Life In His Name
Sermon
THE VICTORY OF FAITH
New Testament Sermons For Lent And Easter
In 1922, a marvelous treasure was unearthed in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. The tomb of King Tut, a nineteen-year-old pharaoh, was discovered. He lived 1,300 years before Jesus. One of the valued artifacts that was brought out of this ancient tomb was the figure of "The King upon a Leopard." The leopard was black, the shade of death. The pharaoh was clothed in bright, gilded color, riding regally upon the leopard's back. This figure of "The King upon a Leopard" symbolized the belief that King Tut would traverse the darkness of death, emerging into the brightness of a new day. Oil lamps and candles filled the tomb, which was dark as death. These lamps and candles would provide a light for King Tut to see his way through the darkness. There were other treasures also surrounding the mummified remains of the Egyptian monarch, treasures which would assist him on his journey. Of course, King Tut remains mummified, dead as darkness, and his candles are still waiting to be lit.
What a contrast to the simplicity of Jesus' tomb, in which only the folded grave clothes were found. Jesus, of course, was not there. He had risen. The darkness did not hold him captive until some archaeologist unearthed him. God the Father unearthed Jesus on the third day, raising him to glory because of his obedience unto death, even death on the cross. The scripture had been fulfilled where it was written, "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you."
The ancient Egyptians longed for light in the darkness, life after death. Christ Jesus is the light in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome him. Christ Jesus is the life after death and death is swallowed up in victory. We can parade before the many treasures of King Tut's tomb and look upon his mummified remains. But, before Jesus Christ we can only bow down and worship him, for he is the living one, alive forever -- in his person, the very treasure of his empty tomb.
It is the Easter season of the church year. It is the season to rejoice in the light that has come and shined in the darkness of our world. Sin and death no longer have the upper hand in our lives. We do sin, yes; we will die, yes. But, Christ has conquered sin and death through his death and resurrection. We are now free to live in the power of that victory -- to live over against our own sins, to live over against our own death.
The fifty days after Easter, which make up the Easter season of the church year, are designed to help us rejoice in the resurrection. If Lent focuses our attention to the cross of Christ, Easter focuses our attention from his empty tomb. Jesus died, yes; but, he is risen. Yes, indeed! "Do not be afraid," Jesus says. "I am the first and the last ƒ I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever."
What difference does that make? That is a good question with which to come to terms personally. What difference does the resurrection of Jesus Christ make in your life today?
You can have joy in your life. That is the first difference the resurrection of Jesus Christ can make in your life today.
When Jesus says, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing," you can rest assured that those sins are indeed forgiven. Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins. His resurrection is God's approval that he paid the price in full.
The resurrection confirms that when Jesus said, "It is finished," he was right. It is finished. He had accomplished all that he was sent to do -- to lay down his life for the world. Paul writes, "In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself." When Jesus says, "It is finished," he means that the reconciliation is complete. You and I, who had been enemies with God, are now made friends with God through Jesus Christ. It is finished. The battle is over. God has won. You and I are captured by the love of God and made friends with God, because God wants us to be his own.
This brings joy into life. Our sins are forgiven by the grace of God. Our death is overcome and will not separate us from the love of God. That is good news that puts bounce into every step and a smile on every face for those who hear it and believe it. In the words of Paul, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice." You can have joy in your life because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
You can have meaning in your life. That is a second difference the resurrection of Jesus Christ can make in your life today. Does it really matter that you are alive?
When we become depressed, we think not. When we let the dark news of our world fill our minds and hearts, we think not. When we look to our own death and see only our mummified remains, we think not. BUT, the news of the day is that Jesus is risen! So, YES! It really does matter that you are alive. For Jesus came to seek and to save YOU. You are precious in his sight. Like the children's song expresses it, "Red and yellow, black and white, all are precious in his sight.ƒ"
There is meaning in your life because God created you and God does not make junk! There is meaning in your life because Christ died for you. He calls you friend; and greater love than this has no one, that he lay down his life for his friend.
So often one can hear it said by people who have had a scrape with death, "There must be a reason for me to still be here." Yes, indeed! There is a reason for all of us to be here. We have a life to live! God gave us that life. God means for us to live it. The meaning for life is to be and to become, to live and to grow. Death does not have the final word. The God of Life does! Death cannot strip away the meaning of your life, as if at best you are just a cipher in the snow. No! Jesus is risen and he is the Lord of Life. Your life means the world to God, as the psalmist says, "Guard me as the apple of the eye." Your life is graciously held in the palm of God's victorious right hand, and he will not let go of you.
