There is nothing like the grieving heart isn’t there? When we experience death in its full form, from a relative, friend and even your spouse, its quite hard to accept the concept of death knowing they physically will no longer be with you, all the memories and shared experiences. Theres nothing like a real hug, nothing like a pat on the back, nothing like someone being there for you especially in times of need. When we look back upon the memories and experiences of those that have passed, we truly experience love in its truest form. It’s a very sinking feeling knowing the one you cherished, the one you thought so much of and loved, will no longer physically walk this earth, especially with you. But do we not have some sense of comfort and reassurance knowing even though those that have passed on, their spirit will reign forever in the hands of almighty God the father, the great redeemer?
Mary Magdalene, one of the many peopled that truly missed and loved Jesus, experienced first-hand how her Lord, Master and friend, was put to death for no fault of His own. We today may not fully understand the great mystery of it all, but we should come to God with faith knowing we do not have to understand it all to worship the Risen Savior and also re-encounter the risen Lord in such a way where even though physical death is inevitable, our spirit, like Jesus, will remain alive forever; and death will not and cannot conquer us knowing with full assurances, Christ has overcome it all. Amen.
As we journey towards the mystery of the life, death and resurrection of Christ, we read about the story of Mary Magdalene, on this resurrection Sunday as told in the Gospel of John; she came to visit the tomb of Jesus. Expecting to find it sealed and closed as before, but this time on the morning of the third day, she had no idea that her life, and the life of every person on earth is about to change; all because of what was NOT in the tomb! It was empty! She then ran to tell the disciples the wonderous news, and coming back with them to revisit this miracle, scripture tells us in verse 11, “But Mary was standing outside the tomb, weeping; so as she wept, she stooped to look into the tomb.” Her heart was grieving! Was it enough to know there was a possibility Jesus is alive, or was it the fact her Lord is not there at all? Where is he? Who stole his body and why?
What did the disciples and mary expect to see? A sealed tomb, the body of Jesus, or any man? Did they expect to doubt what one person witnessed and others to revalidate? Or, was it something more along the lines in realizing that their savior, friend, Lord and Master, that has died, is now risen; to be assured that Hope still remains!
But Mary was standing outside the tomb, weeping; so as she wept, she stooped to look into the tomb; 12 and she *saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 And they *said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She *said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they put Him.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and *saw Jesus standing there, and yet she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus *said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Thinking that He was the gardener, she *said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you put Him, and I will take Him away.”
At this point, Mary did not know Jesus was speaking to her, and even at this point, you know her heart leaped up to her throat. Anxiety, compassion, excitement all wrapped up into one moment in time; but notice something very important, where her focus was at! Finding Jesus! Locating her savior, friend and Master. It wasn’t enough for angels to declare to her Jesus is not here, but He Has Risen, as we find in the Gospel of Matthew. She wasn’t willing to accept just any answer with her driving question “Where have they taken Jesus, my Lord?” but something more to satisfy the carnal being that exists in each of us. I believe her will at this time was so strong, she would be willing to confront hundreds of roman soldiers if need be to find Jesus body! In looking a little further into this, it also appears the empty tomb does not reaffirm her faith in Christ, but rather more so where the body of Christ is at! In her mind its possible she was thinking where the body is, there is also Jesus! Everyone would most assertively agree, things just don’t disappear. Even a magician does ‘illusions’ to make things seemingly appear to vanish. Her grief was logical in the sense just like us today, where the body is, wherever it has been taken, we get on with grieving, for we know that person we loved and cherished so much, is now lying dormant in a grave! It helps us grieve, that’s what we do.
Friends, what hope do we have this morning in hearing the words, from the Gospel of Matthew, “Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said.”
Do we have the hope and faith knowing not only is the tomb empty, but Christ remains with us who believe! How could one prove the resurrection to a non-believer?
A man was once conversing with a Brahmin priest, and he asked: “Could you say, ‘I am the Resurrection and the Life?’”
“Yes,” replied the priest, “I could say that.”
“But could you make anyone believe it?”
Christ proved His superiority. His character and His actions were behind His words. He exhibited His divine power to silence His enemies. Listen to the words from Pauls letter to the Romans, “If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”
My friends of the eternal God, we have a right and reason to be happy today. WE serve a Risen Savior, Amen. WE serve the Risen Christ. Amen.
We whom believe, accept the will and profess the faith that Jesus Christ is Lord. From breaking the bonds of sin, to destroying the Tierney of the world, when Christ came, Christ liberated all mankind. No wonder scripture tell us in James “You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror.” They KNOW the power of God, they seen it, experienced and proclaim it, even when their desire is not to be Godly. We however are given a choice! We have no reason to falter away, except to give into doubt, destruction and sin. Christ came to liberate all of that. Jesus tells us in the Gospel of John, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.” Amen.
In all the places in scripture, I believe Pauls first letter to the people of Corinth describes it best, that if NOT for the resurrection, we have no hope.
Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, your faith also is in vain.
15 Moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ only in this life, we are of all people most to be pitied.
Jesus tells us “I am the resurrection and the life, though you where dead, yet shall you live. And anyone who lives and believes in me shall never die!” Amen.
Listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah as proclaimed, However, it was our sicknesses that He Himself bore, And our pains that He carried; Yet we ourselves assumed that He had been afflicted, Struck down by God, and humiliated. 5 But He was pierced for our offenses, He was crushed for our wrongdoings; The punishment for our well-being was laid upon Him, And by His wounds we are healed. 6 All of us, like sheep, have gone astray, Each of us has turned to his own way; But the Lord has caused the wrongdoing of us all To fall on Him. 7 He was oppressed and afflicted, Yet He did not open His mouth; Like a lamb that is led to slaughter, And like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, So He did not open His mouth. 8 By oppression and judgment He was taken away; And as for His generation, who considered That He was cut off from the land of the living For the wrongdoing of my people, to whom the blow was due? 9 And His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. 10 But the Lord desired To crush Him, causing Him grief; If He renders Himself as a guilt offering, He will see His offspring, He will prolong His days, And the good pleasure of the Lord will prosper in His hand. 11 As a result of the anguish of His soul, He will see it and be satisfied; By His knowledge the Righteous One, My Servant, will justify the many, For He will bear their wrongdoings. 12 Therefore, I will allot Him a portion with the great, And He will divide the plunder with the strong, Because He poured out His life unto death, And was counted with wrongdoers; Yet He Himself bore the sin of many, And interceded for the wrongdoers.
What a joyous day it is friends, a day we shall always remember what Christ has done for the undeserving, saving all mankind by taking on the sins of the world. We can smile, be happy this very day, no matter the circumstances all because He lives…By his stipes, we are healed. We have freedom from sin only when we accept Him as Lord and Master, our great redeemer and savior. All because the tomb is empty, all because He is alive, Christ is Risen, all because He lives…
Do you find hope today friends in the Resurrection, knowing because He lives, you can face all the troubles of life, all the turmoil’s, depressions, anxieties and down right evil things of the world? It is because He lives friends, we can rest assured that we are now and forever in His hands as nothing can hold us down, as He has conquered the world. Scripture tells us “Death has been swallowed up in victory. 55 Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the Law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us stand and sing the RESURRECTION HYMN, Because He Lives, First and Third verses. Lift up your voices to the king of kings and Lord of Lords…