THE MEANING AND HOPE OF EASTER

  Pastor Mike Barnett, April 8, 2007

 

INTO. When I was a Junior in High school, my history teaching said that Easter was a religious holiday. I was shocked. I quickly raised my hand and asked: “Easter is a religious Holiday?” I was not joking, but the whole class erupted in loud laughter. The teacher caught the confused look on my face, and said: “Your not joking are you?” I said, No, I really do not know. With the laughter turning into snickering now, the teacher asked: Is there a Christian in the class who can share the meaning of Easter with Mike right after class. Keep in mind I went to Poway High school  in a public school District. The girl behind me and the next row over, in a very gentle voice, leaned over and said: “Mike, I will tell you after class”. For 5 minutes, she shared the entire gospel message with me, how Jesus died on the cross and rose from the grave”. I was shocked that I never knew that was Easter.  But, it makes since because I never grew up in the church. While I did not become a “Christian” (Christ follower) on the spot, a seed was planted that day. About two years later when I was in college, my best friend at the time came to me and said, “Mike if you keep traveling down this road you are on, you will be dead, in prison or in a psychiatric ward by the time you are 30 years old…you freak”. His words echoed what others had been saying to me. While a part of me did not want to hear it, I knew it was true. While I had a lot of good things going for me, I had an uncontrollable, rageful temper that was starting to control me, not to mention other destructive habits and addictions. It got so bad I was starting to scare people. Around the same time, I cam home to visit for the Holidays and my mom walked into the kitchen and started crying. I asked, “What wrong mom”?  With sobs of tears she said: “When I look into your eyes I can’t see you – I’m scared because I can tell you are not happy and you don’t care anymore whether you live or die ”. Her words woke me up. I somehow knew that Jesus was the way out, but I did not know where to start. A few months later a friend invited me to church and I came to Christ on the spot and here I am today. While there was a long process involved, when I became a pastor, I made a vow to inform the unchurched and churched alike what Christmas, Easter and ultimately what Jesus Christ was really about.

 

THE RESSURECTION STORY IN JOHN 20:1-8 (pg. 768)

 

 1Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don't know where they have put him!”

   3So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent over and looked in at the stripes of linen lying there but did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. 8Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.  John 20:1-8

 

·        The Bible says that Jesus rose from the dead but there were many obstacles in the way of that happening.

 

·        After Jesus died on the cross, he was placed in the tomb.

 

·        The body of Jesus, in accordance with Jewish burial customs, was wrapped in a linen cloth.

 

·        About 100 pounds of spices and ointment were applied to these linen clothed wrappings.

 

·        After the body was placed in a solid rock tomb, and extremely large stone weighing approximately two tons, was rolled by means of levers against the entrance to the tomb.

 

·        Once the body was sealed in the tomb, it was extremely difficult, if not impossible to unseal.

 

·        The Chief priest and the Pharisees did not want to take any chances however and went to Pilate and asked for a Roman Guard.

 

·        They remembered that Jesus predicted that he would raise from the grave 3 days later.

 

·        They did not want the disciples of Jesus Christ to steal the body out of the tomb, to make it look like he rose from the dead.

 

·        To ensure this deception did not happen they pleaded the Governor for a Roman Guard.

 

·        A Roman guard was not one person – it is plural, not singular.

 

·        A Roman Guard consisted of 16 highly disciplined, elite fighting men. They were the best of the best.

 

·        Flavius Flagiduis Renultus was a Roman military historian who recorded the methods of offensive and defensive warfare used by the Romans.

 

·        According to the Military Classics series, these methods are still used by the U.S. Government for training of the Green Berets.

 

·        The Green Baret used the Roman Guard as their model in developing precision fighters who are mentally and physically tough enough to fight to death if necessary.

 

·        A Roman Guard was a 16 man security unit, each man was trained to protect six square feet of ground.

 

·        With 16 man square (four on each side), they were to protect 96 square feet of ground against an entire invading army, and hold it.

 

·        The enemy feared the Roman Guard.

 

·        If just one Roman soldier fell asleep on duty, the entire Roman guard consisting of 16 men would be executed, each being stripped of his clothes and burned alive in a fire started by their own garments.

 

·        Needless to say, they took their job seriously.

 

·        The members of the Roman guard were well aware of their punishment that awaited them if just one fell asleep or left his position.

 

·        A “Roman Seal” was placed around the tomb. The Roman Guard was there to protect the seal.

 

·        Anyone attempting to remove the stone, would have broken the seal, thus Breaking authority – and would have, thus incurred the wrath of Roman law!

 

·        Yet with all these precautions….

