Easter is such a wonderful time. Easter egg hunts! Hey, Easter is a great time for Kids. Just like other holidays, families renew bonds and show love that is healthy for all of our children to experience. What are some other things? New dresses are bought by ladies to wear to church services, flowers are often bought and donated especially for these services, and we are reminded about events that took place across the world almost 2000 years ago. What does man think of when the Holiday of Easter comes around each April ?
There are always the family get together. Besides Christmas and perhaps Mother’s day, Easter is one of the main times families plan time to just be together. In these busy times, that fact in itself is something that makes Easter special. When these families get together the meal at the parents home is often following attending church. I do not have the figures in front of me, but logic tells me that Easter has to be one of the most attended Sundays of the year for churches. Why is this so ? Believe it or not, the vast majority of Americans believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose the first day of the week; Sunday. I am not sure that these people who attend on Easter, but do not regularly attend on other Sundays, are there for that reason alone though. If the truth be known, most are attending because of tradition. You see, we Americans are heavy in tradition. We do things because,” that’s the way it’s always been done”. So I guess you could say some attend as a sort of Gospel insurance renewal. “ Ooops, Dear our policy is running out at midnight Saturday we better go to church Easter.”
Don’t get me wrong, though. If the only day a person thinks about Jesus is Christmas or Easter it is better than no days at all. Amen?
Isn’t it sad though that our society celebrates the birth of Jesus and the death and resurrection of Jesus in ways that either commercially or spiritually do not represent the true spirit of the miraculous events? A person I work with and I were talking Tuesday, I mentioned how our church was working on a play about the Rapture. He looked at me funny and I realized he did not know what the Rapture was. “The Rapture is when Jesus will appear in the clouds and call up the true believers in Christ, “ I explained. “Oh,” he said, having obviously heard more than he ever wanted pertaining to the subject. “I think we’re (his family) going to church Sunday.” he said matter of factly. “Great!”, I approved. “It’s either this Sunday or next. Whichever is Easter.” “Better make sure which one it is,” I instructed. He saw my sarcasm and laughed, “Yeah, wouldn’t want to show up on the wrong day!” “Just wake up Sunday and if the Easter Bunny has come, put your suit on.” “Good Idea,” he joked as he walked away.
No, That wouldn’t be too great to show up on the wrong day. It would be even worse my friends if Jesus had showed up on the wrong day. I have mentioned several times the Easter church services. Yes, unfortunately we Christians even show more enthusiasm on Easter Sunday than usual. After all this is the Story of Christ ! Wouldn’t it be great though if we celebrated Christ every Sunday--Better still every day, with the energy we emit on Easter Sunday?
What does Easter mean to God? It is a time after His Son was murdered at the hands of the people He came to help. God allowed this to happen because he loves us so. You know, that statement can be used and abused; kinda like the statement, “I love you”. It is so special the first time you hear it. Soon however, the words become less meaningful. But just as your love for your loved one needs to be emphasized, so does God’s eternal love for us.
Joh 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Because he loves us so. Why did Jesus die on the cross and later resurrect himself? Yes, that is what I said, “resurrect himself” .
John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
Still, why did Jesus die on the cross and rise two days later? That Is a good question. One we will examine further later.
What was going on around this time, approximately 1968 years ago? Jesus was in his third year of ministry on Earth. He had chosen twelve disciples. He was preaching the word of God. Meanwhile in Rome, the Roman empire was getting their feathers ruffled. They had a religious machine going and it had plenty of fuel to maintain this eight cylinder gas guzzler. Jesus was offering a new improved model with more room, more comfort, and better gas mileage. So the Romans began plotting and conspiring to maintain their monopoly.
Psalms 2:2-3 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, [saying], 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
Luke 22:1 ¶ Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the Passover.
2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them.
They were glad to give him money! They just wanted to get rid of The guy! So they paid Judas 30 pieces of silver. That was quite a bit of pocket change, as we find out later, enough to buy a potter’s entire field. The potter thought that 30 silver pieces was enough to sell out ,close up shop and move on. He was willing to sell land that probably had been in his family for generations. 30 pieces of silver must have been a lot of money. Jesus is betrayed by Judas and arrested. Judas later we find out tried to give back the money the bible says was accepted because Satan was with Judas. The Romans took the money back but would not enter it into the treasury because it was “blood money”. So, Instead they buy the potter’s land to use for burying Jesus and the two other crucifixion victims. One interesting note is that Judas hung himself in shame after giving the blood money back to the Romans. He knew what he did was wrong. Pity the poor man’s soul. Yes, pity, Jesus would forgive him seventy times seven.
Luke 23:34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.
