The Hope of the Resurrection

Introduction

There are certain sights, sounds and smells that can immediately remind me of certain events or seasons in life. So, for example, the changing color of tree leaves, or the smell of a bonfire or pumpkin pie can immediately remind me of the Fall season or memories of Thanksgiving. The smell of a fresh cut pine tree reminds me of Christmas. The smell of lilacs makes me think of spring.

For all of us, there are those ordinary moments in life when through our senses of sight, sound or smell that we’re transported or reminded of joyful experiences or memories of the past.

There’s really no way to read through Psalm 30 and not smell the sweet aroma of the hope of Christ’s resurrection.

This Psalm, written by David nearly 1000 years before the birth of Jesus is not just simply a Psalm of thanksgiving for God’s healing work in David’s life but is actually a Psalm that points to the hope and joy of the resurrection of the promised Messiah. Through God’s work in David’s life, we see the ultimate picture of God’s power in the resurrection of Jesus from the grave.

Remember that David was not only a king, but he was also a prophet who spoke of the promised Messiah who would one day come to sit on the throne forever. And this throne is not an earthly throne but a heavenly one where Jesus reigns overall.

When the Apostle Peter delivered his sermon at Pentecost in Acts 2, he spoke of David as a prophet.

Acts 2:29-32, “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.

This Psalm that David wrote is a gift to the church of the hope of Christ’s resurrection. A confident hope that because Jesus lives, we live. That because Jesus was given life, we have new life. That because Jesus was healed there’s coming a day when we will be fully healed and restored. That because Jesus reigns over death itself there’s coming a day when death will no longer have it’s sting.

It’s what the Apostle Paul encourages the Corinthian church with in 1 Corinthians 15.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57, When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place: Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Psalm 30 is a celebration of Christ’s resurrection and the joy that comes to those whose hope and faith are in Christ alone.

And so, I’ll ask you here this morning, “where is your hope?” We all come here this morning carrying burdens and struggles and various degrees of suffering and hardship. We see the brokenness of the world and if we’re honest we recognize the brokenness within ourselves as well.

Every single person is in search of hope and a solution to the problems of life and the problems within us. And so, the plea to you this morning is to look to Jesus for your hope. Why? Because of the resurrection. The resurrection of Christ, as Psalm 30 points to promises redemption, promises new life, promises joy, promises healing.

And so, if you are not a Christian, would you this morning turn from false Saviors, turn from broken solutions to your problems and turn in faith to the person of Jesus trusting in his finished work on the cross and the power of his resurrection?

As David wrote this Psalm and as he spoke as prophet looking forward to the hope of the resurrection of Christ, it was broken down as I see it into five verses or sections, the technical word is “strophe.” From those five sections I’ve written out five life-changing, hope-instilling, joy-filling gifts that we receive through of the resurrection of Christ.

Let’s look at the first one.

Pick it up in verse 1.

Psalm 30:1-3, I will extoll you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

The first life-changing gift we receive through the resurrection is:

Restoration.

Again, to remind us, as we read through this Psalm we’re doing so through the lens or prism of Jesus’ death and resurrection and the union we hold with Christ.

Jesus had many enemies. He had many foes. Every one of them was thrilled to see Jesus arrested, beaten, tortured, and killed.

In Mark’s gospel he records how people would pass by Jesus as he hung dying on the cross mocking him, laughing at him. The religious leaders are recorded as saying, “He saved others; he cannot save himself.” Even those who were crucified with him on that day, Mark says were mocking him as well as they themselves were dying.

Jesus was brought low on that day of crucifixion. There is no doubt about that. He was beaten, he was killed. His body was laid in a grave, in “Sheol,” the place of the dead. And yet, three days later, Jesus had the last laugh when God raised him, healed him, restored him.

The union we hold through faith in Christ means that because Jesus was restored, we will one day be fully restored to life as it was meant to be lived in glad and joyful harmony and relationship with our God and with one another.

Just as Jesus was drawn up from the grave by the power of God, we who hope and trust in Christ will one day be fully drawn up to walk in wholeness and life and joy.

Now, he’s begun that work of restoration already within us. In John 10, Jesus speaks of the abundant life he himself gives.

John 10:10, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

In Philippians 1, Paul speaks of the continuing work God is doing in those who belong to him.

Philippians 1:6, And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Because of Christ’s resurrection God is restoring us back to how we were meant to live in relationship with our Creator.

The second life-changing gift we receive through the resurrection of Christ is:

Joy.

Look at verse 5,

Psalm 30:5, For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Why are we assured this joy? How can we know it is true? Let’s look to Jesus.

When Jesus hung on the cross, he became the sacrifice for sin. In fact, the sins of mankind were placed on Jesus. He bore the penalty. He bore the wrath of God because of our sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21, For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin.

In Matthew’s gospel Jesus is recorded as quoting part of Psalm 22 as he hung on the cross. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

In that moment the anger of God, the wrath of God was directed toward His one and only beloved Son. In that moment, God turned his face away from his Son. Why? So that you and I, through faith in Christ would not have to bear the anger or wrath or forsaking of God.

And yet, the beauty and love of Jesus is seen in that Jesus went to the cross willingly. Nobody took his life from him, he laid it down. Why?

Hebrews 12:2b, For the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

What was that joy that Jesus looked to? It was the joy of the glory and exaltation that would come from the Father through his selfless act of redeeming a lost, broken, and helpless people to himself through his death and resurrection.

