Hope Beyond

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intro

Good morning church family. These are challenging and uncertain times. Uncharted territory for most of us. We don’t know what the next headline in the news is going to be. Yet as I am reminded over and over and over again. We have hope. There is always hope in Jesus. Even in suffering, heart ache, disease, and even death, there is always hope to be found in the savior Jesus Christ.
As Spiritual Israel, God’s people, often I find we are behaving as the Israelites who had just been led out of captivity in Egypt. They have witnessed miracle after miracle, and yet very soon following their exodus you read in : 3
 The Israelites said to them, “If only we had died by the Lord’s hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death.”
Exodus 16:3 ESV
and the people of Israel said to them, “Would that we had died by the hand of the Lord in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the meat pots and ate bread to the full, for you have brought us out into this wilderness to kill this whole assembly with hunger.”
I mentioned a couple weeks ago with our panel here in the sanctuary, I want to say I would have been different. I want to say I would have been one of God’s children who didn’t complain but would have remembered all the blessings and miracles, God had given. I want o say I wouldn’t have been thinking of my empty stomach. Yet, looking at how, I at moments in crisis often tend to panic and ask why, I don’t know that I would have been different.
When Jesus walked on this planet and preached and healed people, He wasn’t shy about his mission or his fate. He talked of his death. He also talked about His true purpose. Maybe people who had been impacted by him the greatest didn’t want to believe their time with Jesus as a human on this planet was only a limited time.
When Jesus died, what was the mindset of those who were closest to Jesus? How did they respond when Jesus rose, and what were their lessons learned?
This time of year, we are often taking time to reflect on how Jesus victory over death and the hope that means for us today.
This morning I want to examine a few of Christ’s closest followers as they coped with Christ’s death and their response of the news He had risen. We are going to examine, Mary Magdalene, Peter, and Thomas.
Let’s have a word of prayer once more.
I have talked about Mary magdalene a few times already from this pulpit, but I’d like to do so again. While she isn’t listed as one of the 12 disciples, I’ve always considered her one by extension. She was a true follower of Christ. His words stayed with her and I would suggest by virtue of her anointing of Jesus feet soon before his arrest. She may have had an even higher understanding of Christ’s purpose and mission than even his closest disciples.
Those of you who have lost loved ones, even when it is expected, the pain is still there. I would suggest to you Mary did not want to picture a world without Jesus being in it.
Over the last year, my parents family dog Jake, for some reason had begun to have great health challenges. It was growing increasingly difficult for him to get up. He had a growth in his side that seemed to get bigger each time I saw him. He also began having gums swell over his teeth. My parents realized it was time to put him down to ease his suffering. As Jake was our family dog since I was a teenager, my parents let my siblings know when it was going to be happening. We began sending each other pictures of Jake, remembering a dog we will always remember and cherish. While we knew it was coming, it didn’t stop the hurt from losing him.
Mary, not unlike, the disciples was grappling with the personal loss of losing her savior. She had heard the same warnings the disciples had, and yet the pain of losing Jesus hurt just as much. She responds just as she had done when Jesus had been with her in person, she chose to be as close to Him as she possibly could. The problem was, Jesus’s body was no longer there!
She had been Joined with other ladies, such as Jesus’ mother and others, but she was so distraught she immediately ran to tell the disciples. Peter and John ran quickly to the tomb, although apparently John was a little bit faster. Serving as crime scene investigators, they examined the tomb. Desire of Ages shares:
“Yet even here was testimony that He had risen. The graveclothes were not thrown heedlessly aside, but carefully folded, each in a place by itself.”
This didn’t appear to be a heist. It appeared like Jesus had walked out on his own. The disciples returned home, I imagine in hopeful wonderment.
This didn’t appear to be a heist. It appeared like Jesus had walked out on his own. The disciples returned home, I imagine in hopeful wonderment.
This theory apparently had not dawned on Mary yet. Mary’s whole life had been transformed in meeting Jesus. Her demons had literally been thrown out of her. Her life had hope and meaning with Jesus. Would she able to be the same or return to her old life with Jesus no longer there. If there was anyone who deserved a glimmer of hope after this traumatic ordeal, it was Mary.
The gospels recount this story multiple times over, but the most detail is found in
John 20:11 ESV
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.
Desire of Ages Chapter 82—“Why Weepest Thou?”

Mary had followed John and Peter to the tomb; when they returned to Jerusalem, she remained. As she looked into the empty tomb, grief filled her heart.

