It is amazing how the unpredictable can terrify us. When things seem to be unsure, or we can’t possibly explain something, fear seems to set in. Most parents know what it is like to be terrified. Our children can come out with some of the most alarming, humiliating, or shocking things, all done in innocence, but yet they cause us to cringe with fear of what’s next.
One show that used to thrive on that very principle was the program, “Kids Say The Darndest Things.” There was a clip shown of Art Linkletter asking a boy about his favorite Bible story. The boy said, “That’s easy. My favorite story is the resurrection of Jesus.” When Mr. Linkletter asked the boy to tell him the story, the boy was more than happy to do it.
“Well, you see, there was a man named Jesus. He was God’s Son. But the people got really mad at Him. And so the people arrested Jesus, and crucified Him on a cross. When He was dead, they took Him off the cross, and put him in a grave guarded by army men. He was dead in there for three days when all of the sudden, He was resurrected.”
This boy had all of the theological terms right. Crucifixion, resurrection, three days, guarded tomb, how could any one ask for a more accurate story? I could only imagine that his parents were proud of him, at least until he finished the story.
The boy went on to say that when Jesus was resurrected, He came out of the tomb. Then Jesus saw His shadow, and had to go back in.
Easter is often a time that is looked upon as an event of the past that brings about a hope of the future. While that is true to a large degree, Easter means so much more than that. We have services on Easter to celebrate the resurrection event that took place nearly 2000 years ago; the event where Jesus, after being crucified, and giving His life as a sacrifice for our sin, was placed in a borrowed tomb, a huge stone rolled into place to block the entrance, Roman guards put in place to guard the body, the event where everything without a doubt was as secure as could be, and with all of that security, death, hell, and the grave still could not hold our savior. He arose from the grave! And while we view that very fact, we are able to see that with Jesus resurrection, our own resurrection from the grave has been forever guaranteed.
You know one thing is a fact. The current death rate is 100%. Every person born enters into this world as an individual that has begun the death process. Were the Lord’s return to be far enough away, we will all face that certain and appointed time. It is appointed unto man once to die. The resurrection gives us comfort for that time we all will face. It does give us comfort for a future event.
People find comfort in past events also. It is not necessary that the past event be positive for us to find comfort in it, but just that the event is past. It is behind us, and we no longer have to worry about it. Often the comfort of past events is the knowledge we have of unchangeable facts. We often hold to things in a desperate fashion so that we may have assurance of what we know to be true.
We have faith to handle the future, and the assurance of unchangeable facts to help us with the past, but often we find ourselves in the very unsettled present.
Think with me if you will about those women at the tomb that Easter morning. They had the past, but they were now uncertain about the future, and they were living in the very unsettling present. These women had walked with Jesus. They had heard His teaching. They were witness to many of His miracles. They saw and head many wonderful things. But now, those things were past. They were just unchangeable facts. They were things they could reflect upon to give them comfort as they remembered Jesus.
These women knew what the scripture taught about the future, especially pertaining to heaven, and the resurrection. They were witness to Jesus when He raised Lazarus from the dead. They heard Him say at the tomb of Lazarus, “I am the resurrection. He that believes in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” Jesus was their hope of the future. But now, the very hope for their future was dead.
They had the unsettled present. Can there be any doubt that these women, and the disciples for that matter, were not heavy of heart. It would be hard to imagine life without Jesus. They had become accustomed to Him being there, in the here and now.
The facts of a difficult past, the uncertain future, and the fear of the present faced these women. From the appearance of verse 8 of our text, it would seem as if they were still in that same condition when they left the tomb of Jesus. Look at it again with me. “And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulcher; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they anything to any man; for they were afraid.”
It makes you wonder. Did they miss the point? Did they not get it? Did these women just not understand what it was that they had just seen? What would cause these women to see the evidences, to hear the words of the angel, and miss the very message that Jesus has risen from the dead? Just how could that be possible?
There are three words you need to see that will help us better understand this verse, and answer the questions raised by the women’s response. First, notice with me that the Scripture says in verse 8 that they trembled. We all understand what that means. It means to shake uncontrollably. It means that they were shaking like a leaf, and could not help it. That is the obvious part of their response.