You can have something to say with your life. That is the third difference the resurrection of Jesus Christ can make in your life today. The apostles were arrested by the religious leaders and thrown into the public prison. That would be like the county jail. But, these human cells could not hold them. God freed them again and again with this message, "Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life."
The apostles had something to say with their lives. They were to tell others about Jesus Christ. So, obedient to their instructions, "they entered the temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching."
Through their lives -- their words and their actions -- the apostles told others about Jesus Christ. They were witnesses. Sometimes they were thrown in jail for this. Sometimes they were stoned for this. Sometimes they were beheaded for this. But, these things did not stop them. They had something to say. The resurrection of Jesus Christ compelled them to say it, whatever the costs to their personal comfort or safety. If Jesus is raised from the dead, there could be no more important news in the world to share!
We think the news is important. There are entire channels on television devoted to reporting the news. Radio carries news on the hour. When a story breaks, especially one of international proportions, it is common to interrupt other broadcasting to share the up-to-the-minute details. It is a rare person who will not talk about the latest happenings in the news and share opinions about them.
The greatest news flash the world has ever heard is this: "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen." Here is something worth talking about, sharing with family and friends and neighbors and strangers. Death is swallowed up in victory. God rules! Jesus is Lord!
How are you saying that with your life? How are your words and deeds shaped by that truth? How are others hearing that message of Christ's resurrection from your life? You have something to say with your life now! Jesus is risen! Say it loud and clear, so that when people see you or think of you or talk about you, they see Jesus, they think about Jesus, they talk about Jesus. You will come and go in their lives. Jesus will remain forever. Give them Jesus, the priceless treasure for all time and eternity.
Parents, teach your children how to pray to Jesus and walk with Jesus each day of their little lives. Sunday School teachers and Confirmation teachers, teach your students more about Jesus so they may grow closer to him. Husbands and wives, teach each other how to love out of the power of Jesus' love for you both. Workers, teach your bosses and co-workers and those who work under you that your work is an offering to the living God, as you do it well. Friends, teach each other that because Jesus is risen from the dead, he can bond you together through all differences and hardships.
Jesus said to his disciples, "You shall be my witnesses." In the words of the Nike commercial, just do it! You have something to say with your life. That something is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
You can have joy in your life. You can have meaning in your life. You can have something to say with your life. That is the power of the resurrection, which cannot wait until the end of time to make a difference in your life. It begins today, as you have faith. This is eternal life, present as well as future. Amen.
What a contrast to the simplicity of Jesus' tomb, in which only the folded grave clothes were found. Jesus, of course, was not there. He had risen. The darkness did not hold him captive until some archaeologist unearthed him. God the Father unearthed Jesus on the third day, raising him to glory because of his obedience unto death, even death on the cross. The scripture had been fulfilled where it was written, "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you."
The ancient Egyptians longed for light in the darkness, life after death. Christ Jesus is the light in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome him. Christ Jesus is the life after death and death is swallowed up in victory. We can parade before the many treasures of King Tut's tomb and look upon his mummified remains. But, before Jesus Christ we can only bow down and worship him, for he is the living one, alive forever -- in his person, the very treasure of his empty tomb.
It is the Easter season of the church year. It is the season to rejoice in the light that has come and shined in the darkness of our world. Sin and death no longer have the upper hand in our lives. We do sin, yes; we will die, yes. But, Christ has conquered sin and death through his death and resurrection. We are now free to live in the power of that victory -- to live over against our own sins, to live over against our own death.
The fifty days after Easter, which make up the Easter season of the church year, are designed to help us rejoice in the resurrection. If Lent focuses our attention to the cross of Christ, Easter focuses our attention from his empty tomb. Jesus died, yes; but, he is risen. Yes, indeed! "Do not be afraid," Jesus says. "I am the first and the last ƒ I was dead, and see, I am alive forever and ever."
What difference does that make? That is a good question with which to come to terms personally. What difference does the resurrection of Jesus Christ make in your life today?
You can have joy in your life. That is the first difference the resurrection of Jesus Christ can make in your life today.
When Jesus says, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing," you can rest assured that those sins are indeed forgiven. Jesus died on the cross to pay for your sins. His resurrection is God's approval that he paid the price in full.
