The Road to Easter

Because of Jesus!

Do you know why we're here today? We are here because of Jesus! We are here 52 weeks a year because Jesus rose from the dead. Over 2000 years ago everything changed period. That's not an exaggeration, that's a fact.

Let's try something out this resurrection mourning. I will make a statement and you will say because of Jesus.

- The sting of death is gone! (Because of Jesus) - Hope is the hero! (Because of Jesus) - we are victors! (Because of Jesus) - We are overcomers! (Because of Jesus) - We are more than conquerors! (Because of Jesus) - Guilt is gone! (Because of Jesus) - Fear has fled! (Because of Jesus) - We are called children of God! (Because of Jesus) - We are called friends of God! (Because of Jesus) - Today, we celebrate that everything has changed! (Because of Jesus)

Let's go and read in the gospels about how everything changed. Let's read about that day that everything changed.

John 20:1–10 ESV

1 Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. 2 So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” 3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.

Can you imagine being in Mary's shoes that morning she goes to the tomb before sunrise to grieve the passing of her teacher and yet she finds the stone rolled away and Jesus body is missing. She knows that something has changed but what has changed? What do you think that would have been like for her?

And then she takes off racing to get Peter and the other disciple John Can you imagine her gasping with breath as she tries to explain what has happened maybe someone has moved the body maybe people have come and taken him away in some way shape or form and they could see that she was telling the truth when they got there something big has changed but they did not understand yet what had happened

You know something has changed completely at this point something they didn't fully really realize. You know in the video we talked about how Jesus changes everything. :) we don't have the time this morning to cover everything that Jesus changes. We've got ham to eat eggs to find and chocolate bunnies and devour. I suppose some of you have already found your eggs or your kids have already dispensed with some of the goodies so we'll narrow it down to three things that Jesus changes completely.

No perhaps you are watching this message online or you've walked into here and you have some skepticism about Jesus. Or you've been dragged into your once a year attendance in church. But I hope as we look at the story of Jesus and what happened with him you will see how what Jesus brings how what Jesus changes really changes everything. It's worth everything.

So let's take a look at three things that Jesus changes with his empty tomb.

He gives Peace in Our Hearts

Later after seeing the empty tomb Peter and John returned to the other disciples and hid in a locked room. They didn’t know what had happened.

John 20:19–20 ESV

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

Can you picture these disciples the word translated for fear means dread or stricken with terror. They were just scared but they were terrified. Yesterday the girls were loading bikes into the car to go to Griffin bike park and our car had several Wasps in it. Christie wasn't scared she was terrified at that moment that's the word that would describe the condition of the disciples that morning they are locking the doors turning the dead bolt and pushing the piano up against the door.

And then Jesus walks right into the room and says peace. He shows his wounds to prove that's him and we see a transformation they go from being filled with dread and terrified to being overjoyed to the point of rejoicing when Jesus shows up peace arrives with him.

And when Jesus says peace be with you it's not just a casual statement it's a declaration of what Jesus has done as what Jesus has accomplished he's bringing peace. Later on in the bible Jesus or rather Paul describes this piece as indescribable. Unexplainable.

But we have to remember that this piece wasn't the only transformation that day remember Mary Peter and John they ran away from the burial site and she was just left there to mourn let's go back and check on Mary. Unlike the disciples :)

John 20:11–18 ESV

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

I would imagine Mary felt like she's lost not only her teacher but she's lost his body as well a double loss. Have you ever found yourself overwhelmed so deeply engulfed in grief that you can only sit and cry and wonder where is God?

I still remember when Ashley had her first teaching job and we faced a completely impossible situation. Her leadership of the school we're doing things that range from an unethical to illegal and yet there was no way she could quit. For a variety of reasons we felt absolutely stuck and we sat overwhelmed on the kitchen floor asking God how we would find a way forward. Perhaps you found yourself in a place like that before.

I think Mary was in this kind of place this morning without hope or help alone questioning possibly everything she believed. Yet still looking for Jesus.

And in that moment she hears a voice I I doubt she would have recognized it. And then the voice says her name and she's heard this name all her life and yet sitting outside the empty tomb she hears her name being spoken in a familiar tone and she gasps turning around crying out teacher I can imagine it's a lot like a child runs to her or his parent her grief turned to joy or confusion turned to peace and she can't wait to tell others what she's seeing.

