Easter Changes Everything

 Easter Changes Everything

Opening Illustration:

Famed author John W. Yates II tells a fictional story about the Devil. As it turns out, the Devil was advertising a spiritual sale of sorts. The Devil was selling some of his most effective tools. These are tools that he had used on humanity throughout the ages and now he was putting them up for sale. In the advertisement, the Devil had laid out all the tools and put a price on each one. there were a lot of treacherous instruments: hatred, envy, jealousy, deceit, pride, lying, and so on. Laid apart from the rest of the Devil’s tools was a tool, but it was worn more than any of the others and was priced very high. “What’s the name of this tool?” asked one of the customers.

“That,” the Devil replied, “is discouragement.”

“Why have you priced it so high?”

“Because discouragement is more useful to me than all the others. I can pry open and get inside a man’s heart with that when I cannot get near him with any other tools. It’s badly worn because I use it on almost everyone, since so few people know it belongs to me.”

Point:

Brothers and sisters, are you feeling discouraged today? There may be someone here this morning who is at the end of their rope. You woke up this Resurrection Sunday and said to yourself, “this is it, this is the last chance that I am going to give God”. You look back at the last few months of your life and you are depressed, downcast, and you are despairing. If discouragement is really a well worn tool of the Devil, its effectiveness is proven in your life. 

Point:

You don’t have to look very far to find discouragement in this world. On Tuesday I heard about a lone gunman on a New York subway who attempted to gun down dozens of innocent people going about their day. Discouragement. 

I tune into the news and see the reports coming out of Ukraine. Two thirds of all Ukrainian children have been displaced from their homes. Thousands of Ukrainian families have been torn apart by war. Downcast. 

Our economy is in shambles. Inflation. Debt. Interest. Recession. The news is bleak. Depression. 

Point:

If you are feeling depressed, discouraged, or downcast, you are are not alone. Those emotions have been around since the beginning of time. Some might even say that discouragement is one of the most basic emotions a human can possess. In fact, if you were to look through the pages of the Bible, you will see character after character who suffered from depression and discouragement. 

Jonah suffered from suicidal thoughts in Jonah 4:3.

Sarah, Abraham’s wife, suffered from tremendous discouragement because she was barren. In order to resolve her feelings, she stepped outside of God’s plan and made matters even worse. 

What about David. Listen to what David said in Psalms 6:6. 

Psalms 6:6 NIV

I am worn out from my groaning. All night long I flood my bed with weeping and drench my couch with tears.

Brothers and sisters, is that your story? If you are feeling discouraged, depressed, or downcast, don’t despair! Jesus is risen. He has risen indeed. 

Know this, Jesus changes everything. 

Today’s Thought:

If You Are Discouraged, Depressed, or Downcast, Don’t Despair!

Jesus Is Risen, He Has Risen Indeed!

Quote:

I love this quote by Charles Swindoll.

The devil, darkness, and death may swagger and boast, the pangs of life will sting for a while longer, but don’t worry; the forces of evil are breathing their last. Not to worry…He’s risen!”

-Charles Swindoll

Point:

If you have found yourself in the solid grasp of the Devil’s most effective tool, discouragement, don’t give up and don’t given in. Jesus has defeated Satan and He wants to stand in the midst of your pain and suffering. He wants to draw you out of your suffering and place you securely on the solid rock of His promises. 

Background and Context:

Today you are going to be introduced to two women who were in the throws of despair. You will be introduced to Mary and Martha. Mary is not Jesus' mother.  She is mentioned in Luke 10:42 and John 12. She was a deep worshipper of Jesus.  Martha was a worker and is rebuked by Jesus but is given the great delight of being the first to proclaim His resurrection in John 11:27. Mary and Martha’s brother Lazarus had just perished. Martha and Mary are destroyed. They are in the throws of grief and it appears that darkness has swallowed them whole. Where is Jesus? Where is God? 

