Now What?

Context

We have made it to Easter!!!! We are now celebrating the greatest Christian Holy Day known to man. That’s right, Easter is the greatest day known to mankind. It is the day that Jesus Christ rose from the grave. It is the day that death was defeated. It is the day that sin was overcome. It is the day that the first of many rose to live forever more. It is the day that everlasting life was breached by death. It is the day that death became the enemy that will forever be beaten. It is the day that victory was claimed for the believer and the sinner was set free. It is the day in history that Jesus fulfilled His title of Christ and became the savior of the world. What a day to celebrate!!! What a time to remember!!! What a God we serve!!! Hallelujah; Praise His Holy Name!!!

Woooooooooooo!!!!!

Alright. Ya’ll are going to have to calm down. I haven’t even started preaching yet....

Find in your Bibles two places: John 20:19 & Luke 23:50.

Have you ever felt like the disciples? Have you ever felt defeated? Have you ever felt like your world was falling down around you and you absolutely no idea what to do next? That is what I want to talk to you about today: Now What?

I want to show you another place in scripture where someone felt the same way. Look at Romans 7:15 if you would.

Paul is battling with sin here in the text. He is stating that even though he knows and loves God, he finds himself doing things contrary to God’s law.

Romans 7:15 CSB

15 For I do not understand what I am doing, because I do not practice what I want to do, but I do what I hate.

Now this tells us a few things:

Paul is saint. Not only is Paul is a believer, he is an Apostle. He was hand chosen by God to do preach the Word of God and take it to the world. Paul is definitely a man of God.

This means that one can have the Spirit without walking by the Spirit. One can be saved and still commit sin.

Romans 7:18–19 CSB

18 For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do what is good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. 19 For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do.

Romans 7:22–24 CSB

22 For in my inner self I delight in God’s law, 23 but I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?

Can you relate to Brother Paul today? Have you ever felt broken and beyond repair? I know what is right, but I am unable to do it. I know what God’s will is, but I am unable to live in it? Now What???

Content

Look, if you would at Luke 23:50-53.

Luke 23:50–53 CSB

50 There was a good and righteous man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, 51 who had not agreed with their plan and action. He was from Arimathea, a Judean town, and was looking forward to the kingdom of God. 52 He approached Pilate and asked for Jesus’s body. 53 Taking it down, he wrapped it in fine linen and placed it in a tomb cut into the rock, where no one had ever been placed.

Joseph’s Dilemma (Vs. 50-51a)

Joseph’s Drive (Vs. 51b)

Joseph’s Determination (Vs. 52)

Joseph’s Deed (Vs. 53)

Commitment

Luke 24:1–2 CSB

1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

Romans 7:25–8:1 CSB

25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am serving the law of God, but with my flesh, the law of sin. 1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus,

John 20:19–20 CSB

19 When it was evening on that first day of the week, the disciples were gathered together with the doors locked because they feared the Jews. Jesus came, stood among them, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 Having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Now What?

All three accounts offer hope. Luke says they got to the tomb and it was empty. The tomb was empty because Jesus got up. When He got up, He made an appearance to His disciples.

Because He lives, Romans 8:1 could never be more true!!!