He is not Here!
Sermon • Submitted • Presented • 29:37
0 ratings
· 11 viewsFiles
Notes
Transcript
Today on Resurrection Sunday we are going to look at the importance of this day. I titled this message “He is not here” a quote from the Gospels, it is the event that changed everything. Christ’s death and resurrection completely changed our world, and should cause our lives to be completely changed. Today we are going to be looking not only at a section of the Gospel of Mark but also 1 Corinthians. The importance of the events of this week for Jesus can not be stressed enough, it is the Good News of Christ. It is the foundation of our faith.
4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed.
after the Sabath day Mark records a group of women going to the tomb, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, the other Gospels also list other women, there was most likely a small group that had gone to prepare Jesus body for permanent burial. You might be asking the question, did they not understand Jesus’ many references to His resurrection, or did they not believe what He had told them. They had been witness to His many miracles, including raising Lazarus from the dead. But their actions show some doubt, their hopes had been crushed as they watched our Lord being tortured, and murdered. they were filled with grief. On their way to the tomb they were wondering how they were going to get the stone rolled away it was very large. It would be impossible for them to move. Also, on Saturday the stone had been sealed and a guard had been placed at the tomb. As they arrived the stone had already been moved. Their curiosity peaked the moved in to take a loo, and a messenger (angel) was waiting form them, He frightened the women, but he had an amazing message for them.
6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”
The angel delivers his message to them, but first he asks a rhetorical question, who do you seek. He then gives them the amazing news “He is not here”. He then points out where Jesus body had been laid three days ago, but it is not there, “HE IS NOT HERE.” The angel gives two commands, “come and see, then go and tell” Sound familiar, what as Christians are we commanded to do? First we must see who our Lord is, that He has paid the price for our sins, and then we must go tell. We are to tell the world that “He is not Here”. Our faith is built on the fact. That the God Man, perfect and sinless became sin, so that we may come to His righteousness. He has defeated sin and death. All the other religions of the world worship dead people, Muhammad, Buddha, all dead. But the even that changed everything is Jesus is alive, we do not serve a dead Savior. He is alive and seated at the right hand of the Father. The disciples had their doubts and fears, after the crucifixion, they wept and mourned, when they should have been praising and sharing. “The empty tomb is a symbol that death has been emptied of its power by the risen Christ”. In the next section I have three points 1) Hopelessness 2) Our Hope Assured, and 3) The Facts.
Hopelessness
Hopelessness
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
As we start looking a 1 Corinthians we are going to look at it a little out of order. Hopelessness. We see Paul confronting the lies about the Resurrection of the dead. In 17-19 Paul argues that if Christ did not raise from the dead than our faith is useless, and our lives are pointless. Because without the resurrection all we have is the here and now. We are all lost in our sins without Christ’s atonement. those who have already died are gone. If Christ is dead and He is who we put our faith in we should be pitied for our foolishness.
Our Hope Assured
Our Hope Assured
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
“Our Hope Assured” In these three verses Paul assures the believers with some facts. FACT Christ has been raised from the dead. “the firstfruits of the dead” this phrase shows us that Christ now sets the standard. Just as sin and death came by one man (Adam), resurrection has come by one Man (the God Man, Jesus). Adam ushered in sin and death, that has now been over turned by Christ who ushers in eternal life. “The resurrection means endless hope, but no resurrection means a hopeless end (Stephen Um). This should give believers the hope to live our lives BOLDLY, CONFIDENTLY, COURAGEOUSLY. Living for Christ each and everyday. Busy about the kingdom work. Loving God and loving others.
The Facts
The Facts
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
“the facts” In these verses Paul lays out the facts. First and of utmost importance that Christ paid the price for yours and my sins. Just as was promised from the Old Testament. He was buried, and raised according to Scripture. How does God communicate with us? Through His Scriptures. We were not eyewitnesses of His Resurrection, but we have all of the eyewitness accounts. We have the Old and the New to reassure our faith in our Risen Savior. Paul lists our some of the eye witnesses, he also mentions that at the time of this letter most of the 500 eyewitnesses are still alive. So, if the Corinthians had any doubts, they could be reassured. FACT Jesus is not dead, FACT Jesus paid the price for sin, FACT Jesus is now seated at at the right had of the Father making intersession on behalf of the saints. Those who have a true saving relationship with Him.
He is not Here!
He is not Here!
So, why is today important— it’s not about Easter eggs—it’s not about a day with our families— it’s not about Easter lunch. It is about Christ and what He did for us. it is the the conclusion to ta week of suffering and anguish, suffering that He did not deserve. The spotless lamb sacrificed so you could experience His righteousness, so you and I could called children of God. So, you could experience His love and freedom—true freedom from sin and death. As the Hymn “without Him” says “Do you know Him today. Please don’t turn Him away”. Do you know Him, now I know you all know who Jesus is , but do you really know Him. Do you have an intimate relationship with Him. If you don’t do not wait, we are not promised tomorrow. If you do have an intimate relationship with Him are you living your life as if He will return tomorrow. Living a bold empowered life sharing the truth of who He is with the world. Did we “come and see Him and are we going and telling the world, “He is not Here” We can begin each day with the deeply encouraging realization, I am accepted by God, not on the basis of my personal performance but on the basis of the infinitely perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ.