"The Distractions At Easter”

In Jesus Holy Name Easter 2020

Text: Matthew 28:2,11 Redeemer

“The Distractions at Easter”

Welcome to Easter! He is risen! He is risen indeed! But There many distractions. The first distraction happened 2000 years ago when the Pharisees paid he soldiers to deny what they saw with their eyes, they paid them to spread the story that the disciples stole the body. Over 5000 people attended the Easter Egg drop in Lynn Haven Florida last year. It consumed their day. Did it distract them from the real Easter event? Black Oak Casino offered the distraction to see if you could win one of 4000 prizes On Easter, If you are on site and have enough points from gambling. Then there are Cad berry chocolates, and personal preparations for family dinners that could keep you mind focused on dinner rather than the words of our Easter songs.

In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus was distracted by the betrayal of a friend, In the garden Satan tempted him to avoid the coming pain of the CUP OF God’s wrath. Jesus prayed; “Father for you all things are possible remove this cup from me.” His request received no response. In this clash between his human will and the will of God, Jesus said “not my will but Yours be done. Jesus resolved to drink the cup of God’s wrath and judgment which we deserved. In the first garden he was betrayed with a kiss. In the 2nd garden the stone was rolled away. (Jesus a Theography Leonard Sweet p.220,221) Easter is about Jesus and His resurrection from death and the grave. “Easter is about Jesus. Easter is about hope. Easter is knowing that death on this earth is not the end of life. Your soul, your spirit, was created by God to live forever. You know it in your soul, in your heart. The Easter event shatters all fear, because the resurrection of Jesus strips Satan of his power to hold people in the fear of death.

The great dividing line in history is not BC/AD but BR/AR Before resurrection, After resurrection. If, on this Easter morning you are one who feels unsure about your eternal destiny, and your heart is locked in fear then hear the truth your soul longs to hear. Jesus is alive! He has risen from the dead! He is the “hope” your heart longs to know.

We all have friends who are grieving over the recent loss of a husband or wife, a child, a parent, a friend. Death came like a ruthless thief, snatching away a treasured presence, leaving only hollow memories in its’ wake. This sadness of grief casts a spell of loneliness too powerful for spoken words or shallow songs to break. For those who do not know Jesus….. “hope” is missing.

On a Sunday morning 2000 years ago, the disciples of Jesus were hiding in a locked room. They were distracted worried about their own arrest, without hope. They were afraid to go out into the streets. Afraid to show their faces There is nothing like the truth of resurrection of Jesus to bring hope back to life.

Easter has its own anthems:

“Easter Triumph, Easter joy

This alone can sin destroy

From sin’s power (the) Lord (has) set us free’ Alleluia!

No more can death appall,

Now no more the grave enthrall’

(Jesus) has opened paradise Alleluia!

Gloria and Bill Gaither’s familiar lyrics proclaim the Easter hope.

Because He lives I can face tomorrow

Because He lives all fear is gone

An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives

And life is worth the living just because He lives

Easter has its own Scripture:

I know that my redeemer lives,

And on the last day, He will take His stand on the earth.

Even after my skin is destroyed

Yet in my flesh I shall see God. (Job 19:25-26)

This is the truth of Easter. This is the truth, this is the message of Easter for those locked behind closed doors, fearful to step into the light of each new day.

Easter has its own proclamation: “He is not here, He has risen from the dead.”

Billy Graham wrote: “Without the resurrection, the cross is meaningless.”

"Without Jesus' death, we have no hope of God's forgiveness; and without Jesus' resurrection, we have no hope of eternal life. Like the two wings of an airplane, both are essential!"

Both the cross on which our broken commandments were nailed, and the empty tomb of Jesus have shattered the fear of death. The cross and empty grave remove the wrath of a Holy God from the human heart. Easter celebrates God’s dramatic rescue operation giving you and me a righteousness which we could not ourselves earn.

Charles Colson in his devotion for Easter reminded us that there will always be those who seek to deny the resurrection: “…….The easiest way to get attention