4/20/25 a.m. Resurrection Day Luke 24:1-8
Jesus is RISEN!!! I can’t think of anything more wonderful and more beautiful than the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Why? Because it gives me HOPE TODAY. Hope that THIS LIFE is not the END but only the BEGINNING.
A. A friend of mine shared a sweet story with me several weeks ago. When he was a small boy he traveled by train, with his mama, to Iowa to visit his older brother. They had very little money and certainly couldn’t afford to buy food from the dining car on the train. So his mama had packed some snacks and things for them to eat on their journey. But while they travelled on the train a man was setting there watching them and spoke to his mama. He said, “Ma’am, wouldn’t that boy like to eat a sandwich?” And she said “Oh no, we don’t really have the money for that.” He said, “Well, I’ll buy the sandwich, I just thought he might like to have one.” And so the man ordered the sandwich and then gave to him, along with a quarter. That was a lot of money to buy candy back in those days.
I thought that was such a sweet story and this is what I told my friend, “Someday you may get to meet that man in Heaven. I think you’ll know him and you’ll have plenty of time to visit.”
B. Yesterday marked the 30th anniversary of the OKC bombing. 168 people died that day, 19 of them were children. I remember where I was at, when I heard the news. I just couldn’t understand and I still can’t understand how someone could do something so evil.
C. And then I was talking to my aunt this week about our loved ones that have gone on to Heaven. Her husband, my Uncle Bob, and my mama and daddy. But I told her how I LONGED to see my grandpa. I was 6 when he died and I never really got to know him. And it might sound strange but I almost CRAVE seeing him again. Hmm, then she got on to me and told me not to get in too big of a hurry. LOL Man I love her.
So what do these stories have in common? Today we have HOPE. Even in hard times and tragedies, we have HOPE.
HOPE of CLARITY of MIND. You might be thinking, “What is he talking about?” I just really feel impressed to say this. We have HOPE of everything making SENSE. HOPE of recognizing and knowing all of those who have impacted our lives. HOPE of total UNDERSTANDING.
And we have HOPE for a TIME when JESUS will make all things RIGHT. A time when the TRAGEDIES, PAIN, and TRIALS of this life won’t mean anything to us ANYMORE.
HOPE of seeing our LOVED ONES who have trusted in Jesus and then gone on to Heaven.
Listen, ALL OF THIS was made possible by ONE EVENT that occurred almost 2000 years ago. The RESURRECTION of JESUS CHRIST of NAZARETH from the dead. It was THE PIVOTAL MOMENT for all of MANKIND and it is the CORNERSTONE of our FAITH. And so that’s what I want to talk to you about today.
ALL of the HOPE that Jesus made possible by HIS RESURRECTION. And so let’s go ahead and read from Luke Chapter 24, Verses 1-8.
“Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
8 And they remembered his words,”
Last week I spoke about the DEATH of the Lord Jesus Christ. The things that the people saw as they watched Him die. They saw the SHAME, the TORN FLESH, the BLOOD and they saw LOVE. HIS DEATH on the Cross of Calvary was the FINAL and ULTIMATE SACRIFICE for the sins of the world.
And folks, HIS DEATH is the only thing we can RELY ON for the forgiveness of our sins. Nothing else. Not our GOODNESS, our TALENT or our LOOKS. Only His death.
Jesus completed His mission of REDEEMING mankind. But there was one more thing that had to be done. JESUS WASN’T FINISHED. I want you to get this. If He would have stayed DEAD … DEATH, HELL and the GRAVE would NOT have been defeated.
And so let’s go to the Lord in Prayer and then we’ll get into our message today.
Brother ____, would you lead us?
I. First of all, because of Jesus RISING from the dead, we have the HOPE of TOTAL CLARITY of MIND when we get to HEAVEN. Like I said earlier, that might sound kind of ODD but look here. These two ANGELS of GOD had to remind these ladies of the words of Jesus in Verses 5-8. “Why seek ye the living among the dead?” I’m gonna paraphrase this.
“Uh, why are you all here? Don’t you remember what Jesus said when He was in Galilee? Don’t you remember how that He said He would be CRUCIFIED? Don’t you remember how that He said that He would RISE after three days?” “Why seek ye the living among the dead?”
And there in Verse 8 it tells us that they basically said, “Oh yeah, that’s right. He did say that didn’t He?”
