Easter part 2

MAIN IDEA: Three important reminders about the resurrection.

The resurrection reminds me that emotions not overpower biblical truth.

Luke 24:1–12 ESV

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 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? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 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, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 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.

You can add to uncertainty ~ fear, confusion, apprehension, stress, anxiety, chaos, hopelessness, nervousness, and worry. None of those emotions overpower the truth found in God’s Word.

According to Mark 16, Mary and a few other ladies prepared spices to be used for a proper burial and they were taking them to the tomb. The Jewish Sabbath is the final day of the week from sunset to sunrise. The list of tasks you could do on the sabbath was very small and it’s possible the ladies ran out of time before Sabbath began. Picture the ladies walking toward the tomb and one of the ladies asked how they would get the tomb open because there was a large boulder in the way. Picture the conversation taking several turns before the got to the tomb. Picture there emotions being so worked up that it was hard for them to think straight or make a strong decision. They knew what they wanted to accomplish, but they weren’t sure how they would accomplish it.

Problem solved! Verse 2 says the stone had been rolled away. But how? One writer said this about the stone, “The “great stone” (Matthew 27:60) that sealed His gravesite was set on an incline in a channel cut in the rock, making it easier to cover the tomb by rolling the stone downhill. It took several men to roll the stone back up the incline, which discouraged grave robbers and wild animals from trying to enter the tomb.”

I feel the stress level going up a little bit. They entered the tomb with their spices, but didn’t find Jesus. Instead they found 2 men dressed in nice clothing. Do you ever wonder what angel looks like when they take human form? In Matthew 28, we read the angels moved the stone. I wonder if these two looked like they spent 5-6 hours in the gym every day.

Either way, the ladies have emotions going on right now. I bet they saw the angel and pulled themselves together for a nice church moment. When the angel said He is risen, I’m sure they responded with He is risen indeed!

That’s not how it happened at all. The angels reminded them about the things Jesus told them. The angels helped them separate their emotions from the truth.

The resurrection reminds me to run toward biblical truth.

They remembered water being turned into wine. They remembered the woman at the well who had so much relationship baggage, but received the love of Jesus. They remembered Jesus healing person after person. They remembered the seven loaves and two fish feeding a minor league baseball stadium full of people. They remember Jesus walking on water. They remembered they wisdom spoken when the Pharisees brought a woman accused of adultery. They remembered Jesus calming the stormy sea. They remembered Lazarus being raised from the dead. They remembered Jesus told them he would be tortured and killed, but that he would e raised from the dead. When they were reminded of the biblical truth that filled their hearts and minds, their emotions began stabilize.

Verse 8 says the ladies returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and the rest. The ladies gave an invitation for others to run toward biblical truth. According to verses 11-12, some seized the opportunity while others chose not to believe. For some, I suspect that it took time to deal with the emotions and events of the previous week. How did Jesus go from riding into Jerusalem on a donkey to experiencing a tortuous death? I suspect there were a lot of questions about what type of life they wanted to live after following Jesus. I suspect some of them where never as close to Jesus as they once were.

Yet, there is hope for us today. Look at verse 12. Peter heard the message from the ladies and ran toward the truth. He investigated the truth for himself. I suspect that Peter was beating himself up for denying knowing Jesus. I suspect his emotions and guilt needs to be overpowered by biblical truth as well.

When Peter got to the tomb and experienced the truth for himself, verse 12 says that he was amazed. John’s gospel tells us that he understood and believed.

The resurrection reminds me that I can trust Jesus

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

We know about the iceberg and the lifeboats and the wreckage and the debris deep under the ocean’s surface. Some people have opinions that Rose could have moved over and shared the door with Jack.

After the Titanic sank, two lists was all that mattered. Those lists appeared on large boards just outside the White Star Lines Liverpool office in the dark days following the disaster. Those lists provided hope for hundreds of relatives and friends who waited to learn the fate of their loved ones. As time went on, office staff would post more names on one of the two lists.

On one list, printed in large letters, were the words, "Known to be saved"

On the other list, "Known to be lost."

There was not a third list. Every passenger aboard the Titanic was either saved or lost. Every person that can hear my voice is either saved or lost. There is not a third list.

Maybe you’ve had a rough life. Maybe emotions and events and gotten in the way. Maybe you have a lot of guilt in your life. Maybe you think you can’t be loved. Maybe you’re having a hard time believing biblical truth. Maybe you’re looking for a third list.

Jesus loves you. He died for your sin. He was buried and rose from the dead. He did those things to redeem you. He wants your name to be on the “known to be saved” list.

Will you repent of your sin and trust Jesus as your Lord and Savior today?

LET THE SPIRIT LEAD. LEAD A PRAYER

Dear Jesus,

I know if I died today, I would be on the LOST list. I know that my sin separates me from you and I want that to change. I believe you died on the cross to pay for my sin. I believe you rose from the dead.  Will forgive me of my sin, come into my heart, and be my Lord and Savior? I place my complete faith and trust in you.  Starting today, I chose to follow Jesus. Thank you for saving me.

In Jesus’ name,

Amen.