John 14:1-6

Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

We must trust in the care and wisdom of God when tempted to be anxious.

How do we trust God when our hearts are troubled?

#1: We believe in the character of God

  • V. 1 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me”

# 2: We look beyond our current trouble

  • V.2-3 “In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.”

# 3: We embrace our all-sufficient JESUS 

  • V. 5-6 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Midtown church is here today because of the word of God, nothing more, nothing less! The only way we will continue to be God’s church is by keeping the word of God in it’s proper place. You notice I said ‘Keeping’, we are upholding the Apostolic Foundations of Christ’s Church, the church founded buy HIS disciples.

We have not and we will not be jumping on the bandwagon of the current day’s thinking; the latest new way to be a Christian, a redefining of Jesus message and all of Scripture. There’s been plenty of new ways to be a Christian throughout the last 2000 years, at some point these groups have all committed heresy . Why does it get deemed heresy? Because it contradicts the word of God. 

The Biblical Understanding that Jesus built His church upon has not changed in 2000 years. The Apostles formed their beliefs from Jesus Christ, the Church formed it’s beliefs from The Apostles, we continue to believe what they believed 2000 years ago. 

Midtown church is not goin g to buy into some ‘new understanding’ of scripture, deciding that you and some others in the past 30 or 40 years have now figured out what God was ‘really’ saying is a lie. At that point your belief falls into only one of two possible categories. Either all the Biblical / Apostolic Church of Jesus Christ has been wrong for 2000 years, or YOU are wrong… 

Building Biblical Culture is how we stay clear of starting down the road of redefining Scripture to fit our need to ‘feel’ one way or another. Looking clearly at the Scriptures, in their intended context, is how we see what God’s standards are, upon which HE built the foundations of HIS Church. But we must not give lip service to these foundations we must apply them to our lives and live out a biblical culture of honoring God.

Since the founding of Midtown Church eleven years ago, we have always affirmed four crucial beliefs, taken directly from Scripture, that are key foundations of the New Testament Church. These four doctrines guide our culture. They put us on the same page as we join God in His redemptive work. They create the basis on which we honor Him, this is how we are united with His will.

Four Uniting Foundations: 3 We see directly in the todays text, 1 guides us to the text. Unity In God’s Word as understood and applied consistently for 2000 years. Unity In The Biblical Gospel Of Jesus Chris. Unity In The Biblical Indwelling Of God’s Spirit. Unity In The Biblical View of God’s Sovereignty / Authority

Ephesians 1

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the saints who are in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

  • Paul’s humble understanding of himself: ‘I am who I am because of God’s will.’
  • This is written to an established & mature body of Christ
  • He recognizes the gift of grace & peace they have from God (Indwelling Spirit)

3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms in Christ. 4 Even before He made the world, God chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. 

  • He has given us everything (He is everything) SO He gets all praise
  • He blessed us in His perfect plan, pre-creation, choosing to forgive us ‘In Christ’
  • This is the biblical gospel of Jesus Christ: God choosing to forgive His followers

5 In love He predestined to adopt us as His own, bringing us to Himself through Christ Jesus. This is what He wanted to do, and it gave Him great pleasure. 6 So we praise God for the glorious grace He has freely given those who belong to Christ. 

  • What does predestined mean? The greek word is ‘proorizo’ ; Used 6 times N.T.
  • It means: to limit or mark out beforehand; to design definitely beforehand, ordain beforehand, predestine
  • Adopted ‘through’ Christ…He planned it, He did it, He liked it!
  • As recipients of this glorious grace of eternal adoption we respond with praise!!

7 According to the abundance of His grace, He purchased us with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. 8 He has showered grace on us, from His all encompassing wisdom and insight.

  • His unchanging character is to extend grace in ways we can’t quite fathom
  • He bought us by blood sacrifice: His way since the beginning
  • Story of workers being paid: Matthew 20:1-16 ‘Last will be first, first will be last’

9 God has now revealed to us his mysterious will regarding Christ, intentionally enacting His purpose. 10 And this is the plan: At the right time he will unite everything under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. 

