Resurection Sunday

Here is gist of the sermon I gave last night - Resurrection Sunday

First, read Matthew Ch 28:1-10

Harry Houdini made a pact with his wife that the first one of them to die would try and communicate to the other from beyond the grave. They even had a secret 10 word code to make sure it was the real deal. Houdini died first and for 10 years his wife, Bess, tried in vain to contact him. She eentually put out the candle she had left burning by his photo since he had died and said, 'Ten years is long enough to wait for any man'.

The fact that death is a one way street is a biter pill to swallow.

Butin Matth 28, the resurrection story is also given an interpretation for us so that death' suden end, doesn't have to be the end.

*** Matthew wants us to see that the power of death is snatched away as God exercises his power to bring life. ***

The earthquake is the give away.

In the bible, earthquakes are the sign that God has arrived with his powerful presense. Check Mt Sinai (Ex 9) or Paul and Silas in prison (Acts). It's the same in Matt 28.

But in case you missed the sign, God sends his messenger (the angel) to interpret he sign for us.
He announces that God's power has been put to work to raise Jesus from the dead.

So far so good. But so what?

Well, the two groups at the tomb that morning give us a choice. You can be like the guards or like the women.

The guards came face to face with life, an they trembeled like dead men.

The women came to mourn a dead man, and they left rejoicing with life.

For the guards it was lose lose. The had to one day face death - like all of us - but also were mere spectators when life came to town.

For the women it was win win. Not only did they recieve Jeuss back in the flesh, but also recieved the hope of eternal life themselves.

Furthermore, their response should be ours.
They worshipped Jesus
And they went and told others.

Your homework:
Read Colossians Ch 3:1-10 and answer this question:
What is the resurrection application for us in our Christian lives this week?

(This was the homework I gave the congregation last night. They had to email me their thoughts)

Let me know!

Scott