Why are you looking for the dead among the living?
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
Good morning church fam! Today we are continuing a series I started on Easter called Beyond Easter.
When it comes to an Easter message we tend to stop at the resurrection of Jesus and kind of leave it there.
There is more to Easter than just an empty tomb. Jesus died for our sins, but He was raised from the dead so we may live.
Turn in your bibles with me to Luke 24 I want to share the second installment of this series called
Why do you seek the dead among the living?
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. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?
6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee,
Dead and Gone
Dead and Gone
The other day I was reading this passage of Scripture and the question in verse 5 really stuck out to me.
5 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?
Let me back up here just for a moment so we can really grasp what is going on here.
I love the fact that God uses women in the Scripture. This is significant because women were look down upon.
Sadly in our culture today, even in some churches, women are looked down upon and not given a seat at the table when it comes to church leadership. Thankfully this is not so here at New Life.
God seen the value in women then and He sees the value in them today in 2024.
My wife is not JUST the “pastor’s wife”. She pastors right along side me. Not behind me. Beside me. She is a great leader and full of wisdom. I am thankful for her leadership in our church. I am thankful for the other women in our church who take the lead, teach, preach. It is the whole body of Christ in action.
These women however came to the tomb prepared to anoint their Savior Jesus with spices they had prepared.
In biblical times they did not embalm people like we do today. So the main reason they prepared spices to anoint the body was to control the odor from the decomposition of the body.
We see this with Lazarus when Jesus told them to roll away the stone from the entrance of the tomb.
39 “Roll the stone aside,” Jesus told them. But Martha, the dead man’s sister, protested, “Lord, he has been dead for four days. The smell will be terrible.”
These women coming to the tomb were prepared to visit the dead body of Jesus. They did not expect Him to be raised to life. They did not expect to find an empty tomb. They were looking for a dead man.
In our walk with Jesus, there will be times when people from your past, even people from your present (especially if you just started following Jesus), who will come up to you looking for a dead man or woman.
They heard you followed Jesus.
They heard you are getting your life in order.
They heard that you crucified your old self.
They heard your old ways were dead.
But like the women at Jesus tomb they didn’t believe it.
They come into your life and are prepared to see and smell the stink in your life.
Stink of your addiction
Stink of your sin
Stink of your past
When they begin to question you and begin to throw accusations at you like:
You will never change
You are still the same
Once a thief always a thief
Once a liar always a liar
How can someone like you know Jesus
At this time we think we need to come up with an answer. We think we need to defend ourselves.
I want you to know there is only one question you need to ask:
Why are you looking for the dead among the living?
Just like Lazarus we were dead.
There was a stench of sin in our lives.
There was the smell of death.
Isaiah 65:5 tells us that our sin is a “stench in His nostrils”.
That was before the cross came into the picture.
New Identity
New Identity
We are talking about going Beyond Easter. It is important to know who you are in Christ.
In Christ I have a NEW IDENTITY
It is vital that every believer, whether you have been a believer in Christ for years or you are just starting your walk with Jesus, it is VITAL that you understand YOUR identity is in Christ.
Jesus doesn’t give us death. But He brings us life.
10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
We have life because of what Jesus not only did on the cross, but also because of what He did in the tomb.
Our sin was dealt with on the cross, but it was in the tomb that death was taken care of.
17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last.
18 I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.
When I come to Christ, my identity is changed. My sin was taken care of on the cross, but death was taken care of in the tomb.
Because He lives, I live. I was dead, but I too have been resurrected in and through Jesus Christ into a NEW CREATION.
17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
This word new in the bible means:
New = unused, unworn, fresh
If you haven’t figured it out yet, I am a little weird. If you ever hang around me long enough you will find that I am a little weird. I am not talking about peculiar weird like the Bible calls those who follow Christ, I mean just weird.
I think we all are a little weird. Because what I am about to share, I know some of you are the same way.
One thing about me is I like shoes. I like to buy shoes. I don’t like to pay a lot of money for shoes. I am not one of these who drop $500. I like good deals. A couple months ago I bought a pair of Nike’s and boots for only $15.
I also like the smell of NEW shoes. I also like the smell of an electronics store. Staples has a good smell. I told you I am weird. I also like the smell of the purple Fabuloso cleaner. To me is just smells clean.
I say that because before Christ, our lives smelled to God. But after Christ, when we enter into a relationship with Him, He makes us brand new.
Jesus makes you FRESH
15 Our lives are a Christ-like fragrance rising up to God. But this fragrance is perceived differently by those who are being saved and by those who are perishing.
16 To those who are perishing, we are a dreadful smell of death and doom. But to those who are being saved, we are a life-giving perfume. And who is adequate for such a task as this?
With Jesus, you smell fresh to God. Not only to God, but also to those who are following Christ. To those who do not follow Christ, you stink.
What to do?
What to do?
So what do you do when someone comes to you and tells you that you stink of your past?
You have two options. You can either be offended or you can go and get washed with truth.
I had someone in my past years ago try to throw my past at me. They said how can someone who did this become a youth pastor?
I could’ve been offended and begin to defend myself. But that is not what I did. I chose to listen to what God said.
The book of Hebrews speaks of this. Aaron shared a Scripture with us in our men’s group this past week that fits perfectly.
24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel.
This Scripture is speaking of covenant. In covenant is where we find protection, provision, and IDENTITY.
The Old Covenant God was unapproachable because of man’s sinful nature. Only certain people were allowed at certain times of year to approach God.
Under the New Covenant of Christ, the barrier of our sin is removed, and we have direct access to the throne room of God through Christ.
16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Old Covenant you are not good enough. New Covenant you are perfect because of what Christ did on the cross and because of the resurrection you are made new!
Speak Life
Speak Life
In your walk you will have to speak life over yourself. Those around you will try to remind you of the old you. Sometimes we even do this to ourselves. It is at these times we can either be offended or listen to the Word of God and be washed in the TRUTH of who God says you are.
This is why Paul states that
5 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,
In Jesus Christ, you are:
Loved Unconditionally:
You are deeply loved by God regardless of your past, present, or future actions.
Forgiven:
Your sins are forgiven through Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, offering you freedom from guilt, shame, and condemnation.
Accepted:
You are fully accepted by God, embraced as a beloved child and welcomed into his family.
Empowered:
You are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live a life that honors God and reflects his love to others.
Chosen:
You are chosen by God for a purpose, with unique gifts and talents to fulfill his plans for your life.
Transformed:
You are being transformed into the image of Christ, growing in character and virtue through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Secure:
You have a secure hope in Jesus, knowing that nothing can separate you from the love of God.
Called:
You are called to a life of discipleship, following Jesus' example of love, compassion, and obedience to God's will.
Commissioned:
You are commissioned to be a light in the world, sharing the good news of salvation and making disciples of all nations.
Eternal:
Your identity in Jesus extends beyond this life into eternity, where you will dwell in the presence of God forever, experiencing joy, peace, and fulfillment beyond measure.
The Blood of Jesus speaks better, greater, than that of Abel!
Closing
Closing
If you are here this morning and you just need some encouragement. Let us pray for you today.