The Resurrection of Jesus: Living Hope

well let me give a warm welcome to you all to our church family to family and friends who are

gathering to tune in it's great to be able to gather our easter has changed i guess there's

never been an easter weekend like this but our message our hope our joy and the risen jesus has

not changed now let's read the message of the angels that first easter sunday here it is in matthew 28

the angel said to the women do not be afraid for i know that you're looking for jesus who was

crucified he is 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 and is going ahead of you into galilee

there you will see him let's sing a hymn that reminds us of the victory of jesus and the hope

in him let's sing kelvin's going to lead us in the hymn in christ alone

in christ alone my hope is found he is my light my strength my song this cornerstone this solid ground

firm through the fiercest drought and storm what heights of love what depths of peace when fears are still when striving cease my comforter my all in all

here in the love of christ i stand

in christ alone who took on flesh fullness of god in helpless pain

this gift of love and righteousness

scorned by the ones he came to save

till on that cross as jesus died

the wrath of god was satisfied

for every sin

for every sin

on him was laid

here in the death of christ i lay

there in the ground his body lay

there in the ground his body lay

light of the world by darkness slain

then bursting forth in glorious day

up from the grave he rose again

and as he stands in victory

sin's curse has lost its grip on me

for i am his and he is mine

and as he is mine

bought with the precious blood of christ

no guilt in life

no fear in death

this is the power of christ in me

from life's first cry

to the final breath

jesus commands my destiny

the power of hell

the scheme of man

can ever pluck me from his hand

till he returns

or calls me home

here in the power of christ

i'll stand

and now let's pray together

lord this easter sunday

we thank you for the announcement of the angels

that jesus who was crucified for our sins

to give us the hope of forgiveness

the promise of forgiveness

when we trust in him

that he is not dead

that he has risen

we recognize that in christ alone

there is true hope

not just for now but for all eternity

lord we recognize as a world

that we need hope right now

that we as individuals

that stand in need of hope

and lord we thank you that that is found in the life of jesus

we thank you for his perfect love

and his obedience

we thank you for the mercy and compassion

and care that he showed to the helpless

and the broken people

that he met in his day

and we thank you that he is unchanged

in his love and kindness

and lord we thank you

for that death he died

as our substitute

taking our place

and being that sacrifice

who would remove sin

who would remove the anger of god

from us by taking it on himself

so that if we put our trust in him

trust in him

we would have eternal life

we thank you for the hope

that is in the resurrection

the promise of new life

the promise of a restored world

the hope of jesus returning

and making all things new

giving hope of a world free of sickness

and sorrow and death itself

lord we look to you

recognizing that you are a god of power

and you are a god of mercy and love

we are dependent on you

and we ask that you would bring help

to those who need it

we pray once more for our governments

both here in edinburgh and down in london

we remember especially boris johnson

and we pray that you would be with him

lord we ask that you would give them all the wisdom

that our politicians and leaders need

for ruling well in this crisis

for making decisions

lord we also pray for our nhs staff

that we are so thankful for them

and for the the sacrifices that they make

for the love and care that they show

in their different responsibilities

and we pray that you would protect them

lord we thank you for other key workers

in various industries

and for the way they are going above and beyond

to help us to keep our country moving and functioning

and again we pray protection and care

lord we pray for the nations of the world

and we recognize the struggles that some of the poorest countries in the world will be having

with limited health care facilities

and with limited budgets and infrastructure

lord we pray for the poor and the needy

and we ask that you would intervene

lord above all

and we recognize our greatest need is to be right with you

and to enjoy your love in our lives

and so we pray that there would be many at this time who would be seeking answers