This family was very important to Jesus. When you read the story of Christ and learn about His ministry, you discover that some of His closest allies came from this family. They spent a great deal of time together and Jesus enjoyed being in their presence. Lazarus had been sick for several days. Jesus knew about Lazarus’ illness but delayed in coming. Jesus was in Jerusalem at the time of this story. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus were in Bethany. Bethany is located on the east side of the Mount of Olives about two miles southeast of Jerusalem. Hometown of Mary, Martha and Simon the Leper. This is generally thought to be the area where Jesus ascended. 

How long would it have taken Jesus and the disciples to walk 2 miles to Bethany? Martha and Mary start playing the same games that we all play when we are disappointed. Why did Jesus not show up? Did Jesus not really care? Why God?

This is the absolute lowest point for this family. This was the darkest moment. Maybe you are at your lowest point, your darkest moment. Boy do I have some great news for you today. Just like Jesus showed up for Mary and Martha, He can show up for you as well. Let’s read about it in John 11:17-27. Today I am reading from the English Standard Version. 

Today’s Scripture:

John 11: 17-27 ESV

17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

What Do We Learn From Today’s Story?

I. We Learn That Death Is Certain vs. 17

John 11:17 ESV

17 Now when Jesus came, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 

Point:

We pick up today’s story on a somber note. Lazarus is dead. Mary and Martha are grief stricken. More than that, they are angry. Days earlier they had sent for Jesus. They had faith that if Jesus was present, that He would have been able to save their brother. Now their brother was gone and rotting in his grave for the past 4 days. 

Death has been a problem for humanity since the third chapter of Genesis. Adam and Eve trade bites from the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil. In that moment, they disobeyed God and creation fell. This act of defiance rearranged their perfect eternal DNA and inserted a faulty strand of death that would passed from human to human. All of creation would be thrown into turmoil. War, disease, famine, would become fixtures of our existence. The world, from that moment till today is broken beyond human repair. 

Lazarus, because he was a sinner, died. His body had been placed in a tomb. We know that he was wrapped in linen cloth and a large stone had been placed in front of the grave. Lazarus had been dead for several days because we discover that foul odor was present around the grave. 

Point:

Death is nothing knew. Did you know that 56 million people die every year? That’s over 150,000 people dead each day. That more than 6000 people an hour. That comes to 106 people dead a minute. That’s nearly 2 people a second. Our world is filled with death. Death is a certainty. Death is coming for every person in this world and death doesn’t care about how much money you have. It doesn’t care about your political preferences, how many degrees you have, or who you are married to. Every person in this room, unless the Lord comes back before, will die. Here is what the Bible has to say about death:

Ecclesiastes 9:5 ESV

For the living know that they will die…

Psalm 146:4 ESV

When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.

Point:

Lazarus just experience what we all will taste. Death. All of have a dying problem. Sadly, I have more bad news for you today. Not only do we have a death problem. We have a disappointment issue as well. 

What Do We Learn From Today’s Story?

I. We Learn That Death Is Certain vs. 17

II. We Learn That Disappointment Is Constant vs. 18-21

Matthew 11:18-21 ESV

18 Bethany was near Jerusalem, about two miles off, 19 and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them concerning their brother. 20 So when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary remained seated in the house. 21 Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 

Point:

Did you hear it? 

Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 

Martha is angry. Martha is mad. Who is she angry with you ask? Jesus. God. How many of you have ever been angry at God? You experienced a tragedy. You prayed and prayed. You asked God to save your loved one from cancer and that special person who you loved died. But you prayed. Did you not have enough faith? Did you pray wrong? Was God mad at you, punishing you for something you did or didn’t do?

How many of you have been angry with God because you didn’t get your dream job? You were angry with God because you were abused as a child. You were angry with God because you were abandoned, your husband left you. Your wife packed her bags and ran off with some one else. 

You have caught yourself saying the same thing. “Lord, if only you had been here, this would not have happened to me”.

Im reminded of Job. A man who lost everything. He lost his children, his home, his ability to make a living, even his health. Job was a man of sorrow. 

