Easter 2022

Give Online: Tithes & Offerings

Catch up on our series HERE

Easter 2022

Good morning and Happy Easter – New here: Welcome

I’m just grateful that we are all here together

• Couple months back my daughter said dad… things are going back
  • I said what do you mean – Back to what
  • Back to the way they were two years ago
• I said no honey… we aren’t ever going back to that again
  • She said yes we have to
  • I asked her why
  • She said because its 2020 too (as in also)
• How many are glad it isn’t 2020 also?!?!
  • Or maybe this is like a 2020 do over
  • Because all the meme sayings were “Hey its 20/20”
  • We are gonna have clear vision in 2020… ya not so much!

But the past in behind us and we are looking ahead AMEN?

Jn 20:1-18

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.

Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and sent straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separated from the linen.

Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. They still did not understand the scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. (but someone stayed – Mary Magdalene)

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”

At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary” She turned toward him and cried out in Arimaic, “Rabboni!” (which means teacher) Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father, instead go to my brothers and tell them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

[PRAY]

Anyone here love change

Funny that the largest stresses in life all gravitate around change

• Change houses… Jobs… life situation
  • All of these things make us stress out in life
  • So yes in theory some of us might like change
  • But change is rarely easy
• I remember the last time we changed houses…
  • Michelle and I looked at each other – Said NEVER AGAIN
  • My children will bury me in my back yard
• And I think as humans we default to routine: its familiar/comfortable
  • And when we don’t have that comfort – We fight to get it back
  • Because that’s the way it use to be
  • I think the phrase we use is “The good old days”
    • Because change must mean we are in the “bad new days”

Here’s the catch… Easter is all about change

• In fact Easter is about the biggest/life changing change of all time
  • Today we actually celebrate change
  • I start talking about how we all hate change
  • Now I’m telling you we are celebrating change… so confusing
• But in Easter we celebrate Jesus’ death & resurrection
  • He said he would do it… and he did it
  • And when he rose from the dead
  • IT CHANGED EVERYTHING

TAG: I want to show you why the “EASTER CHANGE” is a good change

What does rez change: 2 main aspects of our existence

1^st before death… Resurrection changes everything

1 Cor. 15:55

O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting.

• Paul is literally saying that death no longer effects us like it did b4
  • Why… because death is no longer the end
  • Why… because death no longer has to be avoided or ignored
    • Death has actually been cancelled
• And the amazing part – Jesus told us this all along
  • We didn’t get it… why? Because that’s the way it had always been
  • Death always had the power
  • You die and death claimed you because of sin
• But through the resurrection… Jesus changes everything
  • Now before I die – I’m not worried about death… but life
    • Death is just a pit stop…
    • Death is one step closer to home

Phil 1:21 (Why Paul will also say in letter to Phillipians)

For me to live is Christ and to die is gain

• So I don’t fear that change… But in the meantime how should I live
  • I’m gonna live in footsteps of the only who beat death itself
    • I want to look/love/lead/walk like him
    • You see the reason we have hope on Easter – Its Jesus
  • And I Jesus can change the way we relate to death while alive
    • Maybe he can make change a good thing in your life too

2^nd Jesus changes everything after death…

1 Thess 4:13-14

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

• B/C of Easter there is now a HOPE that we will live in after death
  • Why… because after death you will be with God
  • And being with God means no more fear/pain/hurt/sickness
• And I would say if there is a change we would all welcome
  • It’s getting rid of all of those things from our reality
  • Why do we celebrate Easter… b/c Jesus actually changes change

TAG: And I want you to see how he did it for Mary… can do it for you

Wanna look at 1^st statement resurrected Jesus made

He makes it to Mary… Jesus had changed her life

• So she went to the tomb b/c Jesus was only life she ever knew
  • She grieved because He was gone… he was dead
  • And she looked in the tomb b/c the huge boulder was rolled away
  • And the body of Jesus was gone
• And not being given to change… she isn’t looking for the resurrection
  • No she’s looking to find him the way she last saw him
  • She’s looking for a dead body
• The angels aske “What are you looking for”
  • She says she’s looking for the body of Jesus
  • Then she turned and Jesus is there (she doesn’t know its him)

Jn 20:15

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” Whom are you seeking? Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”

Sometimes things change… we are so predisposed to how things were

• We can’t even see that Jesus has changed everything
  • That might be you right here/right now
  • Jesus has changed it… but you just refuse to see it
  • You are blinded by the normalcy of life
• And you pray everyday that God would reveal himself to you
  • And as he does it… you look right past it
  • Because all you can see is a gardener and the grave

Jn 20:16

Jesus said to her, “MARY” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni” (which means teacher)

Now what this is the very first phrase Jesus speaks after resurrection

• Probably not what you or I would say… I’d make it all about me
  • Surprise… I’m back!!!
  • Look what I did… I told you so

Jn 20:17 (But what he says is…)

Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father…

• Now why in the world would he say that…
  • Is he really saying don’t give me a hug
  • Don’t embrace me because you missed me
  • It’s none of those (Its not weird nonbiblical mystical stuff either)
• Because our nature is almost always to “hold on to” what was
  • Instead of embracing what IS and what WILL BE
  • B/C I know what Mary was thinking… things can go back to b4
  • You can do the ministry… We’ll follow you around and help
    • Its gonna be great – Nothing has to change

Jesus says… don’t hold me… don’t cling to this – Everything is changing

Jn. 16:7 (And Jesus says its actually better for you that things change)

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: It is to your advantage that I go away for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.

• How’s that possible… Not having Jesus be better than having Him
  • Well think about that as disciples spread out around the world
  • Does Jesus go with Peter… or Paul… or James… with you or me
• Jesus says it is better that everything changes so the H.S. can come
  • Then I can be with ALL OF YOU
  • And I can be with you ALL THE TIME
• Mary don’t cling to me… because you might not get the change
  • But I promise that change is better than staying the same
    • Is it comfortable – NO
    • Is it fun – NO
    • Is it easy – NO
  • Is it worth it… YES
    • But you have to trust Jesus not to hold on to what was

There are some of you here… reason you came today

• Is so Jesus could tell you that its time to trust him
  • And you need to change your mindset
  • Or you need to change your habits
  • Or you need to change your lifestyle
• And you’ve held on so tight to the way things were
  • But you know God is calling you to that change
  • That relationship… that job… your finances
  • Its time to act, think and relate to your circumstances differently
• Jesus said “Don’t hold on to me”
  • Because ur gonna experience me like u never have before
  • Its time for you to trust in Jesus
  • He is calling your name…. just like he called Mary’s
    • And if you will accept it – Things will never be the same

[PRAY]