and finding them in jesus

that for those who are seeking hope and love and security

that they would recognize that that can be found

ultimately only in knowing you and in jesus you send

so we pray that you'd be with us in the time that we get to spend

listening to and thinking about the bible

help us to understand and apply what we hear to our lives this easter

amen

now we're going to read a passage of the bible

of the bible this is from john's gospel chapter 20

and it's the story of mary magdalene and her experience that first easter sunday

so let's hear the first 18 verses of john chapter 20

John 20 · chapter mention

early on the first day of the week while it was still dark

mary magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance

so she came running to simon peter

and the other disciple the one jesus loved and said

they have taken the lord out of the tomb

and we don't know where they have put him

so peter and the other disciple started for the tomb

both were running

but the other disciple outran peter and reached the tomb first

he bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in

then simon peter who was behind him arrived and went into the tomb

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

finally the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went inside

he saw and believed

and believed

they still did not understand from scripture that jesus had to rise from the dead

then the disciples went back to their homes

but mary stood outside the tomb crying

as she wept she bent over to look into the tomb

and saw two angels in white

seated where jesus body had been

one at the head and the other at the foot

they asked her

woman

why are you crying

they have taken my lord away she said

and i don't know where they have put him

at this she turned round and saw jesus standing there

but she did not realize that it was jesus

woman he said

why are you crying

who is it you are looking for

thinking he was the gardener she said

sir

if you had carried him away

tell me where you have put him and i will get him

jesus said to her

mary

she turned towards him and cried out in aramaic

rabboni

which means teacher

jesus said

do not hold on to me

for i have not yet returned to the father

go instead to my brothers and tell them

i am returning to my father and your father

to my god and your god

mary magdalene went to the disciples with the news

i have seen the lord

and she told them that he had said these things to her

so this easter sunday this is what we're going to think about

we're going to think about jesus resurrection

and the rising of hope

but we need to begin with the day hope died

that was the title of a bbc documentary on robert kennedy

back in 2018 marking the 50th anniversary of his assassination

that's a very striking title

it seems like national hope had been pinned on a single person

the hope that in bobby kennedy there was hope for unity

the end to racism for america

i wonder as you look back over your own life

have you been there on occasions when hope died

perhaps it was the loss of an opportunity

perhaps it was the loss of a job

perhaps it was the loss of a family member

that you loved deeply

maybe today i imagine there will be some of us

who are feeling fearful

feeling hopeless

due to covid 19

maybe this is the day when you feel hope is dying

if we were to ask mary magdalene

and to ask the first disciples

when was the day hope died for you

they would point to the first good friday

the day when jesus died on the cross

did you recognize that as we began our reading

for mary as she first approaches the empty tomb

she sees no hope

the message she brings back to the disciples

is they've taken the lord out of the tomb

and we don't know where they have put him

for mary and those disciples death had won

there was no prospect in her mind of resurrection

she saw the empty tomb and she thought this was the work of grave robbers

she was not naive

they were not expecting a resurrected messiah

nobody saw this coming

which in many ways points towards its truth

this is not something anybody made up

before we go any further let's think who was mary

the subject of our story here in luke chapter 8

Luke 8 · chapter mention

another one of the gospel writers luke records that mary

had been possessed by seven demons

and that jesus had delivered her

so jesus has given mary new hope

a new life

further than that mary is an important eyewitness

she was there when jesus died

she was there as jesus was buried

and now she is an eyewitness to the empty tomb

but the question now is

where will her hope come from

now that her teacher is dead

how can she have hope beyond death

how can the kingdom of god come now

perhaps mary was asking

now that the king has died

that first easter sunday

everything for mary in terms of hope

rests on one fact

everything for you and for me

rests on one fact

if we want true hope that will not disappoint

the fact resurrection

there's a bible writer called david helm

and he says the resurrection is hope's burden of proof

in other words if hope was in a law court

the only way it could claim to be speaking the truth

would be if it could present as evidence

the reality of a risen lord jesus

this easter sunday as we spend time in our homes

do you want hope that god is stronger

stronger than fear that you face

stronger than the virus that's taken hold on our world

stronger even than death

do you want good news despite all the bad news that surrounds us

do you want forgiveness from sin

do you want peace of conscience

peace with the god who made you

this week i came across this from an indian christian by the name of bakit singh

he was asked the question what do you preach to those of other faiths

so in india many faiths

and this christian preacher he said i preach the forgiveness of sins

that is what all of us deep down inside are looking for

if that list of things is you today if that's what you look for then you need

the resurrection to be true

not simply i wish it was true because it sounds wonderful

it must actually really be true

now let's move on and let's see how in mary's story she is prepared for hope

i guess many of us know the phrase the green shoots of recovery

and we find ourselves looking for them we go to the media looking for them

so and we see what's happening in china and wuhan opening up and reports of no new cases

or we see in italy the death rate dropping

and they stand for us as beacons of hope

that we cling to perhaps

what are the green shoots of recovery for mary and her hope

and so the story of mary so far she's run in grief from the empty tomb

to share her news with peter and john

peter and john have now run to the empty tomb

and they've returned home

but then in verses 10 and 11

and we find that while they go home mary returns

mary stood outside the tomb

crying

grief is still there but what does she do

as she went

she bent over to look into the tomb

she examines for herself the empty tomb

and let me just ask

have you ever done that

this is a claim about christianity that is so huge

that it cannot be ignored

on our website

our church website you can go to the online services section

and you will find a list of resources

good books to read

videos and articles to access

on the internet that that might help you as you explore

because this is something again that is too important to ignore

or to brush to one side

but having said that let's look with mary

and see what these two green shoots of recovery are

signs to prepare her for living hope for resurrection hope

first of all who's present in the empty tomb

angels are present

she saw two angels in white

one at the head one at the foot

and they asked her

why are you crying

who are angels

angels are God's

messengers so they deliver

messages from God

they also interpret God's activity

in the world

angels are at times sent

to make sense of

out of the ordinary

events

so we can think about another

christian season

we can think about christmas

think about another mary

mary the mother of jesus

and the angels that came to her

to tell her that

though she was a virgin

she would conceive by the power of the holy spirit

and she would give birth to a child

and he would be called jesus

and he would save people from their sins

that was no ordinary event

that was God's activity in the world

in the world in a remarkable way

for our salvation and hope

and angels come to interpret that

and here the angels are saying to mary

by their presence

the empty tomb is God's work

not the work of grave robbers

God's power has invaded the tomb

not grave robbers

their question

woman why are you crying

is challenging mary's interpretation of events

are you right

about jesus

they're asking

are you right to believe

that hope is dead

now for you and for me

it is most unlikely

that we will have

an announcement from angels

angels coming to

interpret God's activity for us

but what we have

is we have the bible

the bible

reveals and interprets

God's actions

in the world

it announces God's plan

God's way of salvation

in and through the sending of his own son

Jesus to become one of us

to live perfectly in our place

to then die for our sins

and then to rise in victory

for our salvation

so let me encourage you to read

and listen to your bible

and to be asking the question

am I right about jesus

in the way that I think

about him

the second green shoot of recovery

is enormous

while the angels are present

in the tomb

Jesus body

his body

is absent

so the angels in verse 12

are seated

where Jesus body

had been

now we said earlier

that the miracle of the resurrection

is crucial

it's of vital significance

it's too big to ignore

it is actually

the miracle that is the standing or falling

of Christianity

Paul understood this

Paul the apostle

in 1 Corinthians 15

he wrote very clearly

to say

as a Christian

he's saying

if the resurrection is not true

then the message of Christianity is a lie

plain and simple

more than that

God is a liar

because God said he would raise his son from the dead

if Jesus is still dead

then we are lost

in our sin

there is no hope of us having a way back to God

Christian faith is useless

and of all people in all the world

we are most to be pitied

and that shows us just how important the resurrection is to the Christian faith

so it is crucial for us to think about this reality

why is the tomb of Jesus empty

so every group at the time of Jesus knew the tomb was empty

so there were the Jewish leaders and they hated Jesus

and they arranged for Jesus to be handed over to the Romans to be killed

they knew the tomb was empty and they paid off the Roman guards

and they began to spread the lie

that the disciples had stolen Jesus' body away

so they knew the tomb was empty

so they knew the tomb was empty

the Romans who had killed Jesus

they had set guards at the tomb

so they also knew that the tomb was empty

and the first followers of Jesus knew that the tomb was empty

particularly when Jesus appeared to them in a real physical glorified body

so we need to think

that the empty tomb is a fact

even the most skeptical

non-Christian historians recognize the empty tomb is a fact

what makes the best sense of that?