Have you experienced what Mary felt? Have you experienced deep down feeling that the Lord is nowhere to be found? That you're all alone and peace has flood if you felt that way before then let the words that Jesus spoke to Mary to his disciples let it speak to you as well peace be with you

Peace be with you

Because of Jesus we can experience peace in our hearts.

He gives a Pardon for our Sins

Everyone of us would welcome the idea of more peace in our lives but not everyone of us would grasp that we need a pardoned. A pardon freeze someone from legal consequences for their sins. For something they've done wrong. Jesus told his disciples repeatedly that he came to die for their sins and yet they didn't get it they did not grasp what happened. In Luke chapter 24 he tells the story of two friends walking home that first Easter morning and they're complaining and and questioning and Jesus without revealing his identity clears things up for them.

Luke 24:25–27 ESV

25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

So first of all I hope you're glad as I am that I'm not one of the guys that Jesus calls foolish or slow to believe. Or maybe he does and I don't hear it. Secondly wouldn't you have loved to be one of the guys listening to Jesus explain what is said in the scripture what was said in the Bible?

In the Old Testament we see that sin entered the world and we needed to be pardoned or forgiven for our sins. The story of Adam and Eve helps us to understand our sin in Isaiah chapter 53 it reminds us that he was pierced for our transgressions and crushed for our our niquitin yes the punishment that brought him peace was on us

The Bible points to jesus!new paragraph Jesus explained all this to the disciples and then he just disappear! And then they took off as soon as they realized what had happened and who he was and they went back to the disciples to explain what had happened and in the middle of their meeting Jesus shows up again!

Luke 24:46–47 ESV

46 and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, 47 and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Easter Island to get out of jail free card. It's radical life changing forgiveness the resurrection means our slate is wiped clean. The charges against us are cancelled and we are not just forgiven we're set free. We have a pardon for our sins.

Jesus Calls us to Pour out to Our Neighbors

A lot of this final point reminds us that Easter isn't just about me. It isn't just for me Christianity is a call to love and serve and help other people.

You know Jesus could have just resurrected from the dead said hi to his disciples and left for heaven but he didn't. He spent 40 days loving and teaching and visiting and serving his disciples. New paragraph and right before he left into heaven he said this:

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Did you catch that? The last thing that Jesus told us to stipples was to pour out to their neighbors. To go and make disciples. For another look at this let's see how Dallas Willard paraphrases this passage:

Matthew 28:18–20 MSG

18 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: 19 Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 20 Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”

Jesus called us to:

- Pour out to our neighbors by helping them see Jesus in such a way that they want to follow him as a disciple.

- Pour out to our neighbors by helping them immerse themselves into a life filled with love only found in the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

- Pour out to our neighbors by setting the example of doing everything Jesus commanded us to do

Paul uses this phrase several times he says I am being poured out like a drink offering. He knew that his actions were a sacrifice. Let's be people known for our love not just in words but in action. Jesus didn't just talk about love he lived it out in the most sacrificial way possible. Because of Jesus we are called to pour ourselves out to our neighbors.

Jesus Changes Everything!

If you find yourself wondering today if Jesus really changes everything, listen to this:

1 Peter 1:3 ESV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

Jesus has given us birth to a living hope! Through his resurrection. These words were written by a fisherman named Peter he was the same guy that ran to the tomb with John the disciple Jesus loved. He was the same guy that Jesus once referred to as Satan. He was the same guy who cut off a guard's ear in the garden the night before Jesus died. He was the same guy who denied Jesus three times just before Jesus went to the cross. And he's the same guy who preached with such boldness 50 days after the resurrection that thousands started to follow Jesus.

Do you know why Peter was so changed?

Because of Jesus!

Peter found peace in his heart, he found a pardon for his sins, and he started pouring out to his neighbors because of Jesus. Jesus changes everything!

Easter isn't just a distant historical event it's a game changer for us right now. We have an unshakable piece a radical pardon a call to overflow with love to our neighbors let's live in the reality of the resurrection everyday! Let's allow these truths to shape how we live and love. Let's go out there and make easter a daily reality in our lives.

Let our identity this week this month this year be that of peaceful pardoned people who proclaim God's love to everyone they meet. Live with peace live with a pardon live with the love that pours out this week.