Sermon Tone Analysis

Surprised by the Unexpected and Expecting the Unseen

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I.      Have you ever failed to recognize someone whom you were not expecting?

!! A.   I meet someone in a place where I do not expect them

!!! 1.     Perhaps in a doctor’s office – Mary Wilson

!!! 2.     Perhaps in the wrong part of the country – Gwen Neufeld

!! B.   I may not recognize them, for I was not looking for them

!! C.   I may recognize them and be confused, for my brain is having to shift gears

!! D.   That is the situation in our text today

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II.

Jesus was clearly dead

!! A.   The Romans were good at executions – they certified him dead

!! B.   The women had seen the body buried – probably they had handled the body – that was women’s work

!! C.   They came to anoint the dead after a hasty burial

Luke 24:1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared.

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III.They found what they did not expect

 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body.

4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them.

5 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?

He is not here, but has risen.

6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”

8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest.

10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles.

!! A.   The tomb had been opened – shocking, but not totally out of the ordinary – perhaps another burial was taking place

!! B.   They come closer – the body is missing!

!! C.   Suddenly two strange men were there, and what men they were

!! D.   They heard the words but did not fully grasp them

!! E.   All they could think of was to rush off and tell the other followers of Jesus

!! F.    They would later calm down and reflect and even be among those who “ate and drank with him” after his resurrection (Acts 10:41)

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IV.

The various resurrection accounts are just what we would expect from such an incident

!! A.   They are to some degree jumbled on the details

!! B.   They all agree on the facts:

!!! 1.

The body of Jesus was not there

!!! 2.     Jesus was physically alive again

!!! 3.     Jesus could do things like eat and drink

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V.  What does this mean for us?

!! A.   Jesus claimed to be the ruler of Israel and been rejected as such

!! B.   God has vindicated that claim

Acts 10:34 *[[*Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all.

37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.*]]*

39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem.

They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

!! C.   God has proclaimed him world ruler and judge (Acts 10:42)

42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.

43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

!! D.   We are presently identified with him as living Lord

Col* *3:1 So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

!!! 1.

We identify with his death and resurrection = raised with Christ

!!! 2.     We therefore follow his teaching in submission to his authority = seek . . .

set you minds

!!! 3.     We march to the beat of that different drummer = our life is hidden

!! E.   Because of this we have hope for the future

!!! 1.

The living Messiah will return

!!! 2.     We will return after death with him, sharing his resurrected life

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VI.           God grant that we be people who follow the Resurrected One so that we may also be people who live in hope of our resurrection and rule with him

 

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Ps 118:14-29

Isaiah 51:9-11 (NRSV) \\ \\

9     Awake, awake, put on strength,

O arm of the Lord!

Awake, as in days of old,

the generations of long ago!

Was it not you who cut Rahab in pieces,

who pierced the dragon?

10     Was it not you who dried up the sea,

the waters of the great deep;

who made the depths of the sea a way

for the redeemed to cross over?

11     So the ransomed of the Lord shall return,

and come to Zion with singing;

everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;

they shall obtain joy and gladness,

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Acts 10:34-43 (substitute for either Isaiah or Colossians)

Acts 10:34-43 (NRSV) \\ /Gentiles Hear the Good News/

34 Then Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, 35 but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.

36 You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all.

37 That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

39 We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem.

They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; 40 but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, 41 not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead.

43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Colossians 3:1-4 (NRSV) \\ *3* So if you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, 3 for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is youra life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Luke 24:1-10 (NRSV) \\ / (Mt 28.1—10; Mk 16.1—8; Jn 20.1—10)/

*24* But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared.

2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in, they did not find the body.

4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them.

5 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the menc said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?

He is not here, but has risen.

6 Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.”

8 Then they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest.

10 Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles.

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a  Other authorities read /our/

 

c  Gk /but they/