He Is Risen

He is Risen! Mark 16.1-7 I do not believe emotions could be any lower than they were among the eleven and the women who followed Jesus on that Sunday Morning after His crucifixion and burial. It was the third day since it happened. They had lost hope. If you have been with a person who has lost hope you know it is heartbreaking. You name a low emotion it was there: Disbelief/ Shock (Remembering last Sunday) “How did this happen?!” Sadness Disappointment Fear Guilt Disillusionment Confusion Dejection Heavy hearts Maybe you can identify with one of these this morning. * You could be living in the torment of fear. There is certainly enough events going on in our lives to make us give to fear. Just watch five minutes of the News. Fear paralyzes us. It kept the Disciples of Jesus locked up in a room in Jerusalem. Maybe you are fearing the future. So many anxious souls today. Jesus has something to say to you this morning. * Perhaps you have lots of disappointments. They can cripple us. Things have not worked out the way you had hoped. Luke 24.21 … but we had hoped He that He was the One Who was going to redeem Israel. It could be your dreams have been shattered. Life has not turned out the way you had hoped. I have pastored over four decades and watched people tell me “their plans” and have seen some of those dreams turn out to be a nightmare. “Are you sure this is God’s will?” -Jay Patton * You may find yourself, although I don’t understand, where you feel as if God Himself, has disappointed you. Perhaps you, like some, have said to me over the years, “I have a lot of questions for God.” Someone said that to me once 25 years ago here in the church, “You must have a lot of questions for God.” I responded, “No.” I have to admit however I have wondered what God is doing from time to time. Like the book I was telling a couple of you about on Good Friday, “God Never Has Failed Me… But He Sure Has Scared Me To Death A Few Times.” * Or maybe you feel trapped, like the Eleven. They were between a rock and a hard place, these men from Galilee. They did not feel safe leaving that room, locked behind closed doors. They could not go out freely in Jerusalem. Even if they could get back to Galilee, they had left everything to follow Jesus, particularly their businesses. What was Peter, James and John going to do, say nothing about Matthew? * Perhaps there is confusion in your life. These Eleven Disciples were confused, perplexed and in despair. They go together. Confusion comes from the enemy. Peace from God. You can leave with peace in your heart even if there are troubles in your life. * Some of us are in deep grief today. We are here but our hearts hurt over the losses we have recently experienced. Does Jesus have something to say to us today? How can I go on? Maybe you have been grieving for a long time… These women were grieving the loss of their Master. They were devastated. And then there were the Eleven. They did not even go with the women for fear of being seen. Here is what we see that first Easter morning. Before they discovered the risen LORD there were things that were happening in their lives that we can relate to. My prayers this morning is that we will rediscover that not only is Jesus alive but that He lives within your heart! * The Concerns of the Women Love “LORD, You know my heart. You know I love You.” The Spices Their purchase of them Their bringing them to the Tomb. In their minds, eye witnesses, Jesus was dead. The Stone A little pebble in front of the Tomb was not worth comparing with the rock of ages inside. That very evening they would learn that Jesus could walk through locked doors as they gather in the upper room and He came and stood among them and said “Peace be with you.” There was no scolding, no I told you so’s. He proclaims peace to troubled hearts. Let not your hearts be troubled… Troubled from John 14.1 Agitate by movement to and fro Inward commotion taking away calmness of mind Restless, stir up Anxious, distress Perplex the mind by doubt Jesus said, “Let not your hearts be troubled.” Our concerns Why are you downcast O my soul? Why? Finances… riches do not bring happiness, peace or contentment Children away from the good path Family members struggling with addictions People we love making bad decisions Grief Fear, guilt, doubts What unmovable thing is in your life today. What stone needs to be rolled away? * Their Thoughts About the LORD Incorrect They had him in their minds in the tomb when in reality He was risen. We have things buried and they are alive. We feel we are at the end. And God shows us it is the beginning! That is always His way. Lack of faith in His Word This could be a lack of time in His Word. Hebrews 4.12 For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Definitely a lack of understanding of His Word. He told them He would rise from the dead. We often do the same thing… we have the Word of God, we have the Promises of God… Marinate yourself in the Word of God and you will see that His mercies are new every morning. Downcast “Put your hope in the LORD.” Jesus knows all about our struggles * The Empty Tomb They did not know what happened. Stop trying to figure God out! There ought to be a childlike wonder in our lives. Mark 16. 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. Mary Magdalene thought perhaps the Gardener had moved His Body. When we are in unbelief it is amazing what we can concoct in our minds. When we lack faith we can think all kinds of things. John believed but still went back to hiding. Some of us are there. We are afraid of our enemies. Mary Magdalene John 20. 15 He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking He was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.” Psalm 27.1The Lord is my light and my salvation—
    whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold of my life—
    of whom shall I be afraid? We are afraid of what others may think… Fear God. Ask the LORD for a holy boldness. Gospel Annie, Dr. Airhart * The Risen Christ! Mark 16. 6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, Who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as He told you.’” Here is the Hope we have! Jesus conquered our last enemy. He reversed the curse. He triumphed over the grave. He is LORD! * The Exalted LORD Jesus Christ Philippians 2.5 have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in very nature God,
    did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made Himself nothing
    by taking the very nature of a servant,
    being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man,
    He humbled himself
    by becoming obedient to death—
        even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place… What is that place? Seated at the right hand of God Mark 16.19 After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Praying for us Romans 8.34 Christ Jesus Who died—more than that, Who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Whatever comes to trouble your soul (Agitate by movement to and fro Inward commotion taking away calmness of mind Restless, stir up Anxious, distress Perplex the mind by doubt), Jesus is praying, interceding for you. He understands. He stands with us in our trouble, even if it is our own doing! * The Coming of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom Philippians 2.9     and gave Him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father. He died and rose again. The Christ of the Empty Tomb is the answer to an empty heart, a troubled mind, a broken heart, to Fear! Guilt! Disillusionment, Confusion, Disappointment and any other human condition. Live in the power of Christ’s Resurrection. Romans 8. 11 And if the Spirit of Him Who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of His Spirit who lives in you. He is with us right now.