“Resurrection Reactions”
INTRODUCTION:
1st Easter was very EMOTIONAL time.
· A FRIEND had just been executed as criminal.
· Roman Soldiers everywhere … atmosphere was tense & uncomfortable.
· Disciples were frightened & confused.
· Passover time … thoughts on death … sacrifices … deliverance from bondage … Roman oppression …
“Resurrection Day” OUGHT to be an emotional time. Our minds ought to be on the CROSS … AND … on the RESURRECTION of Jesus. Our minds ought to be ON … His suffering and death … paying the price for OUR SIN. Our minds ought to bee ON … His VICTORY over sin & death … RESURRECTION.
Easter is an EMOTIONAL time.
Let’s look at some of the EMOTIONS seen on the 1st Easter.
1.- ANXIETY – Mk. 16:1-3 – all turn
Some women came to FINISH anointing body of Jesus. It was done in HASTE 2 day earlier … the Sabbath was approaching … they could not work on the Sabbath.
Jn. 19:39-42 – ribbon
It was bothering Mary that the job was not finished. SO … as early as possible … set out to complete task. She didn’t want any unfinished business w/ Jesus. She wanted no regrets … no guilty conscience. She wanted PEACE in heart about His burial. She wanted everything in order when it came to her relationship w/ Jesus.
SO … she hastened … w/ ANXIETY … to finish the anointing & embalming the body of Jesus.
WHAT ABOUT … YOUR RELATIONSHIP w/ Jesus? Is there something missing? Is there anything you don’t feel at peace about? Is there some unfinished business? Some regrets? Guilty conscience? Does talking about a PERSONAL relationship w/ Jesus make you UNEASY?
WHAT IF … you were to DIE TODAY … OR … RAPTURE? WHAT IF … you were to see Jesus face-to-face … RIGHT NOW?
Would there be any REGRETS? Any UNFINISHED BUSINESS? Any feelings of GUILT? Any un-confessed SIN? Some things in your life NOT CLEANED UP?
Mary Magdalene approached the tomb full of ANXIETY. WHY? BECAUSE … she wanted NO REGRETS … no UNFINISHED BUSINESS … She wanted to make sure everything was OK between her & Jesus.
2.- FEAR – Mt. 28:2-4 – all turn
The stone was rolled away before she got there. WHY? NOT so Jesus get out … BUT … so women could see in. SO … world could see that Jesus is RISEN.
MUST HAVE BEEN an awful exp. for Roman Soldiers. They didn’t worship God … they were confronted with the awesomeness of Heaven’s power & glory. LOOK AT … their reaction & emotion – 28:4
MAYBE … that’s your emotion here tonight. ARE YOU here tonight in FEAR? PERHAPS … fear of DYING … probably went thru minds of these Roman Soldiers. PERHAPS … fear of JUDGMENT – Heb. 9:27 – “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment,”
SOMEDAY … all LOST must meet Jesus at Great White Throne judgment. IF LOST … I can understand your fear of death … of the UNKNOWN beyond death’s door. I could tell you what lies ahead for you … for eternity … BUT … it wouldn’t CALM your fear … JUST … INTENSIFY it.
WHY? BECAUSE … the Lake of Fire is something to FEAR!
The soldiers were AFRAID on that 1st Easter morning. AFRAID … WHEN they met the power & glory of God. AND … so will ALL who meet Him in judgment.
3.- DISAPPOINTMENT – Luke 24:1-3 – all turn
They didn’t find what they EXPECTED. INSTEAD OF … dead body … found empty tomb. It’s HARD TO IMAGINE … BUT … they were DISAPPOINTED! WHY? They had their own pre-conceived ideas … AND … not the same as GOD’S ideas.
God had a MUCH BETTER idea! BUT … they were disappointed that things didn’t work out their way. i.e. … couldn’t finish job of anointing & embalming body of Jesus.
DISAPPOINTMENT … Do you feel like your life is a DISAPPOINTMENT? Things not worked out the way you planned? MAYBE … got same problem Mary Magdalene had … You’ve left Jesus out of your plans! IF SO … you WILL be disappointed … IF … your life is not centered around Jesus.
Jesus said MANY TIMES … THAT … He would be killed … AND … raised on 3rd day. BUT … Mary had her OWN PLANS … AND … her mind was on HER PLANS … NOT … GOD’S PLANS. SO … WHEN she couldn’t find His body … she came away DISAPPOINTED.
The RICH YOUNG RULER came away … DISAPPOINTED. WHY? BECAUSE … he left Jesus out of his life. JUDAS … disappointed … left Jesus out of life. 1 THIEF on cross … disappointed … left Jesus out. REPENTANT thief … NOT disappointed … WHY? “Today, thou shalt be with me in Paradise.”
