Core52 - Easter Sunday
Intro:
• The 1st Easter morning did not begin with crowds of Jesus’ followers crying out in a parade, “He is risen!”
• If there was crying, it was among the women who made their way in the early morning light to a tomb to offer love and respect to their master by finishing his burial preparations.
• On that Easter morning, His closest followers were motionless, without direction, the closest any of them came to making plans for the future was Peter who could only think of going back to what he knew: fishing.
• Soon they would piece together Jesus declaration that he had given his life as a ransom for many. His death on the cross would make sense as the sacrifice that takes away the sins of the world.
o Atonement for sins was prophesied and longed for.
• But the surprising part that no one saw coming was the resurrection.
• It’s one thing for us to be forgiven. We celebrate our atonement every Sunday in the Lord’s Supper.
• But the result of the atonement is found in the resurrection.
• We experience “new.”
o Leader for life
o New creation (ourselves and our world)
o New opportunity
A New Leader
Acts 2:36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
A New Creation
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
A New Opportunity
Colossians 3:1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Conclusion:
• The resurrection is at the core of our faith.
• It is the source of hope for this life and eternity.
• In the resurrection we are transformed right now, tomorrow and forever.
o Jesus has become the new leader of our lives.
o He has made us entirely new.
o We are given the opportunity to show the Risen Lord in our lives and to fulfill Jesus’ ultimate command to go and make disciples.
• Just like our spiritual ancestors did after that 1st Easter morning.
• Prayer.
