Sunday is Here!
Luke 24:1-12
Easter: Resurrection Sunday
Spring Life 2008
Morning Service
Spring Life is the annual emphasis on Evangelism and discipleship in the Wesleyan Church. This message was adapted from some of the materials provided from the Wesleyan World Headquarters
Introduction
This past week, I was asked an incredible question: why is Good Friday called good? If we are honest there is nothing that sounds good about that Friday. Nothing. On Friday Jesus was tortured by the Romans and crucified between two thieves. On Friday, the women wept and the disciples ran. On Friday, the angels were silent and Heaven was hushed. On Friday, Jesus was stabbed with the spear and proclaimed dead. On Friday, death triumphed and Hell celebrated. On Friday, the stone was put in place and guards were posted. On Friday, all seemed lost, the Messiah was dead and hope was buried.
That was Friday, this is Sunday.
1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 `The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ " 8 Then they remembered his words. 9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened. Luke 24:1-12
Easter is a day of wonder and awe. It is a day of astonishment and wonder. Easter is a day of bewilderment and perplexing. Easter is a day of amazement. This morning there is a question I need to ask: what is so amazing about Easter?
What is so Amazing about Easter?
The women went to the tomb expecting death and experienced life
The hour was early and the sun had not yet rose above the horizon. A new day was about to dawn and a grim task awaited a small group of women as they left the city gates of Jerusalem. Less than 48 hours ago their world had been turned upside down. They had been following Jesus. They believed that He was the Messiah but on Friday Jesus was crucified. Their dreams were dashed and their hopes died as they helped to put Jesus in the tomb.
These women were headed out to the tomb to finish the work that had been started on Friday. With tears in their eyes and sorrow in their hearts, they set out to complete the gruesome task of anointing the body Jesus again.
The women arrive at the tomb fully expecting to find the body of Jesus. What they find is anything but what they expected. Notice several things. First, the women find the stone rolled away. On Friday, when Jesus was buried a large stone was rolled in front of the tomb. This was the first sign that something unexpected had happened.
Second, when the women enter the tomb of Jesus, they expected to find His body there. Once again the unexpected happens, the body of Jesus was gone. The tomb was likely somewhat large because Joseph of Arimethea was wealthy and this tomb was meant for his family. It would likely have two chambers, one small chamber that was for an entrance and a much larger chamber for burials
Remember, these women did not expect Jesus to rise from the dead. They watched him die, they went when Joseph buried Jesus and now came with expensive perfumes and oils to anoint the body
Third, while they were still trying to figure out what was going on, the angels appear. Instantly, the women were terrified and confused. The message of the angels was concise and clear. Why do you look for the living among the dead? This would have gotten their attention immediately. He is not here; he has risen!
The angel continues with a gentle reminder that they should have expected this. Remember the things that Jesus taught about this event. He would die and be raised again on the third day.
What is so amazing about Easter?
The disciples expected nothing and experienced nothing
It is hard to believe that of people the disciples did not believe that Jesus was alive. They had lived with Him for three years, they walked where He walked, they followed where He led them. I believe that was the heart of their problem.
These disciples had been with Jesus, heard His claims and believed in Him. When the reality of what Jesus came to do radically differed from what they expected, they refused to believe.
The disciples did not believe the women or their story. The Greek word for disbelief here means to keep on disbelieving. In other words, the eleven would not put their trust in the women or their claims? Why?
As I said before; they had been the ones who followed Jesus, lived with Jesus, and traveled with Jesus. These same men also deserted Jesus, denied Jesus and disowned Jesus in His darkest hour.
Instead of accepting the report of the women and rejoicing, the disciples rejected their message and ridiculed them for their message. Why would the disciples do such a thing? Jesus being raised from the dead seemed like nonsense. This story seemed like idle talk, ridiculous stories and the product of wild imaginations.
The disciples make the choice to resist and reject the truth of the resurrection. The result is that they experienced none of the resurrection power.
What is so amazing about Easter?
Peter expected something and experienced Jesus
Peter hears what the rest of the disciples hear and decided to investigate. Surely something must have happened and so Peter runs out to the tomb where Jesus was buried.
Peter denied Jesus three separate times and ran from even being associated with Jesus. Peter ran to discover the facts of the story from the women. Now Peter ran to the truth.
Peter arrives at the tomb and according to John, he did not go alone. Most likely, John himself accompanied Peter to the tomb that morning. Peter does exactly what the women did, he looks into the tomb. What Peter finds is nothing short of amazing. Peter sees the linens lying by themselves. What is Luke talking about here?
When Jesus was buried, His body was prepared by being anointed with oils, spices and wrapped in strips of linen. This would have been similar to an Egyptian mummy. Peter saw the strips lying by themselves undisturbed like a collapsed cocoon. This would have been like a linen shell that a body had been removed in a supernatural manner.
John’s gospel further supports this understanding. 6 Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. (John 20:6-7)
What Peter saw left him in a state of wonder. He stood there looking into that tomb amazed by what had happened. It was this moment that he experiences the resurrection of Jesus.
Conclusion
We should stand amazed!
We should be amazed by the promise of Jesus
Jesus made a promise long ago and it still stands today. He promised that he would be raised from the dead. Not only was Jesus raised on that first Easter morning, He still lives today. Are you looking for life in the dead places of this world? Are you busy searching for truth and never finding it?
We should be amazed by the power of Jesus
The power of the resurrection is real and it is life changing. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead can raise the dead parts of your life today. Just as Jesus amazed the women so long ago, He can amaze you today.
What is so Amazing about Easter?
From Friday to Sunday, everything had changed. On Sunday, sin surrendered its power and Hell was conquered. On Sunday, angels proclaimed good news and heaven celebrated. On Sunday, the guards were overcome and the stone was rolled away. On Sunday, the women rejoiced and hope was renewed. On Sunday, death was defeated and Jesus was resurrected.
Easter is so amazing because Jesus brings life out of death. Jesus brings hope where there was only despair. Jesus defeats the power of sin and Hell. Jesus loved you more than life itself. He would rather die than be without you.
The only question that remains is: Are you ready to be amazed? Are you willing to be amazed?
Now is the time to run to the truth. Now is the time to let yourself be amazed.
