Easter 2006: Easter People Living In A Good Friday World
Scripture: Mark Chapters 14-16
Introduction
This morning we celebrate one of the most important of Christian holidays, Easter. Christianity rests on the foundation that Christ died and was resurrected. The celebration of His resurrection not only reminds us of the price He paid for us on the cross, but the greatest gift that He made available to us, eternal life. This morning my Easter message is simply this, we live in a Good Friday world but we are Easter People. Turn with me to Mark chapter 15.
I. Good Friday World
Before we read some verses in Mark, I want to give you a quick reminder as to how we got to what happened on particular Friday some 2000 years ago. It all started when Judas, one of Christ’s disciples and one that He trusted, made the decision to betray Christ for 30 pieces of silver. His act of betrayal set in motions a series of events that can only be described as traumatic. Good Friday is known as the day of suffering, Christ suffering, which led to our salvation. Through Christ’s suffering, mankind was given direct access to God. But I want you to really think about what happened on that Friday. When you think about what Christ went through, all of the suffering at the hands of His fellow man, and what that Friday came to be known as, think of our world today. We are living in a Good Friday world, a world that endorses suffering, pain and violence.
What exactly do I mean by the statement that we are living in a Good Friday world? Let me explain. There were several things that happened on Good Friday that characterizes things that happens daily in our world. Follow along with me as we look at a few Scripture in Mark the 15th Chapter.
Verses 1, 3-5, 15-19, 22-24a
"Very early in the morning the leading priests, other leaders, and teachers of religious law, the entire high council, met to discuss their next step. They bound Jesus and took Him to Pilate, the Roman governor….Then the leading priests accused Him of many crimes and Pilate asked him, ’Aren’t you going to say something? What about all these charges against you?’ But Jesus said nothing, much to Pilate surprise….So Pilate, anxious to please the crowd, released Barabbas to them. He ordered Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip, then turned Him over to the Roman soldiers to crucify Him. And the soldiers took Him away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium), and they called together the whole Roman cohort. And they dressed Him up in purple and after weaving a crown of thorns, they put it on Him; and they began to acclaim Him, ’Hail, king of the Jews1’ And they kept beating His head with a reed and spitting at Him and kneeling and bowing before Him…And they brought Him to the place Golgotha, which is translated, Place of a Skull. And they tried to give Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it. And they crucified Him, and divided up His garment among themselves." (NASB)
When the religious leaders met early the morning after they had arrested Jesus to decide what to do with Him, they decided that they wanted Him dead. Since they could not do it, they took Him before Pilate. Pilate sensing that something was wrong and that Jesus really had not done anything worthy of death, listened to all of the charges brought against Jesus. He was amazed when Jesus said nothing in His own defense. When Pilate tried to release Jesus, the crowd would not support His release so Pilate turned Him over to be crucified. Before Jesus was crucified, He was to be beaten with a lead-tipped whip, one which would tear his body to shreds. This is the first of Jesus suffering. He was falsely accused and no one stood up in His defense and He was found guilty. He was sentenced to death, although He was innocent and no one tried to win His freedom. In preparation for His crucifixion, He was beaten. What happened to Jesus on that Friday, His suffering at the hands of His fellow man continues to happen today. You see, in a Good Friday world, people will falsely accuse you in order to get what you have. When others see you going through these things, knowing you do not deserve the treatment, they will not do anything to help you. In a Good Friday world it is every man for himself; people will beat you, physically, emotionally and spiritually and get enjoyment out of it. It does not matter whether you ever done anything to them or not, you are their outlet. It’s a Good Friday world where suffering is the buzz word of the day.
After Jesus was turned over to be crucified, the soldiers mocked Him, beat Him some more and then led Him away to be crucified. When they got Him to the place where they would kill Him, they actually showed some mercy in that they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh. This was a drink to help numb the pain, but Christ refused it. They hammered nails in His hands and feet and hung Him up to die by suffocation. On this Good Friday, they tortured Him beyond what most people could endure. In our Good Friday world we see people being tortured everyday.