But then, notice the second important word. The verse says that they trembled and were amazed. The word amazed is the Greek word ekstasis, from where we get our English word ecstasy. Literally, it means to be bewildered by extreme joy. The women were so overjoyed that they could not hardly contain themselves, and in their effort to do so, they were shaking.
But then notice the third word. Look with me at the end of verse 8. “For they were afraid.” Preacher, how can you be so overtaken with joy, and be afraid at the same time?
The word afraid is the Greek word Phobeo. It has two possible meanings. It could mean to fear exceedingly, or it could mean to reverence exceedingly. Looking at the context, it leaves no doubt that it must mean extreme reverence. They didn’t say anything to anybody else, because the angel had instructed them to tell the disciples. So, they spoke to no one on the way back, and only spoke to the ones they were instructed to tell. They respected, and demonstrated reverence to that very thing of which they were commanded to do.
So, no! They didn’t miss it. They got it! They understood! There was no question about it, Jesus had risen from the dead!
But what happened that changed these women on that particular morning? What could cause them to go from sorrow, a troubling past, and uncertain future, and an unsettling present, to confidence, joy, and extreme reverence?
There are four things this Easter morning that you need to see. There are four simple things that changed these women in their perspective. When they departed from that place, the past was no longer troubling, the present was no longer unsettling, and the future was certain. Notice these things with me as we look at Easter, And The Now Savior.
First, notice with me that Jesus is the Savior that is greater than your problems. Notice what verse three says. “And they said among themselves, who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulcher?” These women had a problem. There was a huge stone in the doorway that would keep them from the body of Jesus.
Notice this carefully. They knew about the problem because of the past. That stone being in the way was a solid, unchangeable fact. They were concerned about it in the present. They were looking at this situation in their minds, and were unsettled about it. They thought about it in future terms. “Who will roll the stone away for us? We saw Joseph of Arimathaea roll the heavy stone into place.” And they just knew it was still there. They saw no solution to their problem.
Notice though in verse 4, “And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was great.” The very thing that they believed could separate them from Jesus, He had already taken care of it.
Oh, what a promise that we have been given to us through the Easter event. When obstacles seem to come between you and the Lord; when problems are too large for you to handle, praise the lord, He has the means, He has the power, He has the authority, and He has all of the ability needed to move them out of the way. Listen to me this morning. There is no situation, no problem, no trouble that can stop your access to the very Lord and Savior, the one who gave Himself for you, the one who purchased you with His blood. Paul said, “For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things PRESENT, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Why? It is because we have a savior that is greater than all of our problems.
But listen to me. You are here today and you do not know Jesus as your savior. There is but one problem standing between you and the Lord. Friend, it is the problem of sin. It ought to give you comfort to know that the very sin that blocks your way to Jesus, just happens to be the very sin for which He died. That’s the reason for the cross of Calvary. That’s why His blood was shed. But friend, just as the stone could not be moved by these women who were approaching the tomb, the problem of your sin cannot be moved by you. Jesus is the one who must move it for you, but you have to let Him. He will never move it against your will, but He will gladly move it if you are willing.
Easter tells us that Jesus is the savior who is greater than our problems. But notice also, that Easter tells us that Jesus is the Savior whose eternal identity has been established. Notice in verse 6, “Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: He is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid Him.”
Grave robbers were common in the times of the New Testament. They mostly robbed the graves to extract the expensive spices from the corpse, and resell them in the market place. There could be very little doubt that this is the very thought that entered into the minds of these women. In John’s account of the resurrection, Mary ran back at the moment she saw the open tomb and reported that the body of Jesus had been stolen. But, there is something different that the two women who stayed learned.
The angel present at the tomb announced the identity of the savior. “You are seeking Jesus of Nazareth, and this is the place where they laid Him.” There was no doubt about it. They were in the right tomb, and they were looking at empty grave clothes. That alone should have rang a bell in their hearts. When grave robbers came to steal a body, they wouldn’t take the time to unwrap it. They would just grab it and run.
