Easter Message

1. Introduction
   1. Hi everyone. Easter is such a special time of year. Easter should be a thought every day of the year as I think about how my Lord and Savior was crucified and rose again on the third day. It makes life living for me.
   2. There’s a day that is fast approaching and we are living in it right now. You and I are living in the Laodicean Church Age of Revelation 3:14-18 where bible prophesy is lining up to a T.
   3. But from the very first time of realizing what the cross is all about, and what the resurrection means to you and me, I realize that Resurrection Day is every day for you and me.
   4. Let us all cherish this day. Let’s all remember what the Lord did to give you and me life. To live a life free to serve Him and keep Him dear to our minds and hearts each and every day.
   5. The world needs this Resurrected King. The world needs a Savior. I’m so glad I found Him and can jump for joy and say Praise the Lord!!!
   6. Shout it from the rooftop or standing in the doorway. I know what Jesus did for me and I know what he can do for you.
   7. Happy Easter everyone. It’s resurrection Day! Now let us look into our message today.

The Easter Resurrection

2. What is Easter?
   1. Easter is the culmination of what we call Holy Week, which begins at Palm Sunday, celebrating the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.
   2. Throughout Holy Week we meditate on the last supper, crucifixion and ultimately the resurrection of Jesus Christ which we celebrate on Easter Sunday.
      >
3. What is it all about?
   1. Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus from the tomb on the third day after his crucifixion. 1 Peter 1:3:Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Because of the resurrection of Jesus, we are made into a lively hope, after having been dead in trespasses and sins.
4. Where did it come from?
   1. An eighth-century scholar suggested that the name Easter may have come from the Anglo-Saxon Eeostre or Eastre – a goddess of spring and fertility.
   2. Easter is celebrated in March or April around the beginning of the Spring season.
   3. Another possibility is the Norse eostur, eastur, or ostara, which meant “the season of the growing sun” or “the season of new birth.”
   4. Because of the death and resurrection of Jesus, you and I have experienced that new birth. Ephesians 2:1: And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; So in this time of celebrating the resurrection, you too can celebrate your own resurrection with Him.

5. What is meant by Resurrection Day?
   1. Resurrection Day is important. Not only do we celebrate the resurrected King, but because of His Resurrection, we also can be resurrected to eternal life. John 11:25: Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: Jesus died and rose again, showing that we who place our faith and trust in Him will also rise again.
   2. Here is another verse that emphasizes this point, that what Jesus did Himself, He will do for us. Romans 6:5: For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: When we are baptized as an outward confession of our inward salvation, our going underwater symbolizes the death of Christ. Our old nature dying with Him. When we come up out of the water, we are symbolizing the resurrection as we now are risen to newness of life in Christ Jesus.

6. When is it believed that Jesus was crucified and rose again on the third day?
   1. The crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus took place over a few days in Jerusalem.
   2. Key events include the Last Supper, betrayal, trial, death by crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.

