Easter 2019

INTRODUCTION

HE IS RISEN | HE IS RISEN INDEED

Good Morning CrossPointe

My name is Steve McKenzie and it’s my joy to serve as the Lead Pastor

Today we are gathered to celebrate one glorious truth - Jesus is alive.

What makes this truth so great is not just the fact that he is alive - like I’m alive

The joy is that he was dead, buried - and he came back to life

Noone called out to raise him from the dead

Nobody else exerted power to bring Jesus back to life

Jesus yielded his spirit to death - then he conquered death and rose victorious like a champion over his foe.

Turn with me to - let’s PRAY

Read Luke 24

HISTORY

Let’s be real - today is a joyous celebration but that doesn’t mean that many of us arent carrying disappoints and challenges in with us this morning. In this passage, it begins with women who were worshipping in the midst of disappointment

One week ago

Triumph and victory

Jesus, whom you believe to be to Messiah - the one promised by God to bring healing, wholeness, and salvation. You’ve followed him and now you see crowds celebrating and signing “Hosanna, glory to God in the highest”

Your heart expanded with joy and hope.

You saw as Jesus taught on the temple mount. You knew the religious leaders despised Jesus but he was you king, your victory, your champion.

Then word reaches you - he’s been arrested but that’s OK - he’s the promised one.

Friday

Events begin falling like dominos - falling too quickly for your mind to comprehend - the emotions in your heart trailing behind in disbelief.

The crowd is shouting Crucify Him, Crucify Him - but it can’t be. Where is the victory? He’s our king - right? Surely they can’t kill him. Soon they will see his power and might. He will show it for all to see - just as his followers have seen.

You see him as his broken body drops the cross on the way to his crucified.

His face swollen and body bleeding from the beating he received.

You see as nails are driven into his hand and feet.

What’s happening/ They mockingly hung a sign over his head, “King of the Jews.” But he is - right? How can this be? Where’s the power? I’ve seen him calm storms - cast out demons - feed thousands with a few loaves and fishes - the blind received sight - the lame could walk.

How is this happening? What is going on? Was I wrong? Is he not the Messiah? Who is he?

Disbelief as darkness settles

Hope evaporates as Jesus takes his final breath and dies.

He’s dead - the Roman soldiers confirm his death as they puncture his side and blood and water pour out.

Grief

Things did not go as expected

Disappointment and sorrow have settled firmly in your heart

Yesterday was the sabbath - no work to distract yourself with. No activity to occupy your mind. You sit alone with your thoughts - recalling the events of the past week, the past 3 years.

Your mind frantically tries to make sense of everything - trying desperately to find the silver lining - to find some glimmer of hope - BUT nothing. Nothing comes to mind. Nothing makes sense.

You shouldn’t be working but you begin preparing the burial spices for tomorrow - when you can walk to the tomb.

You cry yourself yourself to sleep yet again as you body and mind relinquishes it’s will to fight and wrestle through the events yet again.

SUNDAY

Anxiety greets you early in the morning (your reality is worse than your nightmare) as the light of the sun just begins to break through the darkness, separating the sky from the land.

The wrestling and disbelief have given way to weariness of soul. Tired - worn-out.

The dust from the path to the tomb is cool on your sandaled feet. Eyes downcast as the walk begins to energize your mind causing the thoughts and feeling we reignite to confusion and despair.

Jesus didn’t do what you thought he would do.

In some ways he let you down but you feel bad for eve thinking that.

One week ago today Jesus entering the city is triumph but now I’m walking to his grave site in sorrow.

So many hopes. So many desires are buried in that tomb.

You lift your eyes and your heart skips a beat - the stone is rolled away

Who is here? What have they done? What’s going on? What else can go wrong? I can’t take one more thing! Confusion.... and then shock!

Suddenly - like one moment we are alone - I blink - and then 2 men are standing beside us

But not normal men - their clothes almost glow

Your mind registers - ANGELS - fear grips your heart and immediately you look to the ground trying to catch your breath and slow you racing heart.

What did they just say...

“Why do you seek the living among the dead....”

“He is not here...” (where have they taken him… who took him… why would they take him...”

Wait… what did he say… “he is Risen”

What do you mean risen - like alive - he can’t be - he died - we buried him. See we have the spices for his body.

“Remember...” remember what, that he died. of course I remember

‘“Remember what Jesus said - that he would be crucified, die, and then rise from the dead 3 days later.” Remember… yeah… but I thought he meant…

Then as the sun pierces through the early morning fog - they remembered

Clarity - Jesus did say but I didn’t understand

Jesus did say and it’s true - I remember

REMEMBER

“Remember...”

It’s here I want to PAUSE - to help us remember the hope we have in the resurrection

HOPE - God is Faithful, he is true to his word

These women came to God in an act of worship with hearts full of disappointment and confusion

They came expecting defeat but they were reminded of a truth they had already heard - they experienced the reality of this truth and they left in joy

Maybe this is you this morning - you’ve come to church because it’s Easter - because this is what you do on Sunday mornings.

You’re here - but like these women - you’re heart have seen their share of disappointment. Maybe you’re confused, discouraged, beaten down - but here you are.

Maybe you’ve heard these truths I’m about to read

But I want to remind you - because maybe you need to be invited to remember and experience joy anew

You Are: (those who have trusted in Jesus)

BELOVED - with an everlasting love ()

ADOPTED / CHILD OF GOD - who is lavished with the great love of God (Roman 8:15, )

DELIGHTED IN - God is a mighty warrior who saves and he chooses to delight in you ()

FORGIVEN - Jesus bore your sins in his body on the cross ()

FREE - you are free from the slavery of sin ()

A TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - ()

SWEET AROMA TO GOD - for we are to God a pleasing aroma of Christ ()

NEVER ALONE - I will never leave you nor forsake you ()

Hope - His resurrection secures these truths for all eternity (:19-20)

"if our hope is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world. BUT in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.”

