Hope Rises
Notes
Transcript
Hope Rises
INTRO_ One of hardest days in U.S. History- September 11, 2001
George Bush's speech from Ground Zero on September 14, 2001. "I can hear you, the rest of the world hears you. and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon." Statement gave hope that the terrorists would not win.
The greatest moments in history come when hope is given in the midst of despair.
On the darkest day in history- Jesus is dead- all hope is lost.
READ
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.
Pray
3 Virtues Perfected by Jesus
Hope
Hope
Hope= the confident assurance that God is going to do what he has promised.
The disciples had lost all hope.
And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
They had the wrong idea of redemption- they were expecting a political redemption.
Hope was in the past tense- Their confidence was gone.
Mary Magdalene had lost all hope (11)
2 Proofs Mary Lost Hope
Sorrow (11)
Weeping outside tomb - still thought tomb was place to be.
weeping= referrers to the noise of wailing while crying.
Christians mourn differently - we mourn with hope.
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.
Blind (12)
Didn’t Recognize Angels
Answer to the Angels (13) - missed God’s answer to prayer.
Didn’t Recognize Jesus (14)
Faith
Faith
ILL- Faith and Hope (Chair illustration)
Without hope there can't be faith and there can't be faith without hope. Faith and hope are welded together.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation.
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old received their commendation.
By faith… (Over all over chapter 11)
Other’s faith drives us to faith.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
Mary’s Faith
Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
Soon afterward he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. And the twelve were with him, and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s household manager, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their means.
but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
but standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene.
The faith of all the disciples had been shaken to it’s core.
When Jesus died, the faith of his followers died.
Thomas' reaction to testimonies showed that Thomas didn't just doubt, he was an unbeliever.
Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”
Love
Love
Mary loves Jesus
She has a faith and hope problem- not a love problem.
Mourning
Searching for body
Cling (17)
Love is not enough- only greater in it’s continuation in heaven.
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
Context- love is greater because it is eternal.
Acts of faith and hope will cease (not needed in heaven)
Love never ends. (8)
Hope and faith are not needed in heaven.
However, love in itself does not save.
Missing context can lead to Oprah’s view of love.
“If you believe in love, you believe in God, and if you believe in God you are going to heaven.” - So- just believe in love.
Love or even belief in love is not enough to get to you heaven.
What ultimately matters is not our love, but Jesus’ love.
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Salvation comes through faith in Jesus.
-9 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
In Fact, Mary’s love for Jesus gets in the way of this new relationship.
What is different here for Mary Magdalene compared to the other ladies who are encouraged to touch him a few moments later in Matthews account?
Jesus knew her heart and she was not seeing him spiritually.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.
From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.
Mary needed to know Jesus differently. Spiritually. As her Savior.
A new relationship that changes a relationship with God.
“your Father” “your God”
Jews didn’t know God as Father- Jesus did.
“my brothers” - a new relationship among believers.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.
What was to come upon Mary at this moment was faith.
It was missing and Jesus restores that faith. (17-18)
Conclusion-
Jesus brought hope that restored her faith.
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Jesus called her by name- and instantly she recognized him.
To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
To him the gatekeeper opens. The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep.
Jesus is calling you by name today.
Have you put your faith and hope in Jesus?