Easter
Today is Easter. At least it is the day that we celebrate as Easter. We really don’t know the exact day that Jesus rose from the dead, but that doesn’t matter. We should live ever day like Jesus died yesterday, rose today, and is coming tomorrow.
I. I want to ask you this question, “What does Easter mean to you?”
A. To some it’s no more than just another day off work or a holiday.
1. To others it’s a day where you go to the Grandparents house or have relatives over.
2. But that doesn’t make it Easter.
a. What does Easter mean to you? It’s the day that all of God’s plans were fulfilled in providing salvation for us.
B. There were many things that had to come to pass before Jesus could lay down His life for us. There were many prophesies that had to be fulfilled 1st.
1. From that birth of Jesus where (Isaiah 7:14) wrote, “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel,” to His death on the cross to His ascension and offering His Blood in the heavenly holy of Holies.
2. (PSA 22) is a picture of Jesus being on the cross.
a. JONAH was a type or shadow of Jesus in 1 sense.
i. JONAH 1:17-2:2
ii. (Psalm 16:10) Says, “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”
3. Even the resurrection of Jesus was prophesied.
a. (Psalm 47:5-9) Says, “God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. (6) Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. (7) For God [is] the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. {with: or, every one that hath} (8) God reigneth over the heathen: God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness. (9) The princes of the people are gathered together, [even] the people of the God of Abraham: for the shields of the earth [belong] unto God: he is greatly exalted.”
b. Look at PSA 68:18
II. When Jesus was on that cross, He cried out “It is finished.”
A. He then bowed His head and died.
1. This must have brought so much sorrow to those that followed Him.
a. In (Luke 23:48) It says, “They beat their breasts and went away.”
2. Have you ever wondered what it was like just after Jesus died.
a. I’ve always pictured it was being dark and gloomy there being a dead silence, not a person saying a thing, not a bird chirping, like how it is in tornado whether.
b. But that’s not exactly how it was. Look at MATT 27:50-51.
i. When it says that the rocks “rent” it means they broke into pieces.
c. It also says that the “The veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom.”
i. The temple was where the very presence of God was. No longer was the presence of God going dwell in a temple made with hands, but His presence was going to dwell in His children.
B. After Jesus died, they took Him and placed him in a tomb and rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulcher.
1. At the request of the Jewish leaders and the Pharisees, Pilate placed a guard at the tomb.
a. The 11 remaining disciples must have huddled together in fear, thinking about this man Jesus.
b. At that time they must have thought they wasted their lives, given up their trades, and now there may be those that seek their lives.
2. The Romans crucified Jesus at the Jews’ request, thinking they could silence forever the Son of God.
C. Not knowing by crucifying Him they would seal forever that Jesus is the Savior the Healer and the Deliverer.
1. Jesus went to that cross and died for you.
2. On that cross God made Jesus to be sin for us, not that Jesus ever sinned, but he paid the price for us.
a. (2CO 5:21) Says, “For He hath made Him {to be} sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
i. Jesus took away our sins and gave us His righteousness.
b. (John 10:10) Says, “That Jesus came that we might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.”
i. That means that we will have eternal life. We’ll be with the Lord forever. Ruling and reigning with Him.
ii. Jesus paid the price for us. All we have to do is except Him as Lord and Savior.
D. 1COR 15:54b-57
1. Paul said, “Death where is your sting? Grave where is your victory?”
2. Death and the grave could not have the victory over our Lord Jesus Christ.
a. Look at ACTS 2:22-24
b. Death could not hold him. The grave could not keep Him
i. Jesus said in (JOH 11:25) “I am the resurrection, and the life.”
III. On that Resurrection Sunday morning Mary came to the tomb. She saw that the stone was rolled away, the soldiers were gone, & the tomb was empty.
A. JOHN 20:11-13
1. She wept because He was gone.
2. Thank God He was gone.
B. MATT 28:5-7a
1. Just a few days prior was the darkest day ever, but this day was the brightest and glorious day ever.
a. Jesus was alive, risen from the dead, just as He said.
b. He’s alive & alive forevermore.
2. What does that mean to us? EPH 2:1-6
a. Because He lives I can face tomorrow.
b. Because He lives I have eternal life.
i. No longer do we have to fear going to hell; no longer do we have to fear death. Jesus has already paid the price for our sin.
ii. Jesus paid the price so that we don’t have to.
C. When the 2 Mary’s arrived at the tomb the stone was already rolled away, and they saw an angel “And the angel said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. ”
1. He is not here, He is risen, He is alive & alive forevermore.
WOLCC Easter SUN AM 4/3/94