And we share in that joy through Christ. Do you want to be happy? I believe we all do. Never-ending joy is found in the person of Jesus Christ. And how do we take hold of that joy? Through faith in Christ which results in glad obedience to his commands.

Jesus says as much in John 15.

John 15:9-11, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.”

The hope of Christ’s resurrection here for us today is that there’s coming a day when, as Tim Keller puts it, everything sad is going to come untrue.

Yes, weeping may tarry through the night, but the sun will rise. We will walk through and experience varying degrees of suffering in this world and within ourselves, but the hope of the resurrection means that joy is coming and it will last for eternity.

The third life-changing gift we receive through Christ’s resurrection is found in verses 6-7.

Confidence.

David says,

Psalm 30:6-7, As for me, I said in my prosperity, “I shall never be moved.” By your favor, O LORD, you made my mountain stand strong; you hid your face; I was dismayed.

There’s a show on Nat Geo called “Doomsday Preppers.” I’ve watched from time to time, not because I’m a prepper but just because it’s fascinating. Basically, if you’re not familiar with the show it follows the lives of individuals or families in their preparation for worst-case scenarios.

And so, they’ll stockpile guns and ammunition, food, and water. They’ll set traps around their property and some even go to the lengths of building underground bunkers that they can seal themselves into in case of war or an invasion, looting, or famine, or chemical attack.

Now, I’ve watched this show cynically, but I get what they’re thinking. The world is unpredictable and unstable and they’re trying to create confidence and stability.

We know this feeling and desire. When a storm comes, we go to our basements. We have locks on our doors and windows. Some of us have security systems set up. We have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in our home, airbags, and seatbelts in our cars.

We’re seeking to create as best as we can a world of safety, security, and confidence in the midst of unpredictability.

What David points us to is that ultimately, the confidence that we seek is found in the resurrection of Christ. Why is that? Because ultimately what we need most is reconciliation with and forgiveness from God. That is humanity’s most dire need. You may escape a storm in your bunker, you might survive that car crash because of your seatbelt or airbag, the fire alarm may warn you of danger, but there’s still coming a day when you will stand before God and give an account. There is no escape from that and so what we need most is confidence that we are right with God. And Jesus’ resurrection is what gives us that confidence.

In fact, it’s faith in Jesus’ death and resurrection which binds us to our God.

Romans 8:33-35, Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died – more than that, who was raised – who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?

Verse 37,

Romans 8:37-39, No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure (confident) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height now depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The fourth life-changing gift we receive through Christ’s resurrection is:

Mercy.

Verses 8-10,

Psalm 30:8-10, To you, O LORD, I cry, and to the Lord I plead for mercy: “What profit is there in my death, if I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise you? Will it tell of your faithfulness? Hear, O LORD, and be merciful to me! O LORD, be my helper!”

David understood his need for mercy because he understood the depths of his own depravity. Do you understand the depths of your own depravity? Do you understand not just in concept but in raw emotion the sinfulness of your heart and your desperate need for mercy?

John Piper explains sin this way:

“What is sin? It is the glory of God not honored. The holiness of God not reverenced. The greatness of God not admired. The power of God not praised. The truth of God not sought. The wisdom of God not esteemed. The beauty of God not treasured. The goodness of God not savored. The faithfulness of God not trusted. The commandments of God not obeyed. The justice of God not respected. The wrath of God not feared. The grace of God not cherished. The presence of God not prized. The person of God not loved. That is sin.”

And we are guilty before the Lord.

And our only right response to this treachery and rebellion is to cry out for mercy. God help me! Be merciful to me!

And the only reason why we can cry out for mercy and receive it is because of Christ’s death and resurrection. Without it, we would have to bear the punishment for our sin. There would be no escaping it. We would be unable to receive mercy because sin must be punished. God’s holiness demands it. It’s why the cross is so beautiful. And it’s why the resurrection is so necessary.

The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians that,

1 Corinthians 15:17, If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.

The resurrection was necessary in order for mercy to be given. This is life-changing news.

Lastly, the fifth life-changing gift we receive through Christ’s resurrection is:

Hope.

Let’s finish this Psalm out in verses 11-12.

Psalm 30:11-12, You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

The key word in these last few verses is “forever.” David is looking forward to the new life that Christ will bring when he makes all things new.

There’s coming a day when all that is wrong in the world and within ourselves will cease and all that will remain will be wholeness, peace and happiness. There’s coming a day when mourning will no longer exist but only gladness with no threat of it ever ending.

This is the confident hope that Jesus gives us through his resurrection. This is what awaits those whose faith is in Jesus alone.

This is the promise that God gives his people.

Hear these words from Revelation 21.

Revelation 21:3-5a, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

This is the sure and confident hope that Christ brings us through his resurrection. It was the hope David walked in. It’s the hope you and I must rest in.

The resurrection of Christ is not a footnote in history it’s what defines it and shapes our future. All that we long for, hope for, plead for is found in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Are you resting and walking in that hope today?

Application:

Restoration - confession and repentance of sin - walking in community - not defensive

Joy - “Joy is not necessarily the absence of suffering, it is the presence of God” - Sam Storms

Confidence - brings rest from the temptation to “do” things for God - Jesus has already done it

Mercy - We are able to be merciful and forgiving because God has been merciful to us

Hope - We don’t look to this world to make sense of our lives