Sunday 04:08:12

Luke 24:1-8 I wish I could take us back to the days before Jesus was raised, while Jesus was in the tomb. I wish we could wait there at the tomb together, waiting and watching to see what would happen. While we waited, we would have questions – just like his disciple must have. They had seen Jesus die, saw him flogged, beaten, and finally crucified. They would have wondered. We would have questions during those anxious three days. Was Jesus overcome by the power of death and darkness? There was so much darkness in Jesus’ sentencing and death. Judas took money to betray him after the Bible says, “Satan entered him.” The Pharisees plotted to have him killed so they could keep their positions. The Roman government allowed Jesus to be killed even though they knew he was innocent. The Roman soldiers mocked and beat him violently for sport. The crowd rejected him and called for his blood to be on them and on their children. Did their darkness overcome Jesus? Was all the sin of mankind too much to bear? For three days there was no answer. For three days heaven was quiet. For three days the disciples grieved. For three days there was confusion. But on the third day there was an answer. On the third day there was an earthquake. On the third day angels appeared. On the third day the stone was rolled away. On the third day Jesus body was not there. On the third day, Jesus overcame death and darkness. Hebrews 2:14-15 14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. Jesus overcame death and darkness. He triumphed over them like a victorious king, When he rose from the dead. Will trouble triumph? The disciples saw all their worst fears come to pass. They saw Jesus arrested. They saw him go back and forth to rulers, but none stood up for Jesus even though he was innocent. They saw their leader beaten, mocked, flogged, humiliated. Finally, they saw him killed in the most violent and brutal manner. Would trouble triumph? Would trouble overcome them too? John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” We all have trouble. We all have suffering. It can seem like our trouble will overwhelm us. But in the resurrection, we see trouble does not overcome. Jesus Christ overcomes. You will not be overcome by trouble. You will not be overcome because Jesus Christ is your King and He has overcome the world. Can I be forgiven? The disciples ran when Jesus was arrested. Peter failed. James and John’s mom asked Jesus if they could have a special place in his kingdom. They had all failed. They all fell asleep when Jesus needed them. They had all been selfish. The Bible talks about sin a lot. It is a powerful enemy. It is not just an action, like I lied, or I lusted. It is a condition. We lie or lust because we’re sinners. We’re broken. Sin twists our thinking. It makes us blind to our own faults. Can I be forgiven? Is it too late? Have I failed too many times? Have I fallen too far? Colossians 2:13-15 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Jesus forgave our sins. He canceled the charges against us. He nailed them to the cross of Jesus Christ. He made a public spectacle of all the powers opposed to him. The resurrection proves that Jesus’ offering was accepted by God. You are freed from punishment for your sin. You are freed from guilt and shame. You are no longer under condemnation from God. You are free from all of that. You are completely forgiven. When you feel guilt, when you feel shame, when you find yourself avoiding God, remember… “Jesus died for THIS sin that I’m struggling with.” “God already accepted Jesus’ sacrifice for this sin and showed his acceptance by Jesus’ resurrection.” You can be forgiven. It’s not too late. Your sin can be put away forever. You can be free from guilt and shame. He died for your sin. He died so you could be forgiven. So your relationship with God the Father could be restored. All you have to do is believe in Jesus’ work on the cross.