Soon we will celebrate Jesus' resurrection from the dead.
A. Jesus' body was taken from the cross and put in a borrowed tomb and sealed. Matthew 27:64-66 (NKJV) 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the third day, lest His disciples come by night and steal Him away, and say to the people, 'He has risen from the dead.' So the last deception will be worse than the first." 65 Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how." 66 So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.
B. But on the third day He arose! Matthew 28:1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 5 But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. Hallelujah, Jesus Christ lives and He lives in His people.
Why is the Resurrection so important?
a. Because of the Resurrection, we know that the Kingdom of Heaven has broken into earth’s history. Acts chap. 2
b. Because of the Resurrection, we know that death has been conquered and that we who believe in Christ as our personal Savior and Lord will be raised from the dead also to live forever with Jesus and the Father God.
c. The Resurrection gives authority to the church’s witness in the world. No other religion has a risen Savior and Lord. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures. The apostles’ most important message was the proclamation that Jesus Christ had been raised from the dead for the forgiveness of man's sin! Because He lives, we who believe will also live together with Him and the Father forever.
d. The Resurrection gives meaning to the church’s celebration of the Lord’s Supper. The Lord’s Supper reminds us of Christ’s suffering on our behalf, His victorious resurrection, and His imminent return to take us to Himself.
e. The Resurrection helps us find meaning even in great tragedy. What we experience here is not all there is. No matter what happens to us as we walk with the Lord, the Resurrection gives us certain hope for the future.
f. The Resurrection assures us that Christ is alive and ruling his Kingdom. All powers subject to Him.
As resurrection day approaches we remember Jesus' death, burial, and resurrection as we worship and praise Him in God's house for all He has accomplished for us. What a Savior, we are free from the penalty of sin.
Invitation: All I ask is that you each respond to what you have read as God's Spirit leads you before it's too late! Death is certain! Be sure you are right with God. If you have not been saved, you are not right with God, ask Jesus to forgive your sins and then invite Him into your life to save you from Hell and live in you to guide, guard, and direct each day of the rest of your life. You will be so glad you did, so sorry if you don't! Then the real meaning of Easter will come alive in you!