He is Risen!

The Last Thing on Earth They Expected

Mark 16

There were two things that were the last events on earth the followers of Jesus expected that first Holy Week. They did not expect Him to die and that on a cross and they did not expect Him to rise again from the dead.

Jesus had told them plainly about both of these events. They didn't listen to Him. We can stop a lot of trouble in our lives if we just listen to Jesus.

They expected Him to restore the kingdom to Israel that Holy Week. Palm Sunday firmed that up in their minds and hearts. When He was arrested their dreams were dashed. When He died their hope was shattered. When He rose from the dead they were so amazed that they trouble at first believing it even after they saw Him!

Perhaps this morning you are facing some thing that is not expected, maybe the last thing on earth you expected. Words like divorce, cancer, job loss terminal illness, death of a loved one, - all of these and many others are traumatic and can bring down your world with a crash. Perhaps you have been plagued with fear about something that could happen that you view as the worst thing in the world to you.

I pray that the He Who is the Resurrection and the Life will meet you this morning and do what He did to those first believers- flood their hearts with joy!


1. The last thing on earth we expect sometimes does happen.

It did for those early believers.
Jesus died and they lost their hope. Luke 24.13-24 We had hoped...
The thought of Him dying was met with absolute denial and rejection by those men who followed Him. Matthew 16.21-23

But we know Jesus died. They knew it too. They had hoped and now they were in a locked room for fear that they might meet a similar fate.
They had no place to turn. Peter expressed this thought when people began to leave Jesus. John 6.67 "You do not want to leave too, do you?" Jesus asked the Twelve.68 Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." Now they are in that spot- deciding what to do. Jesus has died and they did not remember His Words of rising again.

It can take place in our lives.
I have faced untimely deaths in my life. Some where I have had the opprtunity to say goodbye and some where that wasn't given to me.
These men had the opportunity but they didn't take it. Every one of them had guilt over fleeing that night in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Fear and Guilt are powerful emotions. They can dominate behavior. People can take advantage of them in us and drive us to do things.

I have witnessed the worst thing happening and people still standing. Ann Van Hine is someone like that. Bruce, her husband, a fireman,
lost his life in 9-11. She serves children faithfully in her church in Warwick Valley now 5 1/2 years later.

It has taken place to men and women of God in the Bible.
Joseph- sold by his brother, put in prison as an innocent man
David- hunted down by King Saul out of jealousy
Daniel- thrown in a lion's den for praying
Mary, the mother of Jesus, having to explain her pregnancy to her betrothed, having to live her whole life under a cloud of illegitimacy.



2. There is hope if we have Jesus as LORD of Our life.

Who do you turn to when you are in need?
Human help will fail. At the very best it has limitations!

What lifts your spirit when darkness comes?
The hymn writers knew these experiences- One wrote, "When darkness seems to hide His face I rest in His unchanging grace."
Another one wrote that God is Holy though the darkness hides Him.

If He is our Rock, then there is always Hope.


3. Jesus can restore our life in a moment.

Joseph- from the prison to the place in a day
David- from a fugitive to the King of Israel in a moment
Daniel- Out of the den back to his position and his accusers dealt with
Salvation, the greatest gift. God can change a heart, a life, a family.

The worst thing turned out to be the best things!
Before Jesus died/ After He rose again - John 14.16-17 I have been with you. I will be in you!

For followers of Jesus Christ there is always life after death, restoration after destruction (mission teams rebuidling devastated areas)
God rebuilding lives. If there is brokeness in your life today, they are opportunities for God to show you how wonderful He can restore you soul!


4. Trust in Him and What He has said.

He will never leave us.
Difference between being confident of His presence and conscious of it

He will be with us always!
Right up the end of the age and then into eternity

He is makes all things beautiful in His time!
Butterflies and Emma. We have this confidence.

5. He is Alive!

Empty Tomb The early believers saw it but Him they did not see at first because He was not there. (v.4-6)

Hearts that are full

Strength for Today. He is going ahead of you- He always does. Ever interceding!

Hope beyond this life.

The last thing on earth those early disciples expected to happen happened. Jesus was put to death.
Before they could completely process what had happened, another thing happened, Jesus rose from the dead!
Because He lives, we too live and face whatever happens in our lives, if we believe in Him and follow in His Steps!

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The LORD’s Day
April 8, 2007
Celebrating His Resurrection

We Worship In Singing
We Worship In Prayer
We Worship In Hearing the Word of God
The Last Thing on Earth They Expected Mark 16

*Tithes and Offerings can be placed in the box at the rear of the sanctuary*
Please join us for coffee and bagels downstairs if you are visiting today.

V
This Week
Bible Reading Psalm 90-92
Monday Men’s Prayer Meeting 6:30am
Wednesday Bible Study -7:30pm at the parsonage
Thursday Bible Study-10:30am at the church
Next Lord’s Day
Morning Prayer- 10am in the church basement
Morning Worship- 10:30am(Sunday School for Children)
Spanish Service- 4pm

In Your Prayers For All of God’s People
Remember the men serving in the armed forces: Bradley, Julia Bujold’s grandson with Special Forces in Afghanistan, home on leave right now, Ken Brown, Pastor’s friend’s son on his third tour of Iraq. Please pray for the whole family. Billy Knapp, Jr. left for Iraq Thursday (neighbor of the church and Pastor- Billy’s sister graduated from Good Shepherd). Matthew Klaus, brother of Good Shepherd parent in Iraq as a firefighter for Haliburton... Pray for them and the others away from their families. Praise God for keeping David Louis, Jake Morgan and Tom Hindelang safe during their times in Iraq. Christine Frankland, Katharina’s daughter recovering from surgery. Please pray for Monica’s (Katrina’s granddaughter) mother-in-law, Rosemary, with breast cancer. Kathy, Ziggy and Margot’s daughter-in-law, under the doctor’s care for fibromyalgia. Praise God for a good report on Judy Mucci. She continues on Chemotherapy. Pastor’s friend Kim Richardson recovering from a heart attack. He is doing well and is thankful for all the prayers offered for him. Pray for Eloise Brooks and Jean Louis as both are on dialysis. Christopher (Uncle of Good Shepherd Grad) with leukemia.
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A number of nursery school families are going through difficult times. If you would like to sponsor a child presently at Good Shepherd, see Alice or call the school at 666-7503*

If you would like to help with the Sunday Morning Bagel ministry see Alice Gordon.




Notes on Our Time in the Word of God This Morning:
The Last Thing on Earth They Expected

Mark 16







Pastor’s messages are now available online:
http://thesundaymorningmessage.blogspot.com/
Church e-mail: bayshorenaz@rock.com
Church Phone: 631-969-1730
1314 Pine Acres Boulevard, Bay Shore, Long Island, NY 11706-5436

Whatever you do, in word or deed, do all for the glory of God