Job 1:20 AMP

Then Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head [in mourning for the children], and he fell to the ground and worshiped [God]. 

Point: 

Brothers and sisters, sadly we have let an incorrect theology invade our spirits. This theology is that our disappointment somehow discredits God’s power, His ability, or His love for us. You see that’s what Martha is saying. “Jesus, because you were not here, Lazarus is dead. You don’t love us. You don’t care about us.”

Friends, nothing could be further from the truth. 

The truth is that the Lord is doing something powerful with your pain. Your pain is a paintbrush that God is using to create His masterpiece of power and grace. Your disappointment is God’s method to amplify His authority in and over your life. 

Martha was mistaken in her assessment. She thought that Jesus was not there when Lazarus died. She thought that He was absent in her disappointment. The truth is that Jesus was carrying her through her discouragement. 

Point:

Church, if all you are seeing today is darkness, death, and disappointment, take heart. Jesus knows. He cares. He is coming. He is in your midst, aware of your pain. He is using your trouble to change the trajectory of your life. Keep your eyes fixed on Him, your heart focused on God’s Word, and rest in His promises. 

What Do We Learn From Today’s Story?

I. We Learn That Death Is Certain vs. 17

II. We Learn That Disappointment Is Constant vs. 18-21

III. We Learn That Devotion Is Challenging vs. 22-24

John 11:22-24 ESV

22 But even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”

Point:

When we read the story about Lazarus’ death, we learn that death is certain. It is coming for all of us. We learn that disappointment is part of being human. It is because of these things that make having faith sometimes difficult. Remaining devoted to Christ can be challenging. 

Having faith when everything is going your way is easy.

Having faith when the sun is always shining is no problem. 

Having faith when you have your toes in the sugary sands of Orange Beach is a pleasure. 

What about when things are broken down? What about when the hurricanes come for you? What about when your toes are not in the sandy beach, but you are walking through the Valley of the Shadow of Death?

That’s when faith is challenging. 

Mary and Martha wanted to believe but they were faced with the crushing fact that their brother was dead. His corpse was rotting in his crypt. They eyes were puffy with tears. Chances are they had not slept and if they had it had been very little. 

Point:

Have you ever noticed that when difficulty teams up with fatigue, having faith seems harder and harder. It reminds me of the story from Mark 9. We encounter a little boy who had been possessed by an unclean spirit. This spirit prevented the boy from speaking. It would put him in fits of seizures. The spirit would make the boy foam at the mouth. Sadly the disciples could not drive the spirit from the boy so his father went to Jesus for help. Jesus told the man that nothing was impossible for one who believed in God. Listen to the man’s response to Jesus.

Mark 9:24 NKJV

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”

This man was having a crisis of belief. When you are staring death in the eye and disappointment has you clinging to the end of your rope, faith can be very hard. This man wanted to so believe in Jesus but disbelief was knocking on the door of his heart. Just like it did for Mary and Martha when Lazarus died. 

Point:

There are so many difficulties in life and we are constantly going through trials and tribulations no matter if they are big or small. Sometimes we feel like we will never get through a certain situation or never complete a task because they seem impossible. However, nothing is impossible with God by your side.

Life is hard. 

Life was never meant to be easy. The older we get, the harder life gets. Nobody has life figured out completely and nobody gets through life easily. We all have struggles. We may not have the same struggles, but we all have our own things to get through. We deal with sickness, loss of loved ones, financial problems and so many other things and it is never easy. We all have to go through school and graduate and find jobs and try to figure out what we want to do with our lives and who we want to spend it with. We are always worrying about the future and trying to predict what the future holds, but that is impossible and something that only God knows.

You will go through hard times. Life is completely unpredictable. Once you think that you have something figured out, life throws you a curveball and will knock you off your path and you have to take a completely different route. You will struggle, no matter if it is physically or emotionally, it will happen at some point and it will happen more than once.

