The Race: From Grief to Joy

Introduction

This Easter is, by far, the most unique Easter celebration anyone can remember. The truth of what this day signifies is just as powerful as ever. The pandemonium of this pandemic doesn’t change the message of this day. What is that message? I will say it out loud and you can respond out loud from wherever you are. Ready?

HE IS RISEN! (HE IS RISEN INDEED!)

Can you imagine how Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome, and the other women felt that day when they went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body with spices? They were worried about how to get the heavy stone rolled away. To their surprise, when they arrived the stone was already rolled away. They went inside and saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting there. They were completely surprised! Here’s what the young man said to them.

Mark 16:6–7 NIV

“Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ ”

PRAYER

After Jesus’ death on the Cross, His Disciples fled into hiding…their grief and fear overtook them. The women that followed Jesus were also overcome with grief. But His followers would soon have their grief transformed into joy because of the undeniable good news of the risen Savior. As the truth set in, Jesus’ overjoyed followers would boldly proclaim the risen Lord.

Big Idea: When death gives way to life (grief is replaced by joy), let us run to embrace Jesus and race to share the joyful news.

Transitional: Although people didn’t comprehend it until after His resurrection...

JESUS DECLARED THE GOOD NEWS

Why is Easter so gladly welcomed? Easter brings Good News! Don’t you know this world, especially right now, desperately needs to hear some good news!

The women were on their way to anoint Jesus’ dead body — the last thing they expected that morning was good news! Who would expect good news from a graveyard.

The graveyard doesn’t get the final word

1 Corinthians 15:55“Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”

Jesus’ message brings the best news ever

The grave is not the end…by a long shot. He defeated it

John 3:16 NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 10:27–28 NIV

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.

Transitional: If Jesus’ powerful words are not enough for us…there’s more!

JESUS’ MADE THE GOOD NEWS A REALITY

Jesus died on the Cross

Matthew 27:50 The Message

But Jesus, again crying out loudly, breathed his last.

He was absolutely dead

The soldier made sure of it by plunging the spear into His side

John 19:31–37 NIV

Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”

Caesar’s men said that He was dead

Joseph of Arimathea - the one who claimed His body - verified that Jesus was dead

Study the history — look at it any way you want — Jesus died that day

He was not just unconscious…He was dead

Jesus arose victorious from the grave

All nature held its breath to see who would be victor and who would be victim, who would conquer and who would be conquered. But the good news from the tomb was:

Up from the grave He arose,

With a mighty triumph o’er His foes;

He arose a victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever with His saints to reign:

He arose! He arose!

Hallelujah! Christ arose!

Transitional: Jesus preached the good news and, when the time came, He proved the good news through His own suffering, death, and resurrection! The natural thing for His followers to do is to tell the world

JESUS’ FOLLOWERS RACE OUT TO SPREAD THE GOOD NEWS

You can read the story of His resurrection in any of the Gospels…the message is the same

* A common theme in the story of Jesus’ resurrection seems to be a footrace.

“The women hurried away from the tomb…and ran (Mt. 28)”

“(Mary Magdalene) came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved (John 20:2)

“Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first (John 20:4)

When you have the Good News, walking isn’t good enough: you must run with it

That first footrace at sunrise didn’t stop until the whole countryside heard — the news spread fast! They didn’t even need social media — their feet took them swiftly to spread the news

What is this Good News?

Forgiveness for the past

Joy for the present

Hope for the future

The Disciples had failed Jesus miserably…in the Garden, after His death, and yet, Jesus wanted to see them “I know you have sinned: deserted, denied, and doubted. But I still love you”

1 John 1:7 NIV

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

We can most certainly have joy every day as discover and live the joyful message of Easter: the Living Lord is real and present with us, today!

John 20:20 NIV

After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

The good news from the tomb of Christ is that He has conquered death and hell

1 Corinthians 15:26 NIV

The last enemy to be destroyed is death.

Revelation 20:14 NIV

Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death.

Challenge

Easter turned tragedy into triumph…grief into joy!

We all have good news to share! Will we do that?

Mark 16:20 NIV

Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

When death gives way to life (grief is replaced by joy), run to embrace Jesus and race to share the joyful news

In your grief, loneliness, fear, uncertainty, kneel before the Lord…you will gain a new perspective

John 20:11 The Message

But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she knelt to look into the tomb

When she knelt and looked two angels greeted her “Why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord — I don’t know where they have put Him”

Then she turned around and Jesus was standing there — She didn’t recognize Him “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where He is…so I may get him”

Then Jesus said “Mary” --- She immediately knew He was Jesus. He told her to go and tell the disciples

What is your perspective today?

Why don’t we take time to kneel before Him today? The tomb is empty! He is risen! He is calling you by name

Will you believe on Him?

Will you go and tell others around you about the risen Lord?

He is the hope of the world…no other will do.