Who do you Seek?
Notes
Transcript
INTRODUCTION:
Easter is the most precious of all holidays. It commemorates the proof of God’s promise to us.
Easter is so significant because the resurrection is the foundation upon which our faith is built.
Without the resurrection, all would be lost, we would be hopeless.
v.1:
On the first day, Sunday, as the sabbath was now over.
The fact that they brought spices, tells us that their intention was the completion of Jesus’ burial.
They fully expected to find Him still there. . . dead.
You see, even in His death, we see something amazing. First thing in the morning, they sought Jesus.
Even though they thought He was dead, they were going to start their day by honoring Him. What a picture of love and devotion.
How do you start your day? Do you seek Jesus first, before all else? Do you begin your day seeking to honor Him?
v.2:
While they were on their way to the tomb, they knew they faced a problem, who would roll the stone away?
When we face problems we should seek the Lord
When we face problems we should seek the Lord
Mark 16:3
Mark 16:3
And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?”
However; upon their arrival, they discovered that the problem had already been solved. The stone had been moved.
Isn't that just like God?
They thought they had a problem, but God had solved it.
What had appeared to be a serious roadblock, had been moved out of the way.
Why? Because they were seeking The Lord.
If you never seek Him, you'll never see Him work.
Matthew 6:33
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
Luke 11:9
Luke 11:9
“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.
I’m sure this came as quite a surprise, but not nearly as much so as what they were about to discover.
v.3:
The body of Jesus was gone!
v.4:
Now this really confused them, but they would soon understand.
God left two angels to give them the news of the resurrection.
However; had they never sought Jesus, they never would have discovered a living Savior.
God would make sure they had answers, just as He does today, through His word.
Faith in the God of the Bible has never been a blind faith. It has, and always will be a faith which is based on substantial evidence.
Biblical faith is not a blind faith, God provides answers
Biblical faith is not a blind faith, God provides answers
Hebrews 11:1
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
He gave us tangible evidence with the resurrection.
In countless ways, He has given us the means to know, we don’t have to be wishful and doubtful.
We have been given the Bible so that we can know!
1 John 5:13
1 John 5:13
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
The question is, what do you truly seek?
v.5:
The angels asked a very good question, and one they should have known. “Why do you seek the living among the dead”?
We should ask ourselves the same question today. All too often, we think we are seeking Jesus, but we act as if He is dead.
Instead of relying on a living Savior, we try to solve every problem, and handle every difficulty ourselves.
We treat Him like He is dead, because we never give Him the opportunity to take control.
vv.6-8:
The good news is that Jesus is not dead, He is alive and well.
Jesus is not dead, He is alive and able to save
Jesus is not dead, He is alive and able to save
Revelation 1:18
Revelation 1:18
I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
Hebrews 7:25
Hebrews 7:25
Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
Suddenly they were reminded of the very words that Jesus spoke. He had already told them that He would live.
They sought Jesus that morning, and what they found was a living Savior. How beautiful is that?
We have a living God, who is in control, and always working on our behalf.
The fact that Jesus rose from the dead, is undeniable proof that He is God.
The fact that Jesus rose from the dead, is undeniable proof that His sacrifice was acceptable to the Father.
The fact that Jesus rose from the dead, is undeniable proof that Jesus has defeated death, and therefore has the power to save us.
1 Corinthians 15:55
1 Corinthians 15:55
“O Death, where is your sting?
O Hades, where is your victory?”
In fact, belief in the resurrection is essential to the Christian faith.
Belief in the resurrection is essential to faith and salvation
Belief in the resurrection is essential to faith and salvation
1 Corinthians 15:14-19
1 Corinthians 15:14-19
And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise. For if the dead do not rise, then Christ is not risen. And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable.
It is impossible to deny the resurrection, and be a born again believer
It is impossible to deny the resurrection, and be a born again believer
Romans 10:9
Romans 10:9
that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
The resurrection (rightfully) made such an impression on the disciples, that they began to worship on Sunday, in honor of the Risen Savior.
Christ’s resurrection tells us that we need not be alienated or estranged from God.
By the resurrection, God demonstrated his desire for fellowship with us.
By the resurrection, Christ demonstrated the ultimate victory of good over evil.
The resurrection assures us that we can trust him completely.
v.9:
What was their response to such a blessed assurance?
They immediately began telling people. They didn’t stop with just the apostles, they told all the rest.
Who or what do you seek?
Who or what do you seek?
The resurrected Jesus Christ is a transformational, saving force.
Such a transformation should be met with mush excitement. Do you look for opportunities to share Christ with others.
Do you have a desire for the lost to share in what you have experienced.
Would you deny that to others? To yourself?
Jesus went to great lengths and unspeakable suffering, just to have fellowship with you, but you can’t have fellowship with him unless you trust him as your savior.
Would you deny him that which he worked so hard, and suffered so much for?
Will you trust Him as your Savior?
Will you make it a point to tell a lost person about Him this week?
This is truly a time for celebrating and rejoicing.
The Lord’s Supper
For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.