#Easter Sunday 2023

Here we are, it's Easter Sunday, we had a wonderful time on Good

Friday, I'm terrible with numbers but I think there was

maybe 90 maybe 90 people here, as we spend an hour, just

meditating and thinking through the reality, the historical

Reality, by the way, you know, it's documented outside of the

Bible, Jesus is life of what he did on the cross for us, but

it's always good. Is it not to come on a Sunday

and celebrate the coming out of the other end?

End of that where Jesus rose again and you know it is

traditional for us all to say something wanted to study if

that would have it on the screen now.

There's pop this up. Let's try that again.

It sees the 20:23, right? I'll tell you what it is and

then we can figure out getting the slide up and I say,

hallelujah Christ is risen You say you don't need a slide.

You know what you're doing. Exactly.

That's what we do. So who's up for doing that

right? Okay, I'll start then.

Alleluia Christ is risen. Bro.

That was good, but it wasn't great.

I don't need to feel condemned, but, you know, I'm sure you've

got more in your lungs, so we can do that one more time.

Plus, I want to make sure we use this slide.

Are you ready? I don't know.

Your Christ is risen. Hallelujah.

Thank you Lord. Oh, so good.

Now, why is it so important for us to celebrate?

The fact that Christ is risen because that is the good news of

East amina's. Paul, the Apostle Paul said, if

Jesus has a risen from the dead, we might as well go home.

I mean, clearly there's a paraphrase, but the point is, we

wouldn't be here. If the fact was, you know, Jesus

was a good man and a good teacher.

And he died on the cross and that was it.

What would we would be ridiculous if we came here every

Sunday and through the week celebrating Jesus, wouldn't we?

But the reality is that he rose again and that is the good news,

you see? Because death could not hold him

and wait for the punchline. It means, death can't hold you.

You see, that's the mind-blowing.

Amazing thing about Jesus is that the, the resurrection

power, the rose Jesus from the dead is the same resurrection

power that lives within us. Those that say yes to Jesus.

And that is the good news. You see when we think about

Easter. Of course, we think about the

universal consequences of what Jesus did on the cross.

But did you know that Easter is a personal invitation to New

Life? And often times when we

celebrate Easter, we can forget that personal invitation And

that is what we want. I want to look at in the brief

time that we have today. Together is the personal

invitation. Now, as I said, Jesus died on

the cross and he rose a day gain as a fact.

But why did he do that? Have you ever wondered Have you

ever asked the question? Why on Earth did Jesus go

through all that for me? Well, a very famous verse, which

I'm sure, you know, John 3:16 Says this for God.

John 3:16

So loved the world that he sent his only son, that whoever

should believeth in him will not perish but have see that's it.

The same power that was in Christ to raise him from the

dead is the same power. That is in those who believe in

Jesus, that will raise us to New Life.

You see, death is not the end, it's the entrance into eternity

with him. That is the good news.

And as I said, you know, there is a personal invitation and I

love reading these two story. We going to do that together,

and what I'd like to do from this as I'm going to just

briefly pick out four or so thoughts.

Around the notion of this personal invitation Easter.

So if you have your Bibles, why do you turn with me to John

John 20:1–18

chapter 20 verses 1 to 18 is going to be on the screen?

And if you're a home, welcome by the way, it's great to see you.

It's going to be on your devices as well.

Let's read the resurrection story together on this

Resurrection Sunday. Now, on the first day of the

week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early while it was still

dark and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple,

the one whom Jesus loved. That is Apostle, John and said

to them, they have taken the Lord out of the Tomb and we do

not know where they have laid him.

So, Peter went out with the other disciple and there were

going toward the tomb, both of them were running together.

