What Resurrection (Easter) Sunday Means
April 12, 2020
Mark 16:1-7 Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene and Salome and Mary the mother of James went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. 3 On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” 4 But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside. 5 When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, 6 but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. 7 Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.” Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
Play one of the Video’s What the Resurrection means to me
In considering the significance of this day, contemplate with me that the Resurrection means…
Jesus has removed a Stone called the Fear (Mark 16:6) 6 but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here!
Ask: What do you think are some the things that alarm people today?
Spiders, Snakes
Heights – As you know my father had a slide hustle which was Pafford and Sons Tree Service. We had no lift trucks it was all ladders, robes and climbing by hand. I have a healthy respect of heights but the thing that caused me fear is the falling!
Public speakingis listed as American’s number-one fear, before death at number five, and loneliness, weighing in at number seven
We live in a time of great fear– but fear has always been an issue
ASK: What are the issues that make this such a fearful time?
To say that this is a time of great fear is to state the obvious. There is a great deal of fear and panic around the world today! COVID 19 has caused fear of among other things, running out of toilet paper, paper towels and water
It is an alarming time in the middle of this worldwide pandemic – cities and entire nations shutting down – infect rates and deaths climbing, unemployment skyrocketing ….
But fear has always been an issue for people.
We’re afraid we might fail; we are afraid people may not like us; we are afraid that we might get out of the will of God; we are afraid of the wrath of God; we are afraid of what people might do to us if they get angry with us; we afraid of cancer; we are afraid of pollution and war…we are afraid not to be afraid…we are afraid of losing our material goods… and most of all we are afraid of Death.
Steve Brown, Living Free Grand Rapids: Baker Books p. 22
It is no wonder the angel says, “Don’t be alarmed!” And then Jesus says the same thing
Arguably one of man’s greatest of is the fear of death
Listen to writer of Hebrews as he references Jesus death & resurrection and men’s fear of death…Pastor Josh please read Hebrews 2:14-15…
Heb 2:14-15 Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. 15 Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. Holy Bible, New Living Translation ®, copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.
ASK: Why do you think that is that Death is one of mankind’s great fears?
I think one of the reasons among many that men fear death is that God has put eternity in the hearts of men, – We don’t want to die! I think our original design and DNA coding was to live forever – He has put eternity in our hearts a longing for immortality!)
Which leads me in our considering the significance of this day, to consider that the Resurrection means…
Jesus has removed the Sting of Death(Mark 16:6-7) He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. 7 Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”
Play Another What the Resurrection means to Me Video
Two really important things here in this passage (Mk. 16:6-7) – He has Risen from the dead and secondly, he said he was going to do this!!!
ASK those watching/ Josh – Have you ever resuscitated someone? – If so, what was that like? Describe in a sentence. mouth to mouth?
I remember one Sunday morning getting ready for Church hearing cries and whaling coming from our next-door neighbor’s house. The little boy had been electrocuted by a short in their electric stove. The grandmother had his lifeless body in her arms rocking and whaling. My dad took his body laid him on the ground, breathed a prayer and then breathed into his lungs air and then pumped his chest and then breathed into him again. Suddenly the little boy coughed and moved!!! My father had given him mouth to mouth resuscitation and had brought him back from deaths door. BUT understand that no one resuscitated Jesus…
Just as no one took his life, he gave it, so to no one resuscitated him.
Josh, do you know why? – Because HE IS THE RESURRECTION & LIFE
This simply means resident in him is the source of both
This is His Divine nature
He does more than give life — He Is Life!
Because He is life death had/has no ultimate power over him
The occasion where Jesus declared this was at the time that he resurrected Lazarus. You might recall Martha is upset with Jesus not being there when Lazarus was so sick that he died. Her point was if only Jesus had been there Lazarus would still be alive. So Jesus said:
John 11:25-26 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; 26 and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” NIV
Here is what I want us to see he proves this point twice!
First, he calls Lazarus who was dead for days out of his tomb
Secondly, he himself conquers and overcomes death!
Because of this…
Jesus Resurrection Assures My Resurrection (1 Cor. 15:21-22)
Pastor Josh read 1 Cor 15:21-22 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. NIV
That’s good news isn’t it! And that is the reason we just celebrate Good Friday. It was and is good because the penalty of sins was paid for. This is the gospel – Good News! Listen to John 5:11-14 And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. 13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. NIV
Not only does Jesus resurrection assure My Resurrection it also…
Jesus Resurrection Assures a Future Judgment(1 Tim. 4:1)
2 Tim 4:1In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom NIV
Someday Justice will come, Someday God and Christ will judge justly and rightly!
He will judge both the living and the dead.
Have you by faith accepted Christ work of judgment against your sins on the Cross?
Have you acknowledge your sinfulness and need of His saving Grace?
If you haven’t, why not do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God. Please contact me at pastor@abundantlifegp.com we will get you some materials to help you follow Jesus and be his disciple.
