Death to Life
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 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.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” Matthew 28:1-10
The women left
yet
They were afraid of worldly bureaucrats - both religious and secular.
They had joy because Jesus is alive! Why? He did what He promised He would do.
“Destroy this temple and I will raise it up again in three days.” John 2:19
Now, we are God’s temple and “God’s spirit dwells in your midst” (1 Corinthians 3:16)
JESUS DIED! But not without a purpose.
Jesus’ death was
!
“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls into the ground and dies it remains a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:24
Everyone sins.
“For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Romans 3:23 NLT
Sin has punishment.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 NLT
Jesus took the punishment of all people’s sin upon his heart.
“God made him [Jesus] who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God [that we might actually share the rightness of God’s character through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus].” 1 Corinthians 5:21
The resurrection sealed the promise.
“For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. 5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.” Romans 6:4-5 NLT
Jesus lives in you by the
of the Holy Spirit
To Comfort you
To Guide you in truth
To enable you to be Jesus to others
When songs of hope against the hopelessness of death begin, and the word of God is read aloud, light breaks through!
Death no longer has a grip on the moment!
Fear Has turned into joy!
Life becomes bearable!
There is now relative and significant hope! The picture of hope is clearer, and the residents of heaven more real!
Are you afraid of the darkness?
Is your burden lifted to know that death no longer can keep you down?
Can you see yourself being more alive after death than you are today?
Surrender to the love of Christ and He will deliver you from the fear of death and give you a life of joy today, and one of eternal joy in the life to come.
Without Him in your life, you will be eternally separated from the love of God in darkness.