INTRODUCTION:
About 3 years ago Connie and I attended a family reunion in Roswell, N.M. We had a good time but one thing sticks out in my mind about that reunion. It was a side trip we took to see a musical about some of the folklore surrounding the Roswell area. The story is told that in or around 1947 Roswell was visited by something not of this world, something alien. They have made movies and television shows about that day and now Roswell citizens have the opportunity to tell in their own words what they think happened when they were visited by something not of this world. All through the musical performers can be heard singing, “There’s something in the air” as they look heavenward.
Isn’t that what you and I are often heard saying this time of the year. I hear folks say, “Spring is in the air”. Springtime comes and it always ushers in the Easter holidays and finally Easter Sunday. For some reason we have a desire to do things that we don’t normally do. For instance more people attend churches across America on Easter Sunday than any other Sunday of the year. Could it be because there’s something in the air? Could it be that on this day we are so vividly reminded that because Jesus was in the air suspended between heaven and earth on an old rugged cross that we are offered forgiveness of sin? Jesus reminds us of this in His Word.
John 12:32 (NKJV)
32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all peoples to Myself." NKJV
The NLT renders it this way
32 And when I am lifted up on the cross, I will draw everyone to myself." NLT
But dear friends the startling reality is this. Some people find it easier to believe that we were visited by aliens from another planet when there is no credible evidence that we ever were than they that believe that we were visited by a loving, caring Savior that died for the sins of mankind when there is ample evidence available to support that He did just that.
There is something in the air this morning. Can you feel it? Do you believe in Easter? I mean the real Easter when we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. Have you ever stopped to think about what it really means?
WHAT IT MEANT THEN
Lets begin by not looking at the obvious but instead let’s look at how it affected those that are not so obvious.
I. THE CENTURION. Matthew 27:54
A. He was like a lot of people gathered there that day. He’s like a lot of people that are gathered here today. He had heard about Jesus but he didn’t really know who He was.
B. He had probably heard all the pros and cons surrounding Jesus.
1. Some said He was the Son of God.
2. While others contended that he was nothing more than a mere man, doing miracles by the power of Satan therefore committing the sin of blasphemy.
3. He had heard some say this man named Jesus deserved to live and yet others say He deserved to die.
4. He had heard the crowds yell, “Crucify Him”.
5. Why wouldn’t someone stand up and plead for His life?
6. Why were all of His disciples standing so far away?
7. Why would they not speak up when He needed them the most?
C. Finally after taking everything in. After watching this innocent man endure torture at the hands of his own men he stood at the foot of the cross and stared into the eyes of the Savior.
1. He watched Him endure without one word of criticism.
2. In fact he heard Him pray “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do”.
3. He saw the sky turn to darkness. He felt the earthquake. He heard Jesus say, “It is finished”.
4. He could contain himself no longer and as fear and emotion gripped him he said in the presence of all those around him, “Truly this was the Son of God”.
D. How did it affect him? Tradition (that is history) tells that this centurion went by the name of Longinus.
1. It goes on to say that because of what happened that day he left the military and became a devoted follower of Christ.
2. He preached the gospel and eventually died a martyr’s death for the cause of Christ.
E. What have you done for Christ today?
II. JOSEPH OF ARIMETHEA. Matthew 27:57-60
A. He was like a lot of people gathered there that day. He is like a lot of people gathered here today. He knew Jesus as Savior but was afraid to let anybody else know he was a Christian.
B. He had too much to lose by openly confessing Jesus as Savior.
1. He was a rich man but it could hurt him financially to openly confess Jesus. How many times have you and I put money before the Lord?
2. Professionally he was a high ranking member of the Sanhedrin and to acknowledge Jesus in the presence of his peers who were always speaking against Jesus could not only cost him his position but they would probably laugh him right out of the room.
3. They might even try to persecute him.
4. How many times have you and I kept our mouth shut while people around us used God’s name in vain, while they made fun of Christianity and Christians. While they made fun of God’s only Son.
5. We were so afraid of being laughed at.
6. We were so afraid of losing what we thought we couldn’t afford to lose that we just sat there with our mouth shut.
C. But something happened to Joseph of Arimethea.
1. The events that took place that day changed him forever.
2. He had to know that the day would come when he could no longer set back and blend in with the crowd.
3. You see, all the disciples that had stood with Jesus in life had now forsaken Him for the moment for fear of the consequences they too would face.
D. Now the disciples that had no open relation with Him in life must step forth at His death.
1. It is worth mentioning that it was Joseph’s wealth and political stature that made it possible for him to get an immediate audience with Governor Pilate.
2. The very things that he feared of loosing were the very things God used to work His purpose in Joseph’s life.
E. In the end he boldly stepped forward and took the body of Jesus from the cross and laid it in a virgin tomb, one that had never been used but was designed for him and his family.
F. How did it affect him? Tradition (that is history) has it that Joseph left the Sanhedrin (he would have had no choice after identifying himself with Jesus), was baptized and sent to Britain by the Apostle Phillip where he constructed a house of prayer and openly confessed Jesus for the rest of his life.