 

·        Jesus not only rose from the dead, abut also appeared to more than 500 People who were eyewitnesses.

 

 2000 YEARS LATER, THE EASTER STORY REVEALS TRUTHS AND HOPES THAT HAVE ENDURED THE TEST OF TIME.

 

THE MEANING BEHIND THE EASTER STORY:

 

1) - Jesus ____________________(rose) from the _______________________(dead) just like he said he would.

 

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (pg. 815) says:

 

 3For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance[a]: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5and that he appeared to Peter,[b] and then to the Twelve. 6After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. 1 Corinthians 15:3-8

 

·        The Apostle Paul penned these amazing words.

 

·        He claimed that Jesus appeared to more than 500 believers after he rose from the dead.

 

·        Paul was not always a Christian believer.

 

·        Before his conversion his name was Saul and he persecuted believers and put them to death.

 

·        When Stephan the first Christian martyr was executed, it was Saul who gave the orders and he was in charge of Stephan’s death.

 

·        Paul said in Acts 22:20:

 

 20And when the blood of your martyr[a] Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him. Acts 22:20

 

·        Saul later became a Christian and the most influential theologian in the Christian church.

 

·        THE TRUTH IS, A HUGE, ROCK, A ROMAN SEAL AND A ROMAN GUARD CONSISTING OF A 16 MAN ELITE FIGHTING FORCE, COULD NOT KEEP JESUS IN THE GRAVE!

 

·        NOR CAN A WOODEN BOX, WORMS, AND SIX FEET OF DIRT KEEP THE CHRISTIAN FROM RISING OUT OF THE GRAVE!

 

2) The Christian will _____________________(rise) from the__________________________(grave) just like Jesus did.

 

1 Thessalonians 4:13—18 says:

 

13Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words. 1 Thessalonians 4:13—18

 

·        The Bible says that every Christian whether dead or alive when Christ comes will rise in the air to meet Jesus when he comes again.

 

·        NEW SERMON SERIES STARTING NEXT WEEK: “WHEN JESUS COMES AGAIN – LIFE ON THE NEW EARTH”.

 

 3) Those who trust in Jesus Christ for salvation have already _____________(risen) from __________________(spiritual) __________________(grave).

 

Jesus said in John 3:5-8 (pg. 752):

 

5"I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. 6Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[a] gives birth to spirit. 7You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You[b] must be born again.' 8The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:5-8

 

·        The Bible says that a person who lives here one earth without surrendering their heart, mind and soul to Jesus Christ is spiritually _______________(dead).

 

·        The Bible says that a person who surrenders their heart, mind and soul to Christ has been _______________ _____________(born again) spiritually.

 

·        Where as, once we were dying in our sins and a slave to them, now we are dead to sin and a slave to _____________________________(righteousness).

 

A BIBLE ILLUSTRATION – WHAT BEING SPIRIRITUALLY ALIVE LOOKS LIKE: Romans 7:14- 8:2 (pg. 799)

 

·        After repenting of his sin and becoming a “Christ follower”, the Apostle Paul shares his struggle with sin in this passage.

 

Romans 7:7 - 8:2 (pg. 799) says:

 

 14We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[b] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

 21So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22For in my inner being I delight in God's law; 23but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. 24What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!
      So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God's law, but in the sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

 1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 7:7 - 8:2

 

·        In this passage of scripture we see an authentic look what it means to be born again of the Holy Spirit.

 

·        It does not mean we will never be tempted to sin again.

 

·        It does not mean we can never fall into sin again.

 

·        Being a “Born again” Christian means I ______________(hate) sin in my life and _________________(trust) God that he has and will_________________(deliver) me from it.

 

Colossians 3:1-12 (pg. 834) says:

 

 1Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:. Colossians 3:1-5

 

·        When a person becomes a Christian, they become a ______________(new) person).

 

2 Corinthians 5:17 says:

 

17Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

 

HOW DOES A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN BORN AGAIN AND HAS RISEN FROM SPIRITUAL DEATH ACT?

 

Ephesians 4:22-24 (pg. 829) says:

 

22You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

 

HOW DOES A PERSON WHO HAS BEEN BORN AGAIN AND HAS RISEN FROM SPIRITUAL DEATH ACT?

 

1) THEY PUT _______________(OFF) THE OLD SELF. Eph. 4:22

 

2) THEY ARE __________________(MADE) NEW IN THE ATTITUDE OF THEIR MIND. Eph. 4:23

 

3) THEY PUT _______(ON) THE NEW SELF IN CHRIST. Eph. 4:24

 

·        THAT IS THE ONGOING EASTER STORY FOR THE CHRISTIAN…….CHRIST ROSE FROM THE GRAVE AND TODAY HE LIVES IN YOU AND YOU LIVE IN HIM!