But the other disciple, outran, Peter, and reached the tomb,

first and stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying

there but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came following

him and also went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloth lying

there. And the face cloth which had

been on Jesus head not lying with the linen cloths, but

folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had

reached the tomb, first also then went in and he saw and

believed for as they did not understand the scripture that he

must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to

their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside

the tomb. And as she wept, she stooped to

look into the tomb and she saw two angels in white sitting,

where the body of Jesus had Lain, one of the head and one at

the feet. they said to her woman, why are you weeping?

She said to them. They have taken away my Lord,

and I do not know where they have laid him.

Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing,

but she did not know that. It was Jesus.

Jesus said to her woman. Why are you weeping?

Whom are you seeking? Supposing him to be the gardener

she said to him, sir, if you have carried him away, tell me

where you have laid him and I will take him away.

Jesus said to her, Mary. she turned and said to him in

Aramaic rabboni which means teacher Jesus said to her do not

cling to me for I have not yet ascended to the father, but go

to my brothers and say to them, I am ascending to my father and

your father to my God and your God.

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples.

I have seen the Lord. And that he had said these

things to her, what an amazing account you can just imagine

that moment and I've been to their Garden in Israel.

I've been to the tomb. I've been to the Garden of

Gethsemane. What a place it is.

And as I said to you, what I want to do this morning in the

brief time that we have together is as I want to Zone in on this

story and look at four aspects of this story that speak to a

personal invitation to each one of us.

There are many more by the way, but we do not have the time to

do. So let me just start with the

first one. I find it interesting that Mary

went to the tomb but Jesus was not found in the Tomb.

He was found where Mary was at in the garden.

You see this in what I love about this story is the

invitation that we can meet Jesus wherever we are at.

We don't have to go to a place to find the Risen Lord.

You know, Mary where was she at? Well, I mean she was full of

fear for the despair. I mean you can just imagine

right, the pain. I mean, you, we read about the

two disciples Russian in. Where is Jesus has disappeared.

What's going on? They would have been fearful

full of Despair and you see him was in that place.

The Jesus found her And why is this interesting for us this

Easter? Because I think for many of us

and you don't need to put your hands up for this but who

identifies with Mary We are a Mary.

We haven't got it sorted. We might be full of Despair.

We might be full of fear. We might be anxious about the

future. We might be confused about the

presents. But you see just that like Mary

in that place, Jesus finds us in that place, we don't have to go

looking for him in an empty too. And you know, let's think about

that too. Let's just extend this metaphor

slightly if you would bear with me.

What are those metaphorical tombs that we go and try and

find Jesus? Or maybe you're not even find

going to find Jesus. You're just trying to find

someone that's going to save you from this.

Maybe your metaphorical tomb is religious activity.

Devoid of any Devotion to Jesus and just tradition.

Maybe you think that's going to save you, but you discover, it's

just an empty too. Maybe your empty too.

Is alcohol. Self-medicating to make the pain

go away. Maybe that's your place where

you think you'll find your savior, maybe it's in your bank

balance that you feel safe. When the bank balance is full,

you feel safe for the future. I mean these are all real

metaphorical tombs. Are they places that we go to

look for a savior? Maybe yours is spiritualism.

Maybe you're operating under the lie and I hand him my heart on

this but Not always lead to God. Jesus said, I am the way the

truth and the life, he who comes through me, Well, access the

father. So maybe your tomb.

Is this notion that it doesn't matter about who I worship as

long as it's? Some kind of God.

I'd be saved. I'm sorry.

That's not right. You can't say that.

I can, I show my pastor of a church.

I have to, I preached the word, I know we don't like to think of

Truth is absolute in this culture today.

Truth is a very subjective thing, but I gotta be honest

with you, you want some objective, some truth.

It's in the Bible, and Jesus is the only way.

And so, what I want to say to you this morning is that we are

a bit like, Mary, we go to our empty tombs and we tried to find

someone that will save us. But what I love about this is

that she didn't find Jesus there, Jesus found Mary where

she was at However you feel this Easter time, whatever you've

done, whatever you've said Jesus is there to meet you and find

you where you're at. Listen, you don't need to

smarten up, you don't need to straighten up, you just need to

look up. Christianity is not a religion

about performance and works. If you are here and you and

you're wondering what on Earth is Christianity thing is about,

let me just give you something here.

