Today, Christians all over the world celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus is alive, and He is alive forever. The ground where Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus laid his body began to shake, and this massive stone that serves as a door to Jesus’ tomb was rolled away.
And so when the women went to visit Jesus’ tomb early in the morning, they were saying to one another who would roll the stone away. But when they got there, they were surprised to see the stone had already been rolled away.
What they did not know was something extraordinary happened before they got there. Matt. 28:2 says an earthquake shook the place and an angel of the Lord came from heaven to move the stone out of Jesus’ way.
The angel said to the women. Christ is risen! He is not here! Jesus rose from the dead as he said he would. Hallelujah! There is no better way to demonstrate the essence of Christ’s resurrection than the presentation of our drama team this morning. Let’s welcome them with a massive round of applause. HALLELUJAH!
The birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ are the most important doctrines in the Scripture. Last Sunday and in Good Friday, we heard sermons about the betrayal, arrest, sufferings, and the death of Jesus. Today, I hope to remind you that the sting of death is defeated! That Jesus having tasted death proved that death does not have to be the end. Instead, we can make death the beginning of a glorious future life with God if you choose to make room for Him in your heart every day.
John 20:11-18 goes like this:
11) Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb (12) and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’s body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. (13) They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” They have taken my Lord away, “she said and I don’t know where they have put him.” (14) At this she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not recognize that it was Jesus. (15) He asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”Thinking he was a gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get away." (16) Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!” (which means, Teacher). (17) Jesus said, “Do not hold to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to My God and your God.”(18) Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” and she told them that he had said these things to her.
Jesus Christ is the central figure of Christianity. This is what separates and makes us unique from other world religions. We look at Jesus not just as a gifted teacher and a moral person. We look at him as our Saviour. We look at Him as the one sent by the Father to solve our sin problem. His death and resurrection are a total expression of God’s love and grace. He takes the first step to repair our damaged relationship with God. This guy called Michael Green tried to describe the life of Jesus in his write-up titled "One Solitary Life". It goes like this.
One Solitary Life by Michael Green
He was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up still in another village, where he worked in a carpenter's shop until he was thirty. Then for three years, he was an itinerant preacher. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family or owned a house. He did not go to college. He never visited a big city. He never traveled 200 miles from the place he was born. He did none of the things one usually associates with greatness. He had no credentials but Himself. He was only 33 when the tide of public opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. He was turned over to this enemies and went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed to a cross between two thieves. While he was dying, his executioner gambled for his clothing, the only property he had on earth. When he was dead, he was laid on a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend. Centuries have come and gone, and today he remains the central figure of the human race and the leader of mankind's progress. All the armies that ever marched, all the navies that ever sailed, all the parliaments that ever sat, all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man on this planet so much as that one solitary life.
In John 20:13, the angels asked Mary Magdalene, “Why are you crying? And in verse 15, Jesus asked her the same,”Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?” She said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him away."
There are several insights that we can pull from this story.
1. Christ’s resurrection day is the Devil’s funeral. This is the day when the Messiah crushed the head of the serpent and nullified his evil deeds to those who believed and will believe in Him. The victory of Jesus 2000 years ago is our victory today and every day. We have victory over anything that can stifle our love walk with God! We are not the defeated; Satan is! This does not mean that we are not going to do anything. But it means that you and I can face with courage the onslaught of darkness masking himself in many forms. We fight the good fight of faith. We fight from victory and not for victory. Our faith against the works of evil in our lives is to get our rightful inheritance that Jesus handed to us at the cross of calvary. When he hanged on the cross and before He gave up His Spirit, Jesus said, “it is finished.” What is finished? The work that He came to do! The salvation of humankind and reconciliation of our relationship to our Creator! Reconciliation is a powerful relationship endeavour. When you are reconciled to someone, the animosity, the anger, the hatred, etc is gone! And that’s what Jesus did on the cross down to the grave and left it buried there! And, so when I think of the resurrection power of Jesus, I think about my nephew who frequented hospitals and laboratories because they found at least 3 holes somewhere in his stomach. We prayed for his healing. After almost a year of praying and declaring the power of Jesus, his latest medical report the other day says that he did not need to come back for further test. Instead, he only needs routine check-up every 6 months instead of almost every 2 weeks or so.
In Genesis 3:19, "God declared to Adam… for dust you are. And to dust, you shall return. This was the judgment on the first Adam but thanked God that the second Adam, the Lord from heaven, overcame death by the power of His resurrection. He did what any other person could not do – He rose from the dead on the third day! Because of Jesus Christ, there is hope for everyone!
2. When Jesus comes into someone’s life, he changes that person's life. When Jesus met Mary, Mary was under the power of the Devil. Seven demons were possessing her. And these devils made Mary’s mind like a battleground. She lived in all kinds of torment and torture that she had no quality of life. But Jesus came to her rescue. Jesus freed her from the harassment and illegal infiltration of this demonic spirit. Jesus expelled all seven demons out of her, and Mary dedicated her life to serving Jesus together with others.
