The LORD's Day, April 12, 2009 He is Risen!

Resurrection Emotions

Mark 16.1-8, John 20.1-31

Back in the 1980's there was a book written, Emotions, Can You Trust Them?. The conclusion of the book was no, you cannot. However there are some things we can learn about comparing emotions with facts.

For instance, if you feel down and I am tired, then I get a good night’s rest the next night and wake up refreshed the next day, there is a good possibility that the reason you felt down in the first place is that you were tired.

Grief is a powerful emotion that can spawn other things. Love is a powerful emotion and mind set that can move people to great sacrifice. It can be a force to drive us to the limits of our abilities and beyond through Christ’s power.

1. No One Believed on that First Easter Sunday That Jesus Had Risen.
Mark 16.1-3

These women were on their way to anoint Jesus’ body. These spices were for preservation of the body of a dead person. These women were expecting to find Jesus’s body in the tomb. They had no expectation of a resurrection. What was in their hands showed what was in their heart and mind, same as us!

They were grieving. This was part of the grieving process. They were sad. They were in for the greatest surprise of their lives.

Sadness sometimes is because we do not know all the facts. Sometimes we are saddened because we forget Jesus’ promises. This was the case here.

The lack of faith can cause of a lot of problems. Many times our problems come because of unbelief; certainly not all of them but a good share of them.

What is the answer- believe what Jesus said. Become strong in your faith. How? By reading and listening to the Word of God This will build you up and make you strong in the LORD.

Verse 3 through 4 show us that some things we concern ourselves are already taken care of by the LORD. One old Baptist pastor said that the little pebble in front of the tomb was not worth comparing with the Rock of Ages inside.

That little band of followers on that first Easter Weekend were devastated. Their hopes were shattered and they were hiding out in fear that they might be arrested and killed. They were confused and perplexed. They forgot what Jesus said about rising again.

2. Seeing Angels is Amazing.
they were alarmed to throw into terror or amazement, to alarm thoroughly, to terrify, to be thoroughly amazed, astounded, to be struck with terror

The LORD send Angels to us in times when we need them. Psalm 91.11 For He will command His angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; 12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. I believe many times they are unseen, once in a while we get a glimpse. Dr. Perkins’ letter, Girls first day of school in Bay Shore, 1984.

It is in part the situations many times that are terrifying. There was shock due to the tomb being empty. They didn’t know it was a good thing. They just knew that Jesus’ body was gone and there were angels there talking to them.

3. Life can bring us to a wide array of emotions v.8

They were running scared.

Trembling

Bewildered They were ecstatic. They were in ecstacy.

Afraid They were struck with fear.

This news was too good to be true but they had heard it from these angels. So they went from being struck with terror and being throughly amazed to ecstacy with the news Jesus had risen.

4. Jesus meets us and brings us all we need and more

I love the last few chapters of the gospels. They are full of Resurrection accounts.
The men on the Road to Emmaus, the portion here in John’s Gospel.

The run of John, son of Zebedee John 20.3-4

The appearance to Mary Magdelene.

The appearance to the frightened disciples John 20.19-20
From fear to being overjoyed. We can have this same joy: Jesus is alive

The appearance to Thomas

The blessing on us John 20.29

The Resurrection is about Life and Death, or we should say death and life:
I had a minister say to me this week: I wish I was here when Jesus was on earth. I have had this said to me before by another pastor. Why? We have a greater blessing because we believe and have not seen. But we have seen evidences of His Work. I took a picture of my dad holding Jackson his grandson last week. Both are miracles. Both had their doctors tell us that they were going to die
The neurosurgeons and neurologists were wrong Hallelujah Both admitted they had seen a miracle.

Yet, we have lost loved ones as you have. In the valley of the shadow of death the LORD has kept His Promise... He has been with us. He has comforted us in wonderful ways For believers there is a wonderful promise in death
I Thessalonians 4.13-18- What a wonderful promise - Jesus’ Resurrection and ours

The Resurrection of Jesus and His power are so great they even extend over into areas in our lives when what had hoped for and prayed for doesn’t happen-mainly the healing of a loved one when death results.

Many years ago I heard an evangelist say that there is something about God you will not know until death comes to someone we love.

Jesus is with us. When life brings a wide array of emotions due to what is happening to us we have to remember and give thanks that we are standing on the Rock of Ages. We have to remember the LORD is our shepherd, the Good Shepherd Who lays down His life for His sheep.

One day we will see Him face to face. Just as the first believers saw Him we will see Him and we will see Him in all His glory! Our questions will all be answered by this wonderful encounter.

The LORD died so we could be forgiven. He rose again.

He is the Resurrection and the Life!

Resurrection emotions- joy, hope, peace.

Thanks be to God for His indescribable Gift!!

He is Risen!