Every other religion will tell you that.

If you can act good and add better, then you will attain

some kind of Godlike position and then you'll be saved.

Did you know? Christianity is the only

religion that says the otherwise, You don't need to be

good to be save, you don't need to be great, you don't need to

perform, you just need to believe in Jesus because he did

it all for us on the cross. That is the truth of the gospel.

And when you fully comprehend that truth, there's a freedom in

that it's a freedom that you can turn up here and be your real

self and say, you know what, I am struggling.

Actually life sucks. And so, Mary was in that broken

place and yet Jesus went and found her.

And I want to say to you this morning, if you were here and

you still like a merry and you fit, you feel like I've got a

shaping up. I got to straighten up.

I've got a smarten up, otherwise, Jesus won't accept

me. I want to tell you, that's just

a lie. You just come as you.

Are you come as you are now. I'm not going to minimize good

works. I'm not going to say that we

should meet Jesus and then be Rogues.

What is in that place of relationship with Jesus that the

works. Come because works are a fruit.

They're not manufactured, they come from when we abide in

Christ. And then the fruit comes in last

week, we looked at that. We looked at what Holiness is,

and if you miss that, you can catch up online on YouTube.

If you're watching on YouTube, hit that subscribe button and

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When new content release bang said it.

I love doing that is great. Thank you very much for your

courage want Melanie. I told you four things so in the

interest of time I'd better speed up number two.

What else do we learn on this story?

Jesus seeks out the outcast. Now in I know you know this but

I'm Not Jesus. however, if I were I wouldn't have done what

Jesus did in the story. Bear with me on this one.

I'm not about to land in some heresy, I'm just going to

process for us. If I was Jesus, I'd be risen

again and go, right? Let me get my list out.

Who am I going to say? I told you.

So first, well Pilots going to be one of them.

And those Pharisees. They've got to come into them.

Any kings around. I mean, you know, think about

it. He just risen from the dead and

yet, who is the first person that he sees?

Mary. a woman and in those days, The woman wasn't in the center

of things and not any other woman Mary Magdalene who had

seven demons. Released out of her.

And yet Jesus went to her first. You know, Jesus said it before,

didn't he said, I've come for the sick.

I've come for those that know. They need a doctor.

Haven't come for those. I think they don't need me.

I've come for those that are seeking.

I've come for those that are hurt.

I've come for those that are broken and that's the good news

of this gospel. You might be sitting here right

now. So, mark, would you please stop

talking. You don't know how angry I am?

You haven't got a clue on a tell, you the God's come for you

too. It's come for you too and you

see in this story that personal invitation is the Jesus sought

out the Mary. He didn't seek out the King's

first, and I think that's something so beautiful.

The speaks to the heart and the love of Jesus.

Number three. What else we read in this story?

What's fascinating about this story is that g Mary didn't

realize, it was Jesus until a particular moment.

What was that moment? So, is this?

Thank you, Vanessa and Jesus said her name.

Rabbi. It's you.

Do you know that Jesus is speaking each one of our names?

Papa Alex, Stephanie Yasmin Mill, Andrea brendam.

Chris he is speaking our names. The question is not, is he

seeking me in and saying my name?

The question is, are we choosing to listen?

What does that mean? Listen Mark well maybe you're

here right now in your heart's beating really fast.

You know, thinking, man, something's going on here.

There's something. There must be some something

going on. Or maybe you've had situations

where you've had, what feels like a flutter of awareness that

there must be a God. Can I suggest to you?

That in that moment, Jesus is Whispering at you and we have a

choice to make in that moment. Am I going to press in?

And listen, while say now, there ain't no good.

