Remember Jesus Has Risen!

Luke 24: 1-8 (NIV)

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” 8 Then they remembered his words.

Introduction: Remember Jesus Has Risen is the sermon topic for this resurrection Sunday. Though it is preached every Easter, it is as if the followers of Jesus have forgotten what it means. Jesus’  resurrection proved that He was able to remove sin and its penalty.  We must accept His resurrection in order to receive eternal life. Christ paid our sin debt, but His sacrifice on the cross means nothing if Jesus possesses no power over the grave. In vanquishing evil and death, the Lord made our salvation possible. I prayed and thought about what could I say differently than what I said last year? I did not want to come up with a cute phraseology to tickle your ear. The climate of where we are as a nation and the times in which we live are too serious for a bumper sticker message. Life is lifing and people are dying. So, Lord, give us a sobering word! As I listen deep in the spirit, I hear the voice of God say, simply say to the church REMEMBER… Jesus has risen. In all four Gospels the day of the resurrection is Sunday, the first day of the week. Shortly the first day of the week replaced the Sabbath as the main day of worship for the church. The Gospel of Luke is a detailed, historical account of Jesus’ life, by Luke—a Gentile physician and companion of Paul—written for a Greek-speaking audience. He emphasizes Jesus as the Savior for all people, with a special focus on the marginalized, including women, the poor, and Gentiles. On the first day of the week, after observing the burial, the women come to the tomb bringing the spices they had prepared (23:56). Finding the stone had rolled away, they entered the tomb and found it empty. In their perplexity they meet two angels who announce that Jesus is not dead but alive and recall to them Jesus’ earlier prophecies concerning his death and resurrection. The women return and tell the DISCIPLES, but their witness is met with skepticism. Peter then runs to the tomb and finds it empty, except for the linen strips. He leaves, marveling over what had taken place. Luke, unlike Mark 15:46; 16:3; Matt 27:60, 66; 28:2, has not mentioned the stone up to this point. The situation envisioned in the Gospels involves a cave like tomb with a large wheel-like stone that was rolled down a channel to cover the tomb opening. But when the women entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. The women wondered about why the tomb was empty. It a proof that Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus was not in the tomb because he lives. Tombs are for dead people. The angelic men were saying the women should not have been looking for the living Jesus here. Remember how he told you. Although Jesus’ teaching on his suffering and resurrection was directed to the disciples, it is assumed that the women knew this teaching. It is possible that the women were present when Jesus said these things or that they heard them from the disciples as followers of Jesus. Then they remembered his words. Jesus’ resurrection was his own doing. It is written in Luke 18:33 “they will flog him and kill him. On the third day he will rise again.” Luke 24: 46, He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day.” Matt. 17: 9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” Mark 8: 31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. Mark 9: 31 because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.” Mark 10: 34 who will mock him and spit on him, flog him, and kill him. Three days later he will rise.” Remember Jesus Has RISEN! Conclusion: Because of the resurrection of Jesus there's nothing in this life or after life that can hold us down that the same spirit that raised Jesus will also quicken our bodies if we die in Christ. Our children will remind us of a promise we made to them and frequently remind us. There was a time in life when I had limited resources. If there was a special school trip, I would tell my daughter, “wait until Friday when I get paid and you will have the money on Monday.” When Friday came, she expected the promise to be fulfilled with a gentle reminder, mommy you said. Remember church, Jesus has risen. And because he lives, we can face tomorrow. When we are faced with challenging time, remember what Jesus said. John 10: 10-11 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. Remember Matt. 19: 26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”  John 6: 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” John 11: 25 Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die. When you feel alone remember Jesus said I will never leave you or forsaken you. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” John 15: 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. When you are standing in need for answered prayers remember Jesus said Mark 11: 24-25 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.” Matt. 6: 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Luke 11: 9 Ask and it will be given. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be open for you. When you are persecuted and lied on Matt. 5: 10-12 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matt. 5: 43-44 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. When you have endured afflictions, God told Paul 2. Cor. 12: 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. And on the cross, one of his final seven last sayings, John 19: 30 Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. The work He was sent to do by His Father was completed. Jesus finished the assignment to teach the Gospel, to perform miracles, to reconcile humanity back to God was fulfilled. “It is finished” the debt owed by man to God on the account of Adam’s sin is finally and forever paid for. It is finished, signed, sealed, and delivered because of the blood of Jesus. Finally, when everything was said and done, Jesus’ work on the cross was all complete, and he said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” finished the work. Remember what Jesus said in John 10: 14-18 in a conversation he had with the religious leaders about his role in God’s great plan: “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” Remember what Jesus said and He has risen! After He got up from the grave, according to Acts 1: 2-3 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. (If I could speak colloquial for a moment, we have not stayed in our Jerusalem to wait for the gift of our blessings because we have become weary and anxious) Jesus said wait. I’ve decided that I’m going to wait until my change comes. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days, you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” The resurrection of Christ gives us power to live the Christian life, power to love your enemies, power to stand for justice, power to take up your cross, power to deny yourself, power to endure. Jesus told the disciples, you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Remember Jesus has risen! Rom. 8: 11 “And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.” The resurrection demonstrates Christ's triumph over death, offering believers hope of their own resurrection. As Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 , "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?... But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." The fact of the matter is that every Sunday is resurrection Sunday when we get the opportunity to celebrate that the tomb is still empty and Christ is still king and ruler. Don’t forget, Jesus has risen!