Sermon Illustrations for Easter Sunday (2014)
Illustration
Object:
Acts 10:34-43
This was a shocking message to the Jews, especially the Pharisees who hated all Gentile outsiders. It was assumed that only the "children of Abraham" were saved. But then we learn that all the people in the world can be Abraham's children if we have faith like he did. It included not only white, but also black and yellow and red no matter how they looked on the outside. As long as they "feared" him and did what was right. Only Satan is racist.
By "fear," we don't mean that we should be afraid of God. It means that we should fear hurting him. I feared my parents if I did something to hurt their feelings -- something I knew they didn't want me to do. I obeyed them because I loved them and knew that they loved me.
It started with John's baptism when Jesus' ministry began. John was preparing the people for the coming of the Lord of all. At last they could find peace in Jesus. The proof was in all he did, especially healing the sick out of compassion and throwing out Satan when he was attacking anyone. It showed that he cared about people. He demonstrated it by what he did for them.
The disciples witnessed all his miracles and could tell about them. It is worthwhile to mention that the miracles didn't stop at Jesus' resurrection and ascension. They went on for many years after that, and Jesus is even using us to heal people today to show his love. Notice that Jesus did not wave his hand and heal all the sick. He didn't open a clinic for healing. He didn't organize a Jesuscare program so that all the people rich and poor could be healed. He still answers prayers for healing today. I have been to a meeting in Minneapolis where there were thousands of Lutherans healed in Jesus' name. I heard their stories. I was also healed years before.
You don't have to be healed to be saved! It is a gift for some, and we will never know why some are healed and not others, because he loves all his people! The Bible says, "He will show mercy on whom he will show mercy!" Don't try to figure out God. Just obey and believe in him and what he has done for us. Through his love he also called doctors and nurses to serve as his healing agents. Just believe.
Jesus did something even more important than healing our bodies. He forgave our sin, so we could come home with him for all eternity. As he said, one of the reasons he healed was to prove that he had the power to forgive sin. Eternity is more important than just the present emergency. So just believe in him.
Bob O.
Colossians 3:1-4
Too often the impact of Easter does not register in our lives. Famed Reformed theologian Karl Barth has written on this subject: "... what really oppresses the world and us in spite of the Easter event, or rather in light of a true appreciation of it, is not really a lack or failure or absence of its efficacy but simply the fact that this is not evident to us, and therefore its apparent absence... what confuses us, but ought not to do so, is the fact that in the Easter even we have to do only with a commencement of the revelation of reconciliation and its fruit" (Church Dogmatics, Vol. IV/3, pp. 317-318).
A 2013 Gallup poll indicates that more than 3 in 4 Americans regard the church's influence on America as in decline.
Despite the incompetence of Christians, our weak faith and inability to make much impact on society, Easter is the good news that God will still prevail and use them to make a difference. Martin Luther thoughtfully makes this point: "Outwardly Christians stumble and fall from time to time. Only weakness and shame appear on the surface, revealing that the Christians are sinners who do that which displeases the world. Then they are regarded as fools, as Cinderellas, as footmats for the world, as damned, impotent, and worthless people. But this does not matter. In their weakness, sin, folly, and frailty there abides inwardly and secretly a force and power unrecognizable by the world and hidden from its view, but on which for all that carries off the victory; for Christ resides in them and manifests himself to them" (Luther's Works, Vol. 23, p. 146).
Yet Easter makes a difference, equips us to serve God, gives us new possibilities and a fresh start. Eminent New Testament scholar Rudolf Bultmann helpfully provides this Easter insight: "Faith includes free and complete openness to the future... it is freedom from anxiety in the face of the nothing. For this freedom nobody can decide of his own will; it can only be given in faith... it is freedom from the enslaving chains of the past. It is freedom from ourselves as the old selves, and for ourselves as the new selves" (Jesus Christ and Mythology, pp. 77-78).
Mark E.
Colossians 3:1-4
Two young men were making fun of the Christian idea of resurrection from the dead, saying that it was impossible for them to believe that Jesus rose after the crucifixion. A minister at a church down the street from where they lived passed by as they were talking. One of the men called out and in sarcasm asked, "Say, Preacher, tell us why you believe that Jesus rose from the dead!"
His reply: "Well, one reason is that I was talking with him for about a half an hour just a little while ago."
One of the proofs of his resurrection is his presence in our lives.
Derl K.
Colossians 3:1-4
Envy is also determined by "proximity." This hypothesis was put forth by David Hume, the 18th-century Scottish philosopher, in his book A Treatise of Human Nature. We are not envious of individuals whose names are posted on marquees or who are reported on in Forbes magazine, since their status and wealth is beyond our comprehension and ability to obtain. We are envious of those who inhabit our peer group; whose success we feel was deservedly ours instead.
Application: Comparing ourselves with others is what happens when we set our minds on things of the earth.
Ron L.
John 20:1-18
As the whole account of the resurrection seems to indicate, no one, family or disciples, seemed to have believed Jesus when he spoke of his resurrection. Would it make sense to us today? They all heard his prophetic words -- many quoted from the Old Testament. It is always hard to believe prophecies. Few believed them in the entire Bible. Maybe they were poetic and not to be understood literally.
In the Old Testament some were killed because of their prophecies some of which were not fulfilled until years and maybe even decades or a millennium later. It is hard to sort through all the "prophecies" we see offered in Bible bookstores today.
Easter started as the saddest day for Mary and the other disciples who were preparing for the traditional burial practices to be performed.
The empty tomb was not received with joy at first. They thought it might have just been that someone carried away the body. Mary's first thought was to let the disciples know. Let them do the investigating! So Peter and probably John (he did not mention his name in his gospel) ran to check it all out. They were puzzled to see the graveclothes carefully folded. God does things neatly. They failed to understand and left again after their investigation, leaving Mary alone.
It says they believed her, but it is not certain whether they believed in the resurrection or just in the message that Mary gave them that the body was gone. They still didn't understand the scriptures that foretold the resurrection, even when they saw the empty tomb. I'm not sure we would have done any better!
Obviously Mary did not immediately accept the resurrection, because the text says she stood outside crying instead of shouting for joy. When she looked in again she saw two angels who asked her why she was crying. So she asked who took the body and where it was.
The moment of shock comes when she hears Jesus' voice calling her name. She shouts out rabboni, which is the highest and most honorable title. She must have rushed over to him and tried to hug him, but he stopped her and told her it was not right as he had not gone home to heaven yet. First he had to return to the Father. It is a question why he allowed Thomas to touch him shortly after that. We can only speculate whether he had gone "home" and come back.
This time when Mary rushes to report to the disciples it is with joy, the joy that should be in all our hearts this Easter day. Joy should come before understanding. That will start to come later as we begin to see God's plan for humankind. If you have a problem like they did, ask God to give you his Spirit and then you will find peace in believing.
Bob O.
This was a shocking message to the Jews, especially the Pharisees who hated all Gentile outsiders. It was assumed that only the "children of Abraham" were saved. But then we learn that all the people in the world can be Abraham's children if we have faith like he did. It included not only white, but also black and yellow and red no matter how they looked on the outside. As long as they "feared" him and did what was right. Only Satan is racist.
By "fear," we don't mean that we should be afraid of God. It means that we should fear hurting him. I feared my parents if I did something to hurt their feelings -- something I knew they didn't want me to do. I obeyed them because I loved them and knew that they loved me.
It started with John's baptism when Jesus' ministry began. John was preparing the people for the coming of the Lord of all. At last they could find peace in Jesus. The proof was in all he did, especially healing the sick out of compassion and throwing out Satan when he was attacking anyone. It showed that he cared about people. He demonstrated it by what he did for them.
The disciples witnessed all his miracles and could tell about them. It is worthwhile to mention that the miracles didn't stop at Jesus' resurrection and ascension. They went on for many years after that, and Jesus is even using us to heal people today to show his love. Notice that Jesus did not wave his hand and heal all the sick. He didn't open a clinic for healing. He didn't organize a Jesuscare program so that all the people rich and poor could be healed. He still answers prayers for healing today. I have been to a meeting in Minneapolis where there were thousands of Lutherans healed in Jesus' name. I heard their stories. I was also healed years before.
You don't have to be healed to be saved! It is a gift for some, and we will never know why some are healed and not others, because he loves all his people! The Bible says, "He will show mercy on whom he will show mercy!" Don't try to figure out God. Just obey and believe in him and what he has done for us. Through his love he also called doctors and nurses to serve as his healing agents. Just believe.
Jesus did something even more important than healing our bodies. He forgave our sin, so we could come home with him for all eternity. As he said, one of the reasons he healed was to prove that he had the power to forgive sin. Eternity is more important than just the present emergency. So just believe in him.
Bob O.
Colossians 3:1-4
Too often the impact of Easter does not register in our lives. Famed Reformed theologian Karl Barth has written on this subject: "... what really oppresses the world and us in spite of the Easter event, or rather in light of a true appreciation of it, is not really a lack or failure or absence of its efficacy but simply the fact that this is not evident to us, and therefore its apparent absence... what confuses us, but ought not to do so, is the fact that in the Easter even we have to do only with a commencement of the revelation of reconciliation and its fruit" (Church Dogmatics, Vol. IV/3, pp. 317-318).
