He Is Risen

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Well, today is Resurrection Day, more popularly known as Easter.

Today, we come together to remember Jesus death on the cross, and His glorious resurrection, Amen.

But, I want to take a minute and examine for us why He had to die in the first place.

I mean we are all happy that Jesus did die on the cross for us aren’t we?

And we are even happier that He rose again from the dead.

We are told in the book of Exodus, that God came down to smite every first born male, in the land.

But, when He arrived and saw doors covered in the blood of a sacrificed innocent lamb, He would spared it, and Passed over.

Exodus 12:13 NKJV

13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

Now why did all of this happen in the first place?

Why are we all in this building?

Why was it built?

Why did Jesus even have to come and die for us anyway?

It was Because of SIN

Sin is the culprit.

Sin is the reason you are here right now.

We are all sinners, each and every one of us,

And we all need the blood of Jesus covering the door way of our hearts,

None of us are righteous, no not one.

All of us are deserving of death, in the eyes of God because of sin.

Romans 3:12 NKJV

12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.”

So when that great and awesome day comes, and God is judging between the righteous and unrighteous,

though we are not righteous in and of ourselves,

God will not see us, but the blood of Jesus on our hearts, and will spare us.

That brothers and sisters is the good news.

That Christ died for us, in our place and covered us in His blood. Amen!

Tell the story of the Bollywood Actor being covered in someone else’s blood

Matthew 27:15–17 NKJV

15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”

Verse 27:15 calls Barabbas a Notorious Prisoner,

That means, everyone knew Barabbas was a guilty man, and did what he was being accused of,

He rightly deserved the judgment that was coming his way, but his destiny changed in the blink of an eye.

Imagine this: You are on death row, scheduled to hang for a crime you committed.

There is no hope of escape for you,

You are anxiously terrorized with each tick of the clock inching closer to your death and judgment.

Then, suddenly the prison gate burst open, and the guards rush in to drag you outside to a raging crowd

You think the crowd is there to lynch you, or to torture you for the crime you committed,

Only to find out, that the crowd doesn’t want you dead at all.

In the midst of the chaotic screaming you find it’s some other guy, they dragged in.

And to your further surprise, you hear them screaming for your release!

But then, you find out, that they want this innocent guy to take your place on death row,

You would be ecstatic wouldn’t you.

That’s what happened to the Notorious prisoner, Barabbas.

He thought he was being led out to his execution, but rather found that some innocent guy was going to take his place.

Now, we aren’t told what happened to the rest of Barabbas’ life, or what he did with his new found exoneration, or freedom.

But, we don’t really need to.

Do you know why?

Because you and I, and all of us here, and those watching this on the screen right now,

all of us, Are Barabbas.

We

were waiting on death row,

bound for eternal death,

eternally separated from God

But along comes Jesus, this innocent lamb, to take our place on the cross

Point at new people in the crowd - For you, for you and for you!

That, is the Gospel of Jesus

So when that great and awesome day comes, instead of seeing us, like Barabbas, God will see the blood of Jesus over the doors of our hearts.

1 Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

7 Therefore purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, since you truly are unleavened. For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.

Jesus freed us from the bondage of our sins,

Just as God freed Israel from the bondage of Egypt.

Do you think it was a coincidence that they crucified Jesus on Passover?

Passover is Jewish religious observance celebrated every year to commemorate the miraculous delivery from the bondage in Egypt.

The Jews have strict laws about Passover,

This is why the Bible tells us they didn’t want to kill Jesus during Passover.

Matthew 26:3–5 NKJV

3 Then the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders of the people assembled at the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4 and plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him. 5 But they said, “Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people.”

It’s important to remember when reading this that the Pharisees did not see the Spiritual connections of

Jesus being, “The Passover Lamb” once and for all for the whole world,

They didn’t believe in Jesus’ ministry anyway,

They couldn’t have cared less, what day he died.

As long as it wasn’t on Passover

Because of their purification laws, they didn’t want to be ceremoniously unclean

Making them unable to attend all the function's of the passover.

But Jesus knew the spiritual implications,

So He forced Judas to make his move so-to-speak

Basically telling him, Go do what your going to do, man.

This forced the Pharisees hands, Knowing He was on to Judas’ intentions.

So they took him to Pilate, and the rest is history, as the saying goes.

The reason they didn’t want to take him sooner wasn’t due to the spiritual ramifications,

As I said, they didn’t believe Him anyway.

