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A HOPE THAT NEVER DIES
[ Mark 16:1-8 ]
This morning we gather much earlier than usual to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It was nearly 2000 years ago, that Jesus rose from the dead. It was almost 2000 years ago the ladies arrived very early Sunday morning to find the tomb empty. It was almost 2000 years ago, after hearing the report of the women, that several disciples ran to the tomb and found it empty. For Jesus Christ had risen from the grave, just as He said.
Hell took hold of a body, and discovered God. When it pull Jesus from the earth, it encountered Heaven. Hell reach out and took what it saw, and Hell, death, and the grave were overcome by what they did not see!
Now the Devil did his best not only to put Jesus in the tomb but to keep Jesus in the tomb. Death and the grave did all it could to hold it's captive. But, after 3 days, the Father said, "Enough. Let the world know and history record My Son's Victory over death, hell and the grave." Then an angel was dispatched to the earth. As this angel's foot touched the ground an earthquake hit and the stone rolled away from the tomb. The Stone did not roll away to let Jesus out, but to let the women and disciples in so they could see that Jesus was not there, that "He had risen just as He said."
Now, what is the result of this resurrection? What difference does it make to us?
READ - 1 Peter 1:3-9.
Peter begins the main body of his letter in verse 3. "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"
[4] "to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, [5] who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, [7] "so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;" [8] "and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory," [9] "obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls."]
Peter penned these words about 30 years after Christ's death and resurrection. He was writing to encourage the persecuted Christians of Asia Minor. Peter addresses those who are feeling discouraged, displaced, depressed, or in danger, and tells them that they need to take hold of their living hope through the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Verse 3 of the passage we just read says, God "has caused us to be born again to a living hope." The "new birth" results in a living hope. This "living hope" is based on the living resurrected Christ (1 Peter 1:21).
But, what is this living hope? What is the hope we now have, that only the resurrection of Jesus Christ can give us? A living hope is a hope that never dies. Isn't that thought- a HOPE THAT NEVER DIES- a most blessed thought? Those who have been born again have a living hope through their new life in Christ. This constantly living hope is that death is not the end.
A man had A CHECKUP and then went in to see his doctor to get the results. The doctor said he better sit down – that he had bad news and worse news for him. Then the Doctor asked the man, "Which do you want to hear first?" The man was a bit puzzled and said he'd rather hear the bad news first. The doctor said, "The bad news is that the results said you have only 24 hours to live." When he heard that, the man jumped up, totally shocked. He paced back and forth and said, "24 hours to live? I can't possibly get my affairs in order that quickly. I can't believe this! What could be possibly be worse news than this?" The doctor said, "The worse news is that I was supposed to tell you this yesterday, but I forgot."
Death is certain, but so is the Christian's hope of eternal life. The Christian's hope in Christ is as certain and sure as the fact that Jesus is alive!
My friend, we are up early today to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Because He rose we know that Death is not the end. We know evil does not win. We know God forgives. We know new life is an option. We know a better tomorrow is coming!
But that blessed assurance is not true for most people. Through out recorded history, many have been unsure of whether there is really life after death. Even today, many claim that this life is all there is. They think at the end of this life we become worm food. But, for those who have born again by the Spirit of God we have hope of eternal life. Because Jesus rose from the dead, we have a living hope, certain hope, that one-day we too will rise again.. The Bible calls Jesus "the Firstborn from the dead." Oh my friend, we also will rise, because He arose. "Up from the grave He arose. With a mighty triumph o'r His foes. He arose the Victor from the dark domain and He lives forever on His throne to reign. He arose. He arose. Hallelujah Christ arose."
Because of Jesus' resurrection we have a living certain hope that when we die, we will live again.
Not only do we have a Living Hope, we have -
II. A FUTURE HOPE (4).
Our hope includes the promise of a better tomorrow. Look at verse 4 with me. "to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
Oh my friend, we have a promise not only of living again, but also of a better tomorrow. Here is the certainty. We will die, and we will gain a better inheritance. This heavenly inheritance is better than any and everything this world has to offer. This inheritance is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for us. It is kept in heaven for those who know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
[A Christian's inheritance cannot be destroyed by hostile forces, and it will not spoil like over-ripened fruit or fade in intensity. Three terms are combined to describe the permanence of our inheritance: can never perish (aphtharton), spoil (amianton), or fade (amaranton). This inheritance is as indestructible as God's Word (1:23, aphtharton- same word again used). Each Christian's inheritance of eternal life is kept in heaven or "kept watch on" by God so its ultimate possession is secure (Gal. 5:5).]
