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weekly sermon 4-12-09 The Easter Hunt Good Sunday morning, my name is Rocky Stone, do you know the meaning of Easter? Most of you all may have received the same email that I received called "my favorite Easter story". There was a lady, from San Antonio, Texas, that would introduce herself as I just did, then she would explain the true meaning of Easter. Many folks found salvation because of this woman and her introduction. This was an amazing story and an even more amazing woman. We should all be taking a lesson from her. If you did not receive this email but would like a copy, please let me know.
Many folks know Easter as a time of the Easter bunny, hunting Easter eggs with the kids, getting new clothes, and going to church. What most folks do not know, is the true meaning of Easter.
Below is the full account, according to Luke, of the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Please read these passages very carefully.
Turn with me to Luke 23:1-47, "And the whole multitude of them arose, and led him unto Pilate. (2)And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this [fellow] perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King. (3)And Pilate asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answered him and said, Thou sayest [it]. (4)Then said Pilate to the chief priests and [to] the people, I find no fault in this man. (5)And they were the more fierce, saying, He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place. (6)When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked whether the man were a Galilaean. (7)And as soon as he knew that he belonged unto Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who himself also was at Jerusalem at that time. (8)And when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceeding glad: for he was desirous to see him of a long [season], because he had heard many things of him; and he hoped to have seen some miracle done by him. (9)Then he questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. (10)And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him. (11)And Herod with his men of war set him at nought, and mocked [him], and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe, and sent him again to Pilate. (12)And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together: for before they were at enmity between themselves. (13)And Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests and the rulers and the people, (14)Said unto them, Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined [him] before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: (15)No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him. (16)I will therefore chastise him, and release [him]. (17)(For of necessity he must release one unto them at the feast.) (18)And they cried out all at once, saying, Away with this [man], and release unto us Barabbas: (19)(Who for a certain sedition made in the city, and for murder, was cast into prison.) (20)Pilate therefore, willing to release Jesus, spake again to them. (21)But they cried, saying, Crucify [him], crucify him. (22)And he said unto them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? I have found no cause of death in him: I will therefore chastise him, and let [him] go. (23)And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. (24)And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. (25)And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will. (26)And as they led him away, they laid hold upon one Simon, a Cyrenian, coming out of the country, and on him they laid the cross, that he might bear [it] after Jesus. (27)And there followed him a great company of people, and of women, which also bewailed and lamented him. (28)But Jesus turning unto them said, Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me, but weep for yourselves, and for your children. (29)For, behold, the days are coming, in the which they shall say, Blessed [are] the barren, and the wombs that never bare, and the paps which never gave suck. (30)Then shall they begin to say to the mountains, Fall on us; and to the hills, Cover us. (31)For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? (32)And there were also two other, malefactors, led with him to be put to death. (33)And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand, and the other on the left. (34)Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (35)And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided [him], saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God. (36)And the soldiers also mocked him, coming to him, and offering him vinegar, (37)And saying, If thou be the king of the Jews, save thyself. (38)And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS. (39)And one of the malefactors which were hanged railed on him, saying, If thou be Christ, save thyself and us. (40)But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? (41)And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss. (42)And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom. (43)And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise. (44)And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. (45)And the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was rent in the midst. (46)And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost. (47)Now when the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, Certainly this was a righteous man."