7. What does Easter mean to you?
   1. Easter Sunday celebrates the joyous time when Jesus who had died on the cross to save us from our sins, was risen, and because of that, we who know Him are risen with Him. 1st Corinthians 15:20: But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. It is the joyous day that celebrates the distinction between Christianity where we have a RELATIONSHIP with a living God, and other RELIGIONS whose gods are still in the grave!
      >
8. What do you reflect on when you think of Easter Sunday?
   1. I reflect on how the people must have been shocked. They expected Jesus to establish his kingdom at that time, and he instead died on the cross. We see in John 6:15: When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone. They wanted him to liberate them from Roman rule and set up his kingdom. That was not to be and will not be until after the rapture of the Church.
   2. I think about that pre-dawn knock on Peter and John’s door on Sunday morning when an excited Mary Magdalene reported the tomb being empty! John 20:1-5: The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, & seeth the stone taken away from the sepulchre. Then she runneth, & cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him. Peter therefore went forth, and that other disciple, and came to the sepulchre. So they ran both together: and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre. And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in. This was when they realized that Jesus was not there. He was risen as he had said. This is what we commemorate when we attend a sunrise service.
   3. I think about Peter. He had denied the Lord at the crucifixion. His fellowship was restored and he got his commission from the Lord after the John 21:17: He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep. Three times Peter had denied Him, & 3 times he had the chance to affirm his love & commitment to Christ.
      .
9. What is your prayer for this world?
   1. My prayer is that the world would reflect on the joy of the resurrection and accept God’s gracious gift. Ephesians 2: 4-5: But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) We cannot be saved by our own good works or our efforts to reach God. That’s what separates us from religion. We just receive the gift and live out of gratitude for it.
   2. Paul goes on to say in Ephesians 2:6-7: And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. My prayer is that souls will come out of this world that is passing quickly away, and be seated in heavenly places, above the muck and mire of the world and its ways.
   3. I pray that we always remember that it is by grace that we are saved through faith. Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. We have nothing to boast about except what Jesus does in and through our lives. That’s all. We’re saved by grace.
      >
10. Is Easter Sunday just once a year, or is it every day in your life as it is in mine?
    1. If we can take the joy of this day and spread it throughout the year, the world will see that joy reflected in our lives and want to know our Risen King.
       .
11. Do you love Easter as much as I do? Do you love the Lord as much as I do?
    1. Do you think about the resurrection every single day?
    2. Remember each and every person that comes to the saving grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ has been resurrected.
    3. This is why it’s so important for you and me to evangelize the gospel. Shout it out with me. It’s resurrection Day!
       >
12. Story: A Soldier’s View of the Tomb
    1. Cassius stood at rigid attention in front of the commanding officer of Jerusalem’s military cohort. “Centurion,” the officer barked, “explain yourself! One of your squads was assigned to guard a tomb, a dead man. What could be so hard about that?
    2. Now I’m hearing rumors that the body is missing? Tell me this is all a mistake!” “Sir, may I be frank, one old soldier to another?” asked the Centurion. He and the Tribune went back a long way, though the Tribune was of the equestrian class, and he a mere commoner.
    3. “Please, Cassius,” he said somewhat more gently, and motioned for the Centurion to take a seat. “I must beg your indulgence, sir,” Cassius began. “The story actually begins weeks ago.” “Take your time,” the Tribune said, relaxing somewhat.
    4. “Ever since this Jesus began preaching around Jerusalem, we thought he might be some kind of revolutionary bent on stirring up the populace with his talk of the Kingdom of God.
    5. But I went and listened to him, sir. He was no threat. Thousands would sit in rapt attention as he’d talk about his Father, loving your neighbor, forgiveness from sins, and beginning a new life.
    6. It was fascinating, sir. Made you feel like he cared about you personally, he did.” The Tribune was resting his chin on his hand. “Go on, soldier.”
    7. “The next I saw him, we had been ordered to stand guard outside the Governor’s official residence. The crowd was getting ugly.
    8. Pontius Pilate was sitting up there on the judgment seat and Jesus stood before him. Someone had roughed him up a bit, sir.
    9. “What did you expect, Centurion?” “Finally,” Cassius continued, “Pilate motioned for silence. ‘I find no crime in this man,’ he called out. Then he tried to set Jesus free.
    10. He asked them to choose between Barabbas–a known murderer and rebel–and Jesus.” “And now that criminal Barabbas is walking free again.”
    11. “Jews from the ruling Sanhedrin were shouting, ‘Crucify him! Crucify him!’ The rabble took up the cry.
    12. It was touch and go for a minute there, sir. Then Pilate called for a basin and began to wash his prissy little hands ….”
    13. “Centurion, I’ll allow no disrespect,” the Tribune said sharply. “Yes sir, but you know Jesus was innocent, pure and simple.
