The Hope of Easter

         A student group at the University of North Texas received threats after they placed 250 Easter eggs filled with Bible verses around campus. A slew of opposing activist students announced on social media that they would compete to see who could find and destroy the most eggs. One student went as far as to message the group's chairwoman and told her to kill herself.

"Time to stomp some eggs," one student tweeted. Another expressed that she would be '...outraged' if she found an Easter egg that was filled with a Bible verse. The group members were shocked at how much anger the egg hunt received because Easter eggs with Bible verses, "shouldn't be this controversial." Another member stated, "We're doing this for a Christian holiday...?"

A mother of a student, called out the group's leader because she felt that they were not inclusive to other religions during the Easter festivities. The group's leader explained that the Jewish and even agnostic students involved in the group were "completely fine" with the activity as, "This was intended to be a fun event for everyone. You don't need to be a Christian to read an uplifting Bible verse and appreciate it."

No good deed goes unpunished. Why in the world would people get so upset about something like this? Because many get angry when faced with...

I. The truth

Many people get mad when they disagree but can't argue away the truth. And this is not really a new phenomenon. Last week we looked at the account of Palm Sunday and the events of that week. But just the day before Jesus entered Jerusalem for His triumphal entry, we read this, in John 12:9-11 (NIV)...

Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. (10) So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, (11) for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.

Truth makes some people mad. They couldn't reasonably deny Lazarus being dead and brought back to life - people saw it with their own eyes. So they got angry; angry enough to kill Lazarus - again. And here's the truth that makes some people so angry about Easter... (Luke 24:1-7 NIV)

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. (2) They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, (3) but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. (4) While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.

(5) In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? (6) He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: (7) 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'"

An event that makes us celebrate makes others angry. And we celebrate because we accept the truth - that Jesus gave His life for us! And that sacrifice was vitally important - but the thing we celebrate - the most important thing was represented by...

A. The empty tomb

You see, the cross doesn't mean much without the empty tomb. Think about it, anyone can die on a cross. Of course not just anyone could have died for the sins of the world - I don't want to make light of it in any way - but many people were killed on Roman crosses before Jesus. But only one man didn't stay dead.

A central part of our worship each week is our communion time. At that time, we remember the sacrifice - Jesus' death on a cross. We read where Jesus instituted the practice of communion at the last supper, in Matthew 26:26-29 (NIV)...

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body." (27) Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. (28) This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. (29) I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."

Jesus gave His life on a cross for us - but that's just the first part of our communion celebration. We focus on the image of the cross because it represents the forgiveness we have through the death of Jesus. But we also remember the image of the empty tomb! It's that picture that reminds us that we serve a Risen Savior!

No other religious leaders have ever risen from the grave. In 1900 B.C. Judaism's Father, Abraham, died as recorded in scripture. In 483 B.C. Buddhist writings say that Buddha died "with that utter passing away in which nothing whatever remains behind." On June 6th, 632 A.D. Mohammed died. They died and their bodies remain in the ground today.

In 33 A.D. Jesus died, but He came back to life and appeared to more than 500 people over a period of 40 days. I don't preach the superiority of 'Christians', but the superiority of Christ! Jesus is who He said He is - Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, The Son of the living God!

And Jesus' death and resurrection was carefully orchestrated by God. The events we celebrate at Easter were...

B. Always the plan

From the moment Adam and Eve sinned, God had a plan to bring His creation back to Him. Hundreds of years before Jesus came as a man, we see this recorded in Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)...

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (7) Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

This is more of a verse we look to at Christmas time. And I thought about it - Christmas is a wonderful time centered around a long prophesied miraculous event, the birth of the Christ child. But without the events of Easter - Christmas isn't complete. There was always a larger, eon spanning plan in motion.

That verse in Isaiah prophecies concerning 'King David's throne'... If we look at David's own writings, years before Jesus was born - we can see that through God's spirit, David accurately predicted Christ's death in Psalm 22. I want to highlight a few verses from that Psalm. Starting with Psalms 22:1b (NIV)...

A psalm of David. My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning?

We've heard that phrase, when Jesus cried out "My God, my God why have you forsaken me?" - as recorded in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. But could it be that Jesus was just repeating those words and this wasn't a Spirit led prophecy? Look further in that chapter in Psalms 22:7-8 (NIV)...

