He Has Risen!
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Excited for Easter!
Christmas is the coming of our King
Easter is the conquering of our King
Timeline
Timeline
Welcome visitors...
Explain the series...
But it’s okay:
We’re done! In 32 AD, Jesus 3 year ministry was finished
But that’s not all that was finished...
Text
Text
We’ll be in Matthew 28:1-10
This was the darkest time in their lives
Much like it may be for you
Empty streets...
Locked in our houses...
Story - holding the door
Lowes people staring
Two ways to see death
Process and separation...
Process
Process
1 Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.
For some it’s instant - car accident, gun shot, fall
You usually don’t spend too much time on the process
Maybe how you could have prevented...
But not the process itself
For some it drags - illness, suicide, drug addiction
For some is the worst part
Watching Jeri die...
She couldn’t do anything for herself - miserable
Sometimes that process is the worst
You’re thankful when it’s over after illness
Listen to true crime podcasts
Often parents think of their kids being kidnapped, tortured and murdered
For them the process is a brutal thought
But no matter what, there’s something worse than the process - the separation
When I think of my parents going, it’s not the process I fear...
I fear the separation from them
Knowing I will never see them here again...
That separation is what the disciples feared
Yes, His death was brutal as Mark said
But their Messiah was gone - forever
Where is the hope? Where is the future? Where is Jesus?
26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
It is the last thing standing
And so Mary Magdalene and the other Mary go to see the tomb
Luke tells us it was to finish prep
Trial and crucifixion were rushed - they ran out of time
They’re here to face the death of Jesus...
But death is not what we talk about on Easter
We talk about the death of death!
2 And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.
Earthquakes are powerful
It’s scary to feel the earth under you moving
Makes you feel helpless
Here, it’s in conjunction with a stone moving
Some think the earthquake caused the stone to move
If anything, the angel moving the stone caused the earthquake
BTW, I think the same applies to the tearing of the veil
It’s wasn’t an earthquake that tore the veil
If anything, it was the sacrifice of Jesus tearing the veil that caused the earthquake!
And the angel sits on the stone?!
Reminds me of Loony Tunes
Locks 20 doors and Bugs Bunny is sitting on top...
Mankind has done everything he can do
Criticized Him, beat Him, crucified Him, threw Him in a tomb and rolled a stone in front of it...
The angel rolls it and sits on it...
Eh, what’s up doc! All the guards pass out from fear
4 And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men.
Then he turns to the women...
And he says something incredible:
This is my favorite Easter passage
One of my favorites in the whole Bible
5 But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.
HE IS NOT HERE! HE HAS RISEN!
There was a real moment in the fabric of time
Where death was everyone’s direction
And one man made that journey
Done - dead -you are gone from this world!
But then, in a moment, He was alive...
That’s IMPOSSIBLE
But then you think back to His words...
26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Man, if resurrection is possible… what could POSSIBLY be IMPOSSIBLE?!
NOTHING!
This has NEVER happened before!
Now, Lazarus, the widow’s son… yeah, yeah, yeah
But this is different
When they came back to life, it was right back into a sinful existence
Resurrection isn’t just coming back to life
It’s living in a perfect body!
One suited for living in eternity in the presence of God!
7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” 8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.
Go get the guys, they’re gonna wanna see this!
Before they get there, they see Him
A couple of hours ago there was weeping
There was no hope, there was no victory
Just death and sadness
Maybe even feeling stupid
We actually believed this guy?
Now they are on the ground clinging to His feet
What an incredible moment for them!
10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
And they do, and they will never be the same...
Jesus calls them the brethren for the first time...
Know what he doesn’t say?
Go get the cowards!
Go get the failures, the doubters and the sinners...
He says, get the brothers! There is work to do...
Closing
Closing
What does that mean for us?
Lot’s of things!
First, Jesus has paved the way for us!
If you put your trust in Jesus, you will be resurrected too!
This life goes from being the best thing you’ll ever have - to the bottom of the list
Second, if you want to find Jesus in death, you’re in the wrong place!
Jesus isn’t here in the darkness...
He is in the light!
You want Him, you’d better go there too...
Third, if you want to respond now, respond in worship
Not just singing songs - although great
Let Him take control of your life
See, He wants to be your Lord AND Savior
His death and resurrection reveals His power as your Savior
But you have to be willing to make Him Lord
Ok Jesus, You clearly know better than me...
You take control, I want to walk this path with You
Fourth, when that happens, go and tell!
Why would you want to keep that to yourself?!
You mean in this terrible, empty world there is hope!
That’s why we should look different!
During this time of fear, there’s nothing I want more than to be different
The church will be the one’s to stand in courage
Not because we’re stupid
Not because we’re stubborn
Not because we’re arrogant...
It’s because 2,000 years ago, some women walked up to a tomb to see their dead master
When they got there, and angel said, “He is not here. He has risen just as He said.”
And now we know there is a hope beyond all hope
Because Jesus is alive!
Prayer
Prayer
