Risen!

Introduction

Today we can smile because Easter is a celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Communion this morning reminded us of the impact of the life and death of Jesus on each of us. Forgiveness, peace, and purpose come to us if we simply believe in Him and serve Him with all of our minds, bodies, and spirits.

And yet, many stop short of belief – not because the evidence is weak, but because surrender is hard. Jesus said that the path was wide to destruction (hell) and that His path was narrow to Heaven. Yes, He is risen, but it is meaningless if we don’t believe.

I have been praying and meditating about Easter for many weeks now. To be truthful, I have wrestled with the Spirit about the theme this morning. However, something Dave Roever said last weekend tipped the scale for me and convinced me that the theme I was hearing was from God. Dave was telling the story of meeting Colonel Robbie Risner. Dave had been recently released from the hospital after suffering for 12 months in the hospital from the explosion of a phosphorus grenade. Col Risner was recovering from 7 years as a POW in Vietnam and the toll of the torture on his body. Dave told us the story of them meeting and recognizing the effects of the war on one another. Dave quoted Col. Risner as saying, “Young man, when you’ve suffered for America, don’t you love her so much more.”

When he spoke those words I translated them for Christians today, “Christ followers, when you’ve suffered for Jesus, don’t you love Him so much more.” I want to talk about suffering…specifically the benefits of suffering - Benefits that come to us through the suffering of Christand benefits from suffering that we endure for the sake of Jesus Christ. We won’t be left in despair because suffering for the right reason leads to hope, victory, and life.

Before we celebrate the resurrection, we have to understand the path that led to it.

No Resurrection Without Suffering

We have been discussing the Letter of James over the past month. I want to reinforce a truth that James presents that impacts the message this morning. James taught us that suffering generates endurance, endurance develops character, and character produces hope.

James 1:2–4 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

The Bible tells us that Jesus suffered like no other man ever has. On Thursday Jesus picked up a towel and washed the feet of his disciples. Judas betrays Jesus. Peter denies Him 3 times. Jesus endures 3 mock trials – the religious court, the Roman court, and Herod’s court. Ultimately, he is sent back to Pilate because no one else had the authority to crucify Him. He is then beaten, mocked, and nailed to a wooden instrument of torture they called a crux, what we call today the Cross.

Amazingly, the end of all of this betrayal, denial, injustice, hatred, physical and mental anguish ends in a spectacular Resurrection. In our culture we express this joy with bright colors, joyful singing, family dinners, and Easter egg hunts.

God doesn’t leave us in suffering…He ultimately brings us to a resurrection! There is no resurrection without a cross – but there is always a resurrection after it.

The Benefits of the Suffering of Christ

What did Christ’s suffering actually accomplish for us?

Peace with God

God’s pleasure was revealed through the resurrection of Jesus. His willing sacrifice was acceptable to God.

We could not be “with God,” but God must first be “man with us.” We were once with God in Adam, before he fell; but there being a breach made, we cannot be recovered again till God be with us. He must take our natures that He may reconcile our persons.

 -Richard Sibbes (1577–1635) *[1]

With that sacrifice came the benefit of justification and reconciliation for those who believe. Paul explains it this way:

Romans 4:25–5:1 NIV

He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Christmas and Easter are linked together. We could not celebrate Easter without Christmas and Christmas would be meaningless without Easter.

Access to Divine Grace

A second benefit of Christ’s suffering is the access we have to God’s grace. The Biblical definition of grace is goodwill freely disseminated by God to our benefit. The Apostle John begins his Gospel by pointing to it:

John 1:16–17 NIV

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

We all sense the tension between God’s law and God’s grace. This makes it hard to believe that grace is real. That explains why John Newton’s hymn, Amazing Grace, hits so hard.

Both law and love express God’s nature. Moses emphasized God’s law and justice, while Jesus Christ came to highlight God’s mercy, love, and forgiveness. Moses could only be the giver of the law, while Christ came to fulfill perfectly the law (Matthew 5:17). The law revealed the nature and will of God; now Jesus Christ reveals the nature and will of God. Rather than coming through cold stone tablets, God’s revelation now comes through a person’s life. As we get to know Christ better, our understanding of God will increase.[2]

God’s grace expressed through Jesus Christ is a game changer!

During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. They began eliminating possibilities. Incarnation? Other religions had different versions of gods appearing in human form. Resurrection? Again, other religions had accounts of return from death.