Jesus was brought to trial. Pilate found him innocent then bowed to the pressures of the Jewish people and allowed Jesus to be spit upon, beaten, and eventually crucified. Along with two others, One of the Men Died in Sin . He remained lost and died never accepting Christ. The Other Died to Sin. He was given salvation by his faith in Christ.
1Pe 2:24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
And Jesus, Died for Sin. Jesus absorbed the terrible monster that had been growing out of control ever since Adam and Eve fell from Grace. Nailed to that tree He erased or iniquities and provided a conduit to God for mankind. He provided us with the key that opens the door of Grace. Without Jesus mankind is lost.
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
When Jesus died on the cross the bible tells us that darkness overtook the earth. Not night, but the day became dark. Also a great earthquake occurred.
Mt 27:54 Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son
of God.
These earthquake was like God was saying, “ Ok, the party’s over fellas” Jesus was taken to a tomb by Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus.
Mt 27:57 ¶ When the even was come, there came a rich man of Arimathaea, named Joseph, who also himself was Jesus' disciple.
Mark 15:43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
John 19:38 ¶ And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave [him] leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus.
Mt7:60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
Here is were something interesting happens. The Romans now got together and planned what to do next.
Mt 27:62 Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63 Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. 65 Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make [it] as sure as ye can. 66 So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
Something I found very interesting. Did they get together and plan how to keep Jesus’s disciples from stealing the body or were they afraid perhaps Jesus would come back. Did they seal the tomb to keep people out or keep Jesus in? Another interesting fact is, they sealed the tomb on the Sabbath. Jesus died on a Friday and was buried later that day. The Next day the tomb was sealed; on the Sabbath day. Didn’t they convict Jesus for not resting on the Sabbath? On the third day after Jesus was crucified, Mary Magdeline and “another Mary “went to Jesus tomb to anoint him. There they found an angel sitting on the great stone that had sealed the tomb of Jesus. They were frightened but the Angel told them not to be afraid. He told them to go tell the disciples that Jesus would meet them in Galilee.
Where were the disciples during this time ? They ran for their lives after Jesus was arrested. Jesus had predicted in Mathew 26:31 that this would happen.
Mt 26:31 ¶ Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.
Except for John and Joseph, we see no mention of these men until after the resurrection. Why did they do this? How many of you have seen the old western movies where the good guys are being attacked by the Indians? What do the good guys try to do? Shoot the chief! When that happens the rest of the warriors retreat; the scatter like a flock of lost sheep. Who do you assassinate if you want to hurt America? The President. In the Chicago Blacksox scandal in the early 1900’s, who did the bad guys pay off? the best players; the leaders. It would have done no good to make a deal with the water boy. The Disciples had no shepard. And we must remember, these men had hung around with Jesus, but were in many ways weaker in their faiths than we are. Remember Paul was not converted until after the Resurrection. Not until after the resurrection did the Holy Spirit enter their bodies. What were these guys thinking at the time? “Did I waste the last three years of my life ?” They always thought that the Kingdom Jesus was preparing for them was on earth. Now the man they followed but never really understood, was gone. I am sure they were depressed, they had just lost their friend. Simon Peter had just denied Christ three times! Man I bet he was feeling pretty lousy ! They were also lost. They had spent three years enjoying the ride of Jesus. They helped feed the multitudes, cure blindmen, raise the dead, and listened to all the entertaining stories about Lost Sheep, Lost Coins, and Lost Kids. They did not understand most of these stories until much later though.
Were the two ladies Mary Magdeline and the other Mary, any more believers than the disciples? I don’t think so. They did however feel the obligation to do their job; take care of Jesus. This brings up another thought of how women are so often more willing to do the work for the Lord than men are. But that is another story. The two Marys came upon the tomb and saw the stone had been rolled away. They were comforted by an angel that told them not to be afraid. They were commissioned by the angel to go an tell the disciples of Jesus’s resurrection. Yes the most important job of the new beginning was delegated to women. Was it because they just happened to be there? No, I believe God intended these two ladies to be his messenger. He could have had an angel appear before any of the disciples but chose not to. He chose these wonderful loyal servants. These two ladies that loved Jesus so greatly. This might be a message to both our men and our women. Ladies, God uses all to carry out his work. So be ready and willing. We men need to perhaps consider this fact more often and think of the most qualified members of our church for projects whether they be male or female. God uses us all. The ladies ran with great joy to tell the disciples of their discovery. The disciples were so weak in their faith, so depressed maybe, that they did not believe the two women. Only after John and Peter raced to the tomb to investigate the tale did they start to believe. Soon after Jesus appeared to the disciples and started preparing them for the missions he had chosen for them.