if his body was stolen

why did no enemies produce that stolen body

with all the power at their disposal

knowing that they could halt Christianity dead in its tracks

why did they not produce the body?

and it's fascinating to look at the development of the church

and to think how do you explain

for example the transformation of Mary

blinded by grief and sorrow and tears

then full of joy

how do we explain the transformation of the disciples

fearful in hiding

having run away from Jesus

when he was arrested

because they thought it was the end of their hope

how do we then explain them

preaching powerfully and boldly

and being willing to die for Jesus

how do we account for the transformation of a man like Paul

who spent some of his adult life

as a great opponent of Jesus

hated Jesus, hated the church

spent his life trying to kill Christians

imprison Christians and end the Christian church

how do we account for him then speaking for Jesus

and establishing churches

he said he met Jesus on the road to Damascus

and that changed everything for him

how do we account for the empty tomb?

well the empty tomb and the angels

are preparing Mary for hope

that first Easter Sunday

so let's see together

hope rising

hope rises

because Jesus is alive

we're still not quite there yet

verse 14

having spoken to the angels

Mary turned round and saw Jesus standing there

but she didn't realise that it was Jesus

she thought he was a gardener

perhaps because it was still dark

perhaps because she was blinded by tears

perhaps because she had no prospect of ever seeing Jesus again

she fails to recognise him

but note the compassion of Jesus

even before he's recognised

woman he said why are you crying?

who is it you're looking for?

here is Jesus and he has come to help her

in her grief and her pain and her confusion

the risen Jesus there to help and to transform

now already before Jesus died

he had used the reality of resurrection

to speak comfort to his disciples

he said to them

don't be troubled

I'm going and returning to my father

to my father's house

I'm going to prepare a place for you

I'm going to come back and I'll take you to be with me

where I am

and he said I won't leave you on your own

I won't leave you as orphans

I'll send the Holy Spirit

so I'll come to live in your heart

because he would rise from the dead

so Mary initially hope doesn't come from seeing Jesus

because she can't recognise his identity

how does hope come to life in Mary?

we need to go to verse 16

Jesus said to her

Mary

and she turned and cried out

teacher

she hears his voice

here is where hope comes from

she hears his voice

Jesus had described himself earlier as the good shepherd

the good shepherd who calls his sheep by name

they know him

they know his voice and they listen to him

Jesus has died for his sheep and risen again

and so here is how hope rises for Mary

and listen to these wonderful words of hope

for grieving and fearful disciples

she says to Mary

don't hold on to me for I've not yet returned to the Father

you don't need to hang on to me

you won't lose me

this is part of my journey

returning to glory

go instead to my brothers and tell them

I'm returning to my Father and your Father

to my God and your God

ascending to the glory of heaven

ascending to his Father

Jesus promises

that's the same journey

that his disciples will make

his followers will have access

to God

they can call God

we can call God Father

through faith in Jesus

we can know our identity as part of God's family

through faith in the risen Jesus

because death has been defeated

in the resurrection

Jesus victory

power of sin has been broken

Jesus has shown that death could not hold him

it had no claim on him because he is sinless

he came to deal with our sin

to take our sin

so now

by trusting in Jesus we have all these privileges

the privilege of access

the privilege of God's love and God's joy

and God's hope

so what a different message

Mary now brings to Peter, John and the other disciples

verse 18

she comes running in this time

I have seen the Lord

so church begins on Easter Sunday

because now their saviour is alive

for you and for me

where does lasting hope

come from?

