Sunday Morning, April 27, 2025
Please allow me to express my gratitude to our board of elders for granting me permission to travel to Boston, Massachusetts to be present at the two-hundred and fiftieth anniversary (semi quincentennial) of the battles of Lexington and Concord, April 19, 1775. Last Sunday, April 20, 2025, I was invited to preach a Resurrection Day sermon before a large number of members of the Sons of the American Revolution who had gathered to march in the Patriot Day parade in Concord, Massachusetts. What follows is the message I preached on that Sunday.
THE DAY LIBERTY BEGAN.
The March of the British Regulars. As Americans, we recognize the two-hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and we honor our patriot ancestors who fought and died that day. As I am sure you know, the battle started the night before, on April 18, 1775, when British General Thomas Gage sent about seven hundred soldiers from Boston to Concord through Lexington to seek and destroy arms and ammunition the patriots had hidden there. Since Bostonians had destroyed a shipment of British tea in 1773, Britain’s King George III had stationed hundreds of soldiers from his army in Boston to stop the growing calls for independence. Reports from loyalists in the area revealed that the patriots had a large store of ammunition and arms hidden in nearby Concord. This is the occasion of the famous “midnight ride of Paul Revere,” although his journey actually started much earlier, when a signal lantern was displayed in the steeple of the Old North Church in Boston. Paul Revere, Samuel Prescott, and William Dawes began their historic ride to warn the patriot militia that the regulars were coming. While Revere covertly made his way to Lexington, General Gage sent this force into the Massachusetts countryside. The soldiers were mustered and formed up in the darkness in order to keep their mission a secret, however it seems everyone in Boston and the surrounding area knew what they were doing.
Ferried in small boats across the water to Charlestown, they took up their march under the command of Lt. Colonel Francis Smith and British Marine Major John Pitcairn. Almost as soon as they began their journey, they heard the tolling of bells and the firing of rifles and cannon from around the countryside in the darkness, calling the patriot militia to assemble. The British officers knew that their mission was no longer a secret.
The Battle of Lexington. Still, they marched on. In the darkness, the local militia assembled on the green in Lexington. Just as the first rays of daylight showed on the horizon, the soldiers from the British army arrived and took up positions confronting the patriots. The militia, under the command of Captain John Parker, stood firm at first. But under pressure from the British regulars, they dispersed. History still does not know who fired the first shot, but in moments, eight patriots lay dead and one was wounded. We are told only one British soldier was wounded during this battle. While the patriots saw to the wounded and dying, the British soldiers resumed their march to Concord.
The Battle of Concord. By the time they had arrived, hundreds of minute men and militia, under the command of Colonel James Barrett and Major John Buttrick had gathered to withstand them. From the North Bridge, the British fired at the patriots, when Major Buttrick commanded, “Fire, for God’s sake, fire!” This exchange signaled the beginning of the American War for Independence. Since the British found no ammunition or arms, they began their retreat to Boston. They faced strenuous opposition, and seventy-nine British soldiers were killed in the battle that raged along Battle Road. An additional forty-nine patriots were killed in action and forty-one were wounded. The victory for the battle went to the American minutemen and militia.
To me, this stands out as one of the greatest days in human history. Let me see if I can explain why. Through all my research about the rising influence of the Patriot militia, I have endeavored to ask the question, “What caused these men, young and old, to leave their homes, their farms, and their families to take up arms against an army they knew was better trained, better led, and better equipped?” The British army knew the tactics of battle and were disciplined as military units. Why would the simple farmers of the Massachusetts countryside fight against such a superior force?
Consequences of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Of all the possibilities, I have concluded that the most common reason for their actions was their love of freedom. The British soldiers had been sent by a tyrannical government to rob them of their property and possessions−their rights and freedoms. How did they come to cherish such liberty? In 1775, most European nations were governed by monarchies, where the rights and freedoms of citizens were limited. The political climate was different in the American colonies. For generations, the Colonial Americans had self-governed, because the king and parliament was across the Atlantic. They had made their own decisions about their government, churches, and communities. They had experienced liberty, participated in their government, and they were not willing to give that up.
Have you ever considered what this battle did? It opened the door for American liberty. This was the day freedom began. From here, there would be many battles; Bunker Hill, Long Island, Saratoga, Valley Forge, Camden, Cowpens, and Yorktown, and many more. Thousands of American patriots would sacrifice their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor on the altar of freedom. Yet, eventually and inevitably, the people of the United States of America won their liberty.
Because of these battles in Lexington and Concord, a little over a year later, in 1776, the United States declared its independence from Great Britain. In 1789, the Constitution of the United States was ratified. Attached to the Constitution was the Bill of Rights. In that document was the First Amendment which says, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” We have the freedom to gather to worship our Lord in the way we choose because of the First Amendment of our Constitution.
The world has been watching. Persistently and inexorably, over the past two and a half centuries, people, who yearn to be free, have risen up and brought liberty to their lands. The freedom our patriot ancestors fought for, sacrificed for, strove for, and died for, has been exported across this planet. That day, April 19, 1775, the shot really was heard around the world and it is still echoing among those who cherish freedom. So, I am sure you will agree with me that this was indeed one of history’s greatest days.
THE DAY ETERNAL SALVATION BEGAN.