I want us to understand a few things from this passage of scripture. First understand that when Jesus was brought before Pilate, he could find NO fault in Jesus at all. Pilate then sent Jesus to Herod. Herod, just as Pilate, could find NO fault in Jesus either. Jesus was sent back to Pilate, as that is where the people had first brought Him. Next I want us to fully understand what was done to Jesus. The captures took Jesus in the middle of the square, stripped Him of his clothing, tied Him to a post, called a scourging post, beat His back, ripping it open, with reeds, nailed a crown of thorns to His head, and clothed Him in a purple robe, a sign of royalty, mocking Him as King of the Jews. Once Jesus was brought before Pilate they demanded that Jesus be crucified. During this time of year one prisoner had to be released. Pilate offered Jesus or a man named Barabbas. Barabbas was a murderer from the land. The folks told Pilate to release Barabbas and crucify Jesus. Pilate washed his hands in water, in front of the crowd, saying he would not have the blood of Jesus on his hands. The folks said they would have the blood of Jesus on them and their children. Remember this last sentence, as I want to talk about it again in a few. When it was decided to crucify Jesus, they ripped the robe from His body. Now remember His body had been ripped open with reeds and while He was bleeding they covered Him in the robe. When they went to remove the robe, it would have been like removing a giant band aide. All the wounds that had dried closed around the robe would have been reopened. Oh what the pain must have been. They forced Him to carry His cross up the hill to Golgotha but He was so weak He could not carry it that far. Next they nailed His hands and feet to that wooden cross and dropped the cross in the hole, jarring His whole body as it hit bottom. This was enough to have killed anyone, but Jesus was still alive. Two criminals were crucified on either side of Jesus. The next thing that Jesus did should show us all something. Even while Jesus was hanging on this cross dying, between these two criminals, He was still the Saviour. One of the criminals said save us if you are the true God, and the other said He is the true God, but we must pay for our crimes, but wanted Jesus to remember him in the Kingdom. Jesus told him that he would see him in paradise. This is Jesus being the true Saviour to the very end. This is something we should be to the very end, shepherds bringing the flock to God, just as Jesus.
The story that we have just read and talked about is the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. This is not the reason for our Easter. The resurrection of Christ is the true reason for this season.
Turn with me to Luke 24:1-7, "Now upon the first [day] of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain [others] with them. (2)And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre. (3)And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. (4)And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: (5)And as they were afraid, and bowed down [their] faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? (6)He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, (7)Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again."
Here Luke shows us that on the third day, just as prophesied, Jesus rose from the dead to show His defeat of death. This resurrection is the reason we can stand before God and have a relationship with Him. The blood of Jesus was shed for the cleansing of our sins, the death to defeat sin, and the resurrection to show that He overcame death, to save man from their sins.
Remember the sentence I spoke of earlier? The folks said that they would take the blood of Jesus on them and their children. No truer words were ever spoken, but not in the way they probably meant them. Jesus died and shed His blood to wash away the sins of the world, so in essence, the blood of Jesus was on them and their children. The blood that could wash away their sins.
Finally notice one more thing. After Jesus had given up the ghost, they felt the earth shake and the temple veil was torn from top to bottom. When they felt and witnessed these things, they fell and said, surely this was the Son of God. The folks that had hated Jesus and wanted Him crucified were religious folks and they finally did see the truth.
Jesus was mocked, beat, killed, and finally believed. After the folks had done all the things they had done to Him, they truly believed He was the Son of God. Jesus was crucified that Friday and rose from the dead two days later on that first Easter Sunday. This was the greatest overcoming of anything, so if you feel that you can not find a way out of something, remember Sunday is on the way.
It must have been an amazing sight to have seen Jesus after He had risen, but I still believe we live in a more amazing time. The folks back then could actually see Him, walk with Him, talk with Him, and even touch Him, but we have to live by faith. I truly believe that we have more faith than they had to have back in those times. This is what Jesus is really talking about when He talks about living by faith. The folks then did not need as much faith, as they could see Him, but we have to live by faith because we have never seen Jesus in a physical form.
When you wake up this Sunday morning and before you start the busy hectic schedule of your Easter Sunday, first thank God that we have a Saviour that has risen and stop for a few moments to go to church and find the hunt most are still looking for, the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
Do you know the true meaning of Easter? Do you know why Jesus died? Do you know why Jesus rose from the dead? Do you truly know Him as the Son of God? If not, but you would like to, then all you have to do is say a simple prayer with me.
Say this simple prayer with me, Dear Lord, I want you to be the Lord over my life, forgive me of my sins, and give me the gift of everlasting life. Amen.
If you have said this simple prayer, then we believe that you have received salvation. We would love to rejoice with you, so please drop us a note, in our link, to let us know and confess Jesus before man, so that we may send you a few things that we hope will help you in your new Christian walk.
With Love in Christ,
Pastor Stone
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