Easter Sermon 2007

Every year thousands of people climb a mountain in the Italian Alps, passing the "stations of the cross" to stand at an outdoor crucifix. One tourist noticed a little trail that led beyond the cross. He fought through the rough thicket and, to his surprise, came upon another shrine, a shrine that symbolized the empty tomb. It was neglected. The trees had grown up around it. Almost everyone had gone as far as the cross, but stopped there.

Far too many have reached the cross and have known the despair and heartbreak. Far too few have moved beyond the cross to find the real message of Easer -- the empty tomb.
I hope we never tire of hearing the words ‘He Is Risen!’ I hope we never cease to be amazed and awestruck at the incredible fact that death couldn’t hold the Lord of Life. And, most of all, I hope we never miss this simple fact that Jesus is alive today.

The resurrection is not just something that happened at a moment in time but it is a new daily reality. When we say ‘He is Risen¨ we don’t mean just that at a moment in time Jesus came back to life, but really we mean He is Alive Today. Right now. At this very moment. And that changes everything. The Apostle Paul lays it out simply when he says in 1 Cor. 15:14 “if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.” What does it mean for you and I that Jesus is Risen? Let me suggest four things that I see in the resurrection 1. There is Love in the Resurrection1 John 4:9 says, ‘This how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only son into the world that we might live through him.¨

We see this love in a painful way on the cross. We see the extent of God’s love for us as we reflect on Jesus’ death. But it doesn’t end there! The love of God did not only send Jesus to the cross, it also raised Him back to life! The love of God did not leave Jesus in the tomb, and us in despair, but it raised Jesus back to life so that, as John writes, ‘we might live through him.¨ Love hates death. Love struggles against death and in favour of life. And in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, love overcomes death.

And the love we find in the resurrection should also overflows from us to others. 1 John 3:14 says, ‘We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.¨ We know that we participate in the resurrection life of Jesus because it spills over into our relationships with one another even with those who are difficult to love. Jesus prayed that the world would know we were His disciples by the depth of our love for one another.

As I look around our world, I think it is love that we need most. To be loved is perhaps the deepest longing of our hearts. And it is the first thing I find in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only son into the world that we might live through him.¨ (1 Jn 4:9).

2. There is Life in the ResurrectionJust before Christmas, my grandfather who was a Christian passed away, and his funeral was a wonderful occasion, full of hope and joy. I wonder, what would that have been like if Jesus had not been raised from the dead? What would it be like to stand at the time of death of a loved one without any knowledge that there is life beyond the grave? I can’t imagine the desperation and I don’t have to try! For there is life! There is victory! All because Jesus rose from the dead.

Romans 6:4-5 says, “We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.” When we respond in faith to God, we become united with Jesus in His resurrection life.

God freely offers us new life. He offers the chance for us to participate with Jesus in the life that comes through resurrection. Jesus is alive today. He is here, right now, according to His promise. And He brings with Him the gift of life, His hand outstretched at this very moment offering it to you.

3. There is Hope in the ResurrectionThe resurrection gives us hope for today, hope for tomorrow, and hope for eternity. Hope that things can change. Hope that even if they don’t change, and the worst happens and death comes, that is not the end! There is more life after that, better life after that life without sickness or pain or tears. Life without ever having to wonder, ‘Lord, where are you?’ because we will see Him with our eyes, touch Him with our hands, and never worry or fret again.

One thing many people fear is death. But in the resurrection of Jesus we find hope, hope for something greater, something better, something eternal. We know that because Jesus lives today, we too can live with Him. This hope affects how we live, and how we die.

A missionary in Brazil discovered a tribe of Indians in a remote part of the jungle. They lived near a large river. The tribe was in need of medical attention. A contagious disease was ravaging the population. People were dying daily. A hospital was not far away across the river, but the Indians would not cross it because they believed it was inhabited by evil spirits. To enter the water would mean certain death. The missionary explained how he had crossed the river and was unharmed. They were not impressed. He then took them to the bank and placed his hand in the water. They still wouldn’t go in. He walked into the water up to his waist and splashed water on his face. It didn’t matter. They were still afraid to enter the river. Finally, he dove into the river, swam beneath the surface until he emerged on the other side. He punched a triumphant fist into the air. He had entered the water and escaped. It was then that the Indians broke out into a cheer and followed him across.

That is what Jesus did for us with death He entered it, made it safely to the other side, and punched a triumphant fist into the air. But here’s the thing Jesus doesn’t stay on the other side of the bank. No, He jumps back in, and swims back to our side. He is alive, and present with us. And then, when our turn comes to face death, I believe He takes us by the hand and swims across with us, safely to the other side.

1 Peter 1:3 says, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Because He lives, we have hope.4. There is Power in the Resurrection1 Cor. 6:14 tells us, “By his power, God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.” This is the fourth thing I want to remind us of this morning that there is power in the resurrection.

You see, the simple point I want to make this morning, that winds its way through each of the four things I have talked about, is that Jesus is alive. He is alive right now, with us, walking beside us. He didn’t rise up from the dead and then take off to heaven, maybe to come back again someday. But He is Alive and with us through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. And because of that, His power is available to us. The same power that raised him from the dead.

That power is here for our daily lives, and God desires us to experience it more deeply. It is there to enable us to have victory over sin, it is there to bring us hope and encouragement, it is there to shine through us to our world around us, it is there to enable us to worship and celebrate. Let me rephrase that in light of my main point that Jesus is alive: HE is here to enable us to have victory over sin, HE is here to bring us hope and encouragement, HE is here to shine through us to our world around us, HE is here to enable us to worship and celebrate. About 1930 the Communist leader Bukharin journeyed from Moscow to Kiev. His mission was to address a huge assembly, his subject was "atheism." For a solid hour he aimed his heavy artillery at Christianity, hurling argument after argument heaped on top of ridicule. At last he was finished and viewed what he thought was the smouldering ashes of men’s’ ruined faith."Are there any questions?" Bukharin demanded.A solitary man rose and asked permission to speak. He mounted the platform and moved close to the Communist. The audience was breathlessly silent as the man surveyed them first to the right, then to the left. At last he shouted the ancient Orthodox greeting, "CHRIST IS RISEN!"The vast assembly arose as one man and the response came crashing like the sounds of an avalanche, "HE IS RISEN INDEED!"

This morning it is my prayer that you would know the Risen Lord Jesus. That you would know the love, the life, the hope, and the power of the Resurrection. That is the simple message of our faith ‘Jesus is Alive!’