Easter Sunday

Well Good morning, I’m excited to be here on this resurrection Sunday with you this morning. Man, what an exciting morning as we celebrate resurrection Sunday and our Lord and Savior this morning who conquered the grave!!

As a kid, and I Know a number of churches do this… so this may be familiar to you (or perhaps not), but the pastor would always say... “He is risen” and then the congregation would say back “ He is risen indeed.” So, let’s try that this morning! HE IS RISEN… HE IS RISEN INDEED!

Pray

Well, this is one of my favorite times of year as it starting to warm up and the flowers are beginning to appear. And there’s just something special about easter and the spring that gives us excitement and new life…

Even yesterday morning, for those of you who were here... what a joy it was to be a part of and watch as a number of children had the opportunity to hunting for easter eggs. I think we had right around 1,300 eggs scattered in the yard. And so, thank you to those who came out and helped in any capacity. But in case you missed it yesterday, it was really a time of excitement as all the kids ran out in the grass here at the church in search of little plastic eggs with candy inside.

Each egg, with its unique color scattered throughout the yard, green eggs, and purple-colored eggs, pink eggsand so on… and each of them had individual chocolates or candies for the kids to enjoy. (Or in my case, for the parents to enjoy). Some of the eggs were special with toys inside, or bracelets or even slime in the shape of a cooked egg, which this morning. My 2-year-old did not know this toy egg was fake and Jordyn tried to eat this egg.

But really, here’s the point this morning… Yesterday, there was a sense of excitement out on the church grass as kids gathered to take part in the easter egg hunt. As each kid one-by-one ran our in the grass with a smile from ear to ear they enjoyed the beauty of yesterday morning as they anxiously ran from one egg to the next to see what they might find.

Man, to be a kid again! What excitement! What Joy! And yet, for each kid that was here yesterday… they all have this in common… they all came with expectations of what they might find!

Some were hoping to find toys, some were hoping to find skittles or other sweet candy and still others had hoped to possibly walk away with one of the awesome easter baskets that was put together… But regardless of the expectations yesterday morning… it was the same experience; it was the same event.

When you think about it though; for us as adultsor teenagers we’re not that far off from our children in our own regard. we too come to church on Easter Sunday, each with a sense of excitement.Each of us, perhaps of memories gone by, of times where we were with mom and dad, or other loved ones. And together, we look back on Easter with fondness and excitement. As we celebrate easter and what it means to us…

And yet here’s the question for you this morning… what are your expectations this morning? What are you hoping to find? You see, for you this morning, you may have been coming to church for over 50 years and yet you’re struggling with a current situation right now, and you come to church hoping to find a breakthrough. For some of us this morning we’ve been dealing with sin for some time, and we’re searchingfor freedom. Or perhaps you’re here this morning, just cause someone else told you that you were going to be here… and there are other places or things you would rather be doing this morning… and yet, you’re here anyway, but Welcome to church, we’re glad you’re with us this morning.

You see friends… I don’t know what you’re looking for this morning… but I do know what you’ll find!

I want us to turn in scripture together, to Luke 24. And as your turning there, are message this morning is: Regardless of what you’re searching for? I want us to see: 1. He is not here… he is Risen! 2. You’ll find hope. 3. You’ll find forgiveness.

If you have your bibles with you this morning, turn with me to Luke 23… You’ll recall that Jesus was sentenced to death, he was mocked, spat upon, punched in the face, flogged, rejected by those closest to him and ultimately placed upon a cross where for nearly 6 hours, his body was exposed to public humiliation, and he endured agonizing pain. They placed nails in his hands and feet and a crown of razor like thorns on his head.

Luke 23:50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he himself was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

In studying this scripture, I found that Joseph from Arimathea, unlike most of the Sanhedrin council (which by the way was made up of 71 men) was a righteous man. The bible says that he was a “good and upright man” and when we see the word righteous in the scripture, it is the same word used to describe Christ a few verses earlier in Luke 23:47 where it states: 47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” – Jesus is righteous By nature. Whereas Joseph was righteous only by the divine grace of God.

Now Jesus body was placed in the tomb late in the afternoon, and final preparations were not complete that evening. In addition, we see that the next day was Saturday or what would have been the Sabbath at the time, so on the following day morning… a number of the women have came early to finish the burial process of Jesus.

And we pick up in scripture with our first point.

1. You’ll Find He is not here… he is Risen!

24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.

You see, what we see here, is several of the women have came. To make the final preparation, but when they entered, they did not find the body of Jesus. Instead, they see 2 angels that great them… Their frightened naturally, and trying to make sense of what is going on… and the angels say “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Not what they were expecting to find.

So, if we stop for a second, I want us to see, and this is the purest truth about easter… is that we have hope because ultimately, he has risen. That although our earthly bodies are subject to death that ultimately our citizenship is in heaven, and it’s all possible because of the cross.

