The Day that Changed Our Life

April 4, 2021 (Opening Video) The Day that Changed Our Life (Mark 15:42-47; 16:1-13) This all happened on Friday, the day of preparation, the day before the Sabbath. As evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come). Pilate couldn't believe that Jesus was already dead, so he called for the Roman officer and asked if he had died yet. The officer confirmed that Jesus was dead, so Pilate told Joseph he could have the body. Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth. Then he took Jesus' body down from the cross, wrapped it in the cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph saw where Jesus' body was laid. 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. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. On the way they were asking each other, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside. When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, 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. Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died." The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened. After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened. But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn't believe her. Afterward he appeared in a different form to two of his followers who were walking from Jerusalem into the country. They rushed back to tell the others, but no one believed them. Introduction On Sunday, December 7, 1941, Japanese bombers descended on Pearl Harbor naval base in the early hours of the morning. No one was paying attention and when it was done, 2,403 US service members and 1,178 were wounded. The enemy sank or destroyed six U.S. ships, and 169 U.S. Navy and Army Air Corps planes. The next day, before a joint session of Congress, then President Franklin Roosevelt stated that December 7, 1941 was a day that would live in infamy. More recently, those of us who were alive on Tuesday, September 11, 2001 will not likely forget where we were or who we were with when terrorists crashed planes into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon killing more than 3000 US citizens. There are days that change the course of history and as much as these and other significant dates are marked by the historical and personal significance, I suggest to you that the days of the death and burial and resurrection of Jesus are humanity's greatest moment in time. You wonder why we are so excited on Easter because we are free, we are forgiven because there was a cross and there is an empty tomb. For a few minutes, may I just remind you what happened? Jesus Died On A Cross (Luke 23:33-34) And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. He Was Buried In A Tomb (Mark 15:42-46) That evening, Joseph from Arimathea was brave enough to go to Pilate and ask for Jesus' body. Joseph, an important member of the Jewish council, was one of the people who was waiting for the kingdom of God to come. 44 Pilate was amazed that Jesus would have already died, so he called the army officer who had guarded Jesus and asked him if Jesus had already died. 45 The officer told Pilate that he was dead, so Pilate told Joseph he could have the body. 46 Joseph bought some linen cloth, took the body down from the cross, and wrapped it in the linen. He put the body in a tomb that was cut out of a wall of rock. Then he rolled a very large stone to block the entrance of the tomb. He did not simply lie in that tomb-he was busy... He Rose From The Tomb In Power * Satan never had the keys to death-Jesus always had the keys-so Jesus did not have to get the keys back- * death was the result of the curse of sin upon humanity- * so Jesus rose from the dead to conquer death and give us this promise... (John 14:19) Because I live, you will live also. The resurrection forever end the devil's hold over us Conclusion What does this mean to me? * Jesus died so you could be forgiven * He was raised from the dead so you would have hope in eternal life