So there you have it; the story of Easter. Jesus was crucified and resurrected himself two days later. You say, yeah but didn’t you say you’d tell us why Jesus was crucified and later resurrected? Okay, but first, let’s examine the resurrection itself. There are many out there that have theories regarding Jesus and the resurrection.
1. The ladies went to the wrong tomb and saw a young man not an angel. If so, why did the man tell them to go tell the disciples?
2. Jesus, swooned on the cross and was thought to be dead. Later the coolness of the tomb awakened him and he snuck off never to be seen again. Not even in Garland around April Fools day. If Jesus was just-a-swooning, on the cross, why did he not scream when the Roman soldier pierced his side with his spear? That would wake me up I guarantee you.
3. The women and the disciples were hallucinating. Well you might as well add at least 500 others to that hallucination.
1 Corinthians 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
Finally, some explain this as self induced visions. 500 people. What were they smoking! Well, if Jesus did not resurrect himself on the third day, what happened. To borrow a phrase from the movie Jerry Maguirre : “Show Me the Mummy !” Why didn’t the Romans just show the dead body of Jesus to everyone and nip that “foolish Christ Thing” in the bud? Because, there was no body! Jesus resurrected! There are many more explanations that Satan has put in the heads of man. Be careful. Satan does not want us to believe.
So why did Jesus die and rise on the third day? To prove he was powerful? To convince everyone that he was for real? No, Jesus knew and told his disciples that this would not work.
Luke 16:31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.
The reason, according to Paul in 1 Corinthians 2:14 is because man without God is spiritually blind.
1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know [them], because they are spiritually discerned.
So for the last time, “Why was Jesus resurrected to Heaven?” Here in lies the meaning of this sermon’s title, “Easter : Do you have your eggs in the wrong basket?” The answer is simple. There is a day coming soon; a day of Judgment. Whether we die before Christ comes back or whether we are all fortunate to live until that glorious day, the day will come when we are to be Judged by the Lord Jesus himself.
Heb 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
We later read in Acts 17:31:
Ac 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by [that] man whom he hath ordained; [whereof] he hath given assurance unto all [men], in that he hath raised him from the dead.
Jesus rose from the dead not to shock people by the event. He rose because God used this as assurance that Jesus was the ordained Christ and that He will Judge the world in Righteousness. Verse 30 says that God winked at one time about man’s ignorance. He probably laughed at the Romans as they so intricately planned and schemed ways to break the chains of God. Do you think that the Angel appearing and the earthquake were necessary? No Christ was already gone at the time. The Earthquake and the rolling away of the stone were symbols of God’s patience wearing thin. The Guards certainly got the message didn’t they. The Bible says they were frightened and became as dead men.
Easter is a wonderful time. For the believers in Christ it is a day that we remember the promise of salvation. We rejoice in the light of our Lord Jesus. We Are reminded of how much he loved our pitiful souls. We are so fortunate to be given this wonderful gift; this extraordinary sacrifice. We are so precious to God He gave up the life of His only begotten Son. This should bring us peace of mind and great joy. It should provide us with Easter Cheer.
For those of us who are not fortunate to know Christ, I weep for your hearts. Jesus according to the scriptures was resurrected to assure us that we will one day stand before him in Judgment. We will one day be held accountable. God one day winked at man’s folly. He was amused. Now he commands us to repent. We must accept our Lord Jesus as our eternal savior or suffer the consequences. Does that mean that God will begin striking down those who reject him? You tell me.
It is like putting a gun to your head with only one bullet. You might pull the trigger a million times and survive. But The one million one pull of the trigger might give you a head ache. I know that personally I would rather die as I stand before you knowing that Jesus is my savior than live ten thousand years and then burn forever in hell.
Revelation 1:17 tells us:
Re 1:17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last:
18 I [am] he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
God has given Jesus the keys to the family car. It is up to you whether that car will be a limousine tasking you to wonders only God knows or whether the ride will be in a different type of limousine called a hearse. One that takes you to the Lake of Fire.
So, let’s remember this day of Easter. The special day that Jesus rose up into the heavens and gained his rightful place on the throne beside God. Oh, how sweet it is; the story of Jesus. But Much sweeter is the love he has for us all.
Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father, how Blessed is Your Name. We are so fortunate that you allowed your Son to sacrifice His life for us. We are but filthy rags in your sight. We praise Your Holiness and offer ourselves as Your servants. Lord, there are those out there who do not know Jesus as their personal Savior. Please, touch their hearts and open their minds to the Light of Lights, the Son of man. Oh, Lord, I know that You are a Gracious God. Without You there is nothing. Without Your grace there is nothing but vanity. Thank You God for allowing us to worship your existence. For it is in Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen
