Graves Into Gardens

On this Easter, I’m going to keep doing what I’ve been doing. I've been sharing with you the scripture and the understanding of God in the songs that we sing here at church.

Because on this amazing day, we got the perfect song.

The singing we just did was not a performance, like a nice concert. We were trying to honor God who died for our sins and rose again. Who gives forgiveness to all who follow Him. We sing because we are giving a gift to God that He asks for us to give.

And that singing was even more. That singing gives us the poetry, the power, the memory of what it means to follow God in the everyday parts of life.

And this week the line is pretty powerful,

You turn graves into gardens

Easter is all about a grave no longer being a grave, but the garden of the resurrection. This happened on a Friday, or maybe you could say it began on a Thursday night, when Jesus’ friend, a disciple, went to the the rulers and said he would show them where Jesus was when almost no one would be around. The guy, Judas, One of Jesus’ closest followers showed the place in the garden of Gethsemane were Jesus was praying. They arrested Jesus. He went threw three different trials, convicted because it was fixed, then beaten and hung on a cross, all being completed in just a day so that by the afternoon on Friday he was crucified.

Jesus told us that he would die. And what He said he would do, he did. He died a sacrificial death, meaning His death pays a punishment. Jesus is the perfect sacrifice to God for the sin of all humanity.

Hebrews 10:11–18 NLT

11 Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again, which can never take away sins. 12 But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 13 There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool under his feet. 14 For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says, 16 “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.” 17 Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” 18 And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.

No more sacrifices needed. Jesus paid it all. A follower of Jesus, one who believes, for these people this is true. Sin is done.

Romans 6:22–23 NLT

22 But now you are free from the power of sin and have become slaves of God. Now you do those things that lead to holiness and result in eternal life. 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Eternal life, not because of what happened on that Friday, but what happened on this day, Easter.

But before you get to Easter, before the resurrection there has to be a sin to forgive. A need for sacrifice, for the death on the cross. Many of us like the whole Jesus died for our sins and resurrection. It is so popular that many claim it even though they follow nothing else about Jesus.

But There is a need for that sacrifice, and it is common to all of us. On this Easter Sunday in every continent in every place you find people pursuing sin because sin happens by the warping of other needs. See a creation needs things. Plants need water, soil, sunlight. Machines and tools need the things that make them work. You and I and every other person have needs.

One big need is for purpose. For a reason to this whole thing of existence. The only fitting answer to that is found in the spiritual. C.S. Lewis pointed out that this search is really important because it is universal. Any place where humans are found there will be a search for the meaning of existence, a search for the divine. For him this was extra proof for the existence of the spiritual, of God. You see because all other needs that humans search for on every place in this planet have something that can fill that need. Humans get thirsty and their is water, a need for shelter and they can make all kinds of places to live, community and humans can find each other to gather together. The list of need goes on and so does it’s fulfillment: family, - we have families and even order or government, all over the world their is a form of government. A need and a natural answer. All over the world their is a need for God it is natural with a natural answer.

But the search doesn’t guarantee that we will go to the right answer. Just like, not all water is good, some shelters easily fall apart, and some forms of government are horrific, not all searches for a reason for existence are valid or give good results.

That is where the song we sang and that I speak on today begins,

I searched the world But it couldn't fill me / Man's empty praise / And treasures that fade / Are never enough

The writer of the song points to the search that many of us do, from the very beginning of time we start searching even on the playground in elementary school people go looking for the praise of anyone. At first this can help us as we learn to walk, we enter school and learn to be safe, read, count, all kinds of things that the teachers praise us for, but then we, without thinking keep going after praise.

For some we discover how talented we are, how athletic, and we are honored by adults and peers. For others how beautiful, how funny, how good at communicating. The fact that others feel comfortable around us, but still we search for more. Because when the goal is praise, the liking by one isn’t enough, it must be more. We also discover that praise can be removed. When one person thought that you were fun they soon discovered another that was more fun than you. The cycle continues, it doesn’t stop on the playground but keeps going into adulthood to friends, to lovers, to bosses, to even what people will pay for.

“Man’s empty praise” is how the song sings it. Admiration doesn’t hold the reason for existence

Than there is stuff. In the next coming months we are going to have a yard sale at the church. I am already setting aside things for it. I hope you are too. My wife and I removed all that stuff out of our closets over break we collected all the “ideas of happiness” we once had. The stuff we never used and threw away the stuff that cannot be used ever again. Even the poorest among us have more clothes than our great, great,great grandparents could have hoped for. Yet these treasurers don’t hold the meaning that we search so high and low for. Stuff breaks, or becomes outdated or another big word, “Satiation” happens. This is what I encounter with the children I teach, what once satisfied, no longer does.

