Matthew 28:5,6- “The Cross is Empty- Our Hope is Full”
“THE ANGEL SAID TO THE WOMEN, DO NOT BE AFRAID, FOR I KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR JESUS, WHO WAS CRUCIFIED. HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN, JUST AS HE SAID. COME AND SEE THE PLACE WHERE HE LAY.” Sun will come up tomorrow; Jesus rises and we will too.
The real question of Easter is the question that applies to each human being that will ever get sick and die. It is the question we ask when we are hurting. It is the question we ask when we are perplexed. It is the question we ask when we don’t understand. It is just this: “WHERE IS JESUS?” The women who came to the tomb were looking for the dead Jesus and his dead body. Today there are people who are looking for the philosophy of Jesus- His teaching, without seeking His person. The angel reminds us to look for the living person. I want to talk about three places- where Jesus was or could be- the cross, the grave, and our hearts.
I like playing finding games. One of the classics is the book “Where’s Waldo” which just celebrated its 30th anniversary. Waldo is this red and white striped shirted guy. There was a Guiness book of records gathering of 3,872 people dressed like Waldo In Dublin a few years ago.
One of the things God does- is He asks us to find Him. Seek me, He says, and you will find me when you search for me with all your heart. The first place to look is the cross- it is the major symbol of Christianity.
“THE ANGEL SAID TO THE WOMEN, DO NOT BE AFRAID, FOR I KNOW THAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR JESUS, WHO WAS CRUCIFIED. HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN, JUST AS HE SAID. COME AND SEE THE PLACE WHERE HE LAY.” Sun will come up tomorrow; Jesus rises and we will too.
The real question of Easter is the question that applies to each human being that will ever get sick and die. It is the question we ask when we are hurting. It is the question we ask when we are perplexed. It is the question we ask when we don’t understand. It is just this: “WHERE IS JESUS?” The women who came to the tomb were looking for the dead Jesus and his dead body. Today there are people who are looking for the philosophy of Jesus- His teaching, without seeking His person. The angel reminds us to look for the living person. I want to talk about three places- where Jesus was or could be- the cross, the grave, and our hearts.
I like playing finding games. One of the classics is the book “Where’s Waldo” which just celebrated its 30th anniversary. Waldo is this red and white striped shirted guy. There was a Guiness book of records gathering of 3,872 people dressed like Waldo In Dublin a few years ago.
One of the things God does- is He asks us to find Him. Seek me, He says, and you will find me when you search for me with all your heart. The first place to look is the cross- it is the major symbol of Christianity.
THE CROSS IS EMPTY- The cross is the symbol of pain,
but also injustice, unfairness, and it represents the suffering, burdens and
problems of life. Christ was certainly
on the cross- the angel says he WAS crucified.
Where is Christ when we are hurting?
The Bible says we do not have a great high priest who is unable to
sympathize with our weaknesses. Jesus
understands what it means to hurt. He is
not so aloof to suffering that he might laugh at our struggles, our worries,
our fears, our sicknesses, our suffering and pain. Jesus does not laugh at our going through the
corona-virus time. A CNN reporter asked
Rev. Rick Warren where was God in this pandemic- he replied that He was in the
middle- the cross is a reminder God knows about suffering.
He knows what it is like to suffer and be in agony. The cross in many ways- Is very similar to the kind of death someone dies when they are going through the corona-virus. They have a hard time breathing- feeling an elephant is sitting on their chest. Physicians tell us that people die on the cross not have hanging there but of suffocation- by slowly not being able to lift themselves up to breathe. It is literal torture. This brings me to the second thing about the cross-
He knows what it is like to be isolated- The cross was not just torture it was humiliation. He was stripped naked and lifted up for the world to see, and then totally isolated. No one could come near him, nor could they have long conversations with him. There is a reason why the isolation cell is so torturous. We were created to love, to converse, to touch.
But we need to be sure- though Jesus remembers the cross, and He paid and infinite price there, He is not continually on the cross. The cross is empty. He has suffered and was isolated- but His suffering is over and He is in the company of the saints, angels, and the Father in heaven. The cross is empty. I wear a cross around my neck- it is an empty cross because Jesus is alive.
He knows what it is like to suffer and be in agony. The cross in many ways- Is very similar to the kind of death someone dies when they are going through the corona-virus. They have a hard time breathing- feeling an elephant is sitting on their chest. Physicians tell us that people die on the cross not have hanging there but of suffocation- by slowly not being able to lift themselves up to breathe. It is literal torture. This brings me to the second thing about the cross-
He knows what it is like to be isolated- The cross was not just torture it was humiliation. He was stripped naked and lifted up for the world to see, and then totally isolated. No one could come near him, nor could they have long conversations with him. There is a reason why the isolation cell is so torturous. We were created to love, to converse, to touch.
But we need to be sure- though Jesus remembers the cross, and He paid and infinite price there, He is not continually on the cross. The cross is empty. He has suffered and was isolated- but His suffering is over and He is in the company of the saints, angels, and the Father in heaven. The cross is empty. I wear a cross around my neck- it is an empty cross because Jesus is alive.
THE GRAVE IS EMPTY- The grave is the great symbol of
death. Graves are not normally the
symbol of life. According to Matthew
women went to “look at the tomb.” Mark’s
gospel adds that they were going to add spices to Jesus’ body. All the gospels record that angels pointed to
the resurrection of Christ. But in our
passage it says, “He is not here.” In
Luke it says, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” Jesus is not in the grave. He is not in the tomb. His body is not stolen- He is alive.
