Easter 2008
John 20:24-29
Introduction
Risen slide
Matthew 28:6 says, “He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.”
Jesus Christ is alive!! Hallelujah!!
Go with me in your bibles to John, Chapter 20
Today we celebrate Easter Sunday
A time when excitement should take the place of the same old thing
A celebration ought to not only take place in our church, but more importantly in our lives as well. Far too often the church is silent at a time like this, and from I read in the New Testament it ought to be a shouting celebration!
Let’s read John 20:24-29
Pray
Point 1 – Jesus hears your words (v25)
Even when you do not think he does – he hears.
He hears our prayers, our pleas, our cries, and even our careless words …
He hears every praise lifted to His father – and every vulgarity spoken about Him …
He hears every cry for help or crass word spoken about another in your home …
He hears every rejoicing moment and every temptation to do something …
He hears it all and today we need to understand that we have a responsibility to learn from God’s word and apply it to our lives.
The disciples exclaimed … We have SEEN the Lord! Have you seen Him?
Thomas spoke carelessly and without thinking – just like we do.
Rom 14:12 says, “So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.”
Matt 12:36-37 says, “But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Expound …)
His resurrection is nothing if we do not understand this glorious revelation: We need to pay attention to what we say – for His resurrection has given Him all power and all authority – a lesson Thomas learned the hard way.
Not only does He hear everything, but He proves Himself to be true!
Point 2 – Jesus proves Himself true (v26-27)
Notice how when Jesus appeared a week later he immediately addressed Thomas’ weakness and his unbelief – He immediately deals with the doubt to be able to move forward in the work of the ministry. Our doubt hampers our work!
Has Jesus ever addressed your unbelief? Have you ever been caught short with God? Does Jesus still have to deal with your unbelief? Do you need to be taught to believe?
Thomas did not believe the Lord’s promise to rise again, nor did He believe the disciples claim to have seen Him. But, Jesus is true and His word can be taken as fact!
John 2:19 says, “Jesus answered them; "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days." Today, we celebrate that he is alive – and His words have come true!
When Jesus speaks, we need to take it as fact and
Point 3 – Do you believe? (v28-29)
Thomas believed and fell before the Lord – proclaiming who Jesus is!
My Lord and My God …
Do you believe in Jesus’ Lordship?
Do you believe because you have not seen? Or, are you still waiting for proof?
Jesus said we would be blessed because we believe and we have not seen.
Are you blessed because you believe?
We need to seek Him, and see Him for who He is!
This Easter my mind is flooded with not only the pain Jesus endured; but the feeling that I am responsible for Him going to the cross – because I am.
We should seek the Lord not only for absolution, but for education and to change our lives totally.
Personally, I want to see Him in His glorified body. I want to know the pain He endured for me so that I can be taught that submission and willingness are the keys to serve in the Kingdom.
I want to have the Lord open my eyes to a new day, and to a new understanding of who He is. Do you seek him in the same way?
I am tired of the same old Easter stuff – We need to refreshed this morning.
We must think beyond the “that’s the way we have always done it” mentality.
We need to seek a fresh anointing to fall on this church. I want to see Jesus for who He is, and I want to fall down and worship the risen Master of it all.
Today, I offer a challenge to anyone willing to seek the Lord in this manner.
This world has gone too far away from the Lord.
As the church, we need to get off our blessed assurance and actually seek Him!! We must stop resting on what yesterday did for us and look to grow today and tomorrow!!
Jesus died so you could live – so I ask you to consider, have you lived for Him?
Have you shown God your gratitude for the gift of Jesus at the cross?
Or, are you like Thomas? Do you doubt unless you see and do you tempt the Lord to prove to you who He is?
I tell you church one simple fact – Jesus has nothing left to prove!
(Jesus1 Slide) Do you remember the punishment he took? (Expound …)
(Jesus2 Slide) Do you ever reflect on the pain He went through? (Expound …)
Jesus said “I am the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end” – that settles it!
Do you believe it? If we don’t live it, then we cannot say we believe it!
He paid a debt He did not owe so you could be forgiven – have you accepted His forgiveness? Have you sought to make Him #1 in your life? Are you living a life that glorifies Him or living a life at your own convenience?
Easter is a time to be reminded of what was done on the cross. I have said for weeks that Easter ought to be exciting and renewing – is it?
Conclusion
First this morning, do you believe that He is alive? (Have you seen the Lord?)
Then, do you believe that He hears each word you speak?
Finally, do you believe that Jesus is here and waiting for you to respond?
Invite singers
We will use this time of invitation to also take time to reflect and get our hearts right with the Lord prior to partaking of the Lord’s Supper.
A word of caution prior to taking the Lord’s Supper –
1 Corin 11:27-29 – “Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.”
With every head bowed and every eye closed …
Invitation to receive Jesus Christ / Invitation to join our church
Invitation to reflect and get your heart right before taking the Lord’s Supper
Do not waste this time – this time is for you to do business with the Lord.