Then it happened.
John 20:
John 20:12–18 ESV
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.
I love the role Mary plays in the “He is Risen” story. Her first news, is that Jesus’ body had been taken. Next she gets to confirm the hope filled news. Jesus is risen. he’s risen indeed.
While her story is beautiful. I believe you and I can experience this same sort of hope when we realize God has not disappeared in the midst of disaster, plague, or personal struggle. He is right beside us, ready to reveal Himself. He may have to give us a similar response to that of Mary, telling us, “not yet, not yet.” But He is ready to make his presence known in your life, right here and right now. What joy we can experience together knowing Jesus is with us and will NEVER leave us.
I was talking with an elderly woman recently, and asking if she was ready for Jesus to come. And that person said, she believed Jesus was coming, but wasn’t sure of her salvation. She was having trouble shaking the feeling she wasn’t good enough. Keep in mind, this was one of the most kindhearted women I had ever met.Yet somehow she believed her salvation was somehow contingent upon the good out weighing the bad in her life. She felt her life choices were a betrayal of her belief in Jesus.
I find kids and adults alike often have feelings similar to this woman.
I think that many of us can relate to Peter’s experience somewhat as well.
I think that many of us can relate to Peter’s experience somewhat as well. If anyone had betrayed Jesus during the time of His crucifixion it was Peter. He had declared he would never deny Jesus just the evening before, and as Jesus prophesied, Peter would in fact deny he knew Jesus 3 times before daybreak.
Can you imagine his feelings that Sabbath as Jesus was at rest in the grave. Can you imagine what was racing through his mind when he learned the news of the possibility of his resurrection. I would suggest he felt as guilty as the rest of us. I look at my own life and how many times I have sinned or been unfaithful. Yet just like for Peter and the rest of his disciples for that matter, just like with you and me, God sees just what we are capable of. He knows our deeds. He knows our failures and shortcomings. He knows of our hypocrisy. He knows where we have failed Him. And still He died and rose for you and for me.
Jesus appeared to the disciples, and perhaps others several times in the days following his resurrection. Each time instance recorded seems to have a mysteriousness. Each time was in a way to encourage the disciples for what was to come in their lives. For it would be them to carry on His work. They would be soon on the front lines of the army of God.
Perhaps the one who needed strength and assurance most was Peter.
Desire of Ages commentates:
“Since the death of Christ, Peter had been bowed down with remorse. His shameful denial of the Lord, and the Saviour’s look of love and anguish, were ever before him. Of all the disciples he had suffered most bitterly.”
After appearing to his disciples and enjoying a seafood platter brunch with them, Jesus calls Peter aside:
John 21:15–19 ESV
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”
John 21:15-
Peter was given a little bit of insight into his future, one that would be of a great leader, but also as Jesus one that would lead to a difficult road. Peter, though, is filled with Hope beyond anything he has ever experienced. Its because hes been pardoned and forgiven. For all of Peter’s shortcomings, Jesus had chosen Him to be a light and a hope to His people going forward.
I don’t care how many times you have denied Jesus, how many times you have failed him. God is asking us repeatedly, “Do you love me? Do you love, Do YOU LOVE ME? Its a reminder to change course and follow Him. He is not holding your past over you. He is presenting you a future and a Hope. A hope beyond any crisis, pandemic, or even grave. Church family don’t live in wonderment of your salvation any further, if it is your past that haunts you. Jesus asks us to believe in Him. Believing is change. Believing is Hope.
But again, while many of you have mourned and felt all hope was lost, like Mary. Maybe you have been riddled with guilt like Peter, I suspect also many of you have doubted, like Thomas.
Here is doubt I have. I doubt that there is any one of you watching right now, that has never doubted God before. What is it that causes us to doubt? For instance, I know people who won’t believe a single thing they hear in the news, unless it came from their preferred news source like CNN or Fox News. We doubt other outlets, we claim fake news. I know there are still some doubting the existence of the pandemic we are in right now. So many of us, If I don’t see and feel, I won’t believe.
Thomas had heard earlier that Jesus had revealed himself to the other disciples. H felt it was to good to be true.
John 20:25–29 ESV
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.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
Now to be clear, God was not asking Thomas to follow as a blind man, and he doesn’t ask us to either. He is calling us to see the evidences of him beyond our eyesight and beyond feeling, beyond touch.
Listen there is story after story throughout scripture of God literally performing saving miracles and it records even those who saw these miracles take place, and yet still they sinned, still they chose to wander, still they fell into fear.
Church family, today it is very easy to fall into fear. Some might be coping with Covid, some might be worrying where their next pay check is going to come from. I want you to know Jesus is not above revealing himself personally like with Mary, Peter, and Thomas. He’s not above performing personal miracles. He’s the same God he was in Bible times. We must, however, Believe in the Hope he brings.
Last week while we were still doing the Prayer Drive through, I was amazed by the responses of the few came through to be prayed for. I was expecting people to ask for prayer for loved ones, or pray for their own health, but each person asked for the same thing. They prayed that God would bring hope to those who were afraid. Quite frankly, I can’t think of a better thing to pray for. They were praying for hope beyond sickness, Coronavirus, financial, and economical…they wanted hope from fear.
After we finished I went into the sanctuary to check on a few things, roof leaks, making sure no break ins had occurred, but when I walked into the sanctuary, I felt an overwelming desire to pray. So I walked down to the front pew and I prayed that God would ease my fears, that God would ease my church’s fears, that God would give us hope and peace. I was enjoying this alone time in the sanctuary so I opened my bible app to where I had been reading, in Isaiah and I went right to a text I needed.
Isaiah 65:24 ESV
Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear.
I decided
In that moment I felt hope and peace, that I humbly submit be yours as as well.
Jesus showed their was hope beyond suffering, beyond the tears, beyond the pain, beyond even death. Don’t you know He is still their offering Himself as Hope to you today!
Be comforted daily with this Hope!
Prayer
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