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EASTER 04.16.06 (Luke 24:1-12 NLT) “Dear Abby” once carried this story: A young man from a wealthy family was about to graduate from high school. It was the custom in that affluent neighborhood for the parents to give the graduate an automobile. How many people have done the same thing to God; tossed aside a wonderful promise because they didn’t understand it, or they didn’t believe that it was possible. Most of us would agree: “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” But, you know what? That’s what God tells us; we can have something for nothing; we can have our sins forgiven, have peace with Him, and enjoy eternity with Him, through no cost to ourselves. “God is different from the world. Instead of promises full of emptiness, on Easter, He gave us emptiness full of promise.” I want us to look at the promises of Easter; each of which is marked by something empty: a cross, a tomb and burial clothes. Because the empty cross, tomb, and burial clothes, we can take all of God’s promises for our lives to the bank. But very early on Sunday morning the women came to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone covering the entrance had been rolled aside. 3 So they went in, but they couldn't find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 They were puzzled, trying to think what could have happened to it. Suddenly, two men appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. 5 The women were terrified and bowed low before them. Then the men asked, "Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? 6 He isn't here! He has risen from the dead! Don't you remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again the third day?" 8 Then they remembered that he had said this. 9 So they rushed back to tell his eleven disciples--and everyone else--what had happened. 10 The women who went to the tomb were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several others. They told the apostles what had happened, 11 but the story sounded like nonsense, so they didn't believe it. 12 However, Peter ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened. Luke 24:1-12 NLT I. The Empty Cross Imagine with me being one of the women from our text who were on their way to the tomb that first Easter. Don’t ever believe anyone who tries to tell you Jesus wasn’t really dead; that He had fainted, or was faking it. There was no question; He was dead. Together they made up the that the disciples stole the body. Can you imagine 11 fishermen overpowering a company of Roman soldiers, moving a 2 ton stone and stealing the body of Jesus so they could claim He had come back to life, and then willingly die to protect that lie? The promise of the empty cross is that you and I can be forgiven; Jesus paid the penalty for our sins. According to God’s law… We deserve Hell. … God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Rom 5:8 ESV No one else – Moses, Abraham, David, Isaiah, Muhammad, Buddha – has ever lived perfectly and then offered their perfect life for our salvation. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. Acts 4:12 NIV
II. The Empty Tomb Getting back to the women... as they approach Jesus’ tomb, to their surprise they find: Listen to the angel’s words 5 Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn't here! He has been raised from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. Mat 28:5-6 NLT Jesus had risen – He was alive – the tomb was empty. And what a tremendous promise that holds. 20 But the fact is that Christ has been raised from the dead. He has become the first of a great harvest of those who will be raised to life again. 21 So you see, just as death came into the world through a man, Adam, now the resurrection from the dead has begun through another man, Christ. 22 Everyone dies because all of us are related to Adam, the first man. But all who are related to Christ, the other man, will be given new life. 1Cor 15:20-22 NLT i.e. The fact of the empty tomb is the truth of the Resurrection of Jesus and the promise to every one of us that we too will be raised to eternal life. To those who know Jesus as their Savior and Lord, death is no longer something to be feared. Imagine being stranded on a lonely highway in Alaska in the middle of winter, with the real possibility of freezing to death. Would you fear a warm breeze in those circumstances? “What fear is there when we have the promise of one day living forever with God in Heaven?” Why was the tomb empty? Because Jesus was alive! And the promise to us is that we too can live even if we die. That is the second “empty” promise of Easter. ~~~~~~~ So, there’s: III. The Empty Burial Clothes Look at verse 12 of our text: …Peter ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings…. Think logically with me now: If someone had stolen Jesus body, as the Jews then wanted people to believe, and as some people even today want to believe, the thieves wouldn’t have taken the time to remove the burial clothes and leave them where Jesus’ body had been. And, it wouldn’t be long, before Jesus, himself would appear to Mary Magdalene, and to all of the Apostles, and eventually to over 500 others. Jesus went on to… The promise of the empty burial clothes is that Jesus is alive, and wants to be with us in the humdrum as well as the extraordinary of life. “Jesus isn’t some nebulous “force” out in the universe …. He is a living Savior, and He desires … a personal relationship with … us, just as He did with His disciples 2000 years ago.” ~~~~~~~ After Jesus had risen, He had skin and bones and a face and was recognizable. The “empty promises” of Easter tell us: ~~~~~~~ I close with this story… Teacher, preacher and leadership consultant John Maxwell tells the story about a blazer he bought from Nordstrom’s. Tucked away in the back of his mind, though, was that famous Nordstrom unconditional-return policy. Finally he decided he had nothing to lose, so he pulled the blazer out, threw a lot of lint on it to make it look bad, and took it to the Nordstrom’s men’s department. Listen to John: “I walked in, and immediately I felt nervous. I felt like I was about to pull a scam of some sort, but I played it straight. I walked right up to the first salesman I saw and gave this little prepared speech. I said, ‘I AM ABOUT TO PUT YOUR FAMOUS UNCONDITIONAL-RETURN POLICY TO ITS ULTIMATE TEST. I HAVE HERE A BLAZER. I’VE WORN IT LOTS. I’VE HAD IT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF. I DON’T LIKE IT. IT’S THE WRONG COLOR, AND IT ATTRACTS LINT LIKE IT’S GOING OUT OF STYLE. BUT I WANT TO RETURN THIS BLAZER FOR ANOTHER BLAZER THAT I LIKE.’ Then I stood there. I couldn’t believe it. This guy with a big handlebar mustache just looked at me and shook his head. He said, ‘FOR HEAVEN’S SAKE, WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG? LET’S GO FIND YOU A BLAZER.’ Ten minutes later I walked out with another blazer that was marked seventy-five dollars more than I paid for the one that I brought in. It was perfect for me. Didn’t cost me a penny.” ~~~~~~~ At Easter, more than any other time of the year, we realize that God has made some outlandish promises. Today we’ve heard about three promises God has made to us: The question: Have you taken Him at His word? If so, then this final promise is for you: Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. Rom 10:13 NLT If you’ve never accepted God’s promises for your life, He’s waiting and wondering, "For heaven’s sake, what’s taking you so long?” • Will you trust Him today? adapted from SC – Steven Kellett Home | About Us | Staff | Ministries | Sermons | From Pastor ©Copyright
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