27, March 2005
Dakota Community Church
The Truth about Easter
Introduction:
Luke 23: 26-49
As they led him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus. A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him. Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children. For the time will come when you will say, ‘Blessed are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!”
and to the hills, “Cover us!” ’ For if men do these things when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?”
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals–one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One.”
The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”
There was a written notice above him, which read: |sc THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.
One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!”
But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”
Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.
The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
Luke 24: 1-8
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. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 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? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words.
Most people are somewhat familiar with the Easter story.
- the lilies
- the chocolate bunnies
- colored eggs
- White shoes, new hats and dresses.
Religion has away of glossing over the truth so that people participate in important things, and still miss the significance of them.
Do not wear rose colored glasses tonight.
The resurrection of Christ is the most important event in human history.
I challenge you tonight to go beyond the glaze and embrace the truth.
Four truths about Easter that can change your life forever:
1. God is alive!
If Easter has anything to say at all it says that there is a God and He is alive and aware of the human condition.
For some reason our whole society is bent on proving otherwise.
On the radio recently I heard that a Christian group in Atlanta succeeded in getting the local school board to put stickers on the science text book stating that evolution is only a theory not a proven fact. A disagreement arose over this and it was taken to court where a judge ordered the stickers removed.
Romans 1: 20-21
For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
I bought my kids a book entitled the Giant Book of Scientific Facts. On the first two pages were the big bang theory and the theory of evolution.
In nature everything produces after its own kind and deformities are usually killed.
Ever heard of symbiosis?
Quote:
It is possible for a person to contend that a poem is nothing but black marks on white paper. And such an argument might be convincing before an audience that could not read. You can examine the print under a microscope or analyze the paper and ink but you will never find something behind this sort of analysis that you could call "a poem." Those who can read, however, will continue to insist that poems exist.
Bruce Shelly, Christian Theology in Plain Language
Over the years I have learned that often the experts are guessing. From Social workers to Doctors to religious rulers – people are blind unless God gives light.
2. Easter shows us that God is a good God.
Perhaps the greatest misconception on this planet is that God is an angry legalist looking for ways to “get” people.
Luke 23: 32-34
Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals–one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.
John 3:16
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son
Does this sound like the author of tsunamis? Earthquakes? Famines? Disease? Starvation?
But Pastor Dan you don’t know what happened to me. God allowed this horrible abuse to take place to teach me a lesson.
– I am sorry to inform you that your "experience" is wrong; God is no child abuser!
Romans 4: 3-4
What if some did not have faith? Will their lack of faith nullify God’s faithfulness? Not at all! Let God be true, and every man a liar.
John 14: 8-9
Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
What about famines? I would suggest to you that there is more than enough wealth in most of the countries where people are starving; however corrupt rulers hoard it for themselves.
Illustration:
A man went to a barber shop to have his hair and his beard cut as always. He started to have a good conversation with the barber who attended him. They talked about so many things and various subjects. Suddenly, they touched the subject of God.
The barber said: "Look man, I don’t believe that God exists as you say so."
"Why do you say that?" - asked the client.
”Well, it’s so easy; you just have to go out in the street to realize that God does not exist. Oh, tell me, if God existed, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God existed, there would be no suffering or pain. I can’t think of a God who permits all of these things."
The client stopped for moment thinking but he didn’t want to respond so as to prevent an argument. The barber finished his job and the client went out of the shop. Just after he left the barber shop he saw a man in the street with a long hair and beard (it seems that it had been a long time since he had his cut and he looked so untidy). Then the client again entered the barber shop and he said to the barber:
”You know what? Barbers do not exist."
"How come they don’t exist?" asked the barber. "Well I am here and I am a barber."
"No!" the client exclaimed. "They don’t exist because if they did there would be no people with long hair and beard like that man who walks in the street."
"Ah, barbers do exist, what happens is that people do not come to me."
"Exactly!" affirmed the client. "That’s the point. God does exist, what happens is people don’t go to Him and do not look for Him that’s why there’s so much pain and suffering in the world."
Romans 8: 37-39
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Jesus had mercy on everyone who came to him except for those who were trying to prevent people from coming to God.
3. Easter tells us that Jesus is the only way.
Although it is very popular theology these days to believe that Jesus is just one of many ways to get to God; it is apparent that He did not consider this to be the case.
John 14: 6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Paul didn’t know it either.
1Timothy 2: 5
For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all men–the testimony given in its proper time.
In fact every one of us is infected by a blood disease called sin.
By one man’s sin all humanity fell and by one man’s sacrifice all are redeemed.
You must personally identify with that sacrifice, not just know about it.
All other religions are works based, attempts by men to earn a place with God.
Christianity alone is faith based, it alone is God reaching out to rescue men.
Could it be a hoax? – 12 men died for this scam without fessing up.
4. Easter shows us that God has a plan for each of us.
The salvation experience is an individual one. It is between you and God, no one can make you do it. No one can stop you from doing it.
Jeremiah 29: 11
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Take this home with you this Easter Sunday:
God created you with a purpose. You have a Devine destiny to fulfill.
- A life with meaning.
- A life with passion.
- A life with direction.
- A life with Him.
The temple veil was torn for you.
Are you getting it? – You can.
