Easter Sunrise Service

Mark 16:1 NLT

1 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.

Last night, nearly two thousand years ago, at sundown, these two women prepared themselves to say goodbye to Jesus. They were preparing to anoint the body of Christ.

They had walked with Jesus, yet their faith was challenged, they were anxious, the where hurting, and they were afraid. They were expecting their kings body to be laying in that tomb. This was the darkest of nights for those who followed Jesus Christ.

Luke 24:1–2 NLT

1 But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.

Mary and Mary were observing Jewish law and not working during the Sabbath. Jesus had been in the tomb for three days now, the women approached on the first day of the week, a Sunday morning much like this.

How often I think about that stone, that tomb, and what it means to the believer. Even in death and in His resurrection, Jesus was teaching us.

Jesus gave it all for you and me. What are you holding onto this morning? What have you buried in the tomb of your heart? Unforgiveness? Fear? Hurt? Anger? Pride? Shame?

All of that dies at the cross with Jesus. We are buried with Him in the likeness of His death, and then raised again in new life, as Jesus was raised. Have you sealed that stone and refused to allow God to remove the stone from your tomb?

Allow Him to roll that stone away. It is too heavy for you to move alone, but with God, all things are possible. He is the mover of the immovable, the doer of the impossible.

John 20:11–13 NLT

11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. 12 She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”

When you think about Jesus in your life, are you expecting a LORD and Savior who is limited? Do we pray, do our tears pour out to a God who can’t or a God who does?

Mary Magdalene was devastated as she stopped to look upon the body of the only one, Jesus Christ, that had ever listened to her and brought her peace.

Mary Magdalene was limiting the power of God in her mind. She believed, she had faith, that someone had stolen the body of Jesus.

Where is our faith this morning? In only what we can see? Is our faith dependent on what others believe? On what society believes? Is our faith rooted in and reflective of the Word of God? Do we fully believe this morning that He is who He says He is, that He has done what He said He has done, that He is the great promise keeper and the one true King of Kings?

John 20:14–15 NLT

14 She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. 15 “Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?” She thought he was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”

Mary Magdalene experienced such intense grief that she could not see who was speaking to her. Have you ever experienced so much emotional pain that your eyes are filled with so many tears you cant see? That your body shakes, and you can barely speak? That is what Mary was experiencing.

She thought she was talking to the gardener and pleaded for Him to take her to Jesus’ body so she could give him a proper burial. Mary was willing to do whatever it took.

In our walk, we may ask “where is God?” In your walk, others will ask you “Where is God?” As Jesus asked Mary, “Who are you looking for?” What God are we looking for? The worlds idea of God or the one true God. Are we looking for made up gods, weak gods, unfulfilling gods, or the omniscient, omnipresent, all consuming LORD of the Bible?

There are those desperately seeking the truth. This world is one of pain and fear, Jesus is the opposite. Jesus brings spiritual healing and peace. Are we allowing the world to “take Him away” from us? Do we water the Truth down to fit our lives and what we want in this life? Are we ourselves putting Jesus in a tomb when following Him is inconvenient?

See, the world can’t take Him from your heart. No matter how many monuments, statues, or Bibles are removed, God is still God. People get worked up that the world is removing God from everything. Is that even possible? We serve a mighty God! No matter what occurs at the hands of man, If you are a believer this morning, where you go, there He will also be. You get to decide in your life, nobody else, if He remains at the center of your heart. There is no reason to “go get Jesus,” for He is already in our presence. Thank you Jesus!

Mark 16:6 NLT

6 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.

The stone was rolled away. Jesus Christ, our LORD and Savior has risen. The stone was rolled away. That stone was rolled away not so Jesus could get out, but so that we could see in. Jesus did not need help getting out of the tomb, recall that He would later walk right through the door in the room where the disciples were gathered.

He wanted us to see in the tomb, to see that He is the risen King. He fulfilled a promise that nobody believed He could fulfill. The Holy Spirit raised Him and Jesus continues to do exactly what He said He would. We just need listen for His voice.

John 20:16 NLT

16 “Mary!” Jesus said. She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).

Tyler Begins Playing

Through the tears, Mary recognized His voice, the voice of the risen King. Before Jesus was crucified, before He had risen, and before He ascended to the Kingdom of glory, He said:

John 10:27 NLT

27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.

Our risen Savior speaks to your most inner being. Are you listening for His voice? Clear the path, clear the way in your heart and mind for the Risen King. At times, things may seem to crumble around you, or things may be confusing. Listen for Him, follow Him, know His peace and know His love. Mercy that is new everyday, peace that surpasses all understanding, and an amazing Grace that only Jesus would rise from the grave this day to shower down upon you and me.