Oh what a wonderful day it is! As we gather together today, here in Gods house, to not only fellowship and serve the living God, but to Worship and Honor the resurrected Savior, that conquered death, hell and the grave for each of us.
The Gospel this joyous Sunday is an account of the reaction of some of the followers of Jesus to the great God-worked wonder that is at the heart of our faith, the basis of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Jesus, the crucified one, has been raised. The Gospels entices us to observe Mary, Peter, and an unnamed disciple discover that Jesus’s tomb is empty, and in so doing we get to make the discovery of the resurrection for ourselves.
Now believe it or not, there are many on this earth whom has never heard at least the full story of Jesus and the Resurrection. Perhaps the question of the risen Christ is a challenge, even to us all. And it’s the same element we find many do not hold Christ of any value in their lives. In the perplexing ora surrounding the resurrection, we are permitted to look beyond the bleakness of present reality and past the boundaries and locked doors.
Today we celebrate and remember with worship and praise to our Lord what the world bore witness to over 2000 years ago; the single most important event that literally changed human history and every single life on earth to date. But even though some may reject the truth about Jesus and the Ressurection, others in their last days on earth, will beg to hear it. As Paul wrote to the people of Corinth, “For the word of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
When I think about the cross, I can’t help but to think how such an extraordinary prophetic event of ultimate Love and Sacrifice took place within a 72 hour window. Years of prophecies, centuries of turmoil, and millenniums of waiting that came down to this mighty act of Love!
So I beg to ask you the ultimate question today, What shall we do with Jesus? The name that is above all names, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Where is this man called Jesus fit in our lives?
Elizabeth Keckley was a slave in Missouri before the Civil War. Her greatest desire was to purchase freedom for herself and her son. Her owner agreed that if she could raise $1,200 she could gain her freedom. Keckley worked as a seamstress and came up with a plan to go to New York City and work there to raise the money, but her owner feared that she would not return.
Instead, some of her wealthy clients in St. Louis contributed the money she needed, and Elizabeth Keckley paid the price for her freedom as well as her son’s. She moved to Washington, DC, where she counted Mary Lincoln among her dressmaking clients. Without the help of someone else, Keckley would never have been able to purchase her freedom.
All of us were enslaved to sin with no hope of ever gaining freedom. In mercy and compassion, Jesus gave His life for us, purchasing our salvation by shedding His blood on the cross. We are now free from sin, but that freedom does not mean that we do whatever we want. Instead we are to live how Jesus wants us to live. Paul tells us “then will come about the saying that is written: “Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Today friends, we no longer look to the Cross where Jesus was, but run to the empty tomb, where Jesus is not. On this planet, there are some very dark places one could visit. From caves, to deep valleys, from underneath the ancient cities of old to in the heart of Egyptian tombs; but one of the darkest places on record is in a stone tomb or sarcophagus that when closed and sealed off from the outside world, by means of a large bolder at its mouth, absolutely nothing can enter or escape it. No air, no light, no sound, nothing. And yet, in this exact display, God performs his most saving grace. Just think what he can and will do in the lives of those whom believe? Listen to what Paul tells us, “For I handed down to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, Paul continues, For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me. Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”
When we think on how Paul describes to us the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, he ultimately shows us a significant display that even though he, like ourselves are not worthy to be called his servants, it is by Gods grace and mercy that ultimately allows us to be worthy and serve. Even Paul, who portraits himself as chief of all siners. It is true that even Christians, sometimes forget exactly why Jesus died. But as Paul stated, “if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is in vain.”
The resurrection is so all-encompassing that we believe it covers things that had nothing to do with Jesus' crucifixion, but we can’t force our own willful desires as a substitution for God’s purpose and plan. In an attempt to help answer the question What shall we do with Jesus, there are six things Christians can be certain of, what Jesus did NOT go to the cross for.
Selfish Ambition! – Selfishness should be the one thing no Christian should ever hold true to. Having selfish behavior should be thought of as forbidden, ungodly and sinful. After all, Christians are called to be ‘selfless’. In Greek the word selfish (er-ith-i'-ah) means to have rivalry, self-seeking, feud or faction. Its mainly about self. But I don’t want to confuse the fact of having to take care of ones self, verses being selfish. It’s not a sin for Christians to be successful, but when the motivating force behind it is selfishness and not to give God glory, this is sin.