  • The mystery revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Christ (& return)
  • It all points to the future when Christ will return; crucial aspect of biblical gospel

11 Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, having been predestined according to the purpose of the One who works all things according to his plan.

  • Paul and the Ephesian church are already united with Christ as we can be
  • Being united with Christ means being a ‘heir’ as Christ is
  • Redundancy of the term ‘predestined’ is used with intention 
  • Those of us God has chosen to unite with Christ are united in God’s will

12 God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. 13 And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, you were marked with His seal, the promised Holy Spirit.

  • Constantly scripture teaches that all things happen by God’s will and purposes
  • This is telling us God is in total control of all events everywhere
  • Trusting the truth: God being so authoritative & yet so forgiving
  • The Good News that unites us is that while we deserve wrath God gives mercy
  • At the moment your belief is given to you by God, He also gives you His Spirit
  • It is an eternal change of your person at every level: “mind, soul & strength’
  • It is a mark given by God that is irrevocable, fulfilling numerous prophecies!

14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance He promised and that He has purchased us to be His own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify Him.

  • When God gives us salvation He wants us to be sure about it
  • God indwelling those He has predestined for salvation is an amazing gift
  • An foretaste of eternal life, God places us ‘In Christ’ by placing Christ ‘In Us’
  • Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine! Oh what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God. Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood!
  • We are united by God’s Spirit living in us, it is a foundation of His church!

15 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, 16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.

  • The Spirit of God in His purchased saints unites them in love for God’s people 
  • It gives us an appreciation of God’s work in others and gratitude to God for it
  • It gives us the desire to pray for other believers to grow in maturity
  • It motivates the Great Commission

18 I pray that the eyes your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope He has given to those He called—His holy people who are His rich and glorious inheritance.

  • What are the ‘Eyes of Your Heart’?
  • Light stands for illuminated understanding of what God has done for you!
  • The Spirit of God living in us lets us know we have hope for eternity with God
  • It is not a physical / mental understanding…it is a spiritual understanding 

19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe Him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.

  • Paul is praying for all ‘spirit indwelt’ believers to ‘make it real’
  • The Spirit of God is the bringer of new life, eternal life… that is what we have!
  • If we have been given eternal life we are to live based on that, not this world.

21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

  • Christ is God’s expression of love and forgiveness AND His authority
  • You can be compassionate and be uncompromising regarding the truth
  • Being under the authority of Christ is the best possible thing for us
  • Christ’s authority has not changed over time, this is what Midtown believes
  • There is no ‘new revelation’ or new understanding

SUMMARY:

The Biblical Gospel states that before creation God chose the objects of His grace and forgiveness. He purchases them with Christ’s blood and gives them an inheritance of eternal life. He does everything!

All those God predestines for eternal life He indwells with His Spirit as a downpayment on eternity. Through God’s Spirit living in us; we are assured of our salvation as well as given spiritual power, wisdom and insight.

All this was done exactly as God promised and planned under His complete authority. As Christ’s church we are exceedingly blessed to be under that authority, we were meant to be His body with Him at the center of everything.

Jesus’ church is united under Christ’s authority by the Biblical Gospel, the indwelling Holy Spirit, and the unchanging truth of Scripture, that we would give Him praise and glory!

The message of Scripture is unchanging. Midtown Church will read and apply all of Scripture exactly as it has been read and applied by Jesus Christ’s Church for two thousand years, not based on current trends and thought.

APPLICATION:

How much time have you put into understanding what the people who have followed Jesus Christ for two thousand years have believed about the Old & New Testament Scriptures?

Why is it important for us to be united as a church around the Biblical Gospel?

What are the benefits you experience from being indwelt with God Spirit? Does your experience match up with Scripture?

How does the authority of Christ in your life affect how you function as you are meant to in HIS body?

