Easter Luke 24: 1-12 4/24/11

Easter sermon 4-24-11 without and with the resurrection <>

Luke 24: 1-12
1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.
9 When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11 But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
Introduction
Good Friday - the same story keeps getting told over and over and it goes right down into our souls.

Into our lives that are so human, the story speaks in a super human way
This Jesus, the son of God, relates to the common person

No other life I n the history of the world has proved to be as powerful and enduring as that of Jesus

Is there anything to this following Jesus?
Following Jesus -it’s not fire insurance

I want to share with you to day that there are joys of being a Christian in this life, and in the world to come.

Let’s begin with a Story
Peter Rollins story about those who did not know about the resurrection
Love, forgiveness, and celebration
I fear that now instead of following him for the kind of life that he taught us, my children will follow him selfishly, because he has ensured their personal salvation and eternal home.

The gifts of the Christian life now
The Christian life is good.

One old pastor used to say, even if there is no eternity, I will choose the Christian life. There is no better life

The gifts of the Christian life here and now
1. Love

Easter reminds us that god loves ordinary and flawed people.
God can do extraordinary things through ordinary people.
Mary was a demon possessed woman, but Jesus healer her Luke 8:1-2

Luke 8:1-2 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons had come out;

2. Joy
3. Service

4. Celebration

Transformed the followers then, and continually transforms the lives of those who believe today.

The Christian life in the future
The gifts of the resurrection
This is amazing news –
We who die can live again
Do you believe in eternity? How could I simply cease to exist. The human body is such a miracle wrapped up with a soul.


1. Bible teaches that if we accept Jesus, our sins are forgiven;
Peter's last contact with the lord is the three denials. Now running to the tomb - he saw and believed. And how joyful it was for Jesus to welcome peter back, forgive him and commission him.

2. We spend eternity in heaven. Not to play the harp, but to enjoy the love.

Visiting with atheists about the God of love

3. Questions answered - propositional or relational Presence of God

4. For all of you who have lost a loved one..........see them again

5. No more tears quote revelation- 21:3-6

3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
6 He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.

Conclusion

For the gifts of following you in this life, and in the next, we praise you

We are more than we will ever understand. In Christ we find our completion. We find a place to land that feels right. It feels like home.

All enemies are conquered
Easter gives us hope because what appeared to have been the worst defeat imaginable, remarkably turned out to be the greatest victory of all.

Sin is defeated. Death is defeated. Broken ness is defeated.

Christ is the victor

Easter is god's I want u.

It’s the u r forgiven. Grace flows down. [from the hands and feet, that were nailed to the tree, grace flows down and covers you and me.]