Sunrise Service 2022: Who are you looking for?

Good Morning My Friends.

He is Risen…(He is Risen Indeed)

For our guests this morning, Welcome to our Sunrise Service. I’m Pastor Joe Vivian. I have the blessing of serving our children and families here at Eastern Hills.

I would also like to take this time to welcome those joining us online this beautiful morning. Thank you for sharing this morning with us.

Again, Welcome.

Many probably know that in our household we have some pretty heavy duty food allergies. Kerry has Celiac and IC. So we are very careful in what foods we eat. Because of that, it’s usually much easier for us to prepare our own meals at home as much as possible.

About a year ago, we decided to do the AIP diet. Auto-Immune Protocol. This eliminates up to 90% of what you would normally eat and you are left with foods that are typically not associated with inflammatory or allergic properties. Extremely restrictive.

The goal was to eliminate all inflammatory foods and after 8-12 weeks, slowly begin to reintroduce foods, 5-7 days individually at a time, to see if you are allergic or not.

What I’m getting at is that we spent a great deal of time researching the validity of AIP as well as the recipes we would have to follow.

We had to be specific on what we were looking for. We took it seriously because it involved our health, our well being.

We didn’t just throw caution to the wind and accept a basic search inquiry that said, “make me feel better diet.” No, we were specific in the ailments and foods. We knew exactly what were were looking for.

I think we can all relate to a search inquiry that was no where near what we were looking for.

We were persistent in our search and excited at the daily revelations we were making.

This is where we will be this morning. Asking the question, “What are you looking for.”

Resurrection Sunday. This is the point of our faith where the Gospel begins. This morning, the empty tomb, our risen Savior…The Gospel begins now. Friday really was Good, very Good.

If you have your Bibles, please open them up to John 24. We will be in the first 10 verses this morning.

As you are turning there, I am asking that you begin to picture the scene we are about to read. Spring mornings in Jerusalem are quite chilly. There’s a crisp coolness in the air. Olive trees dot the landscape. Flowers are beginning to bloom. The yellow flowers of the mustard plants cover the mountainside landscapes. The pathways are defined yet can be unstable with loose rocks and stones if not carefully navigated by your steps. This morning, the first dawn since the Sabbath, began like any other spring morning on a Sunday. However, all would forever be changed within moments of what they found at the tomb.

Let’s read.

Luke 24:1–10 CSB

1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. 5 So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. 6 “He is not here, but he has risen! Remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘It is necessary that the Son of Man be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’ 8 And they remembered his words. 9 Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. 10 Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things.

PRAY

We just read the initial findings of the first Easter morning. This account is shared in all four gospels. This morning, we will stay in Luke’s account.

I want us to look into the heart of these women that early morning.

Rather than immediately appearing to his disciples, there is a gradual progression in how his followers come to term with Jesus’ resurrection.

Upon arriving at the tomb early on Sunday morning, the women find the stone rolled away and the tomb empty.

Then two men, described as like angels, tell the women that Jesus is alive.

This is what my first focus is for all of us this morning:

I. They were Loyal (1)

We find that the women came very early in the morning to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. They had come to pay their lasts respects to the One they loved and embraced as the Messiah. To these ladies Jesus was more than a man; He was Christ their Savior.

Friends, up until the cross, countless others had heard His message; they have witnessed His miracles and experienced His power and grace. However, this morning, these are no where to be found. To them, Jesus was just as other men. He was viewed as one who did great things, but wasn’t received as the Christ. They were preparing to anoint a body, a dead man’s body.

Can it be said the same for each of us? For many Easter is about everything but Jesus. Many today celebrate the Easter bunny, a new dress or tie, maybe even a church service, but their hearts are not toward the Lord. We need those who are loyal to the cause of Christ. To being the reflection of Christ to those around them.

Romans 6:4 CSB

4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness of life.

Colossians 1:10 CSB

10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and growing in the knowledge of God,

See friends, these ladies were loyal. How is your relationship with Christ? Who are you loyal to?

Yes, they were loyal, but they were also lacking.

II. They were Lacking (1–5)

These had followed Jesus. They had believed on Him, and yet on Resurrection Morning they are perplexed about His absence in the tomb. They were not seeking the risen Christ among the dead.

The women arrive at the tomb and are confronted by three pieces of evidence: the stone rolled away, an empty tomb, and the two messengers who have a report about Jesus’ resurrection and a message for the disciples.

Now it is easy for us to look at their situation and become critical. How could they not have believed? How could they possibly have thought that He would still be in the tomb? I fear that we would have done much the same. In fact we do in the day in which we live. We, at times, are lacking in our faith.

Friends, we have met early this morning to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and yet we often live as if He had not risen. We live our lives defeated as if we are serving One who has no power. We confess that we believe He is coming again for His own and yet many times our lives don’t reflect that hope.

The two men asked the correct question, “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?”

How often can that question be asked towards me? Towards you?

What are you looking for that is not of Christ? Life gets messy and our priorities shift so as to suit our very wants. We don’t seek Him or His righteousness first, even though Jesus taught just that.

Matthew 6:33 CSB

33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be provided for you.

We become discouraged and create a focus on self. We seek the dead first, not the One true Living God.

Instead, friends, we of all people have reason to rejoice. We are triumphant in Christ.

1 Corinthians 15:54–58 CSB

54 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. 55 Where, death, is your victory? Where, death, is your sting? 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! 58 Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Philippians 4:4–7 CSB

4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. 6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

The ladies displayed loyalty to Jesus as well as lacking belief; however this soon turned into celebration.

The women were liberated.

III. They were Liberated (5–10)

These ladies came expecting to anoint a dead body.

They were coming to conclude the funeral services, but things did not turn out as they had planned.

As they came to the tomb they were told that Jesus had risen just as He said He would. With that they recalled His promises and rejoiced in the true and living God.

The women suddenly remember Jesus’ earlier statements and report the resurrection to the Eleven.

Just as the shepherds were the first witnesses to Jesus’ birth, these women (who are marginalized in first-century Jewish culture) are the first witnesses to the resurrection.

All of their doubts and fears vanished as they realized that Jesus was alive and well.

Friends, I am well aware that we are in very difficult days.

There is mounting trials all around us.

Christians everywhere are being pressured to abandon their faith and walk away from the Lord.

We don’t have to live in fear.

We don’t have to live in defeat.

Jesus rose from the grave victorious and because of that we have hope.

He shared it many times.

Matthew 12:40 CSB

40 For as Jonah was in the belly of the huge fish three days and three nights, so the Son of Man will be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.

Matthew 17:22–23 CSB

22 As they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus told them, “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men. 23 They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised up.” And they were deeply distressed.

He went away, but He is coming again. Just as He rose from the grave, so shall we rise!

Friends, this morning I don’t want to just stop there.

Jesus made it very clear for each and everyone that He is the Only Way.

The Tomb is empty, He has defeated death.

Let’s take time this morning to ask ourselves again:

-Who or what are we loyal to?

-Who or What are we looking for among the dead?

-Who or what are we rejoicing about?

This Resurrection Sunday, if you haven’t surrendered, turned over your life to Christ, make it this morning.

Jesus said it beautifully in that upper room the night before the cross.

John 14:1–7 CSB

1 “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4 You know the way to where I am going.” 5 “Lord,” Thomas said, “we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

Friends, who are you looking for?

No need to look any further, Jesus is the Way, The Truth and the Life.

Surrender today, surrender this morning.

Let’s pray.