…BUT SUNDAY


Easter Sunday is the most significant day in history. Were it not for Easter, our world would be unrecognizably different. Because of Easter, because of the resurrection, we know that Jesus is who he claimed to be. He is who the Bible says he is—God in the flesh. He has power over death and he has the power to change your life.

Jesus died the worst possible death a man can die. He was ridiculed, mocked, spat upon, beaten, stripped and hung on a cross—the ultimate humiliation for a Jew. [Galatians 3:13] The end of his life ran just the opposite of what everyone expected would happen when the Jewish Messiah appeared. They believed the Messiah would usher in a political kingdom. Instead, they watched him become the ultimate victim. For most people it was unthinkable that God would be behind the events of Jesus' death.

However, God was up to something — he had a plan. The death of Jesus would pay for the sins of the world. Through his death, all of creation would be reconciled to God. [Colossians 1:19-20] Through his death, the power of death would be defeated once and for all. And through his resurrection, he would be shown to be Lord of all. [1 Corinthians 15]

When you read about the death of Jesus Christ in the four gospels, or when you see a movie like The Passion of the Christ, it's difficult not to be overcome with a sense of tragedy—a sense of loss—as Jesus is nailed to the cross. It appears, for a moment, that his enemies won the war. But God wasn't finished. God knew on the third day the stone that closed his tomb would be rolled away. God knew that the blood in this lifeless corpse would flow again, his lungs would fill with air, strength would return to his body, and he would stand again.

Just as God brought his Son back from the dead, he can cause a resurrection in your life, as well. What has died? What dreams, what hopes, what relationship, what vision? What is happening in your world that appears to be beyond the hand of God?

Have you heard the sermon called "It's Friday...but Sunday's Coming!"? The idea of the message is: "It's Friday...Jesus has died...his followers are crying and the devil is laughing as Jesus lies cold in the grave...but Sunday is coming! It's Friday and it looks like the devil is winning...but Sunday is coming. It's Friday and it looks like the dream has ended...but Sunday is coming. It's Friday and the smell of death is in the air...but Sunday is coming. It's Friday and you may be tempted to give up and quit...but Sunday is coming."

Easter morning teaches that no matter what happens on Friday, Sunday is coming. Nothing is beyond God's power. The resurrection makes the word "hopeless" obsolete. It makes the word "impossible" meaningless. It makes the word "despair" powerless. That's why Paul said, “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” (Romans 8:11) And it is why Paul said, “Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20) And it is why Paul said, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (Philippians 4:13) No situation is beyond God's power to save. The resurrection proves it.

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