For as 2 Cor 5:1 says: 5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Goes on to say in verse 5. 2 Cor 5:5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

You see on Thursday of this last week; I was making the 1hat should have been 10:30 hour drive from Myrtle Beach back to Kenton. And I felt like we were making great time until we got the foothills of west Virginia. You see, my wife and I had been recently stopped for lunch at chick-fil-a near the Virginia and west Virginia border and after stopping for lunch, we resumed our trip along the highway. We soon found however, that even though we thought we were making great time… we weren’t in such great shape, as evidently there was an accident ahead…

A little further down the road, and Siri decided to navigate us down what really should have been a single lane, winding road that was literally on the edge of a cliff. And as we navigated down this road, on the right side… I thought, man I sure am glad I’m not hugging the edge of the cliff on the other side of the road… well that thought was replaced about 15 minutes later, when we found out that the road was blocked. And all the other travelers on highway 77 who had the same idea of taking this detour, were headed for a dead end…

As I made my way back towards the highway, completely retracing every step I had made… which by the way cost us about 30 minutes of travel time… I couldn’t help but think that there must be a sermon point in the making. I asked my kids, what’s the sermon point here… and Taylor spoke up and said: “Always Trust God.”

As I continued to drive by all of these people, I was reminded of all the passengers in life, who I wanted to tell all of them to go the other way… that they were headed for a dead end. That the road was closed, and they were going in the wrong direction.

To make the story more, intense, I then got back on the highway… back in traffic, drove down the road and soon found out the reason for the accident. To my discovery, a massive semi-truck was on the right side of the road, and through the back end of the window there was massive wooden beams that had came through the backseat window and through the cap of the truck…

You see, the wood wasn’t anchored properly… and ultimately, I don’t know what happened to the driver, but I can tell you I would be surprised if he was still alive today. Crazy enough, a few miles down the road and off to the right, I saw 3 large crosses, like you sometimes see on the side of the road. And friends, here’s the point, I was reminded of the Great news Of Easter Sunday.

You see, the fact is that When Jesus wasn’t there… he completely changed the scene… He took us from a place of hopeless to hope, from death to life, from eternal fire to eternal freedom… Friends, He was not there, he is Risen…

Romans 8 tells us: 10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of[e] his Spirit who lives in you.

Friends we have hope this morning, ultimately because the grave was empty. Because even though they women that morning weren’t expecting an empty tomb... that’s exactly what they Got, and it changed everything…

2. You’ll find hope.

As we continue reading in Luke 24:9-12 I find it funny, this miraculous event has taken place… Jesus has risen from the grave, and yet… most of the disciples don’t believe the report that is given. that is except for Peter, we’re told: 9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.

I want us to catch this for a moment… out of 11 disciples, 10 of them stayed put… 10 of them thought that this was nonsense that was being reported to them… their minds were closed of to the reality that Jesus had in fact risen from the grave… but then… we find Peter… who unlike his friends, had hope that day… You see, it was the same miracle. Jesus Rose from the Grave… but what changed was their expectations… what was different from Peter compared to everyone else was unlike the other disciples, he had hope, that this might not be nonsense, but in fact, truth.

We look later at another account involving the resurrection of Jesus. And again, we see this concept of Hope at stake. Here’s what we read:

Luke 24:13-24 13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still; their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

Friends, 2 of these people are walking together. They’re talking and discussing everything that’s taken place and trying to make sense of it. They had hoped that Jesus was going to redeem Israel, ultimately from Roman opposition by establishing the kingdom promise in the Old Testament. You see, we’re told 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.

You see friends, these 2 and others had been looking for immediate relief from suffering on this earth, so many that were present even on Palm Sunday, we’re hoping for immediate relief in their circumstances… and yet… The hope that Jesus offered them was not a temporary satisfaction, but eternal.

You see friends, whether they realized it in these moments or not… they had all the hope they needed, and it was only possible because of the cross.

I’m reminded of Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

You see, many of us this morning have things that we hope for from God. Many of us have expectations, and we try to place him inside of our box… and according to how things make sense to us… but friends, if I can encourage you with something this morning… that ultimately, we have Hope… Because whether life make sense this morning or not… because of the Cross.

The disciples had hope, Jesus had risen from the dead… even though it seemed like nonsense to them, these women had hope…. And this morning… you have hope.

3. You’ll find Forgiveness.

Here’s what we’re going to do… You know in my time of preparation and study for this message, I felt the Lord was telling me just to give the gospel. And the truth is, sometimes, even as preachers, we can give enough information for you to be curious. But not enough for you to make a personal decision of repentance.

44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

You see, I don’t know what you were looking to find when you walked in this morning. But ultimately, what you’ll find is the very reason that we celebrate Easter Sunday, and that is eternal life.

Joseph didn’t speak up at first… The 2 on the road to Emmaus had a hard time believing, the disciples struggled to believe…. But This morning, what about you?

You see, the miraculous act of Resurrection took place, and yet, many reacted in different ways. The roman government tried to cover it up, struggled to believe that Jesus had risen from the grave, and the 2 on the road to Emmaus had a hard time recognizing that Jesus was walking with them… and it was only later that their eyes would be open… but again, what about you?

You see, Today, I want to extend an opportunity for you to act. You see, I was at a conference this past week, and in times where the guest speaker would share, they would always extend an invitation to receive Christ.

You see, the bible tells us:

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

But we’re also told:

Romans 10:9 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.

So, here’s what I’m going to do, I’m going to close us out in prayer… and whether you’re watching online or if you’re in service this morning… The best thing that we could walk away from today’s message with is a relationship with Jesus… Do you know him this morning? Is he your savior? Is he your Lord? Is he your hope? You may live to be 100 years old and then pass away, or then again, you may have your life cut short…

But just like so many who responded to the events that easter Sunday, you too a responsible with what you do in response to the cross.

Romans 5:6-86 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

PRAY. LISA DISMISS.

Exit.