From the Ashes: Resurrection
From the Ashes • Sermon • Submitted
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Prayer: “Some days are so dark it can feel like we are at the end of our rope. Remind us God, that you have the power to change everything. We need the resurrection of Jesus to be a reality in our lives. Bring life where there is death. Bring order where there is chaos. Bring hope where there is despair.”
Introduction
Introduction
It’s EASTER Sunday, He is Risen!
This is far and away the most important Christian day of remembrance. It’s a day when we celebrate the empty tomb and Christ's resurrection from the dead! Of course we have the benefit of knowing how the story ended 2000 years ago, but for those first disciples much of what they experienced was earth shaking, deeply painful, disappointing.
You see, there were many who believed that the Messiah would come as a conqueror and re-establish the Jewish nation by overthrowing all her enemies. Historically speaking, many thought the Messiah would be a king like David or Joshua… So you can imagine the disillusionment when Jesus didn’t even put up a fight on the night He was arrested.
And if that wasn’t bad enough, Jesus died...alone, crucified, and humiliated on a Roman Cross.
I can’t even imagine how devastated and disappointed those early disciples were.
It had to be horrible. Even hopeless.
Thankfully, hopeless isn’t where the story ends. Let’s pick things up today in Luke 24.
The Tomb Was And Is Empty
But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.
And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling clothing;
and as the women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?
“He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee,
“He is not here; he has risen!” What do you think the women were thinking at this moment? Bewilderment is probably an understatement, but it’s a good start. Thankfully the angels who were also at the tomb remind them that Jesus said he must, “be crucified and on the third day be raised again.” And from there, the women were so excited they ran back to tell everyone else.
We know how this story ends and how things play out… but the empty tomb is worth noting. It’s worth getting excited about and it’s definitely worth telling others.
The empty tomb is and will always be a definitive reminder that the body of Christ is indeed risen and He’s alive!
This truth is so important that the Apostle Paul tells the Corinthian church;
1 Corinthians 15:13-14
But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised;
and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.
In other words, If the tomb isn’t empty, then everything we’re doing here today is pointless. But it is empty, and Jesus is alive, therefore we’ve all got something to get excited about. It is something that should set our hearts ablaze.
Hearts Ablaze
Later on in Luke 24 we pick up the story with 2 disciples walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus;
And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem.
And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place.
While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them.
But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.
And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad.
It is recorded that Jesus asks them more questions and the disciples convince Jesus to stay with them for the night in Emmaus;
Luke 24:29-31
But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them.
When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them.
Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.
Did you hear that?! He just up and vanishes… It’s been a pretty interesting day for all the disciples. But listen to what Luke records them saying to one another after Jesus disappears;
Luke 24: 32,33a
They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?”
And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them,
An encounter like this will set the heart ablaze. The absolute joy and excitement these disciples must’ve felt to know their Savior was alive is hard to imagine. But here’s the thing, it got them moving. In fact, they got up that hour and headed back to Jerusalem to share their experience with the rest of the disciples.
Just like the women who encountered Jesus at the empty tomb, these guys went immediately to share the good news.
And what news is so good that it sends grown adults running?
Christ lives! He kept His promise and came back. Scripture tells us He keeps
All the Promises
Returning from Emmaus the disciples learn that Jesus also appeared to Simon. Then, as they’re all talking together Jesus appears in their midst and asks for something to eat… He says to all of them;
Luke 24:44-45
Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”
Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
How great would it be to do a Bible study with Jesus? Even better would be if He opened your mind to understand the scriptures. Look at what Luke records happening here; Jesus says, “that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Luke 24:44
A couple dozen years later the Apostle Paul reflects on this by giving us a most amazing summary . He says;
2 Corinthians 1:20
For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes; therefore also through Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us.
All the promises, every one of them, find their “YES” in Christ. Here are some of those promises;
● Redemption from sin
● Reconciliation with the Father
● Peace and rest
● An eternal home
● No more tears, pain, or sickness
● Constant presence
● Friendship
● Life from death
Life from Death
That is a paradox, but from Jesus’ death comes new life. That does not mean just breathing, nor is it just skimping by, but it is abundant living. Fullness of life. Jesus came that we would have life, abundant, full life. (Jn. 10:10)
Through your darkest hour. Through your pain, brokenness, and sin. Through your striving, planning, and controlling. Christ redeems it all, uses it all, and sees it all.
To illustrate this point let us take a look at the biblical account concerning Job, found in the Old Testament. If you’re not familiar with the general premise, let me bring you up to speed. Job is a righteous man with a thriving family. Through a series of events he loses everything and even his friends begin accusing him of having some hidden sin that he needs to confess. Their conclusion is that this must be the cause for Job’s misfortune. But Job continues to assert his innocence and demands a “hearing with God” where he can plead his case.
Well, he eventually gets what he asks for. God comes to speak directly to Job and it’s terrifying - awe inspiring - and full of grace. (cf. Job 38-42)
About half way through the discourse Job says;
Job 40:4-5
“Behold, I am insignificant; what can I reply to You? I lay my hand on my mouth.
“Once I have spoken, and I will not answer; Even twice, and I will add nothing more.”
And then, finally, Job says something absolutely astounding;
Job 42:2-6
“I know that You can do all things, And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ “Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.”
‘Hear, now, and I will speak; I will ask You, and You instruct me.’
“I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You;
Therefore I retract, And I repent in dust and ashes.”
Job thought he had heard and learned all he needed to know of God. Through his pain, suffering, and loss he’d made assumptions and even accusations against the Creator of the universe. But what he thought he knew of God changed when he came face to face with Him and had his eyes opened to the majesty and providence of the Lord in every facet of life.
And he says, “I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”
What Job is communicating here is this… I was wrong and now I see. I take comfort here in the dust and ashes, the rubble of my life.
Job was only able to say that, because he had an encounter with the living God.
And the encounter changed his perspective and even the trajectory of his life.
The story ends with God restoring all that Job had lost plus more! More sons, more daughters, more livestock, more respect and honor in his community.
God gave Job abundant life, and raised him from the ashes of destruction.
Conclusion/Application
Conclusion/Application
As we close out another Easter Service, I want to ask you to reflect on Jesus and what He has done for you personally and us all together. He has prepared away to raise us from the Ashes of sin and death.
When He cried out on the cross, “It is finished,” He was acknowledging that the price had been paid in His sacrifice for our sin. He was, as Paul put it delivered up for our sin, the atonement. But He did not just die for you and me, paying our sin debt, but He has been raised to life by the Father .
Romans 4:25
He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.
The purpose of His death was to pay the debt and the purpose of His resurrection was to save us, guarantee life for us. The declaration that He is risen means that the age of salvation has come. Without the physical, bodily resurrection of Jesus from the dead, our sins would still be upon us. We would not be justified.
Jesus came, died on the cross and was buried, and then three days later was raised from the grave for you and me. That is what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:3,4
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
He, Jesus has laid it all out on the line. How will you respond? Will you accept his righteousness by faith in His death and resurrection, will you enter salvation in and through Jesus Christ?
He is the source, the promise, the way, the truth, and the life.
Commit your life to Him today.
Rise up, dust off the ashes, and take a step of faith towards the Savior of all mankind.
He’s ready for you.
Let’s pray together.