“HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN!” (Outline)
April 24, 2011 -
Easter Sunday -
LUKE 24:1-11
INTRO: There was a lot of uncertainty as the women walked to the tomb on that first Easter Sunday. They went to the tomb of Jesus still in shock with grief at the death of Jesus. How quickly everything seemed to unravel. At the beginning of the week the crowds praised Jesus with, “Hosanna!” By Friday many of the same crowd cried out, “Crucify! Crucify!” Certainly the women wondered about all of these events of the past few days. All of those numbing, grief filled thoughts would soon change. "For to be sure, he was crucified in weakness, yet he lives by God's power. Likewise, we are weak in him, yet by God's power we will live with him to serve you" (2 CORINTHIANS 13:4). The seeming weakness of the cross reveals to the world God’s glory. The resurrection of Jesus reveals to the world God’s great power. Believers rejoice today on this resurrection Sunday.
“HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN!”
I. See and hear the proof (the tomb is empty).
II. Go and share this truth (the tomb is empty).
I. “HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN!” -- SEE AND HEAR THE PROOF
A. Verse 1. The women come very early in the morning to finish the preparation of Jesus’ body.
1. Verses 2, 3. One worry was removed. They did not know how they would move the stone.
2. The stone was gone. The body of Jesus was also gone. What if his body was stolen?
B. Verse 4. Angels are messengers of God. The angels came to comfort these women.
1. Verse 5a. The women bowed down in fear and worship. But angels are not to be worshipped.
2. Verse 5b. The angels stop them by announcing that the living is not among the dead.
C. Verse 6. Jesus is not here in the tomb among the dead. Jesus is alive. Remember his words.
1. Verse 7. Jesus told the disciples many times what would happen. Even the ladies knew.
2. Verse 8. Jesus planted the seed of his word in their hearts. Angels announce. They remember!
D. The women came with hearts of devotion, service, and love for the Savior. But the reality: They were in the wrong place at the wrong time for the wrong reason. “He is not here; he has risen!” They were thinking with human minds of reason. All too often we are much like these women. Time and again we may find ourselves in the wrong place at the wrong time for all the wrong reasons. We often go our own way to do our own thing without even thinking about seeking first the kingdom of God. Our earthly lives are always a struggle against our own sinful flesh, the world, and Satan. What seems so important to us in this life is not as important as the world would have us believe. "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (MATT. 6:20, 21). The tomb is empty.
E. “He is not here; he has risen!” What a powerful message to hear. What a gracious gift of God to know and believe. The tomb is empty. Our sins are forgiven. We know that in this world not everything happens according to our plans. We also know that everything does take place according to the divine plans and purpose of our Lord God Almighty. On the night he was betrayed Jesus met with his disciples in the upper room. Jesus instituted the Lord’s Supper. Jesus gave bread as his body and wine as his blood to the disciples for the forgiveness of sins. "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid" (JOHN 14:27). Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mt. of Olives. Judas betrays Jesus. Jesus is arrested, tried, and crucified. Before all of this Jesus gave his disciples the peace found only in forgiveness. This is our peace.
F. “He is not here; he has risen!” See and hear the proof of the empty tomb. The angels announced this proof. The women and later the disciples saw the proof. We come to God’s Word today and still see and hear the proof. Our thoughts and our focus still look to the Lord Jesus Christ. "But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body " (PHILIPPIANS 3:20, 21). Jesus was glorified. Our bodies will also be glorified.
“HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN!” By grace through faith we see and hear God’s proof.
II. “HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN!” -- GO AND SHARE THIS TRUTH
A. Grief, fear, and doubts dominated the thoughts of the women as they walked to Jesus’ tomb.
1. What would they find? Why did all of these things happen, and so quickly?
2. All of their thoughts would change in an instant: “He is not here; he has risen!”
B. Verse 8. The women saw the empty tomb. They heard the angel’s words. “Then they remembered…”
1. It took a while but they finally remembered. The grief of the women was changed to joy.
2. It was indeed the third day. Jesus was not be in the tomb, but alive -- just as He said!
C. Verse 9. The women could not wait to tell everyone else this good news.
1. Verse 10. The women’s names are listed for us. They were real people with the real truth.
2. Verse 11. Imagine, the disciples still thought such truth was nonsense. They went, saw, knew.
D. “He is not here; he has risen!” What joy, comfort, and peace these words bring to any and every troubled soul. Too often we spend a lot of time with words that are not that important. We easily often talk about the weather, the economy, politics, prices, etc. The words that make us wise for salvation are pushed to the end of our conversations rather than the front. Our world grows darker with wickedness, rebellion, and sin every passing moment. More than ever everyone needs to hear the truth that the tomb of Jesus is still empty. "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve" (1 CORINTHIANS 15:3-5).
E. “He is not here; he has risen!” Most of us have heard these words many times again and again. We can never hear them enough. Look at the disciples and the women. They ate, walked, talked, and lived with the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, on the first Easter Sunday they had forgotten his words. The angels reminded them of Jesus’ words. “Then they remembered…” It is good for us to be reminded of the truth of God’s holy word. It is good for us to be reminded of the power of God’s living word. "Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace" (EPH. 6:14, 15). Share his peace.
F. “He is not here; he has risen!” This is the pure, simple Gospel message of salvation. Sadly, many today will not hear this message. Sadly, many will not believe this message. All too many today want to think they are not sinners. If one doesn’t sin then one does not need a Savior. The cross of Christ has little or no meaning at all to so many in our society. We do need to share God’s gospel along with the God’s law. God’s law reminds us of our sin. God’s law reminds us that we need a Savior. "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all"(ISA. 53:6). Each would admit turning away. Each can then rejoice in the Lord’s forgiveness.
CONC: “He is not here; he has risen!” Remember these words. We travel to the empty tomb and see Jesus is alive. We hear the testimony of the angels, of the women, and the disciples. In joy we are blessed to be able to go and share this soul-saving truth of Jesus’ resurrection. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead" (1 PETER 1:3). Remember these words: “HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN!” God’s grace has opened our hearts to see and hear the tomb is empty. God’s love moves our feet to go and share the truth of God’s forgiveness. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer
EASTER SUNDAY rdgs:
JONAH 2:1-9;
COLOSSIANS 3:1-4;
MATTHEW 28:1-10;
(PSALM 118)
SERVICES: 1:00pm @ NCF Min. (Sat)/12:00pm @ NCF Medium (Sun)
/ 9:30am @ Redeemer (Sun) / 7:00pm @ Hays (Sun)
BIBLE STUDIES: 10:55am @ Redeemer (SUN) / 6:00pm (Min) + 7:30pm (Med) @ NCF (TUES.)
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