Jesus Won!  We Won!

Part 1

 

Sermon Notes

Easter 2009

Saturday, April 11, 2009 and Sunday, April 12, 2009

Rev. Jim O’Neal, Senior Pastor

Sun Lakes United Methodist Church

9248 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes, Arizona 85248

(480) 895-8766

 

 

Matthew 28:1-10 NRSV

1After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.  2And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.  3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.  4For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 

5But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.  6He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said.  Come, see the place where he lay.  7Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’  This is my message for you.” 

8So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.  9Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!”  And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.  10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

 

A.  Introduction

 

1.  Glenn Cunningham

          a.  The two brothers arrived at the little country school house in Kansas early.  It was their job to light the old pot bellied stove in the one room school house.  Floyd was ten and his brother Glenn was eight.  As they had done many times they took the can of kerosene and doused the coal.  But someone had made a terrible mistake.  They had filled the can with gasoline.  The explosion killed Floyd.  Glenn's legs were burned so badly that the doctors said he would not live without amputating his legs.  Glenn vehemently said, “No!”  Then the doctors said that he would not live at all, but he did.  Glenn had lost all the skin on his shins and knees, he had lost a lot of muscle mass on both legs, he had lost all the toes on his left foot and the arch of that foot was destroyed.  Because of those things the medical experts said he would never walk.  Again they were wrong.  Two years after his accident Glenn used his arms and hands to drag himself outside to a picket fence, pulled himself up, and forced himself to walk. 

          b.  The family was told that at best he would walk with a pronounced limp.  He would never walk normally and don't expect him to ever be able to run or play sports.  Again they were wrong.  Glenn started running.  In High School he set the inter-scholastic record for the mile.  He would do the same in college.  On the inter-national stage he would for a time hold the world record for the fastest mile ever run, and he won a medal at the 1936 Olympics!  Cunningham, a man of faith, always gave God the credit and the glory.  He said, “By the grace of God I learned to run again.”  We like stories like this.  Something inside all of us relates to the person who fights the odds and still wins!  We love to tell of such stories of victory.

 

     2.  Jesus

          a.  Jesus the incarnate Son of God faced the greatest battle of all; the battle between good and evil for the very souls of humankind.  From an earthly standpoint, what chance did this small town rabbi have against the powers arrayed against him?  He faced the wrath of the local power brokers in the corrupt Jewish leaders.  And he faced the mightiest super power of his day in the Romans.  By order of the Roman governor Jesus was tortured and killed.  It looked as if evil had won.

          b.  But Jesus trusted in God the Father, and then Sunday came.  And Jesus rose from the dead and won the victory, not only for Himself, but also for you and me!  First and foremost Easter is about victory!  Today I will lift up two victories that Jesus gives us.  Next week I will lift up another two victories that the Lord gives to us.

 

B.  Easter is about Victory over death!

 

     1.  Guru

          a.  A college professor took a leave of absence.  His wife had died and he was searching for the truth.  In Tibet he got an audience with a Guru who was said to be the world’s wisest man.  The Guru granted him one question.  The professor asked, “Is there life after death?”  The Guru replied, “I do not know, but go my child and live gently and in that you will find peace.”  “What?” the professor screamed, “You do not know!  I can’t believe that.  You are one of the wisest Gurus of them all!”  The Guru shaken slightly responded, “Yes, but I am not a dead wise Guru.  You would have been better off to ask me, ‘Is there an America?’  I’ve been to your country, I can even tell you which airplane to take at the New Delhi Airport.”

          b.  For centuries people wondered if there was life beyond this life.  Wise religious leaders have been making speculation and writing about this for a long time.  However, no one really knew till Jesus was raised from the dead.

 

     2.  Cross Tree

          a.  Some years ago there was a multi-year drought in California.  It was followed by a very cold winter with overnight temperatures below freezing.  In a large cemetery many trees died that year including a big eucalyptus tree.  The groundskeeper cut most of the trees down to the ground.  He did not cut the eucalyptus tree all the way down.  The groundskeeper trimmed off all the branches.  Then he cut off the top of the tree.  From these pieces he made a stark wooden cross.  Each year the cemetery hosted an Easter Sunrise Service.  In the past the people faced the beautiful row of trees.  These had died so now they would use this bare cross, fashioned from the dead eucalyptus tree as their focal point.  April came and on the day of the Easter Service people were amazed to see that the cross had sprouted small branches and leaves all over!  It was alive!

          b.  Jesus had been killed.  His lifeless body had been placed in a borrowed tomb.  Sunday morning came and the people were amazed because the tomb was empty!  And soon the very much alive Jesus began to appear to the believers!  First the Risen and Glorified Jesus appeared to Mary and then some other women!  Then Paul tells us that many others witnessed the resurrection:  “He was seen by Peter and then by the twelve apostles.  After that, he was seen by more than five hundred of his followers at one time.  Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.  Last of all, I saw him, too! ” (I Corinthians 15:5-8 NLT)  Jesus was and is alive!  He has defeated death!

 

C.  Easter is about Victory over despair!

 

     1.  Twenty-four Consecutive Learner’s Permits!

          a.  A police officer in Lambertville, New Jersey pulled over a 39-year-old man for driving too slowly on the freeway.  The man only had a “Learner’s Permit.”  In court it was revealed that he had been driving on 24 consecutive “Learner’s Permits.”  He had flunked his first driver’s test and was unsure of himself ever since.

          b.  A lot of folks are like this man.  Life has got them down, they are afraid, and everything seems hopeless.

 

     2.  Painting of a woman beneath the cross

          a.  There is a painting of a woman beneath a cross.  She is on her knees and is looking up at a bare and rugged cross.  The sky above is filled with dark and ominous clouds.  The mountains behind are steep and jagged.  But cutting through the darkness is a brilliant ray of sunshine.  The light illuminates the cross and shines upon her face.

          b.  She like Mary hears the voice of the angel at the tomb:  “Don’t be frightened!  I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified, but he isn’t here!  For he has come back to life again, just as he said he would.” (Matthew 28:5-6 TLB)  On her face is a look of assurance.  You can almost read her mind:  “The cross is bare, Jesus is risen!  Because of Jesus I do not have to be afraid or filled with doubts.  Because of Him there is hope in this life and beyond!” 

 

D.  Conclusion

 

     1.  Easter is about victory.  Jesus won, and because of that we won and can still win!  That’s because Jesus gives us Victory over Death! and Victory over Despair!

 

     2.  And next week we will also celebrate Victory over the Devil! (That is the Power of Evil) and Victory over Defeat!

Jesus Won!  We Won!

 

         1.  Easter is about Victory over death!

 

         2.  Easter is about Victory over Despair!

 

         3.  Easter is about Victory over the Devil! 

                                                                                                    (The Power of Evil)

 

         4.  Easter is about Victory over Defeat!

 

Matthew 28:1-10 NRSV

1After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.  2And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it.  3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow.  4For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men.  5But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified.  6He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said.  Come, see the place where he lay.  7Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’  This is my message for you.”  8So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.  9Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!”  And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.  10Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”