Buddha
Lenin
Gandhi
Hitler
Mohammed
Martin Luther King Jr.
F. D. R.
Jesus of Nazareth
All of these men have something in common. They were each very influential in their own time. Whether for good or for bad they each influenced the lives of millions of people. For better or worse they each lived in such a way that the effects are still being felt today. They were each leaders, they each left a permanent mark on our world. Each of these men, in their own time died. Some peacefully, some brutally, some by their own hands, but each of them died. Each of these were buried, each had a tomb. Each of these men have the grave in common, but only one of these men is still influencing people today. Only one of these men holds the keys of life and death. Only one of these men stepped out of the grave that they were carried in to.
Luke 24:1-6
1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen!”
On this morning, above all others, we come and we worship the Lord Jesus Christ. It is on this morning that we celebrate the risen Lord. It is on this morning that we remember that Jesus was risen from the dead and rejoice in the fact that Jesus indeed went before us to prepare a place for us.
On this morning we wake up very early in the morning and we come as Mary and Martha did. On this special day of remembrance we take time to delight in the fact that our Messiah lives today. Just as the Angels told the women at the grave we hear these words this morning.
"Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen!”
We do not seek Jesus in the tomb, we do not seek Jesus in the dust, we do not seek him in the ashes. He is not there, by God’s power Jesus was resurrected. His lifeless body was filled with breath, his heart began to beat again.
And he proves to us that death is not the end. He proves that there is a resurrection for all who follow him. He proves that he has the power to remove the sting of death.
Jesus is Alive.
He arose 2000 years ago, and he lives today at the right hand of God.
And he gave us a promise that he will return.
This is why we are here this morning. This is why we worship on Sunday morning.
We rejoice in the life that Jesus lived.
With his life we find how to love each other
We praise him for his death on a cross.
With his death we find our forgiveness.
We celebrate his resurrection.
With his New Life we find our salvation and our New Life.
Jesus Lives
Jesus Lives
Jesus Lives
