He is Not Here
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
“He Is Not Here!”
“He Is Not Here!”
Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.
His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”
So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.
Mary Magdalene
she is all over the place
she shows up at Jesus’ death and now here at His resurrection
AT THE CROSS
she is there at the cross
she is amongst those there present at the cross
she really has no job
she is just there
she is there for support
I can just imagine how important this was for Jesus
As he was beat on, spat on, crucified, mocked - he looks down -who does he see? Mary
AT HIS
“after the Sabbath...”
This was a rushed job that took place
Sabbath started from Friday sundown approx 6pm to Saturday sundown 6pm
they had to have everything done by Friday 6pm
we have determined that Jesus died around the 9th hour (3 or 4 pm)
Joseph of Ariamathia went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus
Joe says, “Hey Pilate, I need to have the body”
How long did this take?
Joe had to request for an interview with Pilate, plead his case, wait for permission...
Then once he was given permission - had to take the body of our Lord Jesus down from the cross
Imagine this scene - the body (death, blood) just falls all over you
What time is it now? 5pm?
Maybe have an hour?
Now they had to wash the body, put the spices on it, anoint it, wrap it with fresh linen, etc.
There was no time for a traditional procession
Traditionally they would march the body in a parade to the tomb
They would hire wailers who would come and cry over the dead
No time for this
Where is Mary?
She is probably in the midst following the body, crying
They reach the tomb
There is a stone that is placed on an incline, resting on peg
All they had to do was remove the peg and the stone would move in place sealing the tomb
Stone was too heavy to move by yourself
It is just now 6pm - whew! done! Just in time! Rushed job
Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb.
Now, at the break of dawn
here comes Margadalene and the other Mary
came to SEE the tomb
they haven’t really slept in days
they have signs of tears all over their face
they come carrying approx 75lbs of spices, herbs,
they come to finish the burial ritual
how are they going to get into the tomb? THEY DON’T KNOW!
who is going to roll the stone away? THEY DON’T KNOW!
how are they going to convince the guards to let them in? THEY DON’T KNOW!
They come and they think that Jesus is dead
They come to SEE the tomb
see = theoreo (the-o-re-o) = to view attentively, to percieve with own eye, to enjoy the presence of, discern
They are seeking with their whole hearts
They don’t even know what it is they are seeking
But they are SEEKING
SEEK JESUS
SEEK JESUS
APPLICATION:
You and I may not have all the answers
But could you just keep seeking
You may not know how you are going to make it through this week - keep seeking!
Look what happens when this women seek
Matthew 28:2-3
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.
And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.
His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.
An earthquake happens
They come to contact with Angels
APPLICATION:
Keep seeking - don’t get discouraged!
Jesus will bring you through whatever it is that you may find yourself in
Keep seeking, seeking, seeking!i
Here they are
Angel descends
violent earthquake takes place
They say same type that took place just three days before
See the angel, grabs this massave stone, grabs it, rolls it
What does the angel do? Goes and sits on it!
ILLUSTRATION:
Ever watch a wrestling match? WWF? Now, WWE?
After they get their opponent on the mat, they walk over, and put their foot on thier chest!
This is exactly the scene here
The angel sits on the stone
His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.
And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
Outside the tomb are soldiers
Not just any soldiers
They are the special forces - the ones that have seen it all
The Navy Seals of today
What happens to them?
They pass out!
They shook in fear
“They became like dead men”
But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.
The angel answered the woman
Huh? The men pass out but not the women?
Angel says to them, “Don’t be afraid!”
I know that you SEEK Jesus
He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.
He is not here!
Wow! what
He has risen, just as he said!
Wow! What a proclamation!
Come and see the place where he lay
Come, investigate, come see his grave clothes
women, they are invited to come to the middle of death and discover - HE IS NOT HERE!
ILLUSTRATION:
No one likes to talk about death
We are so uncomfortable with it all!
When making arrangements for it all, we try to make it as pleasant as possible
Bury in a nice cemetary, etc
Here, it is interesting to see the angel inviting the women - come on in - investigate
WHERE DEATH WAS - JESUS WAS NOT THERE!
Death is exposed
Jesus has conquered death
Jesus is NOT here!
Not = ou - absolutely no way
Where death was - Jesus is not there
Jesus is not in death!
TWO TYPES OF DEATH
TWO TYPES OF DEATH
SELF-CENTERED DEATH
SELF-CENTERED DEATH
self-centeredness
The death that thinks it can kill Jesus
The death that thinks it can hold him down
The death the Roman guards know all about
The death that is full of themselves
All about thier self
ILLUSTRATION
At the heart of sin - selfcenteredness
every divorce - self-centeredness
child abuse - self-centeredness
self-centeredness produces sin = death
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
every ounce of self-centeredness = death
its a death of yourself
This is the death that Jesus is not part of
Angel says, “He is not here!”
SELF-SURRENDER DEATH
SELF-SURRENDER DEATH
DEATH - losing my life, my will, my all
It is in this DEATH where Jesus is
Could I join Him in the losing of my life
If we were to go the core (heart) of your life - is JESUS there?
Are you embracing Him
If you are - there is life!
If He’s not there - there is only one reason
self-centeredness death - Jesus is not in that!
“For He is not here! He is risen!”
Why isn’t He here? He is risen!
The DEATH (self-centeredness) - can’t contain Him
ILLUSTRATION:
Reminded of Peter in
Pentecost
There was approx 120 gathered together - they were waiting for the promise of the Holy Spirit
Peter addresses the followers of Jesus -
Pentecost
something is taking place inside them
Acts 2:
And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Now they are turning the world upside down
What happened to them?
JESUS!
Death could not hold what was not exploding in thier life!
Peter here is explains all that is happening
“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know—
Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;
whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up,
DEATH could not hold him down
“pains of death”
pain - travail pain, pain of childbirth
like the baby can’t stay in the womb no longer - it has to come out
death tried to hold Him in
This is what is happening WITHIN the 120
There was a LIFE that was roaring inside of them!
This is promised to you and I
John 3:1
And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,
that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.
He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.
the key word is HAS
you have this ETERNAL LIFE
Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
What is He saying?
We have life everlasting - eternal life
We will never die
Death, tragedy, sin - want to grab us, pull us down
We have Life
It CANNOT be contained!
Application:
What about you - if you were to look deep within your core - heart
Is the roaring life of God there? or Not?
Remember Jesus doesn’t live in the self-centered death
CONCLUSION
All heads bowed
Maybe you are here today
You’ve been trying and trying to live your life for the Lord
You’ve been saying I’m trying for too long!
Maybe you’ve come, like Mary Magdalene
I have the spices
Could it be possible that God wants to produce an earthquake in your life
Maybe you’ve been living for SELF for too long - affected your family
Just SEEK Him today!
Very possible that you can go on living in SELF-CENTERED DEATH
Truth - JESUS is not there!
Could you abandon that life - turn your self over to Him today!
Could you pray with Paul
I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
We can have life in Christ today!
Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.
ILLUSTRATION:
- batteries: computer, watch, tape recorder, telephone, clock, and the list goes on. They run down quickly in action toys but last for years in watches. Some are disposable, others rechargeable. Batteries provide an important source of energy for the many gadgets of life.
batteries: computer, watch, tape recorder, telephone, clock, and the list goes on. They run down quickly in action toys but last for years in watches. Some are disposable, others rechargeable. Batteries provide an important source of energy for the many gadgets of life.
batteries: computer, watch, tape recorder, telephone, clock, and the list goes on.
They run down quickly in action toys but last for years in watches.
Some are disposable, others rechargeable.
Batteries provide an important source of energy for the many gadgets of life.
When I think of the tremendous energy source it takes to operate the Christian Church worldwide
and energize Christian individuals for daily life,
I realize that great power is required.
What is that energy source?
The resurrection power of God.
Romans 5
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.
Moore, Frank. More Coffee Shop Theology: Translating Doctrinal Jargon into Everyday Life (Kindle Locations 543-545). The House Studio. Kindle Edition.
Moore, Frank. More Coffee Shop Theology: Translating Doctrinal Jargon into Everyday Life (Kindle Locations 547-549). The House Studio. Kindle Edition.