He Calls us to...

Happy Easter. Today is a good day. Today is a day that we celebrate the empty tomb.

Could you imagine what it must have been like to be one of the disciples and arrive and see that tomb empty?

What might have been going through your mind as you enter into the tomb that should hold the body of Jesus?

Fear, Concern, worry...

It would be easy for us to sit here today and think oh I would be hopeful because I know what happened. I mean why else would it be empty other than he was resurrected.

I got news for you most of us probably would have been scared silly, or in general FREAKING out.

Yet, we celebrate today because we have the benefit of the hope and the message of the good news. We celebrate today because of words like this from Peter.

Acts 10:34–43 NIV

34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

He Accepts all

One of the most important parts of this passage is the recognition from Peter that God is not one to show favoritism. He does not hold that only a certain group of people are the ones who can come to know him as Lord and that they are the only ones who can receive the forgiveness of sins.

I am reminded of one of the songs we sang on Friday that are so fitting for this time of year.

Come Ye Sinner poor and needy,

weak and wounded sick and sore;

Jesus ready stands to save you,

full of pity love and pow’r

Come, ye weary, heavy-laden,

Lost and ruined by the fall.

If you tarry till you’re better

You will never come at all.

No matter who you are he is waiting. One of the most powerful lines for me is this idea of if you tarry or wait till you’re better you will never come at all. The thought that we could just wait to have a relationship with Christ till our life is at a better place is to think that we can absolve ourselves of sin without him. He accepts us in our darkest and most horrible places and he is waiting for us to come to him. He is waiting for you and for me to recognize our brokenness and need for him.

He does this because...

Acts 10:39–40 NIV

39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen.

He Died for all

He died for all and was raised form the grave on the third day and was seen by many.

He suffered so that we could be free of the burden of sin. I am constantly reminded so much each and every day that he did this for all of us. No one is exempt. He did it so that we can all come to him. He was crucified for the whole world. Nothing encapsulates this more than this.

Luke 23:39–43 NIV

39 One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

A criminal on deaths door. The last person we would think deserves the promise of paradise. The worst is given the best. The least is promised the greatest.

We can’t ever forget this truth that the power of what Jesus did that day is his willingness to die for all of us. It is this truth that leads us to be reminded of the final words that Peter said.

Acts 10:42–43 NIV

42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

He calls us to Testify

He calls us to testify to the truth of the message of who God is and what he did win sending his son. He commanded us to preach to the people and to let the world know that today Christ is Risen.

I was reminded of this in another song we sang from Friday night. These words hit home in a deep and powerful way for me.

What Language shall I borrow

to thank thee, dearest Friend,

For this, thy dying sorrow,

thy pity without end.

Oh, make me thine forever,

and should I fainting be,

Lord, let me never, never

outlive my love to thee.

What words can we give to Christ that could better express our appreciation than to live a life of testimony to who he is?

How better can we express the love of God and to live that love out than to live a life in service and testimony to the work that he has done for us. The truth that he has forgiven us of our sins. We live out the life that is in testimony of his life. We become like our teacher.

Romans 6:10–11 NIV

10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. 11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.

This is our calling.

This is our joy.

This is our hope.

This is the promise.

This is what separates us and sets us aside to be a Holy People

Called to live a life for Christ.

Let's Pray that we can live to this standard.