Easter

John 1:1–3 NIV

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

John 1:4–5 NIV

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it...

Last year I showed the incredible song “empty grave” by Zach Williams

I was searching and searching for something awesome to start this message off this morning.

The more I looked, the more God kept reminding me

“the message is simple”

you don’t need something fancy....just share the message

A few days ago I watched a movie. It’s a satirical Christian movie about a megachurch pastor who is constantly trying to find the latest and biggest ways to attract people.

The youth pastor throughout the movie keep saying “just share the gospel.”

At one point the lead pastor says “I need to come up with something big. Bigger than anything that has been done before.”

To which the youth pastor responds, “bigger than the death and resurrection of Jesus?”

Amen huh? The message is simple:

Jesus died.

Jesus raised from the dead.

So, why not? Why not start with scripture?

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it!

2 days ago Jesus was nailed to a cross....

While hanging there John writes:

John 19:30 NIV

30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

3 simple, but complex words.

It. Is. Finished.

In the words of the great band Petra:

“And the sky grew black as the night And the people scattered in fright The work had been done, redemption had been won The war was over without a fight It is finished”

The pinnacle of Jesus’ earthly ministry was finished!

It was dark.

It was sad.

People were scared.

What now?

What are the disciples, the ones who had given up everything for 3 years to follow Jesus, going to do?

He is dead.

It. Is. Finished.

The darkness has overcome the light......

The messiah. The savior of the world. Hangs on a cross.

Darkness has won....

John 20:19 (NIV)

19 On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders...

The disciples had gone back into hiding.

They were afraid.

They locked the doors.

Their protector had died.

They had forgotten what Jesus had said to them about what was going to happen.

They couldn’t see past their current circumstance into the bigger picture.

What would happen?

What was their plan?

It was to hide.

To be afraid.

To lock the doors for fear of the Jewish leaders.

I’m wondering this morning if some of us are stuck on Good Friday.

We have followed Jesus, but now He seems distant.

We have been so caught up in our circumstances that we forgot the promises of God.

We are so caught up in sin or other situations that we have returned to hiding.

We have locked the doors for fear of the outside world.

Several years ago I had the opportunity to take a tour of the salt mine under Lyons, KS.

It was quite an interesting experience.

First they give us these hard hats to put on.

Which was a little odd to me because in my mind I’m thinking that if this place collapses, this little hard hat really isn’t going to do much…it was a false sense of security in my mind.

Then we get on the elevator that took us down into the mine.

I’m convinced that it was the original elevator as the thing was old and squeaky....I didn’t have much faith in it to be honest.

So, we get to the bottom and get into this vehicle. My aunt was giving the tour and she told us that the vehicles were cut up into pieces to be brought down there.

Which makes sense as how else were they going to go down there?

So, I’m already a little uneasy after having to put on this hard hat and ride this shifty elevator, and now I’m in this metal vehicle that i super glued back together for all that I know.

The we head around down there and look at all these things that looked exactly the same to me.

We get back to this one area that they were expanding.

My aunt then turns off all of the lights.

It was black.

I mean, pitch black. I have never seen blackness like this before. You literally couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.

There was no light at all.

It was dark.

And it was odd because you could still hear everyone of course, but you couldn’t see a single thing.

I wonder if this is what it felt like for the disciples on Holy Saturday after Jesus had died.....There was nothing but darkness.

I wonder if it is like this for us sometimes?

Complete darkness. No hope.

The darkness has won....or has it?

News came to the disciples. The tomb was empty.

Jesus had been taken. His body was gone.

Or was it?

Jesus was alive! He had risen.

Could it be? Could it really be that Jesus was alive?

No....surely not!

Thomas said:

John 20:25 (NIV)

...“Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

You see, we face dark times....

We have times of trials and difficulties.

We have times when we lose focus on who Jesus is.

When it feels like He has left us and we can’t see past our circumstances.

We can’t even see the hand in front of our face.

We have times when we doubt.

God, I know what you have done for me, but will you really do what you have said that you will do?

Will you really keep your promises?

Unless I see a sign and miracle right now, I will not believe it!

“Unless I can see the nail marks in his hands and put my finer where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

But then, Then Jesus appears a week later and He says:

John 20:26 (NIV)

“Peace be with you!”

It is interesting to me that Jesus greets them with this phrase.

You see, this is the second time that Jesus greet them in this way.

Back in verse 19, He greets them in the same way except Thomas was not with them at that time.

So, a week passes and Jesus greets them in the same way.

Peace be with you.

I am not sure exactly what their minds went to, but when I hear Jesus say this, I go back to

John 14:27 NIV

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

and skip forward to chapter 16

John 16:33 NIV

33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

I don’t know if the disciple’s minds when there, but it certainly makes more since now.

Jesus has died. He has been raised from the dead. He has overcome the world.

The devil was no match for Jesus!

Death was no match!

Jesus has overcome the grave!

Jesus is not bound by the power of the enemy or the power of death!

So, what circumstances are you facing that Jesus cannot overcome?

What darkness are you facing?

What doors have you locked for fear of the outside world?

If I can offer some hope this morning is a few things.

1. Jesus has overcome!

There is no battle, circumstance, trial, tribulation, or darkness that you are facing that Jesus cannot overcome!

Stop hiding! Stop locking the doors!

Open the door! Allow Jesus to come in and speak His peace into your chaos.

The light sines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it!

2. Receive the Holy Spirit

John 20:21–22 NIV

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Jesus comes into their darkness, brings peace, gives them the power of the Holy Spirit and sends them out!

We too, can have the power of the Holy Spirit!

Acts 2:38 NIV

38 Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus didn’t expect His disciples to leave the locked room without the Holy Spirit!

He didn’t expect them to walk in the darkness of the world without the light of Him inside of them!

As He sends His disciples out of the locked room, He sends us to!

We too can exclaim that:

Christ the Lord is Risen!

You see, when we say this we don’t say that He “has” risen, we say that He is “risen”

The reason being that saying “has” focuses on what He did. The event of Him rising.

Saying He “is” risen focuses on the fact that He is still alive!

He is still working! He is still overcoming the darkness!

He is still bringing peace into a chaotic world!

He is still overcoming death and the enemy!

Worship Team

As we move into the responsive song this morning, I want to encourage you that the light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it!

If you are a follower of Jesus and find yourself struggling in the darkness, return back to the conqueror of the grave! Give your struggles over to Him! Allow Him to speak peace into your life!

If you are not a believer this morning, I encourage you to take the step forward to do so!

Romans 10:9 NIV

9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

and 1 John 1:9

1 John 1:9 NIV

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

You too can receive the power of the Holy Spirit and have the light of life in you! You don’t have to walk in this dark world alone.

You are welcome to come forward and do so!

Christ the Lord IS Risen!