The Road to Emmaus and The Ascension

We’re still on Easter Sunday at this point. Jesus does not come out and show who He is right away. One of the questions we’ll try to answer is why does Jesus beat around the bush? We’ll see how Jesus reveals what has happened, but only after giving it the context it deserves to be fully understood. Jesus coming back to life is incredible, but we’ll read how it is made even more impressive and transformational when weaved into God’s big picture. 

Luke 24:13-53

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 

  • Some weird stuff is going to happen. The flesh of Jesus has died and resurrected, and a lot of physical limitations aren’t a thing anymore. 
  • People are kept from recognizing him, He appears and disappears from places. 
  • These people here knew Jesus, maybe not well, but they were in the entourage. Clearly supernatural that they do not recognize him. 
  • Luke probably got this account first hand from one of these disciples.

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 

  • Jesus is a funny guy. Knows exactly what has been going on, but wants them to tell him. 
  • Reminds me a little of the first sin in the garden. God asks them where they are and what happened.
  • Luke is name dropping who this is, so that people reading this will connect more to it. 

21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.” 

  • Todd spoke of “hope” last week. The women at the tomb maintained their hope, but these men seem to have lost it. vs 21 “had hoped”
  • BUT, their hope in Jesus was not based in scripture, it was their own desires.
  • The greek word for “redeem” here means to liberate from ransom, from roman rule.
  • They wanted a political revolution, Jesus to become a physical earthly king. 
  • V. 23 They did not believe the testimony of others. the women saw the angels, but they still don’t believe.

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 

  • God told Abraham his lineage would bless the world, specifically Isaac and Judah
  • God told David the throne of his ancestor would be eternal
  • “When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Samuel 7:12–13).
  • The prophet Isaiah clearly stated how the messiah would be born
  • “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). (God with us)
  • Isaiah 53:5-6 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
  • Jesus explains what scripture says the messiah will look like, what he came to do. Jesus had to do this; it was the plan from the beginning. 
  • Jesus uses scripture, vs 27 “expounded” (Dier-men-euo) implies sticking close to the text. When Jesus explained things concerning Himself in the Old Testament, He didn’t use fancy allegories or speculative ideas.
  • He is using the actual words of God to explain it. Do we believe that it is sufficient? Jesus considers this an authoritative text, do you?

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

  • V. 29 Some translations say “constrained him”. they might have been pulling at his clothes, holding him close. Another word would be prevailed upon, to impose your will. Why would they do this? They didn’t know he was the Christ, but the truth He spoke was so magnetic, they needed to be around him. 
  • V. 31 “eyes were opened”, is a passive verb, God is the one doing the opening. 
  • These men didn’t know about the last supper, they weren’t there. Somehow that act opened their eyes to who Jesus was.
  • Maybe the pierced hands that gave the bread. Maybe the blessing. Whatever it was, God used it to open their eyes.
  • It says their hearts were burning, and their minds were opened. You can know scripture, but unless Jesus opens your mind you won’t understand. 

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread. 

  • While this has been going on, it appears that Jesus also appeared to Peter. 
  • This is now multiple witnesses confirming the resurrection.

36 While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet.

  • Jesus makes it abundantly clear that he has a physical body. He has actually come back to life. Examples of spirits coming back like Samuel.
  • This is the same body that was beaten and hung on the cross. 
  • The marks on his body remain as trophies of His great work on the cross.

41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. 44 He said to them, “This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

  • The scene is unreal. The man you saw die on a cross is standing in front of you, eating, talking, teaching
  • V. 41 “they still did not believe BECAUSE of joy and amazement”. How??
  • God wants from us a faith that is reasoned and thought-out, not a giddy belief.
  • In both cases, seeing the miracles themselves did not produce belief. It needed to be seen within the context provided by the scripture. 
  • “I am not excusing, the unbelief of the disciples, but I claim that their witness has all the more weight in it, because it was the result of such cool investigation.” (Spurgeon)
  • To get all the way there, it can’t just be all emotion. It must be combined with reason and understanding as well. 
  • We can be excited about it, but without the scriptures, it will not manifest into belief. We need the scriptures. 
  • But do not forget! These men knew the scriptures well, but needed Jesus to “open their minds” so they could perceive clearly the scriptures.

