The Curse Reversed: From Ark To Empty Tomb (The Easter Sermon)

The Curse Reversed: From Ark to Empty Tomb

"Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." - 1 Corinthians 15:20

Introduction

On that first Easter morning, when the women approached the tomb of Jesus, they expected to find death. Instead, they encountered an angel who proclaimed the most revolutionary words in human history: "He is not here; he has risen, just as he said" (Matthew 28:6). This announcement forever changed the trajectory of human history, marking the moment when the curse that had plagued humanity since Eden began its ultimate reversal.

Today, I invite you to journey with me through the grand narrative of Scripture, where we'll discover that Resurrection Sunday wasn't an isolated event but the climactic fulfillment of God's redemptive pattern established throughout history. From the days of Noah to the Exodus from Egypt and finally to that empty tomb outside Jerusalem, God has been working systematically to reverse the curse of sin and death.

This pattern of divine rescue isn't coincidental. As we'll explore, even the timing reveals God's masterful plan. The ark rested on Mount Ararat on the 17th day of the seventh month (Genesis 8:4) in the ancient calendar—a date that later became the 17th of Nisan in the Jewish calendar, the very day Jesus rose from the dead. God has been telling one story from the beginning, and today, on Resurrection Sunday, we celebrate its magnificent culmination.

I. The Ark of Salvation: God's Rescue in the Flood

"In this ark a few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water. There is also an antitype which now saves us—baptism..." (1 Peter 3:20-21)

The World Under Judgment; The Ark as God's Provision

In Genesis 6, we encounter a world thoroughly corrupted by sin. Scripture tells us "the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually" (Genesis 6:5). The creation that God had once pronounced "very good" had become very bad. The curse that entered through Adam's sin had so thoroughly infected humanity that judgment was inevitable.

Yet even as God pronounced judgment, He provided a way of escape. To Noah, He gave specific instructions for building an ark—a vessel of salvation amid coming destruction. The dimensions, the materials, even the single door into the ark—all were precisely designed by God as His provision for preserving life.

Consider this profound truth: When humanity deserved nothing but judgment, God provided salvation. The ark wasn't Noah's idea; it was God's provision. Noah merely responded in faith and obedience.

The Ark Rests on Ararat ("the Curse Reversed") on the 17th Day

After the devastating flood, Genesis 8:4 records a pivotal moment: "Then the ark rested in the seventh month, the seventeenth day of the month, on the mountains of Ararat." This seemingly minor detail is actually laden with significance. In Hebrew wordplay, Ararat (???????) contains echoes of the word for "curse" (???), leading some scholars to suggest the name implies "the curse reversed."

Even more fascinating is the date—the 17th day of the seventh month in the ancient calendar. This date would later be identified as the 17th of Nisan after the Exodus, when God reset Israel's calendar. This precise day marked the beginning of a new creation, the first step in God's long plan to reverse the curse of sin and death.

The floodwaters that had executed judgment now receded, and dry land appeared. The ark that had preserved life now rested, and a new beginning for creation was inaugurated. The olive branch brought back by the dove signalled that life would flourish again. In the midst of judgment, God was already working toward restoration.

New Beginning for Humanity

As Noah and his family emerged from the ark, they stepped into a world washed clean. God established a covenant with Noah, promising never again to destroy the earth by flood and setting His rainbow in the sky as a perpetual reminder of this covenant of preservation.

Genesis 9:1 records God's blessing: "Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth." These words deliberately echo the original creation mandate given to Adam and Eve. This was nothing less than a new beginning for humanity—a fresh start, a second chance for creation.

Yet this new beginning, significant as it was, remained incomplete. The sin nature persisted in human hearts, as Noah's subsequent fall sadly demonstrated. The curse had been temporarily restrained but not fully reversed. God's plan of redemption was unfolding, but more chapters remained to be written.

II. The Passover Lamb: Deliverance Through Blood

"For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed." - 1 Corinthians 5:7

Israel's Slavery and the First Passover

Centuries after Noah, we find God's covenant people enslaved in Egypt. The descendants of Abraham had multiplied into a great nation, just as God had promised, but they were not free. The book of Exodus opens with the Israelites groaning under the weight of oppression. Once again, God's creation was under bondage—this time to Pharaoh, who set himself up as a god in opposition to the true God.