Jesus Won! We Won!

Part 2

Sermon Notes

April 19, 2009

Rev. Jim O’Neal, Senior Pastor

Sun Lakes United Methodist Church

9248 E. Riggs Road, Sun Lakes, Arizona 85248

(480) 895-8766

Luke 24:36-53 NRSV

³⁶While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ³⁷They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. ³⁸He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” ⁴⁰And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” ⁴²They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³and he took it and ate in their presence.

⁴⁴Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you — that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

⁵⁰Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. ⁵¹While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵²And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; ⁵³and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

A. Introduction

1. My buddy Big Tom and Babe Ruth

a. My buddy Tom was up to bat. Some of us boys were playing softball on the baseball diamond at Ingleside Elementary School. Our team was down by one run and it was about one minute till recess ended. We had two outs and I was on first, but not necessarily by my great skill. I swung for the bleachers, the ball went two feet, and the catcher threw the ball away! Now it was up to Tom. Tom fanned the air twice. The other team really gave it to him: “Hey Big Tom, you big loser!” That’s when Tom pointed to the fence by Indian School Road, and said, “How ‘bout I hit it over there?” And he did and as the bell rang we won the game!

b. I asked him, “Where’d you come up with a goofy stunt like that?” Tom replied, “From my dad, ya know he’s really ancient and he’s always telling me about these old time ball players he saw as a kid. A million times he’s told me the story…” “I was eleven years old and my Uncle Leland took me to the third game of the 1932 World Series. We flew from New York City to Chicago. The Yankees were playing the Cubs. The Yankees were behind in this game and Babe Ruth came up to bat. Ruth was in a bad battin’ slump and had been hitless in the series. He got two quick strikes. The crowd at Wrigley field mocked and ridiculed him, ‘Ain’t it time you retired, ya old has been?’ Then the Babe pointed to a distant spot in the outfield and hollered, ‘I’ll knock it out there for you!’ And he did! It was one of the longest balls ever hit at Wrigley Field. And the Yankees won that third game of the World Series and went on to sweep the Cubbies.” Now if it is our team that loses, such stories can be painful. However, most of us find this type of story a moving and attractive thing. We love to see someone who is down overcome and win. We love to see someone face adversary and be successful. We enjoy seeing someone do what Babe Ruth did and confidently snatch victory from the jaws of defeat!

2. Jesus

a. On Palm Sunday the crowd cheered Jesus. On Friday some of the same bunch booed Him and called for His death. The corrupt Jewish leaders and the Roman authorities tortured and killed Him. The power of evil did it’s worst to Him. Yet before Jesus died He said a number of things including: “Father, forgive them.” (Luke 23:34 NRSV) “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” (Luke 23:46 NRSV) And finally Jesus said: “It is finished.” (John 19:30 NRSV) He did not say, “I am finished.” He was stating that he had finished the task that God the Father had given him. This final statement was a cry of confidence and the voice of victory!

b. Like a confident baseball player Jesus pointed to heaven. He knew what was going to happen! On the third day he 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! And today I will lift up two more victories that Jesus gives us:

B. Easter is about Victory over the Devil! (The Power of Evil)

1. Obituary Column

a. Fred was a nice enough guy, but he had two bad habits that drove his friends crazy: First, whenever he called his friends he always wanted to borrow something. Secondly, Fred read the Obituary page everyday, and just had to report to everyone what he knew about each deceased person! One day his friend George played a trick on him. George put Fred’s obituary into the local newspaper. Fred, of course, saw his own picture and article in the “Obits” and just had to call George. Fred asked, “Do you have the morning paper in front of you?” George said, “Yes.” Fred stammered, “Then turn to the Obituary page and tell me what you see in the second column.” Trying to sound surprised George said, “”Holy smoke! It’s you! Say, Fred where exactly are you calling from, and I suppose you want to borrow that room air conditioner of mine!”

b. It will take more than a room air conditioner to defeat the power of evil. You and I on our own are not strong enough to defeat evil. Nor are we strong enough to defeat our own temptations to do wrong. We need help.