But rather for the Political ramifications.

You see, they were afraid of being mobbed by the people for arresting the man they laid palm leaves down for

As He entered into Jerusalem riding on the back of a Donkey.

They were just chanting Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest about Jesus.

This is why the Pharisee’s were afraid to arrest him sooner.

But because Jesus knew the prophetic outworking God had planned all along,

He allowed Himself to be arrested when He did, to show us,

He was in control all along and that Jesus was in fact the Passover Lamb of the World.

Malcolm Muggeridge wrote in The Observer on 26 March 1967:

One thing at least can be said with certainty about the crucifixion of Christ: It was manifestly the most famous death in history. No other death has aroused 100th part of the interest, or been remembered with 100th part of the intensity and concern ...

(https://exploringchristianity.co.nz/new-page-5)

Also the betrayal of Judas to Jesus is most famous act of betrayal in history.

How would you like that legacy?

To have your name be synonomous with betrayal?

We can say all of that now, because this all happened in the past.

We are looking back into history so we can see with our eyes, how and why it all played out that way

However, the Pharisee’s and the Sanhedrin couldn’t see what we see.

They lived it out, in Real-Time.

History proves they were hypocrites, not knowing the hour of His arrival

They weren’t ready.

For example they knew their history. They remembered this promise.

Genesis 49:10 NKJV

10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people.

But around 6-7 AD.

Archelaus, (Herod the great’s son and successor), was removed from power,

And a Roman took his place of power

He changed how Jews governed themselves,

Including how they administered the death penalty.

I bring this up because, when this happened, the Jews were broken, saddened, and discouraged walking around the streets in sack cloth and ashes

Declaring that the word of God was broken,

Because, from their view point, and hardened hearts, the Scepter, or the ruling power, had left Judah, because

They could no longer govern themselves according to all their traditions.

They saw this, or understood this removal of power as a broken prophecy.

In their minds, David’s lineage was no longer ruling, because a Roman took over.

Little did they know, that in those same streets in which they lamented, walked a little boy who was born in a manger not long ago,

And anointed by Messiah by God

Whose name was Jesus, whom would soon be called the king of Jews.

(https://www.khouse.org/articles/1999/187/)

They missed it,

The scepter never left Judah, the prophecy was still alive, and so is Jesus, Amen

The Pharisees missed it because of their hardened hearts

All while Jesus was staring them right in the face.

They missed it because they were hypocrites, and lost sight of true worship of the Lord,

So, much so, that they traded the innocent life of Jesus for a known criminal like Barabbas.

Hypocrites, all of them!

Here’s why they were hypocrites.

When they handed Jesus over to Pilate, Pilate tried to free Jesus.

He even literally washed his hands in a show of absolution before them saying

“he was innocent of this man’s blood,”

To which they cried, “His blood be on us and their children”

Matthew 27:21–25 NKJV

21 The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” 22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” 23 Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” 24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” 25 And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.”

Also, When Pilate wanted to let Jesus go, they challenged Pilate in this way,

“This man claims to be king of the Jews, and if you don’t punish him, we’ll tell Caesar you aren’t a friend of Rome.

John 19:12–15 NKJV

12 From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.” 13 When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. 14 Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!” 15 But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

They are hypocrites for lamenting the power had left Judah, dressed in sack cloth and ashes,

But when it came to getting what they wanted, they shouted,

“We have no king by Caesar!”

By the way, that was the Chief priest who shouted that, and he spoke for the Jews.

Brothers and Sisters of Anna First Baptist, and all who watching.

Are you a Hypocrite?

Do you proclaim by your words that you are a friend of Jesus?

But yet, your actions say otherwise?

Would you be so stubborn and lost, that you would miss the hand of Jesus in your life right now?

Would you miss the judgment if it happened to you right here and now?

How would Jesus find you?

Awaiting His arrival?

Or Screaming for Barabbas to be released in your life instead?

Don’t be fooled,

The reason we are here is because we are in need of the resurrection of Jesus,

Each and every one of us, because of one reason.

We are sinners!

Don’t forget that!

The beautiful blessings that come from Jesus death for you and I is, a resurrection of our own.

When this life of ours is over, we who are covered in the passover lambs blood,

Will spend eternity with the Lord,

But only through a resurrection of our very own.

Brought to you by Jesus!

Don’t walk out of here the same way you came in.

Make a new committment right now today, to be faithful in your walk with Him.

Invitation