The Fact of Jesus’ Resurrection. There was another event, far more important, that took place nearly two thousand years ago. This was the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and it happened in the ancient city of Jerusalem. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest and most profound truth of the Bible. By resurrection, the Bible means that the Lord Jesus Christ, whom the Bible declares was and is fully God and completely human, who was born in Bethlehem, grew to adulthood in Nazareth, and spent over three years preaching and teaching in Israel; this Jesus literally and physically died on the cross in Jerusalem; was buried in a tomb; also, literally and physically rose from the dead; thus, returning to life. Not only is the resurrection of Jesus Christ the most powerful teaching of God’s Word, it is also the greatest event that has ever happened on this planet.
It is possible that many people in our world have concluded that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is somehow similar to legends and stories we were told as children. Yet, I assure you that the God-Man Jesus really died in a real place at a real time and there is still physical evidence to show the historical reality of His death, burial and resurrection. The Bible tells us that Jesus was crucified at a location called “the place of the skull.” (Matthew 27:33) That place still exists today and still resembles a human skull. Today it serves as a bus station just outside the gates of Jerusalem. If you were to go back two thousand years, those buses would be gone and, in their place, would stand three crosses, with the one in the center being occupied by our Savior. Immediately next to Skull Hill there still exists a beautiful garden and a sign that shows its close proximity to Golgotha, the place of crucifixion. The Bible tells us that close to the place of Jesus’ crucifixion there was a garden and, in the garden, a new tomb. (John 19:41).
The Experience of Mary of Magdala. (Matthew 27:55-61) As at Lexington and Concord, this world-changing event began in the darkness. A young woman named Mary from the town of Magdala made her way through the quiet, gloomy streets. She was on her way to a tomb. On Friday, she stood by in horror as she watched her Lord being crucified. She stayed as He was placed in a borrowed tomb. Now she wanted to anoint His body with fragrant spices as an act of worship and respect. Sundown on Friday brought the Jewish Sabbath and she would not have been permitted to leave her home. But with sundown on Saturday, the Sabbath was over and she could once again travel to the place where they placed her Master. Soon the first light of dawn brightened and illuminated her path and she could see where she was going. As she arrived at the tomb, she saw something unexpected. The great stone that had covered its entrance was gone. As she slowly approached the opened grave, she discovered the body of Jesus was absent. Her Lord was gone. What was she to do?
The Bible tells us that she ran to alert the disciples that the body of Jesus was no longer in the tomb. Upon hearing this news, Peter and John immediately ran to the place where Jesus was buried. John, younger and faster, arrived first and cautiously looked into the tomb. Moments later, the older disciple, Peter, arrived and walked into the empty tomb. Then, John also went inside. Curiously the Bible tells us in John 20:6-8, “[John] entered the tomb; and he saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself. So the other disciple who had first come to the tomb then also entered, and he saw and believed. Then the two disciples returned to their homes.”
Evidently while all of this was happening, Mary made her way back to the place Jesus had been buried. By the time she arrived, the disciples were already gone. Overcome by grief and confusion, Mary began to weep. The word used in the original shows that this was not simple crying. This was the uncontrollable sobbing of grief and mourning. Mary could no longer control her sorrow. There, alone by the Lord’s empty tomb, Mary wept. She saw two angels in white, one sitting at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying and yet, so deep was her sorrow that she seems not to have noticed the presence of supernatural beings. They asked her why she was weeping. Almost impulsively she said, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” And she continued her weeping.
Seeing the Risen Christ. (John 20:14-18) Perhaps through her tears she did not recognize the Lord. Instead, she thought He was the gardener and that possibly he had removed Jesus’ body and put it elsewhere. He asked the same question the angels did: “Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Again, she pled for Him to tell her the location that Jesus’ body had been removed. Can you imagine that scene? Can you picture Mary, shaking and weeping, while the Lord for whom she wept stood right beside her? Showing His deep love and compassion, Jesus said a simple word: her name: “Mary.” Tears or not, she recognized His voice saying her name. In an instant, her sorrow was gone and her grief evaporated. Jesus was alive! He was not dead, He was risen!
This day, the day of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, is the greatest day ever experienced in humanity’s long history. Why? Because it was the day eternal salvation began. Let the Bible tell you why: (John 3:16-18) “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Through the Lord Jesus Christ, God offers eternal life to anyone who believes in Him.
The Apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” (2 Corinthians 5:20-21). Because of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, any person can be completely and eternally reconciled to God by faith and become the righteousness of God. This good news has spread throughout the world, beyond national borders and language barriers. Men and women from every nation, and tribe, and family have embraced the risen Lord, Jesus Christ, as Savior and received God’s free gift of eternal life.
We call this good news, the Gospel. The gospel is defined in First Corinthians 15, “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and He was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, NLT)
How about you? Have you ever received Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? The Bible tells us that He died for our sins and that, after His death was confirmed, He was buried. The Bible also tells us that He was raised on the third day so that you can be saved. Jesus Christ no longer hangs on the old rugged cross. He is no longer in a tomb. He is alive! Only in Him can you be granted everlasting life. Salvation is by God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ. Will you trust in Him today? On this Resurrection Sunday, will you give your life to the Lord Jesus Christ who loves you and gave Himself for you?
On Saturday, April 19, our nation celebrated the 250th Anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the day liberty began. Sunday, April 20, Resurrection Day, Christians celebrated the day eternal salvation began. The first, one of the greatest days in our nation’s history, and the second, the greatest day in human history. May God richly bless you and your family. Let us pray.