maybe this virus has been showing to us

it doesn't come in your well

it doesn't come in your hell

lasting hope is not found in your work

or in your leisure

we can't root all our hope and security

in our politicians

in our medical officers or vaccines

rather

it's the resurrection of Jesus alone

that gives true and lasting hope

both for your life now

and for your eternal future

because through the whole message of Easter

the cross of Jesus and his resurrection

there is forgiveness of sin

there is peace with God

there is life with God

promised when our faith is in him

access to God's perfect love

to that always and forever love

that we long for

and we're so sad when we lose love

here is one love that will never be taken from him

in the cross and the resurrection

we have this path to enjoying life with God

Jesus said the life of one of his followers

one of his followers will be suffering now

and we know that

but by faith it is promise of glorious resurrection life

there is promise of life in the new heaven and the new earth

when everything is made new even us

so as we finish why does the resurrection give hope

it gives hope because one

our great enemy has been defeated

C.S. Lewis in his book Miracles said this

Jesus has forced open a door that has been locked

since the death of the first man

he has met, fought and beaten the king of death

everything is different because he has done so

this is the beginning of the new creation

the resurrection gives hope too because God's purpose has been fulfilled

John in a few verses after writes this

these things that he has written and recorded are written

that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ

God's chosen anointed saviour

the son of God

and that by believing you may have life in his name

believing in the risen Lord Jesus is the pathway to eternal life

is the demonstration that God's saving plan has been fulfilled

and you can be part of that by trusting in Jesus

and the resurrection also gives hope

because it says to us God is with us

and with us always

if you feel today

hope dying

trust in Jesus

if you are facing fear

and struggling with loneliness

then understand that by faith in Christ

though you are lonely you are never alone

what hope is there for a suffering world

there is hope in the resurrection

that Jesus the son of God

he has entered into our broken world

he's entered into our suffering

he's gone into death itself

and he's come through the other side

promising that where he goes

his people will follow

perfect love and love and life and joy

and will be ours so trust in him today

make him your living hope

he will not disappoint

and now we're going to sing another couple of songs

continuing the theme of hope because of the resurrection

first of all we're going to sing from Psalm 16

and then we're going to sing the power of the cross

and again we're very grateful to Cailin for leading us in this

the Lord my God

I'll praise the Lord my God

whose counsel guides my choice

and even in the night my heart recalls instructions voice

before me

I'll praise the Lord my God

I'll praise the Lord my God

whose counsel guides my choice

and even in the night my heart recalls instructions voice

before me constantly

I set the Lord alone

because he is at my right hand

I'll not be overthrown

therefore my heart is glad

my tongue with joy will sing

my body too will rest secure

in hope unwavering

for you will not allow

my soul in death to stay

nor will you leave your Holy One

to see the tombs decay

you have made known to me

the path of life divine

bliss shall I know at your right hand

joy from your face will shine

the Lord my God

O to see the dawn of the darkest day

Christ on the road to Calvary

by sinful men

torn and beaten then

nailed to a cross of wood

this the power of the cross

This the power of the cross

Christ became sin for us

To the blame

O'er the wrath we stand forgiven at the cross

O to see the pain written on your face

Bearing the awesome weight of sin

Every bitter thought

Every evil deed

Crowning your blood-stained brow

This the power of the cross

Christ became sin for us

Took the blame

Bore the wrath

We stand forgiven at the cross

Now the daylight flees

Now the ground beneath

Quakes as its maker

Bows his head

Curtain torn in two

Dead are raised to life

Finish the victory cry

This the power of the cross

Christ became sin for us

Took the blame

Bore the wrath

We stand forgiven at the cross

Oh to see my name

Written in the wood

For through your suffering

I am free

Death is crushed to death

Life is mine to live

One through your selfless love

This the power of the cross

Son of God

Slave for us

What a love

What a cost

We stand forgiven at the cross

What a love

What a cost

We stand forgiven at the cross

Now let me close in prayer

May the grace

Of the Lord Jesus Christ

And the love of God

And the fellowship of the Holy Spirit

Be with us all

Amen

May God bless you

Bless you richly this Easter Sunday

to do