Another reason Jesus did NOT go to the cross So we could live comfortable and convenient lives. Each one of us are literally faced every day with trials and tribulations. These hardships, believe it or not, help to perfect us in the Christian journey. As 1 Peter tells us, “so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” We are forced to examine our lives, our hopes, our dreams and our mortality. As the heat of persecution rises, we have nothing to hold on to except for God. During trials, some people fall away and abandon their faith but instead, grab hold of Christ. Cling to Him and know that there is a reason for your suffering. There is some lesson you are meant to learn that God could teach you no other way. So focus on Him, and learn.
Another reason Jesus did NOT go to the cross - To make the American dream happen for us. Success is absolutely a honorble thing to have. God gives each of us success, but at the incredible fact that we each are called to impact culture for the Kingdom of God and live our lives as witnesses to Christ. This does not include hoarding our goods and earthly gains. The Gospel of Matthew tells us, “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you.” As you do this, those things will attract themselves to you in God’s timing.
Another reason Jesus did NOT go to the cross – is to have Fake, cosmetic Christianity. Jesus is normally portrayed and remembered as being calm, soothing and wise. There was one issue, however, that so enraged Him that He began to, very literally, flip tables. Religious hypocrisy was the most surefire way to enrage Christ. It was one thing that really got under Jesus’ skin, and this was especially true with the religious dignitaries of His day. What was supposed to be a pure connected relationship with God became a performance of false spirituality. This is no more endearing to Jesus today than it was 2,000 years ago. Jesus didn’t die so our relationship with Him could be something we put on and take off like make-up, it should be fixed permanently in our heart.
Another reason Jesus did NOT go to the cross – for Christians to be over busy and over whelmed. Christian life today is full of programs, conferences and the next great book to read. There are more Christian things to do than you can shake a stick at, and the number increases every day. These are all wonderful ways to grow your faith and increase your participation in Christian fellowship. They are not, however, the point of Jesus' death on the cross. Jesus died so that we could have more than an influx of Christian activity. He died so that we could invest in deepening our intimacy with God, and know there is no other way to God except through Christ. We should never let ourselves be so bogged down with “things to do” that you forget to just be with Him. Our relationship with Christ is about quality more than quantity. Running from meetings to conferences, from visiting family and friends more often than to never pausing to hear God speak will not help our souls.
And Last but surely not least of a reason Jesus did NOT go to the cross for – So that we would have to. Christ did die friends, so we do not have to. He suffered on the cross in order to save us from the grips of death and darkness. Without Him and His death, we would have all been doomed to suffer for our sins. Christ saved us from that fate when He died on the cross and rose again on the third day. The Resurrection, however, does not mean that we can simply sit back and enjoy the knowledge that we are saved. Christ made it clear over and over in the Scriptures, “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
So What shall we do with Jesus? The same the thief on the cross did. We honor him! We obey Him! We acknowledge Him! We cherish him! We glorify him! We ask Him into our lives. We let him reign and rule justly and fluently in our lives. We do all things with Christ and Christ in us, and that includes our daily life. From going to the grocery store, to sailing the seven seas. From taking care of a new born baby, to sitting by the bed side of a illed patron. We serve Christ! As the epistle of 1 John tells us, “We love Christ, because He first loved us.”
John Cross
If Jesus be dead, in the grip of a tomb,
There’d be nothing for us but fear and doom.
Life would be sad, with no way to cope.
Death would reign all, without any hope.
If Jesus be dead, in the grip of a tomb,
We’d have no future, only dark and gloom.
No life after death, no eternity in sight,
No hope, no joy, no Saviour, no light.
But…. (And aren’t we thankful there is a “but”)
But thanks be to God, Jesus rose to life.
The debt all paid, though sin was rife.
His body lay in the tomb three days,
Then up from the grave his life was raised.
Yes, thanks be to God, Jesus rose to life.
He conquered death, all sin and strife.
To those who believe, from death set free.
With hope, with joy, their Saviour to see.
Friends, Enjoy this RESSURECTION SUNDAY that in all knowing our LORD IS ALIVE say that with me OUR LORD IS ALIVE!
Please join me in our prayer of confession