2. General Jonathan Wainwright

a. During World War II General Jonathan Wainwright was captured by the Japanese and held prisoner in a Manchurian Concentration Camp. His captors cruelly treated him. They beat him and nearly starved him to death. He became a broken and crushed man. Then the atomic bombs were dropped and the Japanese surrendered. A U.S. Colonel brought the news and informed Wainwright that he was now in charge of the area. In the course of Wainwright’s duties, of directing the civil and military life of the area, several of his former captors were brought to him as leaders of the Japanese. These men were disrespectful in their speech and still treated the General with contempt. Wainwright jumped from his chair and in an authoritative voice said, “I am in command here. You will now carry out my orders, or I will order you carried out of here!” Shaking the officers looked at Wainwright and the armed American soldiers. They bowed low and did as they were told. America won that war, and a couple of enemy soldiers just needed to be reminded.

b. Have you not heard? Jesus defeated the Power of Sin. If you turn to Him, by His power you too can defeat the Devil. Oh at times you and I will fail, because we don’t always turn to Jesus. But whenever you do turn to Jesus you will defeat evil! And further Jesus can defeat past sins, forgive you, remove the stain, and make you worthy of Heaven! “What I say is true, and you should fully accept it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.” (1 Timothy 1:15 NCV)

C. Easter is about Victory over Defeat!

1. Critically ill Woman

a. Maggie was critically ill. The doctors said it was a terminal illness. Maggie begged the doctors to keep her alive long enough to go to her son’s wedding. So they transfused her with blood and infused her with experimental drugs. She responded to the treatment and they gave her permission to go to the wedding. When she returned to the hospital everyone expected her to give up and die. Instead she was joyous and optimistic and wanted to continue treatment.

b. The chaplain spoke to her: “We were afraid that you would just give up after your son’s wedding. We’re delighted you have not, but we are a bit perplexed. Why the optimism?” Maggie smiled and said, “I still have three unmarried sons at home!”

2. Three Hawks and a Del Monte Pea Picker

a. Tom’s family went through a financial crisis, and so Tom left home at 18 to care for himself. He got a job working for Del Monte picking and packing peas. It was a rough bunch that worked the fields and did this demanding work. Tom held his own because he was big and strong and a hard worker. One day a tractor clearing a neighboring field knocked over a tree in which there was a nest with three baby hawks. Tom took them in, put them in an old birdcage, and on his breaks fed them grasshoppers and dead mice.

b. One of the really tough fellows was named Tex. Tex liked to drink and one night he passed out on the floor of the Bunk House. The foreman told Tom to put him in his bunk. Tex did not want to be carried to his bed, and drew a knife. Tom knocked it out of his hand, and carried Tex kicking and screaming to his bunk. Some of the other fellows thought this was pretty funny. Tex got angrier and angrier about the way the “kid” handled him. Tex planned revenge. Tex took the birdcage and went out to the steep ravine. He threw the cage down the cliff. It hit a rock and burst open. Now cage and birds began to plummet toward the jagged rocks below. Tom getting there too late to stop the evil deed cried, “My hawks! You killed my hawks!” But one by one they opened their wings, ascended to the top of the cliff, screeched over Tex’s head, and rose to the sky far above!

c. If you have faith in Jesus, He can give you that kind of victory in life and beyond this life! Along with Paul we receive the gift and joyously shout the truth: “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 15:57 NRSV)

D. Conclusion

1. Last Sunday: Easter is about victory. Jesus won, and because of that we won and can still win! On Easter Sunday we remembered that Jesus gives us Victory over Death! and Victory over Despair!

2. Today, we celebrate that Jesus has given us 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!

Luke 24:36-53 NRSV

³⁶While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” ³⁷They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. ³⁸He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? ³⁹Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” ⁴⁰And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. ⁴¹While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” ⁴²They gave him a piece of broiled fish, ⁴³and he took it and ate in their presence.

⁴⁴Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you — that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, ⁴⁶and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, ⁴⁷and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. ⁴⁸You are witnesses of these things. ⁴⁹And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

⁵⁰Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. ⁵¹While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. ⁵²And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; ⁵³and they were continually in the temple blessing God.