    14. He had just offended some powerful priests. But when Pilate saw how the wind was blowing he went along. I thought Rome was about law and justice, not expediency.”
    15. “Ruling is sometimes dirty business, Centurion,” interjected the Tribune. “So is soldiering, sir. On your orders one of my squad was picked to scourge the man.”
    16. “Oh, they enjoyed it well enough,” said the Tribune. “That tall soldier …Publius, wasn’t it? He flogged like a madman, as I recall, with the metal tips of the scourge biting into his back until the skin lay in tatters and blood ran free.”
    17. “Few times in my career have I been sickened by blood,” commented Cassius, “but to see an innocent man treated with such cruelty….”
    18. “I don’t recall you stopping them from dressing him in a purple robe with a reed for a scepter and a crown of thorns. Oh, they were having fun, all right.”
    19. “I’ve crucified hundreds in my time,” Cassius replied, “but this man was different. He didn’t curse. He didn’t whimper.
    20. He was half-dead already from the beating Publius gave him, and he fell on the way to Golgotha.”
    21. “Fell?” “He was just too weak to carry the cross, so we conscripted a strong Cyrenean to carry it. Then we crucified Jesus.”
    22. “All men die the same.” “Not like he did,” replied Cassius. “We spiked him to the cross-bar and hoisted it onto the upright, but I’ll never forget his prayer:
    23. ‘Father forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing.’ Sir, I was responsible for killing him, and he forgave me.”
    24. “Haven’t you been a soldier too long to be troubled by a guilty conscience, Cassius?” “Then the thief crucified next to him asked to be remembered when Jesus came into his kingdom.” “His kingdom!” the Tribune sneered.
    25. “But listen to his answer: ‘Today you will be with me in paradise.’ Amazing! About noon, Tribune, the sky grew dark.
    26. Everyone saw it, and felt the cold chill when he cried, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’ He sounded like the loneliest man in the world, hanging in the darkness.
    27. He spoke scarcely a word until three in the afternoon when he shouted, almost triumphantly, ‘It is finished!’
    28. And, if you listened closely, you could hear him whisper, ‘Into your hands I commit my spirit.’
    29. “At that very moment the ground began to tremble and roll,” said Cassius. “Knocked me to the ground for a moment.
    30. And then the darkness began to lift. I tell you, Tribune, that was no mere man we crucified, he was the Son of God.”
    31. “A few freak coincidences and you’re willing to declare him divine? He’s just as dead as anyone.” “No, Tribune, he’s not.” “He’s not?”
    32. “The chief priests and Pharisees insisted that Pilate guard the tomb so Jesus’ disciples wouldn’t steal the body.” “I know. I ordered it.”
    33. “We posted three men around the clock, relieved every eight hours as regulations call for. I sealed the tomb before they began. It was secure.”
    34. “So, what’s this rumor that the body is gone?” “It is gone, sir.” “I’ll have your hide, Centurion!” the Tribune shouted, rising to his feet.
    35. Cassius stood, too, but went on. “About seven o’clock Sunday morning, sir, the three soldiers on duty came running into the barracks like they’d seen a ghost.
    36. ‘Centurion! Centurion!’ they shouted. ‘He’s alive!’ I got them calmed down, and made them tell me every detail.
    37. “Their shift had begun about midnight,” he said. They had been wide awake all night—telling stories about their girlfriends back home most of the time, I understand. Then, just before dawn, they said the garden tomb lit up as if it were high noon, and an angel with garments like lightning came and rolled the stone away from the tomb.
    38. They just sat there trembling. Then one of them got up– Publius, I think they said–and looked in the tomb.
    39. The body was gone, and the graveclothes were lying on the limestone shelf wrapped round and round, but no body in them.”
    40. “You expect me to believe that?” the Tribune responded disdainfully. “I questioned them closely. Each looked. Each saw the same thing. The body was gone.”
    41. “They must have fallen asleep, and told a story to cover themselves.” “They were battle-hardened veterans, sir, not some green troops. I know those men. Besides, sir, you’d think the sound of people trying to roll a huge stone would awaken sleeping soldiers.
    42. No, they were telling the truth, all right.” “What do you expect me to tell people, Centurion? That he rose from the dead?”
    43. “I don’t know what you’re going to tell them, Tribune, but that’s what happened. He’s alive. I tell you, he’s alive!”
    44. “We’ll tell the soldiers to say they fell asleep and his disciples stole the body,” suggested the Tribune. “What soldier is willing to say he fell asleep?” asked Cassius with a thin smile on his face.
    45. “We’ll pay them to say it,” said the Tribune. “The chief priests owe us. They’ll come up with a goodly sum to bury this story….
    46. I’ll take care of it from here on out, Centurion. You didn’t see anything. You don’t know anything. Got it?” “But I do know, and I did see, Tribune. I can’t change what happened. Jesus is out there alive. More than alive.” “Forget this ever happened, Cassius.”
    47. “Forget it if you can, sir. But with all respect, Jesus is alive, and that changes everything.”
        >
13. Conclusion
    1. How did this message impact you?
    2. Will you remember when sharing the gospel that one is being resurrected to heaven and having their name written down in the Lamb’s Book of Life?
    3. Will you jump for joy and celebrate the resurrected life, the eternal life and the life that lives on for you and me and the one that came to seek and save that which is lost.
    4. Happy Easter Sunday – the Resurrection of our King.