He Is Not Here; He Has Risen!

“HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN!” (Outline)

April 12, 2009 -- EASTER SUNDAY

-- Luke 24:1-11

INTRO: Easter morning. An empty tomb. Fulfillment of Scripture. Every Easter every believer has complete confidence concerning Christ and their Christian faith. Today, actually every day, we celebrate and rejoice at the message of the angels: “He is not here; he has risen!” Throughout history man has tried to change this beautiful, simple soul-saving message of God’s gospel. The Roman government immediately spread the rumor that Jesus’ body had been stolen. Man’s denial does not change God’s truth.

God’s angels declared, “He is not here; he has risen!” The women told the disciples. The disciples also repeated God’s truth. "With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and much grace was upon them all"(ACTS 4:33). Today we still testify to the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. By faith much grace, which is God’s divine, free grace, is upon all of us.

“HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN!”

I. Come to see.

II. Live and tell.

I. COME TO SEE

A. The woman come to the tomb with a sorrowful sense of duty, verse 1. The body had to be prepared.

1. Jesus was hastily removed from the cross and placed into the tomb on Good Friday.

2. A large stone sealed the tomb. Verse 2. There is joy because they can enter the tomb.

3. The women’s joy turns to sadness, verse 3. Where is the body of Jesus? What happened?

B. Verse 4. God does not leave the women wondering. God never lets anyone wondering about truth.

1. The angels wanted these women to think, verse 5. Jesus is alive. Why look among the dead?

2. Verse 6a. Very clearly the angels announce God’s great, wonderful, and miraculous truth.

C. Verse 6b. Think of the many times Jesus reminded you of the things that were to happen.

D. The women came to the tomb to see Jesus’ body. The tomb was empty. On Easter we come to the tomb. We see that the tomb of Jesus is still empty. “He is not here; he has risen!” Seeing is believing. You, I, and Christians throughout all creation are blessed and privileged beyond all comparison to be able to see with eyes of faith. We hear with our ears of faith. We believe in our hearts of faith the message of the angels. “He is not here; he has risen!” Our faith is God’s gift of undeserved grace to each of us. Our faith is God’s gift to us through the power of his saving word. "Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ"(ROMANS 10:17).

E. We come and see the empty tomb. For a short time this tomb was not empty. The lifeless body of Jesus was placed into the tomb for a very short while. It was the price that God himself demanded as the payment for our sins. This is God’s amazing grace. Adam and Eve sinned and ruined God’s perfect creation. God promised them, and future generations, a Savior to pay the price for disobedience. This is God’s gracious plan of salvation. Our salvation plan might demand retribution, payment for sins, or a punishment to fit the crime. Not our loving Lord. God demanded payment for our sins from himself! "The Lord Jesus Christ…gave himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father" (GALATIANS 1:4). The empty tomb once occupied by Jesus is for all sin.

F. The empty tomb reminds us of God’s forgiveness – full and free and forever. Yet, some still try to deny the physical resurrection of Christ the Lord. Why? It may be because of forgiveness. When speak-ing of forgiveness we need to admit wrong. Today’s society never likes to hear about sin (wrongdoing). Our society avoids all acceptance of doing anything evil. Those who deny sin also deny the salvation that comes through the empty tomb of Christ Jesus, our Lord. "Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners--of whom I am the worst"(1 TIMOTHY 1:15). Our sins put Jesus into the tomb. One sin makes each of us the worst of sinners.

“HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN!”

We come and see the tomb is empty. Our sins are forgiven.

II. LIVE AND TELL

A. Imagine if the women went to their own homes and kept quiet. Their message would seem nonsense.

1. That was not the case, verse 9. There were only eleven apostles. Judas had taken his life.

2. Verse 10. The names of the women are listed. The empty tomb is not anonymous tip.