An Easter Carol

Greeting/Opening

He is Risen! [Christ is risen indeed]. Welcome to this morning’s Sunrise Service at Eastern Hills. As we sit here in our courtyard, with the light of the sun illuminating our morning, let us take in this beautiful morning.

Again, He is Risen, (Christ is Risen Indeed.)

I am Associate Pastor Joe Vivian here at Eastern Hills. Pastor Trevor Clark was scheduled to share this morning’s message; however, he is following what God has called him first and foremost to here on earth. To serve his wife Amanda and serve his three children, Amelia, Davis and Peter as Husband and Father. They are dealing with illness and bugs and he is there to serve them during this time.

So I have the honor to bring his message to all of you, with a bit of Joeisms thrown in as well.

Let’s pray before we begin.

Pray

(Pray for the Clark Family)

Happy Easter!

Easter is not nearly as celebrated as Christmas, though it marks something just as important—perhaps even more important—than Jesus’ birth, and that is the Resurrection of Jesus from the Grave.

I say “more important” because Christmas marks the turn of the tide—the day God took on flesh and entered into our joys and pains; but Easter marks the tidal wave that has lifted our joys up and then crashed down upon our pains, emptying them of power.

One reason that Christmas is so widespread—and that is a good, wonderful thing—is the publication in 1845 of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol.

Dickens has been called “the man who invented Christmas.” And while that isn’t technically true, he did wonders to shape the celebration of Christmas in our culture.

Think about how many “variations” we now have of that original tale.

This morning, to crack open just how significant Easter is, to make us feel, not its weight but its buoyancy, I wish to present An Easter Carol.

The story that I am about to share is more historical and theological than dramatic. I am no Charles Dickens...

And yet, history and theology are themselves dramatic—they show God’s work in the stage of the world, and our role as actors upon it.

So, let’s begin…

Easter Past

Picture this if you will as we begin this journey together...

It was a cold April morning. The sun’s arms were creeping over the mountain, but he hadn’t yet lifted his head over them, when the Ghost of Easter Past carries each of us back in time, to the setting we read about in Luke 24, beginning in verse 1—

Luke 24:1–5 (NLT)

1 But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.

2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

3 So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus.

4 As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.

5 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground.

Here is a group of people who had walked with Jesus for some time—literally walked with him—perhaps for years.

They were men and women who trusted him, who heard his message of love, who learned his way of life, and hoped that His arrival in Jerusalem might be the beginning of light spreading to the nations.

But then, they saw their king crowned with thorns, and they fled from the One they followed. They saw what seemed to be love conquered by hate, life conquered by death, and light conquered by darkness.

Where were they in the grieving process that morning?

Were they numb with shock?

Filled with rage at those who killed him?

Did they look for ways to sieze control in the midst of helplessness?

Did they wonder what they could have done differently?

How did they deal with hopelessness?

Were their prayers prayers of anguish or acceptance?

Then suddenly, things start to change. Pieces start to move.

The disciples who went to annoint Jesus’ body found an open tomb, and, going into it, an empty tomb.

Friends...Some see an angel saying “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is risen!”

Others encounter a traveler on the road who breaks bread with them and vanishes right when they recognize him as their lord.

Mary met him in the garden.

He appeared in their prayer room.

And slowly it dawns on them, perhaps even the doubters, that Jesus—the best guy that ever lived and died—is alive again and alive for good.

They didn’t lose him, and therefore they weren’t lost.

Easter Future

But now, we have to turn to another scene. The Ghost of Easter Past leaves us and now the Ghost of Easter Future comes, and carries us into a vision—the vision of John the Apostle, in Revelation 21 verse 1—4

Revelation 21:1–4 NLT

1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

In the Bible, it turns out that there isn’t just one resurrection… there are two.

That just as Jesus’ body was carried weak and broken into the grave but rose glorious out of it, so this world will be transformed, leaving corruption and decay behind it.

There will be a day when every environmental issue will be solved and all pollution will be gone.

And in this new world, there will be new bodies to inhabit it.

Our bodies—transformed to be like Jesus’.

Bodies that don’t get hurt, develop cancer, grow old, or succumb to disease.

The fact that there are two resurrections is not a coincidence.

This is why Jesus came, why he died, why he rose. So that by his resurrection he might destroy forever the power of death over the world and those who live in it.

That just as Jesus rose in the power of the the Father, Son, and Spirit, so that same spirit will renew things eternally.

Resurrection Past and Resurrection Future, Easter Past and Easter Future are connected.

It is the presence of the risen Jesus, returned into this world, that will carry out this greatest of renovation projects.

Easter Present

Some of you may be saying… that sounds good.

That Jesus rose from the dead in the past, and that he will return to rescue us in the future.

But I wish that something could happen here, now.

Some of you might be saying I wish someone could cure the death inside me—the bitterness that eats away, the addiction, the shame, the arrogance, the selfishness.

Then, the Ghost of Easter Present comes, and reminds us of Paul’s words, in Ephesians 2—

Ephesians 2:1–6 NLT

1 Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. 2 You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God. 3 All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By our very nature we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else. 4 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, 5 that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!) 6 For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.

There is, by the grace of God, not two resurrections in the Bible, but three.

The same Lord that rose from the dead victorious 2000 years ago, whose return will remake the world in the future, that same Lord can raise a dead heart to life in the present.

This is the fulfillment of many prophecies—God giving his people new hearts that they might obey him (Deut), turning hearts of stone to flesh (Ez 36).

And just as with the past and the future, it is presence of Jesus that makes the difference. When, through faith, the presence of Jesus enters your heart, he makes it new.

Your hardened heart is buried in the grave with him, your new heart rises.

Your pride can be humbled, your lust can turn to desire, your anger can turn to forgiveness, your shame to boasting in the Lord, because he is in you and “behold, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old is gone, the new has come.”

Not a Ghost

Now, if only, if only, it actually happened. If only it weren’t a ghost. But—follow me one last time to Luke 24, verse 36—

Luke 24:36–39 NLT

36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! 38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.”

More than ghost!

More than a dream!

More than a wish or something imagined.

What we see in Easter Past is real and solid.

And since that happened, then Easter Future will happen, too.

There really will be an end to sickness, to war, to immorality, to injustice. We really will dwell in the presence of our God, and there “every sad thing will come untrue.”

And if we stand with one foot on the solid past and one foot on the solid future, then it is true also that here, now, Jesus can change hearts.

Gospel Time

As we close and as the light of the rising sun greets us this morning, I’m reminded of Jesus’ words:

John 12:46 NLT

46 I have come as a light to shine in this dark world, so that all who put their trust in me will no longer remain in the dark.

In this powerful verse, Jesus declares Himself as the light of the world, a beacon of hope and truth for all who choose to follow Him. Through our belief in Jesus, we are freed from the darkness of sin, fear, and confusion, and instead, we find guidance, clarity, and peace.

If that is you this morning, our prayer is that you seek the One True Hope, surrendering your life to Jesus today.

Friends, as we navigate the complexities of life, let us strive to keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus, the true Light that can illuminate even the darkest corners of our lives. By placing our trust in Him and embracing His teachings, we can find direction, comfort, and the strength to overcome any challenge.

For those of you who have a relationship with Jesus, take a moment to reflect on the light of Jesus in your life. Seek His guidance in prayer and meditate on His Word, allowing His teachings to shape your thoughts and actions. As you walk in the light of Jesus Christ, you will not only experience His presence in your own life but also become a source of hope and light for others.

Jesus can change your heart. Do you believe it? Do you want to believe it? Then, come and see. He is risen! (He is risen indeed!)

Let’s Pray.

Pray

(Pray for the meal too)

Closing Remarks

Please take time to enjoy some breakfast and a time of fellowship and friendship this morning. There will be sunday school classes meeting around 9ish.

EHBCKIDS will be meeting at 9am, however, parents, we will need you to go to the EHBC KIDS check-in, starting at 8:45, before proceeding to their classes. A reminder too, there will not be Children’s Worship time for both the PreSchool-Sandbox and the Elementary-Clubhouse during Family Worship. Nursery will be available.

Resurrection Family Worship will begin at 10:30am.

Love ya all

Love ya all