Sermon Tone Analysis

Secular:

* Hope and faith in Canucks… or Leafs.

* Hope and trust in friends, family spouse.

* Hope and trust in money, cars, alcohol, drugs.

* Failing, fleeting… no enduring hope…

* Compassion for a friend’s ~/ family members effort… but diminished hope

 

Biblical:

NAU Matthew 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first /day /of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave. 2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.

3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.

6 "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.

Come, see the place where He was lying.

7 "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you." 8 And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.

9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them.

And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me."

 

Personal:

* Jumped out of a plane…

* Mix of emotions… exhilarating and terrifying.

* Go from Anticipation… training… fear~/terror... (Dad’s jump), jump 2nd time to… Relief~/Joy happiness…

Bridge:

* The witnesses of the empty tomb and the resurrection – went through a range of emotions... and so should we…

* Compassion for the suffering of our Lord

* Terror at the incredible power in the resurrection.

* Joy at the fact of the resurrection

* Worship of the Risen Lord

* Hope for all eternity…

* Rational ascent and emotion experience of our faith.

Body:

 

Compassion

NAU Matthew 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first /day /of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the grave.

* The Jewish system of counting days… 1st from Sabbath – Sunday as it began to dawn

* Last divinely ordained Sabbath… a new rest a new era in redemptive history!

* Joseph and Nicodemus had prepared the body Matt 27:61… this was an act of love… though they did not yet understand… despite their lack of faith in what Christ had taught they had a deep affection for him.

* An affection that could only be heightened by the suffering…

* Jewish tradition… soul leaves 4 days… body uninhabitable

* Jesus… "Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise."

NAU Luke 23:43

* We need to have compassion

* Fully Man ~/  Fully Divine

* Fully experienced the consequences of our sins… fully suffered

* *We need to feel that compassion*

Terror

2 And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it.

3 And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow.

4 The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.

6 "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.

Come, see the place where He was lying.

7 "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you."

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2nd supernatural earthquake – connected with the Jesus’ death and burial

* Matt 27:51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.

The earth shook and the rocks split.

– *supernatural exclamation point!!*

* Angels came not to let Jesus out, but just as their present heralded the birth of Christ… there present demonstrated that Emmanuel was alive and well…

* The tomb was opened for the witnesses to get in!

* Not physically limited - NAU Luke 24:31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.

* NAU John 20:26 After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them.

Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace /be /with you."

* The veil is torn back… make no mistake this is your GOD!

 

* Remember the first time you recognize the power of God… remember the first time you realized the majesty of God… FEAR of the Lord… is recognizing who He compared to who we are…

* We are prepared by Scripture and our friends regarding the risen Christ…

* The power of God was on display like never before… and they were terrified!!

* The Shekina (glory) of God radiated from the angels… like Moses after his encounter.

* Witness to something holy going on…

* Can you imagine being one of the non-believing guards?

* Death for failing the job you were doing

* You were part of the contingent that crucified Christ… know you overwhelmed by these event

* Imagine recognizing the force you have come against…

* Hey don’t be afraid we have good news!!

Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, "*Do* *not* *be* *afraid*.

I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

* Even though they lacked the faith that should have told them Christ would not be here… God in his great mercy recognized that they truly loved Jesus…"Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.

6 "He is not here, for He has risen

* NAU Mark 16:6 And he said to them, "Do not be amazed (alarmed); you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified.

He has risen; He is not here; behold, /here is /the place where they laid Him.

 

* Jesus is faithful to his promises!!

 

* NAU John 20:12 and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying.

* O~/T picture of the Mercy Seat…eternal Mercy Seat for all of mankind!!

*  “Why do you seek the living amongst the dead”

* Head reeling, heart’s exploding, terror turning to joy…

* Natural to feel terror in the face of the power of God… a Holy Terror… Holy Reverence… The Fear of the Lord

Joy

8 And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.

* With that fear still swirling within… joy began to over take them!

* They were excited…

* The disbelief of the disciples matched that of the women… and gives evidence to the lack of a plan to steal the body of Christ!

* NAU Mark 16:11 When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.

* Those who truly experience the resurrection will be overcome with joy!

 

Worship

9 And behold, Jesus met them and greeted them.

And they came up and took hold of His feet and worshiped Him. .

* “chairete” – Jesus said “Hi”

* From simple joy to action… Christ is risen indeed!

* When you know you worship!!

* NAU Philippians 2:10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

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Hope

10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and take word to My brethren to leave for Galilee, and there they will see Me."

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