This message from Matthew 28:1-10 was delivered by Pastor Rod Harris at Trinity Baptist Church on Easter Sunday morning, April 5, 2015.
Intro:
Have you ever had the wind knocked out of you? I remember the last game of the 1976 football season at Webster High School. I remember it because I was a junior and it was the only game I played in all year! I got to play because we were down to the final two minutes and we were ahead by 40 points. The coach thought it was safe to put me in. We ran a couple of plays (I was a center). I got called for holding and we lost 15 yards. We eventually lost the ball and I came off the field. Coach Black, the defensive coach sent we back out to play nose guard. The head coach called me back off the field the next play. When he turned his back – coach Black sent me back in. This went on for a couple of plays. Finally coach Gibson said, “I don’t want Harris at nose guard.” When he walked off coach Black said, “Go in at linebacker!” “What’s that? What do I do?” He said, “Just go out there and stand in the middle.” That’s just what I did. I stood there. The quarterback dropped back to pass. He scrambled right. He scrambled left. I didn’t move. He throws the ball…right to me! I made an interception. I took two steps and someone buried their helmet in my side. Everyone was screaming. “Alright.” “Way to go.” I finally managed to moan, “I can’t breathe.” That’s a shock to your system.
On the morning of January 22, 2014 we were rushing around trying to get everything together to head to the hospital to welcome our Andi into the world. The phone rang and I answered. “Rod? This is Wayne, are you setting down?” It was my niece’s husband. They never call. “Ron died this morning.” I sat down.
Jolting blows. Whether they come on the football field, over the telephone or in a doctor’s office, take the wind out of you. One minute there is joy, excitement, laughter and celebration. The next there is pain, heartache and darkness. Life is filled with jolting blows. The physical ones last a few minutes. The emotional blows can last a lifetime.
The issue becomes ow do you respond when life knocks you down? How do you respond when things do not go according to plan? When your hopes are dashed to the ground. When discouragement becomes your permanent address?
Where do you find hope? I believe there is hope for the hopeless and it is found at the Garden Tomb early Sunday morning.
Text: Matthew 28:1-10
Today is Easter Sunday. Granted every Sunday is a celebration of the resurrection for the people of God. We gather week in and week out in celebration of the fact that Christ is alive. We do not gather to remember a martyr for our cause. We serve a Risen Savor!
Normally we take time on Easter Sunday to give evidence of the empty tomb.
We focus on the cross.
And that is entirely appropriate.
The fact is:
- Christ said we would rise
- The New Testament records His resurrection
- The empty tomb declares it
- The transformation of the disciples proves it
- Our experience confirms it
But I want to take a moment this morning and talk about the fruit of Christ’s resurrection. The resurrection assures our redemption. It affirms God’s approval and acceptance of Christ’s life and death. By His blood we are redeemed. Because of Christ we are saved. And what does that salvation include?
I want to share one very practical implication of Christ’s resurrection.
Thesis: The God of resurrection power inspires hope in the face of discouragement and despair.
I want you to discover two powerful truths revealed in this text about dealing with discouragement. Two truths that I believe are critical to your winning the war with despair.
- Discouragement is born out of unfulfilled expectations. (28:1)
- Discouragement vanishes in the light of the resurrection. (28:2-10)
Conclusion:
But I don’t want to leave things there. For to end there is to leave out the true wonder of our Gospel hope. You need to understand that what happened that week 2000 years ago was not a tragic miscarriage of justice. It was not another black chapter in the history of rogue religion. It was the eternal plan and purpose of God. It was the apex of a story that began not in the Garden with Adam and Eve. Not even with creation but long before, in Eternity past when God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit agreed to redeem a people. He is the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world.
Adam rebelled and plunged the entire creation into sin and ruin. Fellowship with God was broken. Man in his sin was alienated from a holy God. Yet God called, “Adam! Where are you?” In shame Adam and Eve sought to cover their nakedness. God himself covered them through the death of an innocent one – foreshadowing what was to come. God continued to reach out to the human family through Noah, Abraham and the nation of Israel. Yet man continued in sin. God continued His loving pursuit. Until ultimately He came in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. After 33 sinless years, perfectly obeying the will of God, he was betrayed, beaten, mocked, scorned and executed. But this was no tragedy. This was the will and purpose of God. No one “took” his life from him – he gave it. He gave it in payment for our sin. Then, on the third day, he rose triumphantly from the grave. Therein is our hope. Listen to the words of the apostle Peter…
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
This whole section from verse 3 through verse 12 is one sentence. In English it has been made into several so that it makes sense – but in Greek it is one sentence. English grammar may consider that a nightmare but this is one gloriously eloquent statement of salvation. Image piled upon image. Truth stacked upon truth.
God took the initiative because of His love and grace.
Man rebelled, God reconciled.
Man hid, God came searching.
Why? Because He is merciful, kind and loving.
The message of Easter is that there is hope for you because God in grace and mercy has made provision for your sin. There is life and hope if you will acknowledge your sin. Repent/turn away from your sin. And trust in Christ alone. The Bible is clear apart from Christ you are without God and without hope in this world. Come to Christ and find hope. Find in him forgiveness and life both now and forevermore.