Life Everlasting

This morning we are going to be doing something a little different than normal. Kids can you come to the front one more time before you head to kids Church. We just saw how Jesus can wash way all of your sins like the penny when you ask Jesus into your heart.

You know that Jesus die for you and that he rose from the died but you see the disciple had no clue on the first Easter. Jesus told them but none of the understood it.

You see a lady by the name Mary Magdalene went to the tomb that morning to prepare Jesus body for death. She expected to find the tomb full like this egg there.

Instead she found the stone rolled away and the tomb empty like this egg. How can that be? How can this happen? Where was Jesus? He had risen for the dead and he was alive! He was no longer in the tomb.

Now for you adults. Think for a moment

What biggest day for Christians?

I asked Nikki Addie and Evie this same question last night. All three said Christmas like most of you were thinking. Christmas has turned into this romantic mid-winter festival. That we celebrate the birth of Jesus but in fact he most likely was born sometime during the spring or summer.

When someone ask you this question. I would love you to respond with Easter. Easter is the start of the new world. The start of new creation. Death no longer has a sting because the tomb was empty.

Today we will be looking at three different time that Jesus showed himself after he rose.

John 20:11–18 CSB

11 But Mary stood outside the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 She saw two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s body had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus. 15 “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it that you’re seeking?” Supposing he was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve carried him away, tell me where you’ve put him, and I will take him away.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” Turning around, she said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”—which means “Teacher.” 17 “Don’t cling to me,” Jesus told her, “since I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” 18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what he had said to her.

Mary Magdalene

These is big here. You see in those time women had no right the were looked down upon. They were just a piece of property. By Jesus showing himself to Mary it show that he came for everyone not just the men. Not just the wealth. No just the ones that understood who he was. He rose for everyone.

Mary was standing there crying not even paying attention to how was around here until Jesus spoke. Mary most likely yelled Rabboni or Teacher in English. Could you image what that would have been like.

John 20:19–23 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. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I also send you.” 22 After saying this, he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

The disciples

I shared part of this verses with you on Good Friday. This is the first time that all the disciples saw Jesus after he rose. We not going to send much time talk about how Jesus got into a lock room and all. What we should focus on is what he said not the all the details. He said Peace be with you twice. He wanted them to have peace. There was a lot going on. How would you react?

I would be scared out of my mind if i saw a man that i knew just die and was all the sudden standing in front of me. Most likely they were two. Jesus did come back to scare them but to save them. He rose so they you and I can have peace with him. So we longer face death.

All of the disciples were there expect one.

John 20:24–29 CSB

24 But Thomas (called “Twin”), one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were telling him, “We’ve seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “If I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands, put my finger into the mark of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.” 28 Thomas responded to him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

Thomas

Lot of us can fit into Thomas thinking here. We are very much a type of people that must see to believe right. We can have faith in something unless we can hold it or put our finger on it.

We do not have the option to do this with Jesus now. He is in heaven until the day that he returns for the second coming. So the question is how can we believe in something that we haven’t seen or touch.

It’s called faith. We must believe that Jesus did what he said he did. All it takes is a little faith. Faith the size of a mustard seed and he can move mountains. This little faith in Jesus and that God truly did send him.

Jesus bring new live to a dying world

For me Easter has always been a sign of new life. You see back home in Lousisana. Around Easter you would always see flower in full bloom. It a time of new life come into the world. You see that what Jesus can do for you. He can give you new life. He can be the rock you lean on. If you chose to follow him.

You might be in the same boat like Thomas was. You might be doubting if Jesus is who he say he is.