Looking in the Wrong Place

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!

In the name of Jesus. Amen.

Jesus is out. Risen from the grave. The One who was crucified; who was stricken, smitten, and afflicted (Is. 53:4); who had all the sins of the world laid upon Him (Is. 53:6); who suffered God’s wrath for all of those sins; He is risen. The resurrection proves that God has accepted the death of Jesus in your place. The price for your sins has been paid. You do not need to be held accountable for any of your sins when Christ returns on the Last Day. Christ is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Guess what? That means your sin, whatever sin it is, your sin is included. He bore your sins to the cross, to death, and to the grave. Now, that grave is empty.

It’s the greatest story ever because it’s true. The Resurrection is no “fake news.” It wasn’t fabricated by men who were out to get rich. The preachers of this Good News were persecuted, exiled, and even killed for preaching it. The resurrection of Jesus is one of the most provable events in history. There are hundreds of books and days’ worth of podcasts that I could point you to. Just ask me after the service. I just want to make sure you know this. The historical evidence for Christ’s resurrection is out there for anyone to learn, and it is undeniable.

Most of you are here today because you do believe that Jesus rose from the dead. But if, for some reason, you are here today and deny Christ’s resurrection from the grave, it is only for one of two reasons. Either you aren’t familiar with the evidence, or you do know the evidence, but you ignore it and continue denying it because you want to continue in some sinful habit or lifestyle. And you know that because Jesus is risen, you will have make a change and begin to take Jesus very seriously. But you don’t want to do that.

If that’s the case, I beg and plead with you. The pleasures of this life will never give you the peace and joy that the forgiveness of Jesus will give you. And, deep down, you already know that those sins don’t satisfy. Christ has died for whatever sins you are holding on to and forgives you for those sins. So, repent. Consider the evidence and believe because if you won’t believe, I have to be honest with you, if you won’t believe, you will have Jesus, the Son of God who defeated death, you will have Him against you. And you are without excuse.

Ok. To the Resurrection. And I’m going to add some details from the other three Gospels. If you want the references, I can print this sermon off for you after the service. Just ask me. Early that first Easter morning the women arrive at the tomb to finish the burial and embalming customs because there wasn’t time to finish it all on Friday. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had begun the work of embalming Jesus’ body back on Friday (Jn. 19:38-42). Now, these women are back to finish their work for the dead. They didn’t know the One who died had finished off death. And when they arrive at the tomb, the Gospel of Luke tells us that they find two angels (Lk. 24:4).

According to Matthew’s Gospel, the first angel was outside of the tomb and was sitting on the stone that had sealed Jesus’ grave (Mt. 28:2). That first angel tells them, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as He said. Come, see the place where He lay” (Mt. 28:5-6).

So, the women go into the tomb and find the second angel which is what we have recorded here in Mark. The second angel tells them nearly the same thing. “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.” I need to make a quick comment here. The grammar of that statement is so important. The angel doesn’t say that the crucifixion is just some event that happened to Jesus in the past. Instead, the angel says that Jesus is the one who is and remains the Crucified One. But, even though He was crucified, death didn’t stop Him.

So, allow me to give a loosey-goosey translation/interpretation of what the angel says there in v. 6. “You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the Crucified One. But crucifixion can’t keep Him down. He bounced right out of His death. See the place where they laid Him.” And the women look at the place where they had seen the crucified, dead Jesus laid. And what do they see? According to John’s Gospel, they say saw the cloths that had covered Jesus lying there neatly folded (Jn. 20:6b-7). In other words, Jesus made His bed before He left to tomb. Kids, note that. If you want to be like Jesus, make your bed and tidy up after yourself!

I want to tie all of this back to the first words of Scripture you heard this morning in our call to worship from Lk. 24:5 where the angel asks the women, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?” One more grammar point. The angel asks, “Why do you seek the Living One (singular) among the dead ones (plural)?” In other words, the women were looking in the wrong place.

They were looking for the Crucified One in the place of dead ones. But Jesus, the Crucified One, is God. And when God dies, He doesn’t stay dead! Jesus had told them this would happen. No less than three times (Mk. 8:31; 9:30-32; 10:32-34), Jesus told His disciples that He would die and rise again. These women had come to the tomb with their spices to finish embalming a dead guy who wasn’t there anymore. They were looking in the wrong place.

I want to bring this idea, this concept to today. If the past year of virus and pandemic has taught us anything, I hope it has taught us this: Don’t look for health, hope, security, or safety in anything in this fallen world. The dangers of sin and death that surround us are more than we realize. And if you are looking for hope and life in anything but the crucified and resurrected Jesus, you’re looking in the wrong place.

Hope and life are only found in Jesus, the Crucified and Risen One. Because of what Christ has done, nothing can harm you. The resurrection is what helps us understand Psalm 91 which says, “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence…. You need not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow the flies by day…. [When you make the] Lord your dwelling place – the Most High your refuge, no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all of your ways…. When you call to [God], [He] will answer [you]. [He] will be with [you] in trouble; and will rescue and honor [you]. With long life [God] will satisfy [you] and show [you] [His] salvation.”

Dear people loved by God, everything in this life will fail you. Politicians, scientists, experts, and doctors are all good gifts from God, and we do thank God for them. But they cannot give you the life and peace and security that Jesus gives.

So, when you feel the guilt and weight of your sin, don’t go looking for deliverance from your works and efforts. Look to the cross where Jesus died for those sins.

And when you are afraid, unsure, or uncertain about the present or the future, look to the empty tomb and nowhere else. Christ is risen. Death has been swallowed up in victory. Death’s victory and sting is gone forever (1 Cor. 15:54-57).

Christ is risen. Your Redeemer lives. And at the last He will stand upon the earth. You will see Him for yourself. And through faith in Jesus, the Crucified and Risen One, you will live forever with Him.

Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia!

Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.