“Because He is Risen”
“What Resurrection Sunday is really about”
Matthew 28:1-7 “In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first [day] of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead [men]. And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen,( WHY SEEK YE THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD? HE IS NOT HERE, BUT IS RISEN LUKE 24:7) as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you”.
Today is a wonderful day of celebration. It is called Easter/Resurrection Sunday. Although the term Easter is a pagan term it is used to represent the day that Jesus raised from the dead. It is a time for families to get together and enjoy each other’s company. It is a day more importantly a day of celebration. A day to celebrate life, eternal life! Today all across this land people will dress up in new clothes and go to church many for the first and some for the last time this year. They say because it is Easter Sunday, but if you truly ask them what this day is all about many are unable to tell you. Some will say it’s about the Easter Bunny, colored eggs, marshmallow Peeps, and Jelly beans. Some will even say that that this is the day Jesus was raised from the dead but really don’t understand the importance of Jesus being raised from the dead has.
UNDERSTAND: - This weekend for the Jewish faith commemorates the Passover. When the Children of Israel were in captivity in Egypt and Moses was told to tell Pharaoh to let His people go. There were ten plagues that came upon Egypt. The 10th plague was the death of the first born of all creatures. The Children of Israel were told to kill a lamb and place the blood of the lamb on the door post and on the mantel of the door and when the death angel would see the blood he would pass over the Children of Israel as long as they were under the blood. As long as they stayed under the blood they didn’t have to fear death, they didn’t have to fear the Egyptians they didn’t have to fear anything as long as they stayed under the blood.
For the Christian faith this is the weekend that commemorates the death, burial, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It was on this week, some 2000 years ago, that Jesus, the only begotten of God, was beaten and crucified on Calvary’s cross. He shed his blood for you and for me so that the wrath of God would Passover us as long as we stayed under the blood.
On this past Friday we celebrated what we call “Good Friday”. It is commemorated as the Day Jesus Died.
LET ME GIVE YOU A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON: On this day Jesus was beaten all night long, they pulled the hairs from His beard, they punched Him in His face, they spit upon Him. Then they dragged Him out into the open court-yard and there He was tied to a whipping post. His hands were tied above His head and He was beaten repeatedly with a flagellum. A flagellum was a whip about 6’ long, about half way down there were pieces of bone made into the whip, at the end of the flagellum were pieces of metal. Every time this flagellum came down across the back of Jesus, flesh was ripped from his body, but he never said a mumbling word. He endured that beating because he looked down through time and saw you and me. Every time that whip came across his back I like to believe that He said that one is for Mel, that one is for _____________. I like to believe he said I am shedding my blood so the wrath of God will pass over you all you have to do is stay under the blood.
After they beat him all night long, after they pulled the hairs out of His beard, after they place a crown of thorns on His head, they placed upon His shoulders the crossbeam of the cross called a patibullium. This crossbeam weighed about 80 lbs, they made Him carry it up Golgotha’s hill, every time He stumbled from the weight of the cross He was kicked and beaten even more. Thank God for Simon of Cerene that for a moment was able to give Jesus a little rest. With His back bloody and open from the flesh being ripped from it they laid Him on the ground and nailed him to the cross. His hands began to draw up like claws his feet began to draw up. He didn’t have to go to hell because he had hell all in his body. At about 3:00 in the afternoon the Bible says he gave up the ghost. There on Calvary’s cross Jesus, the only begotten son died.
NOW IF THAT WAS THE END OF HIS-STORY - then we could be satisfied with getting all dressed up once a year to commemorate the event of Calvary. However, there’s more to His-story. We don’t celebrate this day because Jesus died - Jesus just didn’t die and He is not dead.
BECAUSE IF GOD WAS DEAD:
His Divinity is Disproved
His Death would be Dismissed - He is a martyr, but nothing more: - so
Our preaching would be false
Our prayers would be futile
Our pardon would be non-exsistent
Our peace would be a forgery
His Dominion is Dissolved
His Deliverance would be Disqualified
BUT HE IS RISEN
When He died on Calvary’s cross, I believe that the cohorts of hell began to rejoice. No doubt death said I got the victory. No doubt the grave said I’ll hold him here. No doubt the devil said see I am the greatest, but suddenly the earth began to shake, the grave lost it’s grip, death realized it didn’t have the victory. The gates of hell flew open, in walked Jesus. He looked at death right in the face and said O death where is your sting. He looked at the grave and said O grave where is your victory. He looked at the devil took the keys of death and hell from him and said all power in Heaven and Earth is in my hands. Then he rose from the dead. The Bible says he led the captives captive – he freed them from the stronghold of Satan – because Jesus is not dead - He is risen.