When the author of a book in the Bible did the same search from a place of all kinds of money and fame. The answer was the same then as it is today.

Ecclesiastes 1:2–4 NLT

2 “Everything is meaningless,” says the Teacher, “completely meaningless!” 3 What do people get for all their hard work under the sun? 4 Generations come and generations go, but the earth never changes.

Ecclesiastes 1:8 NLT

8 Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.

Ecclesiastes 1:11 NLT

11 We don’t remember what happened in the past, and in future generations, no one will remember what we are doing now.

This isn’t how it should be. It’s weird but almost everyone knows that.

The Bible tells us that once it was perfect.

Genesis 1:31 CSB

31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good indeed. Evening came and then morning: the sixth day.

But sin entered the world. The pain of going after fame, stuff and other searches for spiritual meaning isn’t done alone like on a hike. It is done with people.

Our searches can lead us to hurt other people. Sometimes intentionally and sometimes without us even realizing it. The person seeking their own happiness by partying with friends may not realize that their hangover pain at work the next day causes others to not get what they need or to work hard to cover for them. For every person working extra hard to get the stuff they desire is family or friends being pushed aside. Often in the seeking of fame people use others, take enough of them to get what they need to feel good about themselves and maybe even how they treat others without truly understanding the pain caused.

When faced with this searching for spiritual truth and not finding it because we looked in all the wrong places, the resulting pain that we caused others as we searched for that which didn’t give us what we needed.

That’s why we needed the cross and that’s why we need Easter.

John 1:4–5 CSB

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

John 1:10–13 CSB

10 He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, 13 who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.

To those who did receive him. You have opportunity to receive him. To remember today, that you receive Him, because Jesus did not come in fame. After all the world didn’t recognize on him. He was born in a way below what was normal in a small place of Bethlehem. He offers you what was meant from the very beginning: a relationship with God. You don’t have to keep trying to prove yourself with Jesus, He came with a gift of belonging, Jesus offers Himself and entrance into a family, with the only one, the only one worthy of worship God himself.

This changes everything. You are wired for connection, you are wired for purpose. While the social networks will tell you the hacks so you can “feel” connection the false connection doesn’t satisfy. A connection with God satisfies.

As the song says:

Then You came along And put me back together / And every desire Is now satisfied / Here in Your love

The new life in Christ is promised to all who believe. It comes through the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Jesus promised.

John 7:37–39 NLT

37 On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ ” 39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

The Holy Spirit indwells all who follow the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit does a work in these people. God changes people.

I remember a very famous athlete would tell of the fame and all the money he had, but how close he was to suicide as his life was so empty. He gave his life to Jesus, followed the Lord in baptism and let everyone know about it. What was the most telling was his former teammates went on all the football shows and said, “This is real. He is totally different now.”

A life with the Holy Spirit in it shows the ways of the Holy Spirit. The Bible calls it fruit. Like you know its a cherry tree because the tree produces cherries.

Galatians 5:22–23 CSB

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

In God’s love we are changed, fruit starts popping up in our lives as we walk as followers of Jesus.

We blossom peace, We flower love, Kindness starts dropping from us. This is why it can be said that in Christ we find desires being satisfied. As in

Psalm 37:4 CSB

4 Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.

The focus is right where we are created to be. We were created to be in right relationship with God.

This week I fixed my washer. Well I changed how it identifies now. After I fixed it, I could’ve used it as a fish tank, a table, a large water proof container. But it didn’t do any of those well at all so it went to the dump. You know what it couldn’t be, what it was created to be, a washer.

You were created to be in a great relationship with God. When you are connected with God, you know His love.

John 14:23–24 CSB

23 Jesus answered, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 The one who doesn’t love me will not keep my words. The word that you hear is not mine but is from the Father who sent me.

1 John 1:9–2:1 CSB

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ the righteous one.

It’s this truth that allows us to be the selves God created us to be. This isn’t based on our feelings, our blood-sugar, our sexual urges but on the authentic way that God created us to be.

In this authenticity we don’t even have to be afraid of our failures, temptations or even sins.