Jesus said, "I am going to prepare a place for you." What a place that will be!
So our Christian hope allows us to see our future in the most positive of ways and so it should produce the most positive results in our present life.
Several years ago PARADE MAGAZINE carried the story of the self-made millionaire Eugene Land and how he greatly changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in East Harlem. Mr. Land had been asked to speak to a class of 59 sixth-graders. He thought to himself, "What can I say to make a difference in the lives of these students, most of whom would eventually drop out of school?" He wondered how he could get these kids from broken homes in this slum neighborhood to even look at him.
When he arrived at the school and stood before the class of innocent faces he scrapped his notes and decided to speak to them from his heart. "Stay in school," he admonished, "and I'll help pay the college tuition for every one of you."
At that moment the lives of these students changed forever. For the first time they had hope. Said one student, "I had something to look forward to, something waiting for me. It was a golden feeling." Nearly 90 percent of that class went on to graduate from high school!
That's the power of hope! And what God offers you is more fabulous than anything even a millionaire can offer you!
Not only do we have A Living Hope, and A Future Hope, we have -
III. A PRESENT HOPE (5-6).
Because of our living hope we can place our faith in God's protection. Verse 5, "who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
Not only is the inheritance guarded, but the heirs who have been born into that inheritance are shielded by God's power. "Shielded" (phrouroumenous) wa a military term used to refer to a garrison or fort within a city. [Guarded in Phil. 4:7 is the same Greek word.] What greater hope could be given to those undergoing persecution than the knowledge that God's power protects their personal salvation. This precious protected personal salvation will be completely revealed to them on that day they stand in God's presence. Believers possess salvation now (pres. tense) but will sense and see its full significance and glory at the return of Christ in the last time. This final step, or ultimate completion of "the salvation of their souls" (1 Peter 1:9), will come "when Jesus Christ is revealed" (vv 7, 13). [Walvoord, John & Zuck, Roy. The Bible Knowledge Commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1983, S. 841]
Verse 6 indicates that a living hope also results in a present joy. "In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,"
In this likely refers to the truths mentioned in verses 3-5. Peter encouraged his readers to put their knowledge into practice. Their response to the tremendous [theological] truths taught so far should be that they greatly rejoice. Knowledge alone cannot produce great joy in the face of persecution. You also must have a living hope as a result of a vibrant faith. Christians are responsible to respond in faith. Faith turns sound doctrine into sound practice. Faith responses to God's truth [the content of theology -Rom. 10:17] and produces the conduct that corresponds to that truth. Faith makes the acceptance of truth experiential. The Apostle John wrote, "This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith" (1 John 5:4). This kind of faith in God's living hope can enable believers to rejoice even when they are called on to suffer through various trials.
Peter stressed that a Christian's joy is independent of circumstances. [James used the same two Greek words (poikilois peirasmois, "all kinds of trials")]. The trials themselves are to be seen as occasions for joy (James 1:2). Though trials may cause temporary grief, they cannot diminish that deep, abiding joy which is rooted in one's living hope in Christ Jesus. [Walvoord & Zuck, p. 841]
Those who believe in Jesus and in His resurrection, have an living hope even in our present trials and a certain hope for the future. However my friends there are many people who have an uncertain hope for the future. They do not have a clear path in the present as to where they need to go and what they need to be. They do not have a certainty about what their future holds.
When we follow our own path we are denying Jesus. As a result of our selfish choices we may get what we want out of life, a great career, money, possessions, toys, lifestyle, but anytime the focus is on ourselves there is always a cost. Perhaps not at first but eventually relationships suffer (spouse, kids, parents, siblings, friends), sometimes our health suffers, many times there is empty feeling inside, because we have climbed the ladder of life only to realize the ladder was on the wrong wall. Perhaps like Peter have denied God and we too have come to a point where God convicts our hearts and we too feel worthless, ashamed, disappointed, a failure, believe there is no hope for us. We deserve to be disowned by Jesus. Or perhaps the emptiness of our own lifestyle causes us to wonder in our hearts if this is all there is to life.
