"the Worst Thing Is Never The Last Thing"

“The Worst thing is Never the Last Thing”

Matthew 28:1-10

There can be no doubt that much of what is happening in our world is frightening.

Several years ago, Time Magazine had a cover story with this headline: “Be Worried. Be Very Worried!”

And that is how many of us naturally respond to the events surrounding us…

…the continuing threat of war and terrorism…

…the skyrocketing rate of suicide, especially among young people…

…the 30,000 children who die each day of hunger and diseases related to malnutrition while others have plenty…

…mass shootings…

…the pain we bring upon one another in our relationships, the sin we just can’t seem to shake.

But in Jesus, God entered the boxing ring where evil seems to have the upper hand.

He took the worst blows of the enemy, being subject to the powers that plotted to destroy Him.

He was beaten, abused, and eventually knocked out.

But just when the match seemed lost, Jesus arose; and in His resurrection He dealt a finishing blow to the forces of evil, sin and death.

Jesus Christ is the Victor.

And with His victory, all of us are offered the opportunity to join forces with Him; to be set free from the power of evil, sin, and death; and to live lives of hope, freedom and love.

But we must choose to side with Him.

We are not forced to leave our enslavement to sin and death.

The battle between good and evil will continue until Christ comes again, but His death and resurrection show us that the devil’s time is limited.

You know, the power of Easter can be summarized in one word: hope.

Hope is the sense that things will work out and that despite difficult circumstances and painful situations that might lead us to despair, something good is around the corner.

Hope is something that we cannot live without.

A great theologian once said, “Resurrection means the worst thing is never the last thing.”

That is what the two Marys

learned on that first Easter so long ago.

Over the years, I’ve ministered to many people in the congregations I’ve served as they have faced death.

One man expressed the sense of the victory of Christ as well as anyone I have ever known.

After years of trying to have children, he and his wife finally brought a little girl into this world.

Then, months later, he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of cancer, and he showed remarkable faith in the midst of it.

He said, “I know God doesn’t give people cancer.

This is simply a part of life.

Of course, I am praying to be made well.

That is my desire.

But even more than my own healing, I am praying that somehow, in the midst of my battle with cancer, the glory of God might be revealed in my life.”

He went on to say, “I know Christ has risen; and because He lives, I will live.

I know He has prepared a place for me.

I am not afraid.

And I trust He will send people to care for my wife and daughter.

Like Paul, if I live longer, I will be grateful for that and hope to be useful to Him.

But if the cancer runs its course, I know I will be with Him; and I am grateful for that.

For to me, ‘To live is Christ and to die is gain.’”

On the first Easter morning we are told that the women hurried away from the empty tomb, afraid yet filled with joy…

…and then, suddenly Jesus met them.

Then He said to them, ‘Do not be afraid.

Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’”

There is no doubt that the disciples were transformed following Jesus’ Resurrection.

When Jesus was arrested, they deserted Him because they were afraid, and they hid behind locked doors rather than help bury Him.

But these same people, after seeing the Resurrected Christ went out in the streets of Jerusalem proclaiming Him to everyone.

“Do with us what you want,” they said.

“Kill us if you must, but we have to tell you: The One you crucified we have seen raised from the dead.

He is in fact, the Son of God.

He is the King of glory, the Savior of the world.”

Then they went throughout the known world proclaiming the good news.

They faced difficult times.

They were arrested again and again, beaten, abused, and thrown into prison.

All but one of them were put to death for their faith, but they would never again dwell behind locked doors.

They would never again feel the doubt and despair they had felt before they had seen the Risen Lord.

They faced life with hope and confidence.