VICTORY

Scripture

Luke 24:1–8 NKJV

1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’ ” 8 And they remembered His words.

Main Idea: That the Resurrection gives us Hope. and Victory.

Major questions in the Text: What is the significance of the resurrection?

I. Introduction

As we enter our text this morning we take a peek into a group of people for whom it has been a rough week. For the women in our story are among those who have followed Jesus. They have walked with him and talked with him. They have seen the miracles he performed. Just a week ago, they had watched Jesus ride into the city with the calls of Hosana!

And in the midst of this week, their world has been turned upside down. For their savior has been arrested, tried and executed. The one with whom they walked is now gone….The disciples of Jesus are hiding in fear.

They have watched as Jesus lifeless body was pulled from the cross. Despite the danger they are out in the open.

They are stressed, they are tired, they are fearful, and they are fatigued. They are still in shock. And now they are on the way to prepare His body as is the custom. They are holding on to the norms of their culture. Jesus Body must be prepared.

Grieving has to wait. Grief must take a backseat to responsibility. They don’t have any real time to Grieve…

The only thing you can do with a dead body is to bury it.

The women went to the grave and they expected to see Jesus where they had lain Him. Although they had seen Jesus raise the dead and healed blinded eyes, we get to see how strong a grip the specter of death has on the Human Psyche. That is why death seems so daunting to any who are without Christ. To them, death is final. Death is unforgiving and unmerciful. To them death is undefeated.

But can you imagine the walking to the tomb prepared to anoint Jesus’ body and the body was gone? they cannot initially put together his words,

John 2:19 NKJV

19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

PQ: Isn’t it amazing how the externalities of our life can make us overlook what God is doing?

When we are stressed we often forget the words of Jesus

Trauma sends us reeling and rocking. We don’t stand on the promises because externalities of life are overcoming us

They weren’t expecting anything other than death because that is how life had conditioned them. And they were now bruised and running on auto-pilot.

Hermeneutical bridge:

How many Times has trauma gotten us off track?

How many times has an unfavorable diagnosis shaken us?

How many times has a broken relationship left us broken and unable to see a path forward?

How many times has opposition seemed to be overcoming us?

And the only option we could see was to finish burying the dead……

Because in the natural progression resurrection had not been their reality.

But the Bible says, that they came and found the tomb empty! Although they were perplexed the empty tomb is teaching us this morning.

II. The Fatal isn’t final

An empty tomb is there to remind us that death is not the end. Death is only the beginning. That there is hope beyond my helplessness. They were looking for death and despair. But God was doing something UNEXPECTED!

Have you ever been down and out and to your last dime. You didn’t know how you would make it out and God did something UNEXPECTED!

Somebody’s been in a situation where they have lost hope and God did an unexpected thing!

Jesus not only died for my sins. But the Resurrection reminds me that there is greater! THERE IS HOPE BEYOND MY PRESENT CONDITION! THEREFORE:

III. The Future is Favorable

Luke 24:5 NKJV

5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?

You may have come today without hope and in despair. But I want to know this morning because the tomb is empty, you don’t have to leave empty. The empty tomb means new life.

This morning we can have hope for the future.

1 Corinthians 15:50–58 NKJV

50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.” 55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

IV. Conclusion:

Death is no longer a threat for the believer. We have the newness of Christ . As a child I would hear or church mother’s sing “I done died on time. Ain’t Gone Die not More! Christ has given us victory! Victory is mine! If you know Jesus Victory is yours Hallelujah!