It's a whole load of baloney. or if there was a good X, Y and Z

wouldn't happen or if there was a god, this that and the other

But you see Jesus, you know you're says in the Bible that he

knows the very number of hairs on our head. it says in the

scriptures that he, We are fearfully and wonderfully made.

It says in the scriptures that we Are knitted together in our

mother's womb. Listen, this is a God who is

personal intimate. He didn't choose to save us for

Easter. Isn't a celebration story of a

giant laser beam that came from heaven and buzzed us.

All if I was God, this is twice. I've said this now I really got

to be careful. I want to be like I'm not going

to come down as a human, you know, and like empty myself of

And then and then going across well I'm not going to do that

for them but no Jesus. Did he came?

He identified with us. That's a God who loves each one

of you and I want to say this morning to you, Jesus is

speaking your name. Are you going to choose to live?

Listen. And I said four.

And this is the last one. Jesus will exchange your

emptiness with his Joy. We read the Mary.

I was feeling for the despair. She was obviously empty confused

and yet she left rejoicing. It says in Isaiah 61 3.

God will provide for those who grieve to bestow on them.

A crown of beauty instead of Ashes, the oil of Joy instead of

mourning, and a Garment of Praise instead of a spirit of

despair. Now, this first dozens, say that

all of the trials and troubles that we Face will disappear,

does it? It says that in spite of the

trials and the troubles that we may experience in that we can

experience a peace and a joy, I say a frequently but it's the

same kind of peace that Jesus experienced when he was in the

boat with the disciples remembering the storm broke and

Jesus is sleeping in there. Like hey there's a storm And

you're sleeping. That's the promise.

The through the storms of life, I'm not say life is easy and we

see God breakthrough, we see healings, we do see the Lord

breakthrough in many ways. Why?

Because what we call them here and they're not yet of the

kingdom when Jesus came. And as we celebrate this Easter,

when he said, it is finished. It meant the, his kingdom was

inaugurated. It's a bit like the diffe,

things to distinction between, D-Day and vido.

Windy day happen in WWII. That was it.

There was only one direction the wall was going to Victory, but

there came a period of time before.

It was consummated before it finished on vide, and that

period of time is the same period that we are in right now.

The here and the not year of God's Kingdom.

When he finished he said it is finished on the cross.

That was when the kingdom of God was inaugurated.

That was the D-Day. It was only going to go One

Direction. And yet we wait for Christ's

return when he will come again and he will establish his

kingdom in full. And so we are in that period now

but in that period of his grace we can experience joy, we can

experience peace in spite of all we go through and that is the

promise Psalm 35. Five says this weeping may stay

for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.

That is the promise, and I know speaking to many of you, it is

such a privilege being a pastor to pray with many of you to

speak with many of you. I know that that scripture there

is your testimony that there whilst there was weeping Joy

came, but equally there's another part of this verse, you

see, for those who believe in Jesus Christ and that put that

faith in the saving Act of Jesus on the cross.

We will be risen again in glory with Him that is the point of

Easter. We are reminded of the great

love of our father, like to invite the bander and the

passion of Our Savior, Jesus New Life In Jesus can be ours and

heaven-bound can be our final destination.

And organize your question this morning, what does that new life

look like for you? It looks like peace with the

father relationship with a God who loves us.

And so, let me ask you this question.

Do you know this Easter time where you are bound for Are you

going to just celebrate Easter with chocolates and I'm not

putting a down or a Choppers. I'm a big fan.

I have to hold myself back quite frankly.

But if your Easter just revolves around Shockers, there may I

suggest to you that you've missed the point of it.

You see Easter is an invitation for you to say, will you accept

the love of God and the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross?

Because let me tell you, that is going to be the most important

decision you've ever made in your life.

That will have eternal consequences for God.

So loved the world that He Sent His only begotten son, that

whoever shall believeth in him will not perish.

And have eternal life with him. Can we just add as I pray?