Mary and the others came to the tomb looking for Jesus, the angel of the Lord said unto them “WHY SEEK YE THE LIVING AMONG THE DEAD? HE IS NOT HERE, BUT IS RISEN”
Today people are still searching among the dead for the living. They are searching in the tombs of alcohol and drugs. They are searching in the tomb of illicit sexual activity. They are searching for the living God unable to find Him because they are looking in all the wrong places, but I am here today to ask you the question. Why seek ye for the living among the dead He is not there He is risen.
Because He is risen I don’t have to be strung out on drugs.
Because He is risen, I don’t have to try to depend upon the bottle.
Because He is risen I don’t have to shoot up
Because He is risen I don’t have to try to commit suicide.
Because He is risen I don’t have sell my self.
Because He is risen I don’t have to be hooked on crack.
Because He is risen I don’t have to be afraid.
Because He is risen I don’t have to be bound.
Because He is risen I don’t have to beat myself down for mistakes I made.
Because He is risen I don’t have to accept the lies the devil tells me.
Because he is risen I don’t have to worry about anything.
Because He is risen I don’t have to be abused.
Because He is risen I don’t have to be lost.
Because He is risen I don’t have to look at the dead things.
Because He is risen I don’t have to be confused.
Because He is risen I don’t have to be a homosexual.
Because He is risen I am delivered.
Because He is risen I am healed.
Because He is risen I am free.
Because he is risen I know He holds my hand.
Because He is risen I have joy unspeakable and full of glory.
Because he is risen I can walk in victory.
Because He is risen I can have hope for tomorrow. Regardless of what trials may come my way.
Because He is risen I know that he walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrows way.
Because He is risen I can be whatever I want to be. Because with Christ all things are possible.
Because He is risen I am not guilty.
Because He is risen I am not a failure – even if I have failed in the past.- I’m not a failure.
Because He is risen I can reach heights that at one time were impossible for me to reach.
Because He is risen I am more than a conqueror.
Because He is risen I can break the strongholds that once held me down.
Because He is risen I know my prayers availeth much.
Because He is risen I know I am somebody.
Because He is risen I am redeemed out of the hand of the devil.
Because He is risen my sins are forgiven.
Because He is risen I am continually cleansed from sin.
Because He is risen I am justified by faith.
Because He is risen my life is worth living.
Because He is risen I can say it didn’t work.
Because He is risen I know I can make it.
Because He is risen I understand my purpose.
Because He is risen I can reach my destiny.
Because He is risen every day is sweeter then the day before.
Because He is risen I will give Him Praise.
I am reminded of a song that we use to sing sometime ago and it is so appropriate for today. The words are:
God sent His son, they called Him, Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives!
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!
How sweet to hold a newborn baby,
And feel the pride and joy he gives;
But greater still the calm assurance:
This child can face uncertain days because He Lives!
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!
And then one day, I’ll cross the river,
I’ll fight life’s final war with pain;
And then, as death gives way to victory,
I’ll see the lights of glory and I’ll know He lives!
Because He lives, I can face tomorrow,
Because He lives, all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth the living,
Just because He lives!
ANOTHER SONG SAYS:
I serve a risen Savior, He’s in the world today; I know that He is living whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer, And just the time I need Him, He’s always near.
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me Along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
In all the world around me I see His loving care, And tho’ my heart grows weary I never will despair; I know that He is leading thro’ all the stormy blast, The day of His appearing will come at last.
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me Along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart.
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, lift up your voice and sing Eternal hallelujahs to Jesus Christ the King!
The hope of all who seek Him, the help of all who find, None other is so loving, so good and kind.
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and talks with me Along life’s narrow way.
He lives, He lives, Salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives?
He lives within my heart.
BECAUSE HE IS RISEN: - You don’t have to search the tombs of the dead things, you don’t have to be strung out on drug, addicted to alcohol, sold out to sexual immorality. You don’t have to struggle with your sexual identity. You don’t have to feel as though you are about to loose your mind. You don’t have to be confused. You don’t have to feel as though you need to commit suicide. Because when He rose from the dead all power in Heaven and Earth was in His hands, and because He rose from the dead You have the VICTORY.
You may be going through a situation in your life and it seems as though everything is dead. You don’t know how you’re going to make it and it may seem as though it will never live again, but today on this Resurrection Sunday if you just let Jesus rise in your heart He will turn your life around. He will give you a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. He will give you beauty for the ashes of your life. He will give you the oil of joy for mourning. Will you let Jesus rise in your heart.
District Elder M.L. Maughmer, Jr
Assistant Pastor
O.G.C.O.G.I.C.
