Title: Jesus lives The Victory’s Won!
Text: Luke 24:1-12
24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words,9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
In a seminary mission’s class, Herbert Jackson told how, as a new missionary, he was assigned a car that would not start without a push.
After pondering his problem, he devised a plan. He went to the school near his home, got permission to take some children out of class, and had them push his car off. As he made his rounds, he would either park on a hill or leave the engine running. He used this ingenious procedure for two years. Ill health forced the Jackson family to leave, and a new missionary came to that station. When Jackson proudly began to explain his arrangement for getting the car started, the new man began looking under the hood. Before the explanation was complete, the new missionary interrupted, "Why, Dr. Jackson, I believe the only trouble is this loose cable." He gave the cable a twist, stepped into the car, pushed the switch, and to Jackson's astonishment, the engine roared to life.
For two years needless trouble had become routine. The power was there all the time. Only a loose connection kept Jackson from putting that power to work.
Unknown.
Jesus lives The Victory’s Won!
Today we celebrate the blessed resurrection of our Lord. For in time past the world languished in sin and death reigned supreme. The hope of the Messiah and his coming had been prophesied. As the writer to the Hebrews makes clear in chapter 1
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (Heb 1:1-4)
Jesus Christ the incarnate Son of God came down for this very purpose. To humiliate Himself, to put on human flesh and become man; to cover or veil his divinity for the purpose of keeping the Law, which we could not keep, and then to stand in your place as the, Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.
For the 30 or so years of Jesus’ life and earthly ministry, the power of His divine nature was there with him all the time, perfectly united with His humanity so that He might accomplish the work that He was appointed to do by putting His power to work in His resurrection from the dead, for you.
24 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
This body of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, which took the scourging, the nails and the spear in his side and who truly died and breathed His last on the cross, was buried in a tomb, given for this purpose by Joseph of Aramathea, and then had the large stone rolled in place to cover and seal the tomb as a testament to the finality of death. Sealed, closed and finished. Jesus, himself used those last words of finality as He exclaimed on the cross, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Death was not a maybe, but was a certainty, (on Good Friday), just three short days ago.
4 While they (the women) were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen.”
The certainty of the grave and death has now been change forever. As Paul tells the Corinthians in our Epistle reading for today.
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.21 For as by a man Adam came death, by a man Jesus Christ has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Cor15:20-22)
Jesus lives the Victory’s Won, for you!
The joy of the resurrection can be lost and clouded by the sinfulness of man. Your sin too, can cause you to let reason sway opinion on God’s word. What God had said and what had been established by his word is now in the court of public opinion being challenged and in a real way and being challenged in the secular courts as well.
We all see the definition of Biblical truths being debated in society, with the hope of trumping God and his word and removing or redefining His precepts which is defined as (a command or principle intended especially as a general rule of action) and the religious liberty this country was founded on and that we have for so long enjoyed.
Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, (Luke 24:6b-8a)
You may remember Peter’s response to Jesus when He told of His cross and death in Matthew 16:
22 And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” 23 But Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God … but on the things of man.”
Always ask yourself this question: “Am I setting my mind on the things of God or the things of man?”
The things of man will corrupt the word of God all the time. It will call God’s truth a lie and the sin we cherish loving. But, in spite of our sinfulness and the corruption of the world there is one thing that we all can be assured of:
Jesus lives and for we who believe, the Victory is Won!
10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles,
But for the apostles:
11 these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.
The Apostles didn’t believe even after the witness of the women!
As Pastor Merrell made very clear to me in one of our student / mentor discussions when serving here as Vicar; He said, “Vicar, Always, listen to the women.”
I had an opportunity to repay this advice just a short while later when the women, wanted a garbage disposal replaced that had broken. Pastor said, “Well, I’m not sure we really need it because we don’t do a lot with big meals and preparations anymore.” To which I said, “Pastor, remember your advice?” To which he responded, “A garbage disposal would be nice.”
Recognizing his lack of judgment too: Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
Jesus lives The Victory’s Won!
We live, because Jesus lives! By faith we have eternal life and this eternity begins at the moment we believe. The reality of heaven is a present reality for you and me, trusting by faith in Christ’s finished work. We have all the joys promised now, though we only get a foretaste or the future reality when we too will be given our glorious resurrected bodies. Christ is risen, He is truly risen!
Just like the old car that just needed that loose wire connected to have that engine come to life, you who have heard the word of truth need, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to believe, trusting in the life, death resurrection of the God/man Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.
What is the work of God you might ask? Well, Jesus answers that question in John Chapter 6: To believe in Him whom He has sent! (John 6:28-29)
May the Love of God, the blessings of Christ and his resurrection this Easter, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be and abide with you now and forever.
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
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