Resurrection means the worst thing is never the last thing. – Frederick Buechner
Sermon Title: RESURRECTION SUNDAY
Sermon Text: VARIOUS TEXTS
Sermon Series: LENT: JOURNEY TO THE EMPTY TOMB
By: PTR NESTOR SY
Sermon Notes:
LUKE 24:13-35 NIV
13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him. 17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;
21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. 28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.
“While there’s life, there’s hope.”
MATTHEW 27:62-64 NIV
62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. …64 … Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”
MARK 16:1-3 NIV
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.
2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
It may have been Sunday morning but they were in a Saturday state of mind.
ROMANS 6:4b NIV
4 … just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
Jesus moves us out of a Saturday where death has defeated life into the Sunday where he defeated death.
LUKE 24:17 NIV
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast.
LUKE 24:21 NIV
21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.
They were counting on Jesus for something that he never intended to provide.
Their own agenda determined their expectations.
HEBREWS 11:39 NIV
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.
The portrait of the faithful is not a portrait of the “fulfilled.” What defines all of us is our hope in Christ no matter what we’re going through.
LUKE 24:19 NIV
19 “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.
LUKE 24:27 NIV
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
LUKE 24:28-31 NIV
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going farther.
29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight.
“Resurrection means the worst thing is never the last thing.”
Frederick Buechner