A Good Friday world is a world full of suffering, questioning, unfairness, trouble, mistakes, hurts, losses and grief. It is a world of self-centerness, a world of deceit and pain. A Good Friday world is a world of fear, of anxiety, of depression and shame. A Good Friday world contains the unknown, the "what ifs" and all of the doubts. Yes we live in a Good Friday world and we are faced with all of the things a Good Friday world holds, but we are still Easter People. What are Easter People?
II. We Are Easter People
We are Easter People, people who live in a Good Friday world as "visitors." Let me explain this a little bit more. When Jesus was arrested, His disciples responded in the acceptable ways of people living in a Good Friday world, they fled the scene. The disciples knowing of the suffering and crucifixion of their leader, went into hiding. All of the emotions of a Good Friday world went through them. The fear of being killed; the questioning of what had happened and what it meant; the loss or Christ and their accompanying grief; and their anxiety of what would happen to them. They went into hiding and most were not present for the crucifixion, but something happened. On Easter Sunday, something happened that changed their lives forever. Although they lived in a Good Friday world, they would become what we are today, Easter People. Look at Mark Chapter 16 and verses 19-20.
"So then, when the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed." Mark 16:19-20 (NASB)
Early on Sunday morning (Easter Sunday) Jesus got up and walked out of the grave, alive and well. When the disciples first heard about it, some did not believe. They were still operating according to the standards of a Good Friday world. When Jesus appeared to them Himself and they saw that He was alive and well, the disciples were no longer afraid. They were no longer willing to remain in hiding. They had work to do and they were going to go out and get it done. Nothing about their situation had changed, they were still marked men who were subject to being killed for their faith. However, whereas before they interacted with the risen Jesus they were scared, now their fear was gone. The only thing that mattered was doing the will of Jesus, the one who was once dead but was now alive for evermore. Although they were still living in a Good Friday world, they had become Easter People. Instead of setting up a home in the Good Friday world, they called themselves visitors knowing that their time here would be short and then they would get to their real home in the presence of Jesus. Their total attitude changed, this world and all of its issues no longer possessed them.
Easter is the most sacred day for a Christian. This is the day that we have set aside to remember the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We remember His suffering on Good Friday but we praise God for His resurrection on Sunday morning. We are Easter People. Because of Christ’s resurrection, we now have life and we have it more abundantly. We also recognize that when we leave this place, we have a better home, one being planned for us; one that is not characterized by pain and suffering. But while we are here, living in a Good Friday world filled with pain, suffering, doubts and fears, we should live as Easter People.
Easter People have a reason to praise God, even in the midst of all of their circumstances, they can give God praise. Easter People understand that this is all temporary. Easter People know that although there may be times when we are suffering, it will not last always. Easter People know that although we are living in a Good Friday world, we are not of this world. Our home is not this world so therefore we do not have to give in to its ways of doing things. Yes there are pains that we will experience; troubles we will have; days filled with doubt; and times when there is darkness all around us. But through it all, we are Easter People. When Jesus was placed into that tomb, His disciples thought it was all over, everything was lost. They were depressed, scared for their lives and wondering what would become of them. Then Sunday morning came and Jesus was no longer held by the grave. The Son and come up and their lives were changed forever – they had a reason to praise God.
When you are feeling bad and everything seems to be going in the wrong direction, remember you are an Easter Person because the Son got up. When you are in doubt and not knowing which way to go, remember you are an Easter Person because the Son got up. When all of your friends and family turn their backs on you and you start thinking that you are all alone in the world, remember you are an Easter Person because the Son got up.
When Jesus rose from the dead, His disciples became Easter People. Through their testimony and work in the early Church, we have heard the story and accepted as true their account of Jesus life. When we believed their account and accepted Christ as our Savior based on Him dying for our sins and rising from the dead, we became Easter People. You are an Easter Person! Don’t forget this as you continue living in a Good Friday world.
May God’s Blessings be yours on this Easter Sunday of 2006.
