Luke 24:1-12
Introduction: It is a happy
resurrection morning. I know families have a lot planned today; I also
know you have all day for those plans. Today we celebrate the resurrection of
the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am happy you’re here today and I don’t plan
on keeping you all day, now the Holy Ghost may move that way and if He does so
be it, I couldn’t think of a better place to spend Easter Sunday that with God
in His house. For a little while this morning let’s put aside the lunch, the
egg hunts, the long naps, and everything else you have planned after church.
Lets you and I spend some time with our hearts and heads looking toward heaven
and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Your in His house, let Him have your
undivided attention, lift Him up and glorify Him, let Him speak to your heart
as I preach for a little while on “The first day of the Week.” Notice with me
four things that took place when a group of women went to visit the body of
Jesus. First they experienced…
Jesus body had been put inside a borrowed tomb, it had been sealed with a stone and added to that the seal of a Roman governor. That did not stop a faithful few from making their way in the darkness of early morning wanting to complete the burial ritual and process, the anointing with spices. The love they had for their Lord was a love that would not allow a rock or a Roman seal to keep them from their duties; they didn’t know how they were walking by faith that God would make a way to the body of Jesus.
When they arrived shock had to befall their faces. The Roman seal was broken and the stone rolled away. Who had tampered with the tomb? Was it the Pharisees? Was it the Romans? Was it the Disciples? There was concern, curiosity and caution. Where was the Lord?
There are a lot of people asking that same question today, as if they were standing in front of an open tomb afraid to look inside, not knowing the truth and ever afraid to find it out. A lot of people know about Jesus today, but only a few know Him and know His whereabouts. Praise God the stone was rolled away “the first day of the week” the stone had been divinely moved for an eternal purpose.
After the tomb these
women experienced the…
The word of God says the women were “perplexed” meaning they were at a loss. Have you ever been in a situation where you didn’t know what to do next, you were “perplexed.” Imagine this, they were standing there looking around at nothing but dark stone walls, and there on the slab where a body was supposed to be were nothing but empty grave cloths with a face napkin neatly folded and placed on top of the grave cloth. The cloth gave evidence a man once occupied them but there was no one there, where/who/what had happened?
Then they noticed two men who were wore “shining garments.” The phrase “shining garments” tell us a lot about what these men looked like. You see their clothes didn’t just glow, they flashed like lightening would light up a night sky only it was continuous. This appearance struck fear into their hearts, what would it do to you? These men were angels and they ask a question that still needs asking today, “why seek ye the living among the dead?”
These women were reminded of the words of Jesus “The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be
crucified, and the third day rise again.” Today we
forget these words just as they were forgotten by the disciples and apostles of
that day.
Bless God today we
celebrate a risen savior. If you are saved today you have something to shout
about, a stone that was rolled away and a savior who walked away physically
resurrected just as He had promised He would. There was no parade, no press
coverage; the men Jesus so closely associated with were not there. People could
not prevent this prophecy, the Pharisees and the Romans conspired to kill Him,
the people betrayed Him, most of His followers bemoaned Him but praise God He
was faithful to redeem sinful man in spite of ourselves.
After experiencing the tomb and the truth
they were able to give…
In a
state of shock and awe these women [Mary
Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James along with others] went to the
eleven [the disciples] who were
somewhere doing who knows what. They were the men who traveled with Jesus and
followed Him as only a disciple can do. Yet they didn’t believe what the women
were telling them. Actually the Bible says “And their words seemed to them as idle
tales, and they believed them not.” Ain’t that just like a bunch of church folk, God will tell us exactly
what He is going to do, even put in writing for us and when He does it we wont
believe it. It’s nothing new; we see it’s been going on since the beginning of
the church.
There are men and women today who do not
believe the Lord has risen and even if they do it doesn’t mean anything to
them, what shallow lives they are leading this morning. If you are among the
non-believers today I want to stand before you with the testimony of “1Peter 3:22 Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right
hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.”
If you are among the saved those who Jesus as Lord and Savior then tell someone
about it, let the world know your redeemer lives.
After the disciples heard about the tomb, the truth and the testimony
Peter experienced…
Peter had to know, curiosity had gotten the best of him. He went to the tomb and sure enough it was just like the women had said. He stooped down, he looked at the linen that lay alone and then Peter went away in wonder at what had happened. Later Jesus would appear to the eleven, showing them the nail scarred hands and feet along with the spear pierced side. Jesus would eat with them to show He was not a spirit but a living breathing man resurrected from the dead.
Are you convinced that Jesus is God the son, the one and only sacrifice for the sin of man that He gave His life upon a cross, was laid in a borrowed tomb and then on “the first day of the week” rose again?
Conclusion: I have asked
the question several times through out the message today but I am going to ask
it again along with another one. First are you saved today? Do you know for
sure if you died today that you would go to heaven, and live eternally with the
Lord. Second, if you know for sure you are saved where will you be next Sunday?
Does the Lord mean enough to you to give your life to Him, He gave His for you.
All He asks for is your obedience and worship. If He is your savior He is also
your Lord, you need to be in Gods house every Sunday listening to what He has
to say to you, learning about Him. After all it was Jesus who said in “Mat 11:30 For my yoke is
easy, and my burden is light.” We are going to close our message with an altar call but our service
will end here. After the altar call we will observe the Lords Supper. You are
welcome to take the Lords Supper with us, just remember the apostle Paul tells
in I Corinthians if our heart is not right before God and we take the Lords
Supper with unconfessed sin in our life that we risk the judgment of God. If
you have business with God this morning I encourage you to come. Don’t tempt
God and don’t leave here today not knowing where you stand with Him. We wont
embarrass you, we wont judge you we will pray with you and if necessary share
scripture with you. Don’t worry about time we are on God’s time what’s
important is your relationship with the Lord and your standing with Him as we
take the Lords Supper. As we sing will you come?