46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

  • This is as clear Jesus has been to this point. Tells us why he died, and for who. 
  • The cross is not an obstacle that needed to be overcome, it was a needed part of God’s plan of redemption.
  • The gospel message includes repentance and remission of sin only by the virtue of His name.
  • He also gives a command to stay in Jerusalem until the spirit is imparted. 

50 When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven. 52 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. 53 And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.

  • We know from other gospels and Luke’s second volume called Acts, that Jesus continued to appear to people for 40 days, so no longer on easter here. 
  • The blessings of Jesus aren’t a “hope it works out!” thing. There is power in it!
  • There is a finality in this goodbye. Unlike when he would disappear other times. Beginning of a new chapter in history.
  • They were obedient, and (V. 52) “with great joy” means they really believed. 

SUMMARY

Jesus died but did not stay in the grave!

Jesus wanted the men on the road to understand God’s big picture before they saw Him for who He was.

The word of God has pointed to Jesus from the very beginning, laying out specifically what needed to be done. 

The body of Jesus was physically resurrected, and maintained the proof of the work He had accomplished. He died for our sins!

Jesus tells us we need the word of God, to ignore it is short sighted, prideful, and foolish.

You can read the bible a hundred times but unless Jesus opens the eyes of your heart, you won’t understand. It isn’t something we grasp on our own. 

This event fundamentally changed the relationship between mankind and God, and will result in a dramatic change in the actions of the lives of his followers. 

APPLICATION

Is your hope in Jesus the Messiah based on scripture, or your own desires? What can we do to truly know Jesus more?

Do you consider the texts authoritative, the way Jesus did? 

How well do you know the old testament? Do you think it’s important toward your relationship with Jesus?

If the events surrounding the death and resurrection hasn’t changed your actions, what does that say about your belief in it? 

The way we see Jesus is by spending time in the scriptures, and practicing and remembering his sacrifice. Is this a reality in your life?

Christ’s Death, Burial & Resurrection Gives us Grace, Purpose, Hope & Trust

What do you need this morning? Really, what do you think and believe you need? If you need grace and forgiveness, Christ offers you grace without shame! If you need purpose & meaning in life, Christ offer you an eternal legacy of love! If you need hope, Christ offers you hope you can live on! If you need to trust & believe in something beyond yourself, Christ offers you Himself

If you need a car, a job, an apartment or various ‘things’, you’re in the wrong place!

LAST WEEK: We ended with the second thief owning up to his sin and asking Jesus to be included in His kingdom

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

  • Christ made this promised to a repentant sinner who believed He was God
  • He makes that promise to YOU AND I today if WE repent and believe.
  • Here is the grace we can all have, no shame only forgiveness!

Luke 23:44-56 & 24:1-12

44 It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45 for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.

  • It doesn’t say it got real cloudy, it literally says ‘The Sun Failed’
  • THE Curtain…torn in two means down the middle, top to bottom
  • The barrier to God’s mercy was removed from the top (Only God could do it)
  • It was finished! And He made the final surrender as the incarnated Christ
  • In all His humanity, staring death in the face, He entrusts it all to The Father
  • And in all His humanity He died. A physical death just like each of us will face

47 The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.”48 When all the people who had gathered for the spectacle saw what took place, they beat their breasts and went away. 49 But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

  • Why does the centurion say this? To show that God can make anyone believe
  • The Jews gathered for nothing more than the spectacle that it was
  • They did what they were supposed to do, outward show of remorse
  • This show how the Jews could be unconvinced while a Roman soldier was
  • Then there are Christ’s followers, all the way from Galilee to The Cross
  • The followers heard the heartfelt declaration of the soldier
  • The followers saw the jews ‘go thru the motions’ of religion
  • How are you responding to the reality of Christ’s sacrifice today?