The resurrection confirms that when Jesus said, "It is finished," he was right. It is finished. He had accomplished all that he was sent to do -- to lay down his life for the world. Paul writes, "In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself." When Jesus says, "It is finished," he means that the reconciliation is complete. You and I, who had been enemies with God, are now made friends with God through Jesus Christ. It is finished. The battle is over. God has won. You and I are captured by the love of God and made friends with God, because God wants us to be his own.
This brings joy into life. Our sins are forgiven by the grace of God. Our death is overcome and will not separate us from the love of God. That is good news that puts bounce into every step and a smile on every face for those who hear it and believe it. In the words of Paul, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice." You can have joy in your life because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
You can have meaning in your life. That is a second difference the resurrection of Jesus Christ can make in your life today. Does it really matter that you are alive?
When we become depressed, we think not. When we let the dark news of our world fill our minds and hearts, we think not. When we look to our own death and see only our mummified remains, we think not. BUT, the news of the day is that Jesus is risen! So, YES! It really does matter that you are alive. For Jesus came to seek and to save YOU. You are precious in his sight. Like the children's song expresses it, "Red and yellow, black and white, all are precious in his sight.ƒ"
There is meaning in your life because God created you and God does not make junk! There is meaning in your life because Christ died for you. He calls you friend; and greater love than this has no one, that he lay down his life for his friend.
So often one can hear it said by people who have had a scrape with death, "There must be a reason for me to still be here." Yes, indeed! There is a reason for all of us to be here. We have a life to live! God gave us that life. God means for us to live it. The meaning for life is to be and to become, to live and to grow. Death does not have the final word. The God of Life does! Death cannot strip away the meaning of your life, as if at best you are just a cipher in the snow. No! Jesus is risen and he is the Lord of Life. Your life means the world to God, as the psalmist says, "Guard me as the apple of the eye." Your life is graciously held in the palm of God's victorious right hand, and he will not let go of you.
You can have something to say with your life. That is the third difference the resurrection of Jesus Christ can make in your life today. The apostles were arrested by the religious leaders and thrown into the public prison. That would be like the county jail. But, these human cells could not hold them. God freed them again and again with this message, "Go, stand in the temple and tell the people the whole message about this life."
The apostles had something to say with their lives. They were to tell others about Jesus Christ. So, obedient to their instructions, "they entered the temple at daybreak and went on with their teaching."
Through their lives -- their words and their actions -- the apostles told others about Jesus Christ. They were witnesses. Sometimes they were thrown in jail for this. Sometimes they were stoned for this. Sometimes they were beheaded for this. But, these things did not stop them. They had something to say. The resurrection of Jesus Christ compelled them to say it, whatever the costs to their personal comfort or safety. If Jesus is raised from the dead, there could be no more important news in the world to share!
We think the news is important. There are entire channels on television devoted to reporting the news. Radio carries news on the hour. When a story breaks, especially one of international proportions, it is common to interrupt other broadcasting to share the up-to-the-minute details. It is a rare person who will not talk about the latest happenings in the news and share opinions about them.
The greatest news flash the world has ever heard is this: "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen." Here is something worth talking about, sharing with family and friends and neighbors and strangers. Death is swallowed up in victory. God rules! Jesus is Lord!
How are you saying that with your life? How are your words and deeds shaped by that truth? How are others hearing that message of Christ's resurrection from your life? You have something to say with your life now! Jesus is risen! Say it loud and clear, so that when people see you or think of you or talk about you, they see Jesus, they think about Jesus, they talk about Jesus. You will come and go in their lives. Jesus will remain forever. Give them Jesus, the priceless treasure for all time and eternity.
Parents, teach your children how to pray to Jesus and walk with Jesus each day of their little lives. Sunday School teachers and Confirmation teachers, teach your students more about Jesus so they may grow closer to him. Husbands and wives, teach each other how to love out of the power of Jesus' love for you both. Workers, teach your bosses and co-workers and those who work under you that your work is an offering to the living God, as you do it well. Friends, teach each other that because Jesus is risen from the dead, he can bond you together through all differences and hardships.
Jesus said to his disciples, "You shall be my witnesses." In the words of the Nike commercial, just do it! You have something to say with your life. That something is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
You can have joy in your life. You can have meaning in your life. You can have something to say with your life. That is the power of the resurrection, which cannot wait until the end of time to make a difference in your life. It begins today, as you have faith. This is eternal life, present as well as future. Amen.