For the first time since the Black Plague in 1349, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is closed. But even now you can look online and see Jesus’ grave is still empty. In the 13th and 14th centuries a new kind of European art focused on the dead Christ- called “The Pieta” meaning “the pity.” Michelangelo had the most famous one in St. Peter’s Basillica in Rome- it is beautiful. But our focus is not on that. We do not worship on Saturday- celebrating the death of Christ. But on Sunday- celebrating the resurrection.
For the first time since the Black Plague in 1349, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is closed. But even now you can look online and see Jesus’ grave is still empty. In the 13th and 14th centuries a new kind of European art focused on the dead Christ- called “The Pieta” meaning “the pity.” Michelangelo had the most famous one in St. Peter’s Basillica in Rome- it is beautiful. But our focus is not on that. We do not worship on Saturday- celebrating the death of Christ. But on Sunday- celebrating the resurrection.
Some are looking for Christ in fear. The angel said to them- do not be afraid- He
said it not to the guards- they were terrified.
He said it to the believing women.
He says it to you. If the world
wants to live in fear that is one thing- but as a believer- don’t be
afraid. The Bible says they left with
joy and fear. They were believers but still
afraid. Christians can be afraid- but it
is not God’s will for you. Be careful-
but do not be afraid. Be smart- but
don’t be afraid. When Jesus appeared to the women the first words out of His
mouth were “do not be afraid.” When
Jesus appeared to the disciples in the room where the door was shut for fear of
the Roman soldiers- where they were isolated- Jesus appeared to them and said
“Do not be afraid.” I know several people
who will not go grocery shopping and they will not take food from delivery
people or anyone else because they are afraid.
There are those who will not walk for exercise for fear of catching this
virus. I know some who are losing sleep,
and are totally restless. Jesus says
“Peace- do not be afraid.” So where is
Jesus? He is going around telling people
to trust Him and not be afraid! He is
giving people living hope.
OUR HOPE IS FULL- Easter is the image we really need
to keep in our mind today- for it is not just a message of hope- it IS our
hope! One day we too will escape this
coronavirus thing. One day we will be
able to get out and hug each other, to worship together, to enjoy fun like
sports together. One day the economic
crisis will calm down. I saw a great
mini movie about a thousand chickens being released from a hen house- they went
clucking, running, flying everywhere at once as fast as they could. The caption said, “This is what it will be
like when this coronavirus is over.” Some
of y’all have seen it. I want to
encourage you not to squish, squelch, or abandon your hope. Instead let your hope fill you with strength,
and energy. Again, this corona-virus time
will be over but you can still be captive to sin, guilt, and fear. Let Christ free you with hope. So Bill Wallace who was trapped in his house
in Nashville after the tornado- saying he felt a “higher power was with him” was
filled with hope when he heard the rescuers voices- he then hoped he would
escape. So the coal miners in Chile,
after being trapped in a coalmine collapse for 69 days- worshiping each day- after
a bore hole was sent down to them and they could get fresh air and food knew
they would one day get out. So Easter is
the voice from outside of life saying “I’ll get you out.” It is the hole of light through the darkness
saying- there is a way to eternal life- through this way.
Genelle Guzman worked on the 64th floor of Tower two of the World Trade Center. She was going down the stairs when the whole building collapsed and her legs were pinned by the rubble. It became dark and she began to give up hope and think, “I am going to die.” But then she remembered God. She called out to God and asked for a sign that she would “get out of here.” Right then she heard voices. She shouted, they responded. A rescue dog pointed the way. She reached out her hand- and a firefighter grasped it and she said, “Thank God!” She could have simply said “how lucky I am, or what a nice dog and firefighter.” But she knew God was in this. She was the very last survivor from the twin towers in New York. She was told she would never walk- but today she walks, she runs, she married and has two children. She is filled with hope and wants to tell other people about her story. We should too. The angel said to the women- Do not be afraid; He is not here; He is risen; Go and tell…
Hope is hard to find these days. But do not give up. Jesus was with Genelle. He is the living Christ. He can be with you in your valley of the shadow of death; he can be with you when you die, but let me say He wants to be with you now and give you the abundant life. Where is Jesus? He is not on the cross or on the grave, but He is in heaven and He can also live by His Holy Spirit in your heart. Ask Him, seek Him, find Him.
Genelle Guzman worked on the 64th floor of Tower two of the World Trade Center. She was going down the stairs when the whole building collapsed and her legs were pinned by the rubble. It became dark and she began to give up hope and think, “I am going to die.” But then she remembered God. She called out to God and asked for a sign that she would “get out of here.” Right then she heard voices. She shouted, they responded. A rescue dog pointed the way. She reached out her hand- and a firefighter grasped it and she said, “Thank God!” She could have simply said “how lucky I am, or what a nice dog and firefighter.” But she knew God was in this. She was the very last survivor from the twin towers in New York. She was told she would never walk- but today she walks, she runs, she married and has two children. She is filled with hope and wants to tell other people about her story. We should too. The angel said to the women- Do not be afraid; He is not here; He is risen; Go and tell…
Hope is hard to find these days. But do not give up. Jesus was with Genelle. He is the living Christ. He can be with you in your valley of the shadow of death; he can be with you when you die, but let me say He wants to be with you now and give you the abundant life. Where is Jesus? He is not on the cross or on the grave, but He is in heaven and He can also live by His Holy Spirit in your heart. Ask Him, seek Him, find Him.
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