DEATH... Has No Grip

On that Friday evening it would have appeared that DEATH had won, that the power belonged to Death.

In a cemetery we are surrounded by death and memorials.

We are surrounded by the poor and the rich and all between.

No matter the grave plot or headstone… simple or elaborate

One thing is the same… the one remembered is dead, they have passed from this life, laid to rest and they still remain.

But as we looked Friday evening Jesus, the One laid in a tomb, in a cemetery, declared “I AM the resurrection and the Life”

I AM… the Resurrection and the Life

The King of Kings did not even own a tomb, a grave-site… it was borrowed

Why purchase what will only need for a few days and then NEVER AGAIN!

They laid the One who declared Himself LIFE… among the dead… in a cemetery… Ironically the ones who killed Him remembered His claim to rise from the dead more than His followers!

In cemeteries around the world you will find:

Grieving and sadness

Regrets things left unfinished

Hopelessness

Uncertainty and possibly fear

There is a stark reminder of death in a place like this…

BUT… we are not here to REMEMBER DEATH… we are here this morning to CELEBRATE LIFE in a Cemetery!!!

Hebrews 2:14–15 stated: “Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.”

Luke 24:1–12 records for us: “But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground.

Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”

Then they remembered that he had said this. So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it.

John 20:3–9 shares about Peter & John going to check out what the women said: “Peter and the other disciple started out for the tomb. They were both running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying apart from the other wrappings. Then the disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in, and he saw and believed—for until then they still hadn’t understood the Scriptures that said Jesus must rise from the dead.”

In the cemetery that morning...

Grief was replaced with JOY

What seemed hopeless now procured true HOPE

Fear was exchanged for PEACE and COMFORT

In the place where DEATH seemed to have a grip… now there was an EMPTY TOMB & LIFE

Luke would write again in Acts 2:23–24 “But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.”

Jesus Christ had CONQUERED DEATH…

Jesus Christ HAD THE POWER OVER DEATH

And now all saw and knew DEATH HAS NO GRIP ON HIM...

And because HE LIVES, DEATH has no GRIP ON YOU AND ME

Jesus Christ Laid in a TOMB…

Took our DEATH

Took our Place

Took the sting of DEATH… and it can no longer hold us captive!

Jesus Christ was Risen!!!

Today we gather in a cemetery to REMEMBER this truth and like the first Sunday… we have the distinct honor and duty to declare

Jesus Christ is Risen!!!