Don’t leave here tonight DISAPPOINTED. The only way to be satisfied & fulfilled … IS … to make Jesus the center of your life. WITHOUT that commitment … your life will be a DISAPPOINTMENT.
4.- AMAZEMENT – Mark 16:5-8 – all turn
I don’t see WHY they were so AMAZED. AFTER ALL … Jesus SAID He would rise from the dead. AND, YET … we stand AMAZED every day at the GRACE of our Lord.
I’m AMAZED that …
· He would die for me … and for you.
· He loves me so much … and you.
· He is so faithful to me … WHEN … I’m so unfaithful to Him.
· He hasn’t given up on me a long time ago.
He’s promised to meet all my needs … AND … when He does … I’m AMAZED. He’s promised to GUIDE me … STRENGTHEN me … give me PEACE … WISDOM … AND … when He does … I’m AMAZED! BUT … we really shouldn’t be so AMAZED … THAT … Jesus keeps His word!
5.- DISBELIEF – Luke 24:8-12 – all turn
There are some who DON’T BELIEVE in the resurrection of Jesus. They consider it “idle tales” – 24:11
BUT … IF … the resurrection isn’t true … THEN:
· Jesus isn’t the Messiah … He was a LIAR (yet many consider Him a good moral teacher).
· Millions have been deceived … God is a liar.
· I am a liar … been deceived … along with D.L. Moody, Charles Spurgeon, Billy Graham, Warren Wiersby …
AND … we are all either LIARS … STUPID … DECEIVED … or FOOLS.
AND … IF there is no resurrection … THEN …
· There is no hope.
· Everyone is eternally damned.
· There is no salvation … no Heaven … no God … no HOPE!
BUT … NO MATTER what you BELIEVE … OR … DON’T BELIEVE … IT DOESN’T CHANGE THE FACTS! Jesus IS RISEN … WHETHER … you believe it or not!
IF … Jesus HASN’T RISEN … THEN …
· WHY do I enjoy FELLOWSHIP w/ Him?
· WHY do I have the PEACE He offers me? (the peace the unbelievers don’t have).
· WHY do I have the inner assurance that my SINS are FORGIVEN?
· WHY do I look forward to an eternal home in HEAVEN?
NO MATTER WHAT YOU BELIEVE … it doesn’t change the FACTS:
· FACT of the JUDGMENT of the LOST.
· FACT of the SAVING POWER of Jesus.
In these verses … many DIDN’T BELIEVE … BUT … Jesus is still the RISEN LORD!
6.- SORROW – John 20:11-16 – all turn
Her eyes were blinded by SORROW. Her eyes were focused on EARTHLY THINGS … AND … couldn’t see HEAVENLY MIRACLE taking place. She couldn’t experience the JOY of the resurrection. She had NO TIME to be HAPPY. She was too busy worrying about what MIGHT have happened.
Resurrection Day (Easter) is a HAPPY TIME!
BUT … up to this point … the message is full of … anxiety … fear … disappointment … amazement … disbelief … sorrow. WHY? BECAUSE … they got their eyes OFF of Jesus … AND … onto THEMSELVES.
WHEN are we going to get to the JOY of Easter?
BUT, FIRST … let me ask you. Are you full of SORROW today … WORRY? IF SO … you’ve got your eyes all dimmed by the world. You need to get those tear-stained eyes OFF yourself … AND … FOCUSED ON the Lord Jesus.
WHERE is the JOY of Easter?
7.- JOY – John 20:16-20
HERE, is the PEACE that we find because of the resurrection of Jesus.
John 16:22 – Jesus told them – “Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.”
TODAY … is “Resurrection Day!” There is:
· JOY in knowing that sins are PAID FOR … AND … payment was ACCEPTED by God the Father.
· JOY in knowing that Jesus is victorious over sin & death … AND … Satan defeated … grave couldn’t hold Him.
· JOY in knowing Jesus as personal Savior … giving ME victory over sin & death.
· JOY in fellowship w/ risen, living Lord.
· JOY in casting my cares upon Him.
CONCLUSION:
Do you know the JOY that only Jesus can give? OR … anxiety … fear … disappointment … amazement … disbelief … sorrow?
What EMOTIONS are you experiencing today? Jesus can turn them into JOY … JUST LIKE … He did on that 1st Easter morning.
WHY were so many SAD … MISERABLE? BECAUSE … they didn’t pay attention to what Jesus had told them … “I will rise again.” They had their eyes on SELF … AND … not on Jesus. That will lead you to a miserable, sad life.
Once they saw the risen Lord, they were full of joy & peace. Come tonight … give Jesus 1st place in your life. Focus on Him and His resurrected power.
THEN … and ONLY THEN … will you experience a personal resurrection in your spiritual life.