I'm not afraid To show You my weakness My failures and flaws Lord, You've seen 'em all / And You still call me friend

Romans 5:8–11 NLT

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Relationship with God. This is a very different kind of relationship. It is a relationship where God makes it possible for us to even have it. God is too good for us, but he died on the cross to make us good by accepting who He is, that He is God and He did it. He then forgives us, so that even though we screwed up the relationship before it even began God makes it right for us. He then helps the relationship keep going. He makes a way for us to communicate with him through. He makes a way for us to avoid breaking the relationship by always making a way so that we don’t have to sin. He even makes a way back when we do sin. Though that death He forgives us of sin. God made us for relationship with Him. He makes it possible, keeps it going, and even fixes it when it goes wrong.

A relationship with God is different than every other relationship. Therefore it can take full and utter honesty.

And He still calls you friend.

John 15:14–16 CSB

14 You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15 I do not call you servants anymore, because a servant doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from my Father. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.

Truly this relationship is different than every other relationship.

Oh, there's nothing better than You. / There's nothing better than You. Lord, there's nothing, Nothing is better than You

When everyone else quits on the relationship, Jesus is there but not like a ride or day. The Holy Spirit changes us. The fruit of the spirit begins to show. Which has nothing to do with political affiliation or how many events we attend but characters of us, love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, kindness and self-control.

Those characteristics of life with Christ can be with us, whatever comes our way. Because while God blesses bad times still happen. Cars breakdown, Time passes, death comes, heartache occurs but our God knows heartache. He made this realtionship.

He saved us by being willing to be betrayed, abandoned by all his friends, beaten, dying on the cross. Jesus knows your pain. Jesus understands if it is pain from loss. He felt it. He even understands it when it is overwhelming temptation.

Hebrews 2:14–15 NLT

14 Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

Hebrews 2:18 CSB

18 For since he himself has suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted.

God knows us. In all way God is with us. Which is why it is fitting to sing.

'Cause the God of the mountain / Is the God of the valley / There's not a place your mercy and grace won't find me again

Today maybe you came just because it’s Easter but your relationship with Jesus feels a million miles away. Your not anti-Jesus it’s just that God has not been part of your decision making process. You know you’ve been missing God. Like my washer - you might have tried to repurpose yourself but your not doing what you were created to do. You want to have purpose. You have a purpose, Following Jesus is the purpose you were created for, what makes you tick.

This purpose of Jesus changes everything. Because Jesus is the resurrector. He changed what should be fearful like death into something hopeful. Jesus changes things:

You turn mourning to dancing You give beauty for ashes You turn shame into glory You're the only one who can

Psalm 30:11 NLT

11 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,

Isaiah 61:3 NLT

3 To all who mourn in Israel, he will give a crown of beauty for ashes, a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory.

1 Corinthians 1:27 CSB

27 Instead, God has chosen what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen what is weak in the world to shame the strong.

You and I were chosen. Our shame is turned into God’s glory. Our bad moments are now examples of God’s amazing Grace. God is the only one who can do such miraculous things. These are promises that we can rely on. This is the Easter message. The resurrection changes everything in life for those who follow Jesus.

You turn graves into garden / You turn bones into armies / You turn seas into highways / You're the only one who can / You're the only one who can

The first job that Jesus was misunderstood to have after the resurrection was as a gardener

John 20:15 CSB

15 “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?” Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.”

It’s not a grave anymore, just a garden. Jesus is resurrected.

This resurrection is a promise for you and me as well.

The Holy Spirit when prophesying through Ezekiel took him by vision into a valley of dry bones. There Ezekiel saw the dry bones come back to life as whole men. And the resurrection of us is foretold

Ezekiel 37:13–14 CSB

13 You will know that I am the Lord, my people, when I open your graves and bring you up from them. 14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live, and I will settle you in your own land. Then you will know that I am the Lord. I have spoken, and I will do it. This is the declaration of the Lord.’ ”

My friends God is the one who can do the impossible. In your every day, when you think there is no way out. When you are stuck with no where to go, remember what God did in the days of Moses. No way out, God just pulled back the water.

Exodus 14:21–22 CSB

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. The Lord drove the sea back with a powerful east wind all that night and turned the sea into dry land. So the waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with the waters like a wall to them on their right and their left.

He turned a sea into a highway. He turned a death into a resurrection. Truly God is the only one who can do this. And it is what you are created for, to worship and praise Him. Truly He is the only one who can.

You were made to praise Him.