 

·        JESUS HAS RISEN FROM THE GRAVE AND SO WILL THE “CHRISTFOLLOWER”!

 

·        THE CHRIST FOLLOWER HAS ALREADY RISEN FROM THE “SPIRITUAL GRAVE”, NO LONGER A SLAVE TO SIN, GUILT AND CONDEMNATION”

 

·        THEY ARE NOW SLAVES TO RIGHTEOUSNESS!

 

·        CHRIST IS ALIVE AND WELL TODAY AND SO ARE YOU IF YOU ARE ALIVE IN HIM!

 

·        Jesus is still changing lives today.

 

ILLUS  - JAY STEPHANS TESTIMONY

 

 

THE POINT OF THE EASTER STORY IS…

 

·        IN GOD’ ECONOMY, ________________________(CRUCIFICTION)  LEADS TO THE ______________(HOPE) OF A _______________________(RESURRECTION).

 

THE AUTHOR OF HEBREWS UNDERSTOOD THIS TRUTH WHEN HE SAID:

 

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”  Hebrews 6:19

 

·        JESUS ____________________(RISING) FROM THE ____________________(DEAD) GIVES HIS FOLLOWERS A ____________________(HOPE) THAT ____________________(SUSTAINS) THEM THROUGH ____________________(TROUBLES), ____________________(TRIALS), AND ____________________(TRIBULATIONS).

 

·        GOD GIVES HOPE TO EVERY PERSON WHO CHOOSES TO BE ____________________(CRUCIFIED) WITH CHRIST!

 

THE HOPE I HAVE IN CHRIST:

 

 1) THE HOPE THAT MY _____________________(SINS) ARE ___________________________(FORGIVEN).

 

 1 John 1:8-9 says:

 

 8If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:8-9

 

2)  THE HOPE THAT MY ____________(OLD) SINFUL NATURE IS _____________________________(CRUCIFIED) WITH CHRIST.

 

 10  “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”.   Galatians 2:19-20

 

·        My old sinful nature stays crucified with Christ through daily _______________________(confession) and __________________(repentance) of _____________(sin).

 

·        REPENTANCE MEANS – TO _______________(TURN) THE OTHER WAY.

 

3) THE HOPE THAT THERE IS NO ________________________(CONDEMNATION) FOR THOSE WHO ARE IN CHRIST BECAUSE JESUS ____________________(TOOK) THE ____________________________(CURSES) FOR ALL MY ____________(SINS) AND GAVE ME HIS ________________________(BLESSINGS) INSTEAD.

 

 Galatians 3:10-14 (pg. 824) says:

 

  10All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”[a] 11Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, “The righteous will live by faith.”[b] 12The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, “The man who does these things will live by them.”[c] 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”[d] 14He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.  Galatians 3:10-14

 

Romans 8:1-2 says:

 

1Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] 2because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death.

 

4) THE HOPE THAT JESUS WILL ____________________(FINISH) THE WORK HE __________________(STARTED) IN ME.

 

 Philippians 1:3-6 says:

 

 3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-21 says:

 

16Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 19Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22Avoid every kind of evil.

 23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

 

Jude 24-25 says:

 

 24To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

 

·        God is doing an ongoing work in our lives to make us more like Jesus and less like the world.

 

·        God is renewing our minds with is truth that sets the captives free.

 

·        Michelle Frien is going to share her story how God has saved her marriage by setting her free from a Divorce Mindset.

 

ILLUS – MICHELLE FREIN TESTIMONY

 

5) THE HOPE THAT MY BODY WILL _____________________(RISE) OUT OF THE GRAVE JUST LIKE _____________________(JESUS) DID WHEN CHRIST COMES AGAIN!

 

1 Corinthians 15:50-58 (pg. 815) says:

 

50I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."[e]
 55"Where, O death, is your victory?
      Where, O death, is your sting?"[

56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 58Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.  1 Corinthians 15:50-58

 

6) THE HOPE THAT I WILL SPEND _____________________(ETERNITY) WITH GOD ON THE NEW _____________(EARTH).

 

Revelation 21:1-11 (pg. 878) says:

 

1Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

 5He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

 6He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7He who overcomes will inherit all this, and I will be his God and he will be my son. 8But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—their place will be in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

 9One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." 10And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.

·        Next Week I will be preaching a new series entitled “WHEN JESUS COMES AGAIN – LIFE ON THE NEW EARTH”.

·         

·        GOSPEL INVITATION/PRAYER