Easter Expectations

INTRODUCTION:

Happy Easter to you! We are so glad you came to worship with us today.

Please turn in your Bibles to the Gospel of Luke.

As we read about the disciples and what they expected on that first Easter morning, we should ask ourselves, “What are our Easter expectations?”

Text: Luke 24:1-12

(1) Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. (2) And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.

(3) And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.

(4) And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: (5) And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?

(6) He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, (7) Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.

(8) And they remembered his words, (9) And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.

(10) It was Mary Magdalene, and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. (11) And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not.

(12) Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass.

Illustration: Easter Candy Bruise: My brother-in-law Moe and sister Barbara came over yesterday to wait for and to welcome his sister Rita, along with Kathy’s sister Tammy and a good friend Irene. They came down from Rhode Island to visit and to share the good news that Moe’s sister Rita, a week ago received Christ as Savior. (Applause)

Anyway, I noticed a large bruise on Moe’s lip. I asked him, "Where did you get that big bruise?"

He said, “From eating some Easter candy.”

I said, “Come on Moe, you can’t get a bruise from eating candy!”

Moe replied, “Yes you can if it’s my wife’s candy!”

EASTER SUNDAY is a time when Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. The resurrection is the heart of the Gospel, which speaks of how Christ died for the sin of the world, was buried, and then on the third day He arose!

Title: EASTER EXPECTATIONS

WORD MEANING: Expectation

The word EXPECT, points to something about to happen, a hopeful, looking forward to… one held in dependence by his belief or hope of receiving some good.

The word “EXPECTATION,” means the act of expecting or looking forward to a future event with at least some reason to believe the event will happen.

Expectation differs from hope. Hope originates in desire and may exist with little or no ground of belief that the desired event will arrive. The expectation is founded on some reasons which render the event probable. Hope is directed to some good; expectation is directed to good or evil.

Talk about how young and old look forward to this event.

Humor: Shortly after a Saturday Easter Egg hunt, mom decided to go out and work in the garden. She noticed her 5-year-old son putting his collected eggs one by one on the ground. She asked, “What are you doing?”

He replied, “I’m planting chickens.”

What are your EASTER Expectations this morning?

Have you come expecting to receive a Word from God?

Have you come expecting to be entertained?

Have you come expecting to be changed in some way by the person who stepped through the door?

Here’s a little poem I wrote for this day… Easter, Easter

Is Easter just a holiday,

with dyed eggs and yummy candy?

Is it a time when children play

and all dress so fine and dandy?

Is Easter when adults find

some much-needed relaxation?

Is it a break from their work

to enjoy a short vacation?

Or does Easter remind us

how Christ died our debt to pay?

And does Easter remind us

of how Christ rose on the third day?

Easter, Easter!

What a beautiful occasion!

Easter, Easter!

What a glorious celebration!

Easter, Easter!

Christ’s resurrection is in view!

Easter, Easter!

He arose for me and you!

Luke 24:1-12; John 20:1-10

© Loyd C Taylor, Sr., - April 2019Easter, Easter

Phillip Brooks shares his thoughts in the poem…

Christ will rise on Easter Day

Tomb, thou shalt not hold Him longer;

Death is strong, but Life is stronger;