The debate went on for some time until C. S. Lewis wandered into the room. “What’s the rumpus about?” he asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity’s unique contribution among world religions. Lewis responded, “Oh, that’s easy. It’s grace.” After some discussion, the conferees had to agree.

The notion of God’s love coming to us free of charge, no strings attached, seems to go against every instinct of humanity. The Buddhist eightfold path, the Hindu doctrine of Karma, the Jewish covenant, and the Muslim code of law—each offers a way to earn approval. Only Christianity dares to make God’s love unconditional. —Philip Yancey, What’s So Amazing about Grace?(Zondervan, 1997)[3]

To recap, the benefits of Christ’s suffering are Peace With God, Access to God, and…

Hope for New Life Now and in the Future

Don’t undervalue the word hope. The Kingdom of God is both now and yet to come.

2 Corinthians 4:13–15 NIV

It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.

On Thursday Ms. Lynn’s mom was laid to rest. Just weeks before she admitted to struggling with uncertainty about where she was going. Her family walked her through salvation and the security that we can have as believers. She committed her life to Jesus and felt peace…she felt Heaven now, not the fullness of it but the hope of it.

On Easter, especially, we take the opportunity to express our thankfulness for the peace, grace, and hope that we have because of the work of Christ. His Resurrection confirms it!

But the story doesn’t stop with His suffering…it continues in ours.

The Benefits of Our Suffering

Let me remind you of the statement by Col Robbie Risner, ““Young man, when you’ve suffered for America, don’t you love her so much more.” I believe it is also true when translated, “Young man, when you’ve suffered for Jesus, don’t you love Him so much more?” Serving Christ is not easy.

In America we have many advantages over Christians throughout the world. But ask any believer, because of faith in Jesus, they have been rejected and insulted by friends, family, and society. They have lost jobs or been denied jobs. They have willfully been discomforted when they put God’s will above their own, fighting temptations and dying to sin. At times they have felt isolated. They have given up personal comfort. They have given generously and sacrificially to the Church.

2 Corinthians 4:7–12 NIV

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

The famous preacher, Charles Spurgeon said:

            There are no crown-wearers in heaven who were not cross- bearers here below. - Charles Spurgeon.

I was listening to a podcast by John Bevere recently. He was discussing ‘Why God Allows the People He Loves to Suffer’ and made an interesting point that, honestly, I’m stilling contemplating. He pointed to Romans 8:17-18

Romans 8:17–18 NIV

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Jesus’ love for us was affirmed in His willingness to suffer for us. But, Bevere says, the same is true in reverse. Love that costs nothing proves nothing! Jesus proved His love on a cross. We prove ours in surrender.

When you suffer for Jesus, don’t you love Him so much more?

His Resurrection Reframes Suffering

…this is the good news – His resurrection changes how we see all of it.

We started this morning celebrating an empty tomb. But here’s what we’ve discovered…That empty tomb didn’t come without a cross. That resurrection didn’t come without suffering. And neither will ours.

But here’s the hope of Easter: Suffering is not the end of your story. Because of Jesus…

Your suffering is not wasted

Your pain is not meaningless

Your sacrifice is not unseen

It is producing something in you. It is drawing you closer to Him. It is teaching you to love Him more. Because when you suffer for something…you don’t love it less—you love it more.

And that’s why the resurrection changes everything. The resurrection tells us:

· There is life after death

· There is hope after heartbreak

· There is victory after suffering

And if Jesus walked out of that grave…Then whatever you are carrying today— whatever burden, pain, or struggle—it does not get the final word.Jesus does.

So today, we don’t just celebrate that He is risen…We respond.

· Some of you need to believe for the first time.

· Some of you need to return.

· Some of you need to surrender again.

Because the same Savior who suffered…The same Savior who died…The same Savior who rose…Is inviting you today:

· Follow Me. Trust Me. Walk with Me.

· And yes… even suffer with Me…

Because on the other side of that suffering— there is resurrection.

[1]Elliot Ritzema, ed., 300 Quotations and Prayers for Christmas, Pastorum Series (Lexham Press, 2013).

[2]Bruce Barton et al., Life Application New Testament Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale, 2001), 375.

[3]Craig Brian Larson and Phyllis Ten Elshof, 1001 Illustrations That Connect (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 2008), 120.