A 2013 Gallup poll indicates that more than 3 in 4 Americans regard the church's influence on America as in decline.
Despite the incompetence of Christians, our weak faith and inability to make much impact on society, Easter is the good news that God will still prevail and use them to make a difference. Martin Luther thoughtfully makes this point: "Outwardly Christians stumble and fall from time to time. Only weakness and shame appear on the surface, revealing that the Christians are sinners who do that which displeases the world. Then they are regarded as fools, as Cinderellas, as footmats for the world, as damned, impotent, and worthless people. But this does not matter. In their weakness, sin, folly, and frailty there abides inwardly and secretly a force and power unrecognizable by the world and hidden from its view, but on which for all that carries off the victory; for Christ resides in them and manifests himself to them" (Luther's Works, Vol. 23, p. 146).
Yet Easter makes a difference, equips us to serve God, gives us new possibilities and a fresh start. Eminent New Testament scholar Rudolf Bultmann helpfully provides this Easter insight: "Faith includes free and complete openness to the future... it is freedom from anxiety in the face of the nothing. For this freedom nobody can decide of his own will; it can only be given in faith... it is freedom from the enslaving chains of the past. It is freedom from ourselves as the old selves, and for ourselves as the new selves" (Jesus Christ and Mythology, pp. 77-78).
Mark E.
Colossians 3:1-4
Two young men were making fun of the Christian idea of resurrection from the dead, saying that it was impossible for them to believe that Jesus rose after the crucifixion. A minister at a church down the street from where they lived passed by as they were talking. One of the men called out and in sarcasm asked, "Say, Preacher, tell us why you believe that Jesus rose from the dead!"
His reply: "Well, one reason is that I was talking with him for about a half an hour just a little while ago."
One of the proofs of his resurrection is his presence in our lives.
Derl K.
Colossians 3:1-4
Envy is also determined by "proximity." This hypothesis was put forth by David Hume, the 18th-century Scottish philosopher, in his book A Treatise of Human Nature. We are not envious of individuals whose names are posted on marquees or who are reported on in Forbes magazine, since their status and wealth is beyond our comprehension and ability to obtain. We are envious of those who inhabit our peer group; whose success we feel was deservedly ours instead.
Application: Comparing ourselves with others is what happens when we set our minds on things of the earth.
Ron L.
John 20:1-18
As the whole account of the resurrection seems to indicate, no one, family or disciples, seemed to have believed Jesus when he spoke of his resurrection. Would it make sense to us today? They all heard his prophetic words -- many quoted from the Old Testament. It is always hard to believe prophecies. Few believed them in the entire Bible. Maybe they were poetic and not to be understood literally.
In the Old Testament some were killed because of their prophecies some of which were not fulfilled until years and maybe even decades or a millennium later. It is hard to sort through all the "prophecies" we see offered in Bible bookstores today.
Easter started as the saddest day for Mary and the other disciples who were preparing for the traditional burial practices to be performed.
The empty tomb was not received with joy at first. They thought it might have just been that someone carried away the body. Mary's first thought was to let the disciples know. Let them do the investigating! So Peter and probably John (he did not mention his name in his gospel) ran to check it all out. They were puzzled to see the graveclothes carefully folded. God does things neatly. They failed to understand and left again after their investigation, leaving Mary alone.
It says they believed her, but it is not certain whether they believed in the resurrection or just in the message that Mary gave them that the body was gone. They still didn't understand the scriptures that foretold the resurrection, even when they saw the empty tomb. I'm not sure we would have done any better!
Obviously Mary did not immediately accept the resurrection, because the text says she stood outside crying instead of shouting for joy. When she looked in again she saw two angels who asked her why she was crying. So she asked who took the body and where it was.
The moment of shock comes when she hears Jesus' voice calling her name. She shouts out rabboni, which is the highest and most honorable title. She must have rushed over to him and tried to hug him, but he stopped her and told her it was not right as he had not gone home to heaven yet. First he had to return to the Father. It is a question why he allowed Thomas to touch him shortly after that. We can only speculate whether he had gone "home" and come back.
This time when Mary rushes to report to the disciples it is with joy, the joy that should be in all our hearts this Easter day. Joy should come before understanding. That will start to come later as we begin to see God's plan for humankind. If you have a problem like they did, ask God to give you his Spirit and then you will find peace in believing.
Bob O.
