Why Do You Seek The Living Among The Dead? (2)

He Is Risen! He Is Risen Indeed!

But On The First Day of the Week (vs 1)

But…

This is how it is, but it’s about to change.

This was the expectation, but something different is coming.

It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming. Show video.

This is the most important day for the Christian.

More important than Christmas.

On it hinges our faith.

On it hinges our joy.

On it hinges our hope.

1 Corinthians 15:13–16 NASB95

But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised;

1 Corinthians 15:17–19 NASB95

and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.

1 Peter 1:3–4 NASB95

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

Friday is Good, cuz Sunday is coming! Sing

They Were Perplexed (vs. 4)

Jesus was missing.

Sometimes in our darkest hour it feels like Jesus is not present.

Sometimes in our darkest hour it feels like Jesus has abandoned us.

We cry, “Jesus, where are You?”

Jesus has felt the same.

Mark 15:34 NASB95

At the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Suddenly Two Men Stood Near In Dazzling Clothing (vs 4)

But, at the last moment of our despair...

A light breaks into our darkness.

Sunday…The beginning of a New week

New Beginnings

Psalm 30:5 NASB95

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.

A Light at the End of the Tunnel

Gandolf and the Battle of Helm’s Deep

on the fifth day at the first light of dawn. Look to the east.

Why Do You Seek The Living Among The Dead? (vs. 5)

The word for “among” is a preposition that implies companionship and fellowship.

This goes back the the “But” in verse 1.

Their expectation was to see a dead Messiah.

They were bringing spices to the tomb to embalm His body.

They did not trust Jesus’ words that He would rise again on the third day.

They chose to wallow in death instead of choosing to rejoice in life.

They were stuck on Friday.

Instead of dead spices to embalm Him, they should have brought live flowers to celebrate His resurrection!

What words of Jesus do we not trust?

How often do we wallow in death instead of rejoicing in life?

How often do we bring dead spices to Him instead of a living life of rejoicing in what He’s done?

We need to leave death at the cross and buried in the tomb.

How often do we take an issues off of the cross and pin it back on ourselves?

It has been nailed to the cross leave it there.

They Remembered His Words (vs 6-8)

He is not here, he has risen…Remember?

Who’s words will we listen to?

Jesus’ or the world’s?

God’s or Satan’s?

Truth or the lies?

Right now the world’s words are death, disunity, and destruction.

2 Corinthians 10:5 NASB95

We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,

Again, we can either be seeking the dead things of this life, or...

Let’s seek the Living things of the Living Christ.

Words and language.

Relationships

Work and Play

Family

Because when we speak the name of Jesus, we speak life!

Life/living/live

Matthew - 25 times

Mark - 12 times

Luke - 36 times

John - 66 times

In Him was life and the life was the light of men. (Jn 1:4)

Jesus is the bread of life. (Jn 6:35)

Jesus came that we might have life and have that life abundantly. (John 10:10)

He is the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for the sheep. (Jn 10:11)

Jesus is the resurrection and the life. (Jn 11:25)

Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. (Jn 14:6)

Why can we do this?

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us!

Romans 8:10–11 NASB95

If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Peter Ran To The Tomb (vs 12)

He left marveling at what had happened. Admiration and astonishment. This is Amazing.

Our response should be the same.

Even if we don’t fully understand it!

John 20:9 NASB95

For as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise again from the dead.

He has risen…Risen indeed

Three Final Thoughts:

The Resurrection of Christ is Not Just For or About Us.(Romans 8:18-25)

Romans 8:19–21 NASB95

For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

This thought came to me as a result of a baby goat dying Friday morning.

tried to revive it. It died.

2 choices. Why are you looking for the living among the dead?

I can focus on the death.

I’m not saying ignore the grieving process...

But we can get stuck there. We can get stuck on Friday.

Or I can focus on the life. There are 2 babies alive and many more on the way!

That goat died because of sin. And the animals are suffering for our sin!

Glory revealed to us.

Creation itself is anxiously longing and eagerly waiting for the revealing of the sons of God.

Once we are resurrected and literally the whole created world sees who the sons of God are vs. who the sons of the devil are, Creation will be released from its bondage to decay and corruption.

Remember the curse affected all of creation.

The ground was cursed and thorns and thistles were produced.

Agricultural production became difficult.

Jesus’ Resurrection Guarantees Ours.

1 Corinthians 15:20–23 NASB95

But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming,

Jesus Is Coming Back Again!!

God gave us one more promise through the angels:

Acts 1:10–11 NASB95

And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them. They also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into heaven.”

Jesus says to us today: Why Do You Seek the Living Among the Dead?

Some of you are stuck on Friday.

Remember Jesus feels your pain. He understands feeling abandoned. He understands being rejected. He has felt and lived within the brokenness of humanity.

Jesus also knows your struggles with sin. He was tempted in every way we are, yet never sinned.

If you will let Him, He will take your pain, your brokenness, and your sin to the cross to let it die with Him on Friday.

Then, God will break through the darkness and shine light into your night.

Let go of Friday.

Remember the love and words of Jesus.

Hebrews 13:5–8 (NASB95)

...for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?”...Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Speak the name of Jesus.

Share the life of Jesus.

Stop fellowshipping among the dead.

Choose life.

Salvation prayer.

Move on to Sunday.

Friday was good, cuz Sunday came!

Live a resurrected life - faith, joy, and hope.

If you have given your life to Christ, the same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in you!

Finally, like Peter walk away today in wonder and amazement!

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Let’s worship and praise our living savior!

Forever (We Sing Hallelujah)

This Is Amazing Grace

Glorious Day