(4/1) As we celebrate Easter, I want to share with you an event that was the catalyst for the most powerful global movement in the history of the world. The individuals involved in this incident were not superheroes, but everyday men and women like you and me. What distinguishes these first followers of Jesus Christ from us is that they spent three years walking with him, learning from him, and witnessing great miracles; but even though Jesus repeatedly told his disciples why he had come they didn’t get it. He warned them that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, but they didn’t get it (Matthew 16:21).

In fact, he was so descriptive of his suffering that the only thing he left out was the names of those involved. He told them that he would be condemned to death before being turned over to the Romans to be mocked, flogged, and crucified, and on the third day he would be raised to life (Matthew 20:18-19). He even went as far as promising them that after he’d risen, he would go ahead of them into Galilee where he would meet them, but even after having been told this repeatedly his followers did not expect his resurrection (Matthew 26:32).

In spite of the fact that he told them very clearly that these things would happen, somehow Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion came as a shock to his followers. When the crucifixion actually took place, it shattered the disciples hopes and dreams, causing them to flee and go into hiding. And yet, Jesus sought them out regardless of their doubts and fears, and he revealed himself to them, giving them many convincing proofs that he was alive. And so, Jesus appeared to them over a period of 40 days, restoring them and recommissioning them to share the good news that he was alive. It was these first believers testimony to the resurrection that has echoed throughout the centuries, changing the world, and making it possible for the good news of Jesus Christ to reach you and I now 2000 years later.

However, if we rewind, going back to the cross, going back to that first Easter weekend, we must recognize that everything happened just as Jesus said it would. But for the disciples, when he was executed their hearts were broken, their dreams were crushed, and it seemed as if their hope of the Kingdom was dead. Jesus was gone and they were left alone, shocked, and grieving in disbelief. Now they were fearing for their own lives, shocked and grieving in disbelief, but all of that changed at dawn on the first day of the week when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb (Matthew 28:1). These same women who had been there at the cross, weeping as Jesus hung there, gasping for breath, bruised and bleeding before giving up his spirit.

And it was these same women who came early Sunday morning to the tomb bringing spices to anoint his body. And so, they were on their way to the tomb where they saw Jesus’ dead body laid when strange things began to happen. The Bible says, "There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men" (Matthew 28:2-4).

These Roman soldiers that had been hired to stand guard at the tomb came back into the city shortly after dawn on Sunday trembling in terror. The religious leaders were shook up because no one could deny the eyewitness report of the guards who had been quite frightened by this supernatural occurrence. As this was going on, the women arrived at the tomb which had now been abandoned and they too encountered this angel who said to them, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He’s not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead…" (Matthew 28:5-7). After seeing the grave clothes lying there in the place where Jesus had been laid, the cloth still neatly wrapped yet deflated like an empty cocoon, "The women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples."

Suddenly, Jesus met them, "Greetings," he said… "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me" (Matthew 28:8-10). The apostle John testifies that Mary came running to the disciples crying out, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb" (John 20:2). And so, he tells us that both he and Peter took off running for the tomb, when he got to the tomb, he bent over and looked in confirming what they said. The apostle Peter went into the tomb and he saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus' head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen (John 20:5-7). The disciples recognized that Jesus’ body wasn’t there, that he was very much alive, and he had left his grave clothes behind as he walked out of the tomb in his glorified body.

Today, we must never underestimate the importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. While much of the world is looking for the body in disbelief, we know that he is risen because of the faithful testimony of those first eyewitnesses. They refused to recant their testimony of the resurrection or deny that Jesus is Lord in spite of the taunting of unbelievers, floggings, imprisonment and death. Because of their witness the Church has withstood the hatred of Jesus’ enemies and the rejection of many, standing firm on the testimony that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time. Then he appeared to James and to all the apostles" (1 Corinthians 15:4-7). The evidence for the resurrection is weighty, because the body is missing and no one can deny the eyewitness reports. When the early dawn darkness was broken by those first rays of sunlight, the angel’s words resounded across the expanse of eternity, "He’s not here; he is risen, just as he said" (Matthew 28:6).

The Church stands as a witness to the power of the resurrection and Jesus triumph over the grave. Even today Jesus longs to fill empty hearts with himself, that was the testimony of the apostle Paul who said, "I’ve been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me…" (Galatians 2:20). And so, the question we must ask ourselves is, "Am I looking for a body, or am I looking for Jesus? Am I looking for excuses, or am I looking for hope?" Because the Bible promises that, "He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who lives in you" (Romans 8:11). Won’t you call upon the name of Jesus right now, surrendering your doubts to God, so that the risen Lord Jesus might fill you with himself? We have a Living Hope and the Bible promises, "To all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God" (John 1:12).

To learn more about Christ Community Church visit them on-line at www.cccaog.org or better yet, join them for Easter service!

Read past sermons by Pastor John Talcott