G. Have you confessed Him today?
Conclusion:
Dear friends it didn’t end that first Easter morning. It seems that on that day too there was something in the air. There were visitors that were not of this world. These angelic visitors rolled the stone away from the door of the tomb and the Son of God stepped forward in all of His glory. Soon there would be shouts of, “He’s Alive!” “He has risen!” “Hallelujah!”
Now, do you believe in Easter?
Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas. She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people.
His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns. When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.
Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: "Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying, "My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?" Beverly said, "Why yes I do." Edith said, "Well, what do you believe about Easter?" Beverly said, "Well, it’s all about egg hunts, going to church, and dressing up." Edith kept pressing her about the real meaning of Easter, and finally led her to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Dr. Phillips said, "Beverly, don’t call Edith into the office quite yet. I believe there is another delivery taking place in the waiting room.
After being called back in the doctor’s office, Edith sat down and when she took a look at the doctor she said, "Dr. Will, why are you so sad? Are you reading your Bible? Are you praying?"
Dr. Phillips said gently, "Edith, I’m the doctor and you’re the patient." With a heavy heart he said, "Your lab report came back and it says you have cancer, and Edith, you’re not going to live very long." Edith said, "Why Will Phillips, shame on you. Why are you so sad? Do you think God makes mistakes? You have just told me I’m going to see my precious Lord Jesus, my husband, and my friends. You have just told me that I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty giving me my ticket!" Dr. Phillips thought to himself, "What a magnificent woman this Edith Burns is!"
Edith continued coming to Dr. Phillips. Christmas came and the office was closed through January 3rd. On the day the office opened, Edith did not show up. Later that afternoon, Edith called Dr. Phillips and said she would have to be moving her story to the hospital and said, "Will, I’m very near home, so would you make sure that they put women in here next to me in my room who need to know about Easter."
Well, they did just that and women began to come in and share that room with Edith. Many women were saved. Everybody on that floor from staff to patients were so excited about Edith, that they started calling her Edith Easter; that is everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse.
Phyllis made it plain that she wanted nothing to do with Edith because she was a "religious nut". She had been a nurse in an army hospital. She had seen it all and heard it all. She was the original G.I. Jane. She had been married three times, she was hard, cold, and did everything by the book.
One morning the two nurses who were to attend to Edith were sick. Edith had the flu and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a shot. When she walked in, Edith had a big smile on her face and said, "Phyllis, God loves you and I love you, and I have been praying for you." Phyllis Cross said, "Well, you can quit praying for me, it won’t work. I’m not interested." Edith said, "Well, I will pray and I have asked God not to let me go home until you come into the family." Phyllis Cross said, "Then you will never die because that will never happen," and curtly walked out of the room.
Every day Phyllis Cross would walk into the room and Edith would say, "God loves you Phyllis and I love you, and I’m praying for you." One day Phyllis Cross said she was literally drawn to Edith’s room like a magnet would draw iron. She sat down on the bed and Edith said, "I’m so glad you have come, because God told me that today is your special day." Phyllis Cross said, "Edith, you have asked everybody here the question, ’Do you believe in Easter?’ but you have never asked me." Edith said, "Phyllis, I wanted to many times, but God told me to wait until you asked, and now that you have asked..."
Edith Burns took her Bible and shared with Phyllis Cross the Easter Story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Edith said, "Phyllis, do you believe in Easter? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive and that He wants to live in your heart?" Phyllis Cross said, "Oh I want to believe that with all of my heart, and I do want Jesus in my life." Right there, Phyllis Cross prayed and invited Jesus Christ into her heart. For the first time Phyllis Cross did not walk out of a hospital room, she was carried out on the wings of angels.
Two days later, Phyllis Cross came in and Edith said, "Do you know what day it is?" Phyllis Cross said, "Why Edith, it’s Good Friday." Edith said, "Oh, no, for you every day is Easter. Happy Easter Phyllis!"
Two days later, on Easter Sunday, Phyllis Cross came into work, did some of her duties and then went down to the flower shop and got some Easter lilies because she wanted to go up to see Edith and give her some Easter lilies and wish her a Happy Easter. When she walked into Edith’s room, Edith was in bed. That big black Bible was on her lap. Her hands were in that Bible. There was a sweet smile on her face. When Phyllis Cross went to pick up Edith’s hand, she realized Edith was dead. Her left hand was on John 14:2-3, “In my Father’s house are many mansions. I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." Her right hand was on Revelation 21:4, " And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying; and there shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
Phyllis Cross took one look at that dead body, and then lifted her face toward heaven, and with tears streaming down here cheeks, said, "Happy Easter, Edith - Happy Easter!"
You can have a happy Easter today and forever if you’ll give your heart to Him like the Roman centurion did as he stood at the foot of the cross and like Phyllis did in the story I just read. If you are ready to receive Him as Savior just step forward this morning. You can have a happy Easter if you’ll just openly confess Him like Joseph of Arimethea did. If you know Him just step forward and confess Him as your Savior.
Will you come as we sing.
