Resurrection Sunday 2019 - The Main Thing

Resurrection Sunday 2019 – The Main Thing

Please stand as we read our newest memory Scripture together …

2 Timothy 4:3-4

“The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.”

And our memory refresher verse(s) for today is(are) …

1 Peter 3:8-9

“Finally, all of you should be of one mind. Sympathize with each other. Love one another as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted, and keep a humble attitude.

“Don’t repay evil for evil. Don’t retaliate with insults when people insult you. Instead, pay them back with a blessing. That is what God has called you to do, and He will bless you for it.”

Please open your Bibles to Luke 24:1-12

This past week I did a word search through the Bible and what I didn’t find may amaze you!

There were absolutely NO references Easter Eggs and there absolutely NO references to Easter Bunnies!

The only reference I found to rabbits is that they were considered to be ceremonially unclean as a food source for the Israelites in the Old Testament.

There were a few references to eggs. One in particular is that if you take the eggs from the nest of a mama bird you should leave her and not take both her and the eggs.

So, there was nothing about Easter eggs or Easter bunnies.

But, what I did find is even more amazing than what I didn’t find. What I did find is that references to Jesus’ physical resurrection from the dead are everywhere in the New Testament and that this very truth is foundational to our salvation!

With that in mind let’s look at: Luke 24:1-12

May God bless the reading of His Word … (Prayer for help …)

Have you ever been distracted by something?

In 2015 alone, distracted driving was responsible for: 3,477 deaths, 3,196 fatal car wrecks and 391,000 injuries.

So, what does that have to do with Resurrection Sunday?

Resurrection Sunday is when we make a special effort to focus on the fact that Jesus not only died on the cross as an atoning sacrifice for our sin but He was also raised physically from the dead three days later!

Here’s a thing, not only do drivers get distracted but pastors get distracted, too!

I remember hearing one pastor saying that Easter Sunday was the most difficult day of the year to preach. They said that it was difficult because, “Everything that could be said about the day had already been said …”

Why do we feel that we need to come up with something new and exciting when the most phenomenal event, the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, is the very reason we are gathering on that day?

There is no other event that even remotely compares to the incarnation, the birth, the life, the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ!

That, in itself, is the greatest spiritual event in the history of earth!

That is what stands out as the unique event that separates Christianity from every other religion on the face of the earth; past, present and future!

In every other religion humanity is attempting to reach god in whatever form that god may take.

In all of the religions I looked at there was only one where God actually cared! There was only one where God became Man and gave His life to become reconciled with us.

And what is that religion? Christianity!

Christianity is an odd ball in the religions of the world!

In Christianity we have a God who …

- Created us – not considered to be unusual

o We rebelled against God – also not particularly unusual

- Pursued us – very unusual!

o With a few exceptions we continued to rebel against Him

- Sent His Son, Jesus, to teach us by His life and by His words

- Offered His Son’s body and blood as a sacrifice for our sin

- Raised His from the dead

- Ascended into Heaven and is actually interceding on our behalf with God the Father

- Sent the Holy Spirit to draw us to the Lord, to bring us to repentance for reconciliation and then to help us live lives as participants in His Holy Kingdom here on earth.

There is no other religion here on earth where God actively pursues people so that they can have eternal life.

There is no other religion on earth where God literally demonstrates His passion for the people He created.

There is no other religion here on earth where we can be assured of eternal life while we are still alive here on earth!