50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Sanhedrin, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God.

  • Joseph of Arimathea was not complicit in the evil actions of The Sanhedrin
  • From the birthplace of Samuel, near Bethlehem, most likely an Ephraimite
  • Waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God = On the lookout for the Messiah
  • By going ‘All in’ with Jesus, Joseph left an eternal legacy: talk about meaning!
  • He didn’t have all the answers but he acted, sacrificed and risked for Christ

52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. 54 It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.

  • Because of his faith, Joseph took great risk and sacrificed much
  • He used his status to do what he could for the kingdom
  • Joseph had purpose and meaning serving Christ as best he knew how
  • Provided an honorable grave to compensate for such a dishonorable death
  • It is widely believed it was to be his own personal tomb, in upscale cemetery
  • God said: “Go to Pilate, get the body, put it in your tomb.” And Joseph did it!
  • I went in that tomb! (I believe it was) 
  • Normally the work of getting the body ready for burial would happen

55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. 56 Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

  • The women kept following Jesus from the Cross to the Tomb
  • They kept putting their hope in Jesus even though total uncertainty 
  • They had to do nothing for 36 hours…

Sundown Friday the Sabbath begins, the sabbath during Passover. Nothing happens for 36 hours or so it seems…God was content to wait for it all be revealed. Did God have His own Sabbath?Did God want to demonstrate Jesus was Fully Dead. Maybe He was building the hope in His followers.

1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

  • It’s Sunday morning, they endured the Sabbath of inaction, waiting & hoping
  • Can you imagine how they felt when they see the empty tomb?
  • When your hope is being fulfilled your heart skips a beat

4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; He has risen! 

  • How is the stone moved? Where is Jesus’ Body? What’s happening… BOOM!
  • Two big guys dressed in ‘lightning’… that is the literal translation
  • They’re a little freaked out seeing the tomb empty, imagine seeing these guys!
  • They don’t know what to do besides fall prostrate before the Angels
  • The Angels are like: “Of course He is alive, why would He not conquer death?”
  • They basically say: He is God, He is more powerful than death!

Remember how He told you, while He was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” 8 Then they remembered his words.

  • Holy Spirit Flash Back! 
  • The gift of seeing God do what He says: Trust and believe it when God speaks!
  • The story of Easter was foretold by Christ Himself 
  • He is bigger than these events, He is the Author of these events!
  • Jesus is worthy to trust in and believe on because He is God!

9 Returning from the tomb they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense.

  • They were not ready to believe, we have all been there…
  • They would put it all together soon. 

12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, reverently contemplating what had happened.

  • Peter, just like you and me, wanted grace, purpose and hope he could trust in
  • He found an empty tomb and he looked to God to explain it

SUMMARY:

God graceful promise of forgiveness and eternal life is for all who repent and believe: it’s never too late, no one is too sinful!

Jesus of Nazareth, The Christ, The Messiah actually died a physical death as each person must.

How you react to Christ’s death is what matters, not what motions you go through.

There is eternal meaning and purpose to be found in serving God, it’s not about getting some master plan, it’s about doing what He asks when He asks it.

In the middle of the most amazing story in all human History, God has everyone honor the Sabbath, showing not the abolishment of the Law, but it’s fulfillment! 

Hope in Christ is rewarded with God’s faithfulness and in that we learn how to trust and be part of something transcendent: Christ’s Kingdom!

If you can’t quite make sense of what God has done, run to the empty tomb and see for yourself!

APPLICATION:

How aware are you of your soul’s need for forgiveness?

What specifically gives your life meaning and purpose? 

How would you rate your capacity to hope? 

Do you completely trust God that God has provided grace, meaning and hope for eternity in your heart and soul?

IF NOT, RUN TO THE EMPTY TOMB!