You see, I just don’t think these ladies, the disciples, and all the other followers of Jesus really got it. They didn’t really understand all of the things that Jesus had tried to tell them about His coming death. They didn’t understand how that He would be the FINAL SACRIFICE for the SINS of the world as He died upon the cross. But let me tell you something. When He AROSE from the GRAVE on the THIRD DAY…THEY GOT IT!!!
A. I mentioned earlier about the fellow who showed KINDNESS to that friend of mine on the train. I said that MAYBE they would see each other again in Heaven someday and they could set and visit. You see, I really believe that we will experience an Understanding and Clarity like we have never known here on this Earth. I believe we will know people and their name in Heaven. And, I believe, that’s exactly what the Apostle Paul was telling us in 1 Corinthians 13, Verses 10-12.
“But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”
Somehow I believe all of the BRAIN FOG that we have experienced here on this Earth will be a thing of the past in Heaven. Sometimes my mind gets all muddled up. LOL
ILLUS: It reminds me of the story of the fellow who had a hard time remembering things. His brain was muddled. So him and his wife had some friends over for supper and his friend commented on how nice the landscaping looked. He asked who had done it. This fellow thought and thought, scratched his head, and just could not remember the name of the company.
Finally he turned to the guy and said,
“What is the name of the flower that’s bright red and comes on a long stem?” The other guy said, “You mean a rose?” He said “That’s it!!!” He turned to his wife and said, “Hey Rose, what’s the name of the company that did our landscaping?”
You see, there are things that happen that I can’t understand. There are Verses in the Bible that I just can’t grasp the meaning of. There are things that people go through that I can’t explain. But listen, someday everything will make sense. I believe our minds will be MORE CLEAR and SHARPER than they have ever been here on this Earth. We’re going to understand things so much better.
B. And listen, I don’t have a lot of scriptures to back up what I’m gonna say here so this is just my opinion. But I believe we’re going to remember things that happened here on Earth.
Revelation Chapter 5 and Chapter 8 speak about the PRAYERS of the SAINTS that go up before God. If the SAINTS are PRAYING for you and I, they must KNOW ABOUT you and I.
Also Hebrews Chapter 12, Verses 1 and 2, speaks about the GREAT CLOUD of WITNESSES that are watching us from the PORTALS of GLORY.
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
C. And one other thing. God used things from this Earth to describe what Heaven is going to be like. He described Streets of Gold, Walls of Jasper, Gates of Pearls. He talks about TREES being in Heaven. And He tells us that coming out of the Throne of God is a River of Water so CLEAR and PURE it looks like CRYSTAL. He might have been describing Bird Creek. Uh, I kind of doubt it.
So do I really understand this? I mean is God really PAVING the streets of Heaven with GOLD? How do you build a GATE out of PEARLS and a WALL out of JASPER? I DON’T KNOW but Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 2:9 Paul,
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
I believe that when we walk into that place that Jesus has gone to prepare for us, it will all be clear. It will all make sense. I believe that we’re going to have TOTAL CLARITY of MIND like we’ve never experienced down here. And it’s ALL BECAUSE of what Jesus did when HE ROSE from the GRAVE.
II. Some might say, that’s wonderful, but what about the things that HURT us? The HEARTBREAKING things that we’ve been through? The PAIN that someone else caused us? The EVIL that we have experienced here on this Earth?
What about the TRAGEDIES in LIFE like the Oklahoma City Bombing? Will we just FORGET those things? Will God BLOCK those things from ever being spoken about? And here’s my answer. I don’t know. But I wonder if those things just won’t matter anymore.
I was thinking about the disciples who ALL RAN when the soldiers came to arrest Jesus. Matthew 26 tells us that they ALL forsook Him and fled.
And what about the Crucifixion? John was there and Judas was Dead, but what about the other 10? Where were they? Hiding in a closet? Off in the woods lying low? Were they scared that the Jewish Leadership would sic the Roman Government on them too? Were they scared that they would WIND UP hanging on a cross like Jesus? They probably were and to be honest I would have probably done the same thing.
But after the RESURRECTION, it seems like everything was HEALED. NO WHERE does it say ANYTHING about Jesus confronting His disciples. NO WHERE does it tell us about Jesus questioning their loyalty.
“Some friends you guys are. You left me high and dry. Thanks for NOTHING” No, that’s not Jesus.
