A Look at Christ

Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside. When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”

It’s Not Normal...

We have to realize that NORMAL IS:

Man born into sin

Man struggling with sin (or no struggle, sinning freely whenever)

Man trying but failing

Man being defeated by sin

Man eventually dies

Man stays dead

Man needs God

What is NOT NORMAL IS:

God becoming Man

A man being born of the Spirit

A man living without sin

A man being perfect without any sin

A man to die only to raise back to life 3 days later to live forever!!!

Today we celebrate NOT the normal, but we celebrate the AMAZING GIFT OF GRACE!!!

Going back all the way to the beginning… Through Adam comes what is normal for all mankind. Through Jesus comes what can only be described as gift of amazing grace…

Paul explains this wonderfully in Romans 5:12-21

Romans 5:12–21 NLT

When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ. Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous. God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Contrast: Adam & Christ

ADAM brought death to all / JESUS brings and offers life eternal to all

ADAM in the garden fails to obey God / JESUS in the garden says not my will but yours be done

ADAM ate from the tree bringing death / JESUS died on the tree to bring eternal life

ADAM’s sin cost mankind physical and spiritual Death / JESUS’ sacrificial gift of grace is offered to us free at His expense

Behold! The Lamb!

Mankind had been looking, Eve was expectant, the prophets waited with anticipation, the word mocked at His trial and crucifixion… BUT

John the Baptist boldly and rightly declared when he addressed the crowds… “Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

Jesus in His own words declares God’s love for us John 3:16-17

John 3:16–17 NASB95

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. “For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

Jesus Christ when He rose from the dead, conquered death so you and I dead in our sin may receive the FREE gift of eternal life and declare as Paul did in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

1 Corinthians 15:55–57 NLT

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

Look at Christ,

In His death He offers you and I MERCY, taking what we deserve

In His resurrection he conquers death offering us GRACE all that God has to offer at His expense

Salvation is a FREE GIFT paid in full by the blood of the Lamb of God!

Because of the power of the resurrection of Jesus we no longer fear death, we embrace true life because HE HAS RISEN!

Related Media

Related Sermons