In every life situation, good or bad, we have to learn to trust God. When life is good and everything is going right, we often forget to thank God for what he is doing in our lives and giving us the good things. The moment that things take a turn and we run into obstacles, we go running to God asking him for help and pleading for him to lead our path. Instead of doing this in difficult times, we should be running to him at all times, no matter if they are good or bad, this will strengthen your relationship with him.

Do not get discouraged when times are tough. Anything is possible with God, he will get you through the hard times if you let him. Trust in him, but know life’s journey may not be easy but it will be worth the struggle.

What Do We Learn From Today’s Story?

I. We Learn That Death Is Certain vs. 17

II. We Learn That Disappointment Is Constant vs. 18-21

III. We Learn That Devotion Is Challenging vs. 22-24

IV. We Learn That Jesus Delivers Continually vs. 25-26

John 11:25-26 ESV

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 

Point:

Do you know what happens to the human body after death? I don’t want to be to gruesome but I will share with you some of the basic details. Minutes after death blood settles to the lowest extremities of the body. Carbon dioxide begins to build up causing membranes and cells to rupture. A few hours later bloating beings. 24 hours after death, organs begin to decompose. 

Lazarus had been dead for 4 days. Because of Jewish tradition, he would have been immediately interned. They would have hastily prepared the body, placed it in a tomb and rolled a stone in the front of the entrance. Sound familiar? Of course it does because that is what happened to Jesus. His body would have been exposed to a range of heat and cold depending on the times during the day and the severity of the time of year he passed. 

What I am trying to get at is the gravity of the miracle of Lazarus’ resurrection. We know the rest of this story. 

John 11:38-44 ESV

38 Then Jesus, deeply moved again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay against it. 39 Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, by this time there will be an odor, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed you would see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out, his hands and feet bound with linen strips, and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Point:

In an instant, Jesus calls Lazarus forth, proving that He is indeed the Resurrection and the Life. Jesus stepped into the middle of Mary and Martha’s pain and disappointment and spoke life and power. He did not just raise Lazarus from the death, He raised Mary and Martha’s hope from the dead as well. 

John 11:25-26 ESV

25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 

The Resurrection of Jesus changed everything. It literally split history into A.D. and B.C. It’s the most important event in human history. And it proves three things.

First, it proves that Jesus is exactly who he claimed to be. He repeatedly said he was the Son of God who came to die for our sins. And he did just that. The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most well-documented events in history. It would stand up in any court of law. In fact it has many, many times throughout centuries.

The apostle Paul said, “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also” (I Corinthians 15:3-8 NIV).

Second, the Resurrection proves that Jesus keeps his promises. Jesus told his disciples that he would “be killed and on the third day be raised to life” (Matthew 16:12 NIV). Because Jesus kept that promise, you can trust the other promises in the Word of God. The Bible says, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ. . . . [He] set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come” (II Corinthians 1:20, 22 NIV).

Third, the Resurrection proves that there is life after death. Because of Jesus Christ’s Resurrection, we have HOPE for the future. And it is a hope that will not disappoint (see Romans 5:5). Jesus said, “I am the one who raises the dead and gives them life again. Anyone who believes in me, even though he dies like anyone else, shall live again. He is given eternal life for believing in me and shall never perish” (John 11:25-26 TLB).

Where else are you going to get a promise like that? Nowhere! Who else can give that to you? No one! If you don’t get it from Jesus, you won’t have it. That is an amazing benefit, and it’s available to you today. What’s the qualification? You must believe.

Point:

That’s the question that Jesus asks of Mary and Martha. He asks it of you Today as well. Will you confess that you are a sinner and that if you die in your sin you will be separated forever from God in a real place called hell? Will you believe in Jesus Christ. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and there is no way to enter heaven unless you enter through Him. Will you call out to Him, confess Him as your Savior, and obey Him? If you will call upon the name of the Lord, you too will experience a resurrection. Remember, the Lord always keeps His promises, He is gracious in all that He does. 

Pslam 145:13 NLT

The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.

Do You Believe In Jesus’ Promise?