In fact, in John 21, we see Jesus there on the shores of Galilee fixing breakfast for the disciples. This was the third time that He had shown Himself to them after the Resurrection. And what a sweet picture this shows us of Jesus fellowshipping and spending time with His disciples. After ALL of the things that they had been through. All of the MISTAKES that had been made. All of the REGRETS they had. It didn’t MATTER ANYMORE. Jesus still loved them and cared about them. That same AGAPE LOVE that Jesus had for them while He was dying on the cross, He still had for them as He prepared breakfast for them.
Please hear me out this morning. I haven’t had to go through what so many of you have had to go through. I KNOW some of you all are hurting this morning. Physically, Spiritually and Emotionally. Some of you all have been through the Wringer. But maybe the EVIL, the TRAGEDIES, the PAIN, the BETRAYALS, the HEARTACHES, and the LOSSES, just won’t matter anymore when we get to Heaven.
Revelation 21:1-7 “And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.
2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.
6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.”
Look at all of the wonderful things that we’re going to experience. A NEW HEAVEN. A NEW EARTH. And God will be right there with us. Can you imagine experiencing this? It’s going to be a REALITY for each one who has trusted in Jesus.
Looking up and seeing Jesus on His throne. Singing. Being part of the PRAISE TEAM giving honor and glory to Him, the God of this UNIVERSE!!!
And look there at Verse 4. There will be NO MORE TEARS. Why? Because there will be NO REASON to CRY!!!
Look folks, there’s plenty of things to CRY ABOUT DOWN HERE. RIGHT? All of you here that are hurting this morning. God, with His MIGHTY but GENTLE HAND, is going to REACH DOWN and WIPE the TEARS from your EYES.
Because of what Jesus did for us when He AROSE on that third day, our tears will be GONE!!! A NEW HEAVEN and a NEW EARTH. The FORMER THINGS WILL BE PASSED AWAY. Hallelujah!!! Praise be to GOD!!!
III. And because of what Jesus did by defeating Death, Hell and the Grave, Death, Hell and the Grave will have no power over us anymore.
It’s interesting because the four different Gospels together tell us that there was a total of four women who went to the TOMB to put spices on the BODY of Jesus. It was Joanna the wife of Chuza. Mary Magdalene. Mary the mother of Jesus and Mary the mother of James and Joses. And I can just imagine them walking up to the TOMB totally defeated. Wondering how they would roll the stone away.
Probably all of them had seen Jesus die. All of them expected to see a CORPSE. All of them expected to smell the stench of DEATH. But that’s NOT what happened.
Instead of a CORPSE they saw two ANGELS. Two angels telling them that Jesus had RISEN.
In the matter of seconds, these women went from TOTAL DEFEAT, TOTAL TRAGEDY to TOTAL TRIUMPH. Jesus had risen and because of that, they could have eternal life.
You know, the change that Jesus offers to each one of us today is NOT SOMETHING you can work for. It’s NOT SOMETHING that occurs over time. And it’s NOT something that happens on the outside. It HAPPENS on the INSIDE. Jesus offers SALVATION TODAY simply by putting your FAITH and TRUST in Him. Romans 10:9 tells us
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”
Do you believe this morning?
Listen, you can go from someone headed for HELL to someone headed to HEAVEN, in the blink of an eye.
You can go from TOTAL DEFEAT to TOTAL TRIUMPH. Just by TRUSTING JESUS and NOT YOURSELF. And then YOU can have eternal life too. You see what Jesus did when He arose on the THIRD DAY was only the beginning.
Let’s take a minute and read from 1 Corinthians 15:20-23, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.
21 For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.
22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.
23 But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.”
You and I have that BLESSED HOPE that THIS LIFE is NOT the end. It’s only the beginning of ETERNITY.
ILLUS: Little McKenzie wasn’t trying to start a theological debate, she just wanted to make a point about Jesus’ resurrection. Her Sunday school teacher had tried to encourage her class with the assurance that Jesus is everywhere. But for McKenzie, that didn’t sound right. So she said, “I know one place where Jesus isn’t.” The teacher curiously replied, “Oh, really? Where is that?”
The little girl declared, “He’s not in the grave!”
I like that. Jesus is NOT in the GRAVE. He is RISEN. And because He rose from the grave we can have HOPE TODAY.
HOPE for a day when everything will make sense.
HOPE for a day when ALL THINGS will be made RIGHT.
And HOPE for a day when we ourselves will experience ETERNAL LIFE. This is NOT the END, only the BEGINNING.
Let’s Pray