Robbing graves was a serious offense. They wanted to just grab the body and get out of there. So the women knew they were in the right place. He was identified. The empty grave clothes lay there, and the angel announced the permanent and eternal identity of the risen Lord. “He is risen; He is not here.” An I can just imagine how the joy was building up inside of these women that first Easter morning.
They held on to the facts of the past; Jesus is dead. They looked at the problem that waited for them; the stone was in the way. But now, not only was the stone rolled away, but they heard the news. The heavenly Father had placed His stamp of approval on the redemptive work completed on the cross. The identity of Jesus was forever established. He is the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords. He is the eternal savior. He is the eternal high priest.
Listen, Jesus isn’t just the security of the future, but He is also the strength and comfort for the present. Hebrews 7: 24-25, “But this man, because He continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come to God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.” I am saved, I am being saved, and I will be saved. It is because of His eternally established identity. Jesus Christ the Lord has saved me to the uttermost.
Listen lost friend, you don’t know Christ as your savior. The same one that saved these other Christians in the yesterday is the same one who is able to save you today. Why? It is because His identity is eternally established. The same Jesus who saved me can save you as well.
Easter tells us that Jesus is a savior who is greater than our problems. Easter tells us that Jesus is a savior who is eternally established. But notice thirdly, Easter tells us that Jesus is a savior who is interested in people. Notice verse 7. “But go your way, tell His disciples and Peter.”
Can you just imagine how these women must have felt by now? The trouble and problems that faced them could not hinder their access to Jesus. The doubt about His person had been removed. Now, the same concern that they had known Him to have before is once again brought to their minds. He cares about, and is interested in people. “Go tell His disciples.”
The disciples were gathered together in the room. No doubt they were still afraid for their lives, and at the same time, heart broken over the loss of their dearest friend. Oh, but listen. Jesus had an interest in them. He knew how this must have troubled them. He knew how difficult the past was. He knew how unsettled the future seemed to them. So, He showed them the truth about Himself. Jesus cares about people.
It is because Jesus cares about people that He gave His life. Because Jesus cares about people, we can have assurance that Jesus cares about this church. Because Jesus cares about people, we have no reason to fear. He will be with us. He will comfort us. He will mold us. He will grow us. He will make us what He wants us to be because He cares about people.
But notice that His care about people gets personal. “Go tell the disciples and Peter.” Peter, the one who had denied Him three times. Peter, the one who followed Him from a distance as He was on trial. Peter, the one who said he would stand with Him no matter what. Peter, the one who now finds himself in great need. Peter, distant from Christ, and needing to be restored. But Jesus already knew all about it. He realized the place Peter now found himself in, and He knew exactly what Peter needed. “Go tell His disciples, and Peter.” He is interested in individuals.
You are here today, and your life is in a mess. You are distant from Jesus. You have problems that are too big for you to handle. You need restoration, and that personal touch from the savior. You have a need to come back into that close personal fellowship with Him. Perhaps your need is to come into that personal relationship with Him as your savior. Listen to me. Jesus cares about people, and He definitely cares about you.
Easter tells us that Jesus is the savior who is greater than our problems. Easter tell us that Jesus is the savior who is eternally established. Easter tells us that Jesus is the savior who is interested in people. But notice this fourthly; Easter tells us that Jesus is the savior that is true to His word.
Look again at verse 7. “But go your way, tell His disciples and Peter that He goeth before you into Galilee: there ye shall see Him, as He said unto you.” In Mark 14:28 Jesus told His disciples where they could find Him after the resurrection. Here is the affirmation. “Just as He said unto you.”
Listen! Jesus is true to His word. He told us in John 14 that He was going to prepare a place for us. He also said that He was going to return to receive us, those who are saved, unto Himself, so that we will be with Him throughout all of eternity. Jesus is coming again.
Listen! Lost friend, Jesus is true to His word. He has made it clear in His word that those who are not saved, those who have never accepted Christ as their savior, will spend eternity in a place called hell. Is that your desire today? Is that where you want to spend eternity? Would you rather be in hell than spend an eternity in heaven with Him? Jesus is coming. When will it be? Maybe tomorrow, maybe next week, maybe next year, but friend, it could be before you get back home. Jesus is true to His word. He is coming.