When I think of the resurrection of Jesus, I think about the testimony of this man that I come across in youtube. He said that while listening to a worship song, he felt a touch from heaven, and since then, he left taking drugs, alcohol, porno and gambling. God began to restore his life and his marriage and children slowly slowly. When I think of the resurrection power of Jesus, I think about this woman who was into occult practices. She frequented palm reader, black magic of some sort. But, one day, a friend invited her to church and from there Jesus started to turn her life around. What would a normal person do to someone who gave your life back? We act out of our deep appreciation for him.
3. The poor Mary was so overcome with emotion, and she did not recognize Jesus. She didn't because she was in trauma. She was distressed. It was still dark. She was confused. She was blinded by grief and loss. She had not considered the resurrection a possibility. So, the idea that she might be talking to a resurrected Christ did not occur. She was looking for a dead body and did not expect a resurrection, even though they had been told several times. She did not expect to see Jesus.
Then Jesus spoke her name. ." (16). Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him, "Rabboni!” (meaning, Teacher). (17)
Imagine the flood of emotions that came to Mary when she heard the Savior mention her name.
When life is dark and bleak, Jesus is still around you. God is in and with you. He is a prayer away. Jesus is gracious and compassionate. He is deeply moved by our sincere and genuine cry for help. When He saw Mary in deep anguish, He could not hide any longer. Jesus is near you, and he is calling your name.
When I think of the resurrection power of Jesus, I think of you.
4. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important doctrine in the Scripture. Because Christ rose from the grave, our faith is getting stronger every day. Our relationship with the Father is getting sweeter every day through the wonder-working power of the Holy Spirit. Our preaching and teaching are powerful. The words that we preach are words of life. It brings life, changes your heart, and sustains life. It multiplies in your heart and your mouth. You crush the devil under your feet when you continue to serve God in your high point and low point. Because He lives, we can say with confidence that we are forgiven. We are true witnesses of God. Eternity awaits us. There is hope for us.
Acts 10:39-42 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached— 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with him. 39 "We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, 40, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”
The angel of the Lord who rolled the stone away in Jesus’ tomb and who told Mary and the other women the "bad news" of Christ's disappearance told them 4 things.
A) Do not be afraid. Remember the empty tomb when you are afraid of the dark and life in general.
B) He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Why do you seek the living among the dead? The women and the disciples were not expecting an empty tomb. They were not expecting to see a linen cloth lying on where Jesus's body was laid. They did not expect to see a neatly folded handkerchief. What did they expect? A decomposing body of a dead man since it's been three days!!!
The experience of Mary and the disciples about the resurrection of Jesus tells us that with Jesus, there is always room for surprises. That God can surprise you even in your darkest hour and day. He is not here in the grave! He is out and about doing good in and all around you. Can you see what He’s doing? Look at Mary Magdalene; she heard Jesus call her name at the time when she least expected to hear it. You should be ready to expect the unexpected. To have an open heart and mind to what God can do. To always believe in the power of Jesus. Come to him expecting the miraculous, the supernatural, the above and beyond, the things out of this world, doors being opened, miracles happening one at a time, favor and blessing pouring like rain on your way. The possibilities are endless, even in the midst of what could have been a chaotic life.
The tomb was empty, and it is still empty today.
C) Come and see. The stone was not rolled on the side so Jesus could get out. It was so others could go in and see that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead, just as he said. The stone was rolled away so the women and anyone who’d come could check the evidence themselves. I say, come and see what Jesus can do for you.
D. Go and tell. They were to quickly let Peter and the rest know that He has risen and that He'll catch up with them in Galilee. They were to spread the good news of his resurrection. We, too, are to spread the great news about Jesus' resurrection.
According to the Jan 2021 publication of the International Bulletin of Mission Research, about 2.5 billion Christians in the world and 2.2 billion of those have not heard about Jesus.
The resurrection is the basis for the church’s witness to the world. It is not a fallacy but a reality witnessed by many about 11 different times.
1) Jesus appeared to
a. Mary Magdalene (Mark 16:9; John 20:18).
b. The women (Matt 28:9)
c. Two disciples on Emmaus Road (Luke 24:13-31)
d. Simon Peter (Luke 24:34)
e. The apostles except for Thomas (John 20:19, 24)
f. Apostles with Thomas present (John 20:26)
g. Apostles at the Sea of Tiberias/Galilee (John 21:1)
h. Apostles in Galilee (Matt. 28:16-17)
i. To about 500 brethren (I Cor 15:6)
Let us tell the world about our Risen Saviour!
Pray for miracles! Close in prayer!
Then thank everyone! Thank you all for your birthday greetings for Allan and me. We treasure your love, prayers, and messages dearly. May our God bless you for your kind words and generous gifts to us.
Happy Resurrection Sunday!
