Luke 24:1-6a 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!
Mark 16:5-6a As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. 6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here.
Matthew 28:5-6a The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.
Today is Easter. The most celebrated day of the year for the Christian faith. We have come to worship the Risen Savior.
We have candy-coated Easter. We have made Easter about candy-filled baskets, colorful plastic eggs, chocolate surprises, and cute little bunnies.
But, Easter is about the impossible becoming a reality. Easter is about death giving way to life. Easter is about a savior who died and a Lord who lives for eternity. It’s the worst tragedy that morphs into the greatest triumph.
This morning I want us to consider how this great victory of the Lord can change our lives.
BECAUSE HE LIVES WE NO LONGER HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE FUTURE.
The greatest threat we face in life is the threat of death. The fear of death controls people’s lives much more than they realize or are willing to admit.
Here’s the Good News: The resurrection of Jesus takes the sting out of death. Easter promises us that there is life beyond the grave.
Death is no longer a giant . . . but a mere blip on the screen of eternity. Jesus’ return from the grave allows us to face death from a different perspective.
1 Corinthians 15:54-57 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” 55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O 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! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
For the person who trusts in Jesus, death is just a transition into a new life.
2 Corinthians 5:8 To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.
BECAUSE HE LIVES WE NO LONGER NEED TO FEAR THE PAST. Does your past ever haunt you? Do you worry that people will find out what you were really like in the past? Do you fear that they will discover what you did or said years ago? Do you fear that some of your past decisions will come back to haunt you? Do you fear that some of your past deeds will disqualify you from Heaven? If so, you’re in a large company of people.
Again, Easter, The Resurrection of Jesus has good news for us.
When Jesus came back from the dead, He proved that the sacrifice of His life was acceptable to God. His resurrection proves that the debt for sin has been paid. God’s wrath has been satisfied. We are assured that Acts 10:43 “..everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Sure, Our past may lead people to think differently of us, BUT our past has been dealt with and its shame has been eradicated when we know Jesus as our Savior. The forgiveness of Jesus through His shed blood is the great Eraser of life.
We are forgiven. And we know it’s true because of the resurrection. What wonderful liberating news this is to every person who trusts in Jesus for salvation.
BECAUSE HE LIVES WE CAN FACE THE PRESENT WITH NEW CONFIDENCE.
Life can be tough. Life’s roads are often filled with detours and wrong-way signs. Life’s bridges can be knocked down by emotional earthquakes or washed out by a flood of problems. Life at times can seem so unfair.
Sometimes things happen that will totally reshape our lives:
- People here today are dealing with the loss of loved ones.
- People here today are dealing with life-threatening medical issues.
- Recently a young couple buried their child who didn’t make it alive into this world…..
- There are grandparents today fighting custody battles to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their grandchildren
Life can be Tough! Troubling! Sometimes Torturous!
And, If we take a hard look at what might be ahead of us we might be tempted to think: “I don’t know if I can handle this. I feel weak and worn out, I lack the necessary abilities and stamina, the task seems overwhelming, and I don’t think I can make it.” But we can’t stop there! We must go further in our thinking and deliberating:
We must continue by saying,
-
- “BUT, God has promised to be with me.
- But God has promised to never leave me or forsake me.
- But God has given me His Holy Spirit as a partner in life.
I don’t have to face today or tomorrow in my own strength. Because He Lives I can face whatever comes my way!!
Friends, Easter is about God doing the unimaginable, It is about Jesus doing the unthinkable- all to win our hearts and to give us an opportunity at a new life.
Thank you, Lord for Easter-Resurrection, because without the resurrection, Easter is just an ordinary day and I’m left to pay for our own sins.
I don’t know what you are going through right now. I don’t know what pain you are enduring. I don’t know what people have hurt you, what family has abandoned you, what illness has struck you. I don’t know what has you fearful or frightened, but I do know this. Jesus is alive, and because He Lives we can face whatever comes our way.
“Because He Lives” (SONG) Conclusion
Jesus made a promise long ago and He kept it. He promised that he would pay with His life the penalty for our sins and then on the 3rd day be raised from the dead. Not only was Jesus raised on that first Easter morning, He still lives today.
1 Peter 1:3-5 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.
(Let me ask you something) Are you looking for life in the dead places of this world? Are you busy searching for truth and never finding it?
The power of the resurrection is real and it is life-changing. That same power that raised Jesus from the dead can raise the dead parts of your life today. Jesus can bring hope where there’s only despair.
BECAUSE HE LIVES: Jesus has dealt with our PAST, secured our FUTURE, and walks with us in the PRESENT!!
Jesus loved you more than life itself. He would rather die than be without you.
“The Greatest man in history, His name is Jesus. Had no servants, yet they called Him Master. Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime. Yet they crucified Him. He was buried in a tomb, But death couldn’t hold him and on the third day, He rose from the dead.
The only question that remains is: What will you do with the resurrected Savior?
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