New Living Translation Chapter 15

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! 52 It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 53 For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

54 Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die,* this Scripture will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.*

55 O death, where is your victory?

O death, where is your sting?*”

56 For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. 57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.

HOAX OR HISTORY

FAIRY TALE

Some will hear this and think it is nothing more than a fairy tale.

Some will hear this and think it is nothing more than a fairy tale.

It a crutch for the weak

Wishful thinking who can’t handle reality

Even the other disciples thought the news of the resurrection was an “idle tale”

Some foolish talk from the women who didn’t understand

Others, Peter and John, rose and ran to the tomb to see for themselves.

Sit in Disbelief or Run to see for Yourself?

Don’t take my word for it - this is too important to just listen to some guy

You can trust God’s word - read it for yourself

3 Other Proofs (History, Law, and Early Church)

HISTORY

The resurrection is a theological truth but it is also a historical reality. Meaning… it took place is a real geographical location, a tomb owned by a real man who is also quoted in early century literature, with numerous people of different backgrounds witnessing the event.

Ignatius (50-115) wrote

Evidence for Christianity 1B. The Resurrection of Christ as a Time-Space Dimension Event in History

He was crucified and died under Pontius Pilate. He really, and not merely in appearance, was crucified, and died, in the sight of beings in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth.

Evidence for Christianity 1B. The Resurrection of Christ as a Time-Space Dimension Event in History

He who was Himself the Judge was judged by the Jews, falsely so called, and by Pilate the governor; was scourged, was smitten on the cheek, was spit upon; He wore a crown of thorns and a purple robe; He was condemned: He was crucified in reality, and not in appearance, not in imagination, not in deceit. He really died, and was buried, and rose from the dead.

Wilbur Smith,

Evidence for Christianity 1B. The Resurrection of Christ as a Time-Space Dimension Event in History

“Let it simply be said that we know more about the details of the hours immediately before and the actual death of Jesus, in and near Jerusalem, than we know about the death of any other one man in all the ancient world” (Smith, TS, 360)

LEGAL

William Lyon Phelps, 40 years as professor of Law at Yale University...

Evidence for Christianity 2B. The Testimony of History and Law

In the whole story of Jesus Christ, the most important event is the resurrection. Christian faith depends on this. It is encouraging to know that it is explicitly given by all four evangelists and told also by Paul. The names of those who saw Him after His triumph over death are recorded; and it may be said that the historical evidence for the resurrection is stronger than for any other miracle anywhere narrated; for as Paul said, if Christ is not risen from the dead then is our preaching in vain, and your faith is also vain. (Phelps, as cited in Smith, GCWC, 18)

Lawyers from Harvard, Yale, Cambridge

The timing of eyewitness account - both biblical accounts with manuscripts dating within a generation of the event

The facts are unified and could have been refuted if incorrect but instead they were confirmed over and over again.

EARLY CHURCH

Ignatius in 5-115 AD, or Polycarp in 110 AD or Terrullian in 160 AD

THE CHANGE IN THE DISCIPLES

Peter was crucified upside (at his request) in Rome under the Emperor Nero.

Andrew was crucified in Greece, tied to the cross rather than being nailed, caused his suffering to last a full 2 days and two nights.

Thomas (who doubted) was impaled repeatedly by the spears of 4 soldiers, most likely in India.

Philip was cruelly put to death after the wife of a Roman proconsul converted to Christianity. Iron hooks pierced his legs and he was hung upside down to die.

Matthew (tax collector) stabbed in the back in Ethiopia

Bartholomew was skinned alive in Armenia

James was falsely accused of breaking the law but was so courageous at the events leading up to his beheading that his accuser repented, became a Christian, and asked to be beheaded alongside James.

Simon the Zealot was killed in Persia after refusing to sacrifice to the sun god.

Matthias was burned to death

James, son of Alphaeus, was stoned but wouldn’t die so someone clubbed him to death.

So please tell me how these men just made up a story. Men who lied to little girls and hide. Sure - they just got together - made up a story and then travelled the world for a lie - willing to die.

Here’s what I believe

Jesus really did live as Scripture says. He was God, clothed in humanity

Jesus really did die on the cross to pay the punishment for my sin

If this was a made up story they would not have used women in the first century as the initial witness

HOAX

HISTORY

Jesus rose from the dead 3 days later - just as the scriptures said he would.

He my savior

He’s my King

He’s my father

He my deliverer

He’s my hope

He’s my joy

He’s my sheild

Provider

He’s the rock I stand on

and the peace I rest in

Jesus is my God and him alone will I trust.

CONCLUSION

How will you respond as you stand before the truth of the empty tomb?

Believer

Will you find Hope? Will you be reminded of what is true? True about God? true about the hope we too share in that we will be given resurrected bodies. True of what God declares over us.

Not- Yet Believed

Will you sit there in your disbelief? Accusing others of talking idle tales

Will you run and see for yourself? See if the empty tomb is true

If Jesus really was who he said he was - God, clothed in humanity

If he really did die on the cross

If he really did rise from the dead...

Believe on Jesus Today - come and pray with me down front

Curious but willing to talk and ask questions - would you also come up to introduce yourself?

NEW SERIES

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Do you want to step away from this treadmill of life and walk a new path of meaning and satisfaction? "ECCLESIASTES | Making Sense of a Complex World" explores how we can walk a new path of contentment and joy in life.