After winning his third SUPER BOWL, Tom Brady, quarterback of the New England Patriots was on "60 Minutes" and he said the following in his interview:
"Why do I have three Super Bowl rings and still think there's something greater out there for me? I mean, maybe a lot of people would say, 'Hey man, this is what is. I reached my goal, my dream, my life.' Me, I think, 'God, it's got to be more than this.' I mean this isn't, this can't be what it's all cracked up to be."
Some would claim Tom Brady had achieved what most men dream of, the chance to win not just one Super Bowl but three. Still in his twenties he should have been at the top of his life, and yet he still felt as though something were missing, his life was still empty.
In contrast to this we have Dungy's testimony in his book, Quiet Strength. For those who may not know Tony Dungy was the head coach of the Indianapolis Colts who won the Super Bowl in 2007. He's a strong Christian and in retrospect to his Super Bowl appearance he wrote this:
"The Super Bowl is great, but it's not the greatest thing. My focus over the two weeks leading up to the Super Bowl was Matthew 16:26 in which Jesus asks, ‘And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your soul?' Our guys could gain all the accolades and success of this world yet lose touch with their priorities, their principles, and the God who loves them."
"That's what this is all about. Touching lives. Building a legacy – not necessarily on the field but in those places that most people will never see. Trying to be faithful in the position God has given me. I love coaching football, and winning a Super Bowl was a goal I've had for a long time. But it has never been my purpose in life. My purpose in life is simply to glorify God. We have to be careful that we don't let the pursuit of our life's goal, no matter how important they seem, cause us to lose sight of our purpose." Two different Super Bowl winners, two very different perspectives. One feeling empty, the other satisfied because it wasn't his primary goal in life anyway. Following our way eventually leads us to emptiness, disappointment, and unfulfillment.
[Hell took a body, and discovered God. When it pull Jesus from the earth, it encountered Heaven. Hell reach out and took what it saw, and Hell was overcome by what it did not see.]
"A living hope" means that the believer's hope is sure, certain, and real, as opposed to the deceptive, empty, false hopes that the world offers.
[When Jerome Groopman diagnosed patients with serious diseases, the Harvard Medical School professor discovered that all of them were "looking for a sense of genuine hope—and indeed, that hope was as important to them as anything he might prescribe as a physician."
After writing a book called "The Anatomy of Hope," Groopman was asked for his definition of hope. He replied: "Basically, I think hope is the ability to see a path to the future. You are facing dire circumstances, and you need to know everything that's blocking or threatening you. And then you see a path, or a potential path, to get to where you want to be. Once you see that, there's a tremendous emotional uplift that occurs."
The doctor confessed, "I think hope has been, is, and always will be the heart of medicine and healing. We could not live without hope." Even with all the medical technology available to us now, "we still come back to this profound human need to believe that there is a possibility to reach a future that is better than the one in the present."]
IN CONCLUSION
Peter, who is also called "the apostle of hope," encouraged his readers to trust in Jesus, live faithfully even in hard circumstances, and keep our hope fixed on God's ultimate salvation and our heavenly reward.
The difference for Christian believers is that we have a living hope because Jesus is alive. Our hope is based on the solid evidence of Jesus' resurrection. The Apostle Paul tells us that over 500 people witnessed the resurrected Christ, including the disciples, and Paul himself. Seeing the resurrect Christ changed their lives and gave them a living hope. Has He changed your life? Do you have a hope that never dies?
My question this morning is very simply this, as we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, are you experiencing the new birth and living hope Jesus came to give you?
You may be wondering, "HOW CAN I OBTAIN THIS ‘HOPE THAT NEVER DIES?'" You must be born again by entrusting yourself to Jesus and committing yourself to the truth of His death, burial and resurrection!
Do you have this hope? If not, would you like to have it?
God the Father offers you a living hope that you can have and maintain by faith. He has done all the impossible part so that all you must do is surrender your life to Him. If you would like to receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, just pray this prayer from your heart. "Lord Jesus, I believe in my heart that you were raised from the dead and that this guarantees that your death was sufficient to pay for all my sins and therefore God is for me and not against me. You yourself are alive today and with me to help forever. And I pray that you will help me now to hope fully in your promises so that I might have a Living Hope, a Future Hope & a Present Hope. In Jesus Name, Amen.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ - who according to his great mercy has begotten us anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."
