regions (Isaiah 14,9)“ (Chrysostom Paschal Homily preached in 400). 

3. Jesus harrowed hell. He rent asunder its strong gates. Hades protested, but Jesus stood fast. Sin had been paid for, death had been vanquished and the Devil had been conquered. Christ Jesus, the Son of God, the Son of Man, the Lamb who had been slain, the Prince of Peace, the Savior of sinners, the Glory of Israel, the Light of the Gentiles, stood triumphant. There was none to challenge Him. He took possession of the keys of Death and Hades. Hell had been harrowed.

4. Today you will be with Me in Paradise. That was the promise Jesus gave to the penitent insurrectionist crucified next to Him. That is the promise Jesus gives to us. It is a promise overflowing with mercy and grace. Fear not the temporal things of this world. Poverty, war and tyranny are tribulations of this fallen world still beholden to the Devil and Hades. They cannot have the final victory, for the Victory has been achieved by Christ with His resurrection. The tribulations of this world that afflict us bodily and spiritually are but a fleeting shadow for the true Light has dawned with the resurrected Christ. 

5. The cross is bare. Hades is void. The tomb is empty. Julius Caesar famously said: I came, I saw, I conquered. Caesar used this phrase in a letter to the Roman Senate in 47 bc after he had achieved a swift victory in his short war against Pharnaces II of Pontus at the Battle of Zela. Jesus has outdone Julius. Veni, vidi, vici is now Dominus venit, Iesus vidit, Christus vicit. Alleluia. Paradise is open and it is full. Alleluia. 

6. Christ indeed from death is risen,

Our new life obtaining.

Have mercy, Victor King, ever reigning!

Amen. Alleluia. 

(Christians, to the Paschal Victim lsb 460,3 2006 Wipo of Burgundy 1050)

7. Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty, God, that we who celebrate the solemnities of the Lord’s resurrection may by the renewal of Thy Holy Spirit rise again from the death of the soul; through the same, Jesus ✠ Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.  Amen. (Easter, Vespers Collect 3. The Daily Office. Copyright © 1965 Concordia Publishing House.)