Easter Sunday was a beautiful morning as we all gathered to celebrate the resurrection. Morgan preached from Matthew 28: 1-15. He painted the picture of snow in KS in April and how the tulip can still pop through the snow. Our lives can be like that. We live in a world full of darkness but we have hope. We have victory over death. Many live their life in denial of death and will at all costs avoid pain and suffering to avoid the inevitable. Death is unavoidable and does not discriminate.
These last 2 years with Covid have created a "forced pause" and made some painful things come to light. Many are living in a state of fear and anxiety. With racial tensions and political loyalties, families and friends are divided. Many singles are feeling more alone than ever. People are losing their faith. When we live in denial, it's easy to blame others and turn to your drug of choice. Maybe that drug is alcohol or the needle or maybe it's working all the time. Many are not doing well.
We need hope.
We need to know the resurrection happened and that Christ did rise on the 3rd day.
Morgan dug into the text and described how that after Jesus was buried the Chief Priests and Pharisees went to Pilot and told him the claim that Jesus would rise on the 3rd day and asked that he order troops to guard the tomb. They literally are spreading the word to Pilot. This is what politics in America looks like today. Many are putting their trust in Gov and not Jesus. Morgan reminded us that God is over EVERY politician. And it was also a good reminder that what some intend for evil, God can use for good.
Back to Matthew....they guarded and sealed the tomb AS IF that would hold Him back! Keep in mind the stone was not moved to let Jesus out. The stone was moved to let the women in.
Morgan closed with 3 points on how we know the resurrection happened.
#1. Transformed lives. Look at the disciples behavior. They were confused and heartbroken. They went went from a state of despair to going on mission with confidence spreading the gospel. They were prepared to suffer and die for their belief.
#2. Eye witnesses. The bible mentions over 500 witnesses to the resurrection and seeing and touching Jesus. I Corinthians 15:5-8.
#3. Look at the women. In this time, women were not considered full citizens. Their testimony would not have held up in a court of law. If someone made this story up, they would be fools to use women as their eye witnesses. The only way they use women is if the resurrection really happened this way! Love so much how God uses women to tell the resurrection story.
Come and See. Join the story. Worship. Go and Tell.
If the resurrection is true, we know everything will be OK.
https://redeemerwichita.church/
