From Grief to Joy: The Power of the Resurrection
Notes
Transcript
Bible Passage:
Bible Passage:
Summary: In this passage, we witness the emotional turmoil of the women visiting Jesus' tomb. Overwhelmed by sorrow, they encounter the empty tomb and are met with angelic messages affirming that Jesus has risen. This transformative moment shifts their grief into joy, illustrating the profound impact of witnessing the resurrection first-hand, and sets the stage for the disciples' journey from despair to empowered faith.
Application: This sermon emphasizes that the resurrection brings a profound transformation in our lives by turning our grief, confusion, and hopelessness into joy, purpose, and empowerment. Believers are encouraged to embrace the reality of resurrection, which inspires a life lived with joy amidst trials and challenges, reassured that Jesus has triumphed over all forms of darkness.
Teaching: The core teaching of this sermon is that the resurrection of Christ is not merely a historical event but a present reality that changes the believer's experience of life. It shows how the assurance of resurrection encourages believers to face challenges with hope and can radically alter their emotional and spiritual landscapes.
How this passage could point to Christ: The resurrection centralizes Christ as the ultimate source of hope and renewal, weaving through the entire narrative of Scripture. It underscores that through His resurrection, all believers have access to a new life, eliminating the finality of death and providing a roadmap for a redefined existence in Christ.
Big Idea: The resurrection of Jesus provides the ultimate turnaround from grief to joy, empowering believers to live in the light of His victory and share that transformative joy with others.
Recommended Study: As you prepare your sermon, consider examining the contrasts of grief and joy in biblical narratives that follow this theme, possibly focusing on John’s version of the resurrection accounts for comparison. Using Logos, look at commentaries addressing the cultural significance of the women’s role in this narrative to deepen your understanding of their emotional journey and the implications of their witness to the resurrection.
44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour,
45 while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two.
46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.
47 Now when the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God, saying, “Certainly this man was innocent!”
48 And all the crowds that had assembled for this spectacle, when they saw what had taken place, returned home beating their breasts.
49 And all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him from Galilee stood at a distance watching these things.
50 Now there was a man named Joseph, from the Jewish town of Arimathea. He was a member of the council, a good and righteous man,
51 who had not consented to their decision and action; and he was looking for the kingdom of God.
52 This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.
53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid.
54 It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning.
55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid.
56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
Jesus has died
For the disciples there is confusion
for the Mary’s its a time of loss
For the crowd its justice
For the followers its painful
For us its Atoning
As we get into the meaning of today we must recap what has happened
Our Savior was beaten and mocked for the sins of mankind
knowing what was coming He went to that cross
was forsaken by the Father
Took on the punishment for the sins of the world
Out of Love for His people!
His creation!
His Children!
1. Grief Meets Devotion
1. Grief Meets Devotion
1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
But then something great happens
The women are grieving
It has now been three days since the death of Jesus
They are full of sorrow
but the work must be done
The sabbath is over so its time to prepare the body
The women amidst their grief have forgotten the teaching of their Messiah
As they prepare themselves they head towards the tomb to find the greatest gift ever opened
And to their surprise
It was empty!
The stone was rolled away
Even in their deepest hour these women had now found hope
they had new light
They thought their world was over
When it had only just begun
You see even though God had preapared their hearts
They were still not ready
but in their pain was the greatest plan in history
the plan for the redemption of the world
2. Glorious Revelation
2. Glorious Revelation
4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.
5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee,
7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”
They were perplexed
they were confused
Matthew 28 even states they were frightened
They were concerned
Then they notice men in dazzling apparel
angels beside the tomb
They gets asked
why do you seek the living among the dead!
Simply put what are you doing here
The women were caught red handed with spices to prepare a dead body
seeking the one whom told them He would live!
The angels quickly remind them
They quickly redirect their thoughts
They remind them of the words of Jesus
On the third day He would rise
We have to imagine excitement at the tomb that very morning
This revelation was music to their ears
Their Messiah was Alive
He had conquered death
We even see that these women run into Jesus in Matthew
In that instance they bow in worship of Him at His feet
This glorious revelation changed their lives
The same thing should go for us
As believers this day should erupt with Joy
Because the tomb is empty
It is the fulfillment and final step to God’s redeeming Grace offered through Jesus
It is what gives us hope
It is what brings us Joy
It is what gives us purpose
Our King is Alive!!!!
and He will live forevermore
To those who do not trust in Him
it should be eye opening
it should be humbling
it should be welcoming
to know that the God of all creation loved you enough to sacrifice His only Son for you
and that Son has the power to conquer death
Its an opportunity for your life to change for eternity if you just put your faith in Him
3. Joyful Proclamation
3. Joyful Proclamation
8 And they remembered his words,
9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles,
11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
Then we see something incredible
After remembering His words
We know in Matthew the Angel told them to go tell about Him
The grieving has turned to awe which has turned to worship and finally to Joy and excitement
Excitement that they could not contain
The women I don’t believe wandered back
they rushed back
they hurried to tell the others
their excitement lead to urgency
their excitement turned a page of proclamation in their lives
God has done a miracle
Jesus is Alive
This morning I joked that we should be the Paul Reveres of 2025
Paul Revere went through the streets shouting the British are coming
We should be like the women here going through this world shouting He is Risen, He is Risen
and knowing that the time draws near the Message should include Jesus is coming, Jesus is coming
Because if you aren't ready just like the disciples and women at the tomb
His second coming will get you by surprise
You must have your faith in Him or you will not inherit the Kingdom of God
Paul Revere warned the people of the British as a threat
We must warn the people out of Love Hoping they turn and run into the arms of the one who is Coming
They must be made aware
They must know
14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
The great news is you still have a chance to put your Faith in Christ
The warning in Scripture is clear
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Church it is our Mission to declare the news of our Risen Lord and the Saving Grace He has offered to us!
