"Behold, I Am Making All Things New"

“Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future… And life is worth the living, just because He lives.”

We sing that, but do we know it? We shout “He is risen!” but do we believe what that really means?

Main Text: Revelation 21:5

Matthew 28:1–10 ESV

1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

I. INTRODUCTION: The Weight of the Old and the Wonder of the New

Revelation 21:5 – “Behold, I am making all things new.”

That’s not just a statement about the future… it’s a declaration of what happened the moment Jesus walked out of the grave. On Easter morning, God wasn’t just raising His Son—He was raising a new way, a new hope, and a new life for all who believe.

But to fully understand the power of what’s new, we have to understand the weight of what was old.

II. THE OLD COVENANT: A SYSTEM OF SHADOWS AND STRUGGLE

A. What Was the Old Covenant?

Initiated by God through Abraham, confirmed through Moses at Mount Sinai.

Governed by the Law—613 commands (moral, civil, ceremonial).

Kept in place through constant sacrifices, rituals, and strict observance.

Exodus 24:7 – “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” But they couldn’t. And neither can we.

B. The Problem: The Law Revealed Sin But Couldn’t Remove It

It was holy and good, but it became a mirror (Romans 7:7

Romans 7:7 ESV

7 ...if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin...

It exposed how far humanity had fallen… but it offered no power to change the heart

Year after year, sacrifice after sacrifice—yet the people remained burdened, broken, and distant from God

So God established the Law, for what?

To Reveal His Holiness

2. To Reveal the Sinfulness of Man

3. To Distinguish Israel from the Nations

4. To Regulate Worship and Relationship with God

5. To Create a Just and Compassionate Society

6. To Point Forward to Christ

Hebrews 10:1 – “For since the law has but a shadow of the good things to come… it can never… make perfect those who draw near.”

Galatians 3:24 ESV

24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.

Every sacrifice… Every priest… Every drop of blood… Every feast… Every command…

…was pointing forward to the day when Jesus would fulfill it all.

God gave the Law not to perfect His people, but to prepare them for the perfect One.

C. The Burden We Carry Today

Even today, people still live under a form of the old:

The Weight of Sin

1. The Weight of Shame

The kind that wakes you up at night and whispers, “You’ll never be clean.”

That moment of regret you can’t undo.

The secret sin no one knows about but God—and it haunts you.

“You’re not worthy.” “You’re disqualified.” “You’ll always be that person.” That’s the voice of sin, not the voice of your Savior.

2. The Weight of Guilt

Not just knowing you did wrong—but feeling like you are wrong.

Carrying the memory of a failure that happened years ago as if it happened yesterday.

Sitting in church wondering, “If they really knew me, would I still be welcome here?”

Guilt says you broke the rules. Shame says you are broken beyond repair. Both are lies Jesus died to destroy.

3. The Weight of Religious Performance

Trying to look holy while feeling hollow.

Always trying to do more, pray more, serve more—to feel like you’ve earned your place.

Measuring yourself against others and always falling short.

This is the weight the Pharisees carried. This is what Jesus meant when He said, “Come to Me, all who are weary…”

4. The Weight of Addiction

The cycle you can’t seem to break.

The thing you swore you’d never do again… and then did.

The thing you hide from others, hoping it stays buried

Sin doesn’t just trip you—it traps you. And the more you struggle, the tighter it grips.

5. The Weight of Regret

Words you can’t take back.

Relationships you destroyed.

Time you can’t rewind.

It’s the voice that says, “You blew it. There’s no coming back from this.”

But the resurrection says:

“Watch Me bring life from what you thought was dead.”

6. The Weight of Hopelessness

That feeling that no matter how hard you try, you’ll never be enough.

That quiet thought that says, “Maybe I’ve gone too far.”

That aching question: “Is this all there is?”

Now I know… Some of you are here this morning, and maybe all of this talk about covenants and sacrifice and law feels unfamiliar—even a bit confusing.

You didn’t grow up in church. You don’t know the Old Testament. Maybe you’ve never read the Bible. But what you do know is this: Life is heavy. You’re tired. Something is missing.

And I want to tell you:

Easter is for you.

You see, from the very beginning, humanity has been trying to fix itself—trying to reach God, trying to be good enough. But we all fall short. We all carry guilt. We all feel that ache that says, “There has to be more than this.”

And that’s exactly why Jesus came.

He didn’t come just for the religious. He didn’t come to start a new set of rules. He came for the broken. He came for the worn out. He came for the sinner—just like me… and just like you.

And the greatest truth you’ll ever hear is this: You don’t have to fix yourself to come to God. Jesus came to you.

He lived the life we couldn’t live. He died the death we deserved. And on the third day—He rose again.

Not so you could have religion… But so you could have a relationship with God—right here, right now

So maybe today you’re here and you’re already a believer, but you’re tired. Worn down. Weighed down by life, by guilt, by pressure. Or maybe you’re here and you’ve never truly known Jesus at all. Either way… Easter is your invitation to step into something new. Not just a better version of your old life—but a brand new one.

The resurrection isn’t a religious myth—it’s a personal invitation.

III. THE NEW COVENANT: A Savior, A Cross, A Resurrection

And then… Easter happened.

Jesus, the perfect Lamb of God, came to fulfill what the old could only point to.

Matthew 5:17 – “I did not come to abolish the Law… but to fulfill it.” Hebrews 8:6 – “Christ has obtained a more excellent ministry… a better covenant, enacted on better promises.”

A. The Cross Changed Everything

Jesus took the curse of the law upon Himself

He became the once-for-all atoning sacrifice (Hebrews 10:12)

The veil was torn, the debt was canceled, the burden was lifted

The old covenant was built on law. The new covenant is built on grace.

Not “Do and live,” but “It is finished.”

B. The Resurrection Sealed the New Covenant

Matthew 28:6 – “He is not here, for He has risen, as He said.”

The resurrection wasn’t just a miracle—it was the confirmation that:

The old had passed away

The sacrifice was accepted

Death and sin were defeated

A new way was now available

2 Corinthians 5:17 – “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation…”

IV. WHAT IS NEW BECAUSE OF EASTER?

1. A New Relationship

We are no longer slaves or distant worshipers—we are sons and daughters (Galatians 4:7)

2. A New Heart

The Law written on tablets of stone is now written on hearts of flesh (Jeremiah 31:33)

3. A New Freedom

Not chained by guilt, legalism, or fear—but living in grace, truth, and power

4. A New Future

Not striving toward an impossible standard, but walking in resurrected hope toward an eternal home

V. CONCLUSION: What Will You Do With the New?

Easter is more than a celebration—it’s an invitation.

Will you keep striving under the burden of the old? Or will you step into the freedom, grace, and life of the new?

Jesus didn’t rise so we could decorate our lives with religion. He rose so we could be transformed.

“Behold, I am making all things new.” That includes your past, your heart, your future, your story… and you.

Altar Invitation (Optional)

If you’re tired of striving… If religion has worn you out… If you’re carrying guilt and shame and wondering if you’ll ever be enough…

Come to the One who said, “It is finished.” Come to the new covenant sealed in blood, proven by resurrection, and offered in love.

Today is the day to be made new.