All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads: (8) "He trusts in the LORD; let the LORD rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him."

And we know the crowds mocked and hurled insults, shaking their heads at Jesus. They shouted "He trusts in the Lord, let the Lord save him" as again recorded in the Gospels. Jesus could have controlled what He said, but not the specific reaction of the crowd. And then jump to David's words in Psalms 22:14-18 (NIV)...

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. (15) My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. (16) Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. (17) I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. (18) They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.

Jesus was nailed to a cross piercing His hands and feet. They divided His clothes and cast lots for them... The accuracy and specific nature of David's prophecy has caused some skeptics to claim it was written after the crucifixion had already taken place. But the evidence shows this was written about 1,000 years before.

And these are just a few of the many accurate prophecies concerning God's plan. But if you look at it all - the fact that Jesus was born to die - you might be wondering...

II. Why this plan?

Why this specific plan - why did Jesus have to die? And we could dive into a theological discussion of various atonement theories to try to answer 'why' - the 'substitutionary atonement theory', the 'ransom theory', the 'satisfaction theory', etc. And it's fascinating to examine the 'mind of God' and to try and figure out 'how it all works'. But the bottom line answer as to 'why', kind of boils down to the fact...

A. We need Him

Every human living, every human who has gone before us - every human being in history needs Jesus. And the Apostle Paul explained it as clearly as anyone in Romans 3:21-24 (NIV)...

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. (22) This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, (23) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, (24) and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Jesus came and died on a cross and then defeated death because we couldn't do it ourselves. And without that sacrifice we would be separated from the Father forever. But because of Jesus, we have life!

Why did God carry out this amazing plan over the millennia...? We see the reason lovingly 'fleshed out' in a story from the Gospels. There was a man named Jairus. He sought out Jesus and fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, "My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed and live."

Being a parent - I can imagine his anguish. He knew Jesus performed miracles and he desperately needed one. And we read this in Mark 5:35-42 (NIV)...

While Jesus was still speaking, some men came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. "Your daughter is dead," they said. "Why bother the teacher any more?"

The man had to have been devastated in that moment, but then...

(36) Ignoring what they said, Jesus told the synagogue ruler, "Don't be afraid; just believe." (37) He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James. (38) When they came to the home of the synagogue ruler, Jesus saw a commotion, with people crying and wailing loudly.

(39) He went in and said to them, "Why all this commotion and wailing? The child is not dead but asleep." (40) But they laughed at him. After he put them all out, he took the child's father and mother and the disciples who were with him, and went in where the child was. (41) He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha koum!" (which means, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!"). (42) Immediately the girl stood up and walked around (she was twelve years old). At this they were completely astonished.

Can you imagine the roller coaster of emotion that man had to have felt? He had lost his little girl - his life had been forever changed - but then, Jesus gives Him back what was lost! And the phase there, "Little girl, I say to you, get up!" That's a rough translation into English - it's a term of endearment. The King James uses the diminutive word 'damsel' - but the word is also a close variation of the word 'lamb'. Here you have the Good Shepherd, lovingly reaching out and taking the dead girl by the hand and saying something like, "My little lamb, get up!", as her spirit rushes back into her body!

Why did Jesus come? Why this plan of salvation that we celebrate at Easter? Why do we all desperately need Jesus? Because we all need...

B. Hope

And Jesus brings hope! I'm pretty sure that everyone here, we've all lost loved ones. And if you're fortunate enough that you haven't yet - you will. That's because we live in a world dominated by sin. But Jesus is the definitive answer to sin and death! (1 Thessalonians 4:14-17 NIV)...

We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. (15) According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. (16) For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.

(17) After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

So What?

This world can be a messed up place - but this world is not our home! Jesus is coming back and He will make everything right!

It was Pope John Paul II who said, "Do not abandon yourselves to despair: We are the Easter people, and Hallelujah is our song."

And we as 'Easter people' have the privilege, the responsibility to celebrate the empty tomb because through Jesus, we now can have a personal relationship with God, Our Creator! We can be reunited with those in the faith who have gone before us! We should be both humbled and amazingly grateful!

And as we celebrate - we need to let people know the reason for our hope! We need to share Jesus! Happy Easter!