Easter Means You Can Believe
April 15, 2007
Part 2 of Hopewell 2007 Easter Season series on “Easter Means …”
The Lord has risen!
He has risen indeed!
A week has passed since our joyous celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
A week has passed since we celebrated the resurrection with our Christian brothers and sisters at our joint Sunrise Service, celebrated the young people joining the Church, celebrated the Sacrament of Communion, and rejoiced in the fact that over 100 people worshiped with us in the beauty of this Sanctuary in all it’s Easter beauty.
Today things look more “like normal”, don’t they?
There are still some reminders of Easter – but things do look more like normal. There are not quite as many people here today as there were last week. We sill have some of the lilies out – but have had to pick some of the dead blooms off of them so they would look good today.
A week has passed since our joyous celebration of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Let me ask you –
What kind of week has it been for you?
Has it been a week filled with glorious hope — filled with the glorious power of God and the new life we have because of the resurrection of Christ?
Has it been a week filled with the excitement that God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous in your life?
Has it been a week filled with the excitement that God is changing you — and the world — by the resurrection of Christ?
Has it been a week filled with the excitement that because of the resurrection of Christ your life – the world — can be changed — they can be made new?
Has it been a week filled with the excitement of the message of Easter – that there can be hope and joy in your life — especially when you least expect it?
Has it been a week filled with the knowledge that – because of the resurrection of Christ — you can be forgiven – you can have hope – and you can have new life?
Has it been a joyous Easter – filled week?
Or —
Has it been a week that has been pretty much “business as usual” — some joy but mainly the mundane — work and whatever else usually occupies your time?
Did you leave the joy and excitement and promise of Easter here at the Church last Sunday?
Has the promise of the new life – the new joy – the forgiveness – the hope you can have because of the resurrection of Christ changed your life – and given you a joyous message to proclaim to the world —
Or —
Has the reality of the world and the reality of your life seemed to sap the energy and enthusiasm and “good news” and hope for a new life right out of you?
Or —
is it that your life — the patterns you have let yourself get into — are just so hard to change that you’ve given up even hoping that Christ can make a difference in your life — even before you try to attempt to let Him make a difference?
Indeed — as we come together today – this Sunday after Easter – you may find yourself wondering —
“So what if Christ has risen?”
“What does it mean to me?”
“What difference does it make in my life?”
“Where’s the new life Christ offers?”
I don’s see that anything has changed.”
“What new life – new hope is there?”
Indeed — it may be hard to believe in the new life and hope Christ gives us.
It may be hard to believe that – because of the event of Easter — God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous in our lives.
It may be hard to believe that – because of the event of Easter — God is changing us — and our world — by the resurrection of Christ.
It may be hard to believe that – because of the event of Easter — our lives — our world — can be changed — they can be made new.
It may be hard to believe the message of Easter – the message of hope and joy — especially when it is least expected.
It may be hard to believe that Easter means you can be forgiven – you can have hope – and you can have new life – especially when it seems that forgiveness is impossible – life is hopeless – and a new life is only a dream.
That’s why I’m glad that Easter is a Season – not just a day! We need to take some time to look at the wonderful news that Christ has risen – and the implications of joy – forgiveness – and new life the resurrection can have for our lives.
We’re going to be spending the next few weeks looking at the way the resurrection changed the lives of the first believers in Christ – and how it can change our lives, also.
The amazing — life changing — fact of Easter is that:
God can make your new.
God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous in your life.
God is changing you — by the resurrection of Christ.
By the resurrection of Christ your life can be changed.
The amazing message of Easter is a message of hope and joy — especially when it is least expected.
Easter means you can be forgiven – you can have hope – and you can have new life – especially when it seems that forgiveness is impossible – life is hopeless – and a new life is only a dream.
The Apostle Paul knew the life changing power of the resurrection of Christ.
So did Thomas.
Do you know the life changing power of the risen Christ?
As unbelievable as it may sound, you can believe the amazing message of Easter – and your life can be changed.
Listen to God’s word – first in 1 Corinthians 15:11-20 – then in John 20:19-31.
Read Scripture
The Lord has risen!
He has risen indeed!
Cristus was a resident of the great Greek city of Corinth in the first century BC.
Like some others in Corinth, Cristus had devoted his life to the teachings of a certain Jesus of Nazareth, whom the Apostle Paul and others had come to Corinth and had proclaimed as the Messiah – the Son of God – the Savior of the world.
Paul had preached persuasively in Corinth and in so many other cities that in Jesus God had come into the world – taught His ways – had been crucified – and then had risen from the dead. Paul had made the point that – because God had come into the world through Jesus and been crucified for our sins – we have salvation – and because Jesus rose again from the dead – we have new life.
Cristus and many others rejoiced in the message of salvation and new life Paul preached in the name of Jesus – they lived in new ways because God had forgiven them of their sins – and looked forward to Jesus’ promised return.
But – not everyone in Corinth believed Paul’s message.
Some scoffed at the idea of God coming into the world in human form – dieing for our sins – rising again – and promising to return.
“Sounds like more ancient Greek myths” some said.
“Surely you don’t believe such a tale” others scoffed.
And others said “It’s crazy to believe such things!”
“What do you mean the world – and my life – can be changed?
That’s just silly!”
Cristus and other Christians began to wonder about all that Paul had taught them.
Were they believing in something that was not true?
Was their faith futile?
For example — Paul had told them that Christ had risen from the dead – and that those who believed in Christ would rise from the dead also.
But Cristus knew many believers who had died – but there was no evidence that they had risen.
Indeed – was their faith futile?
Was it just a myth?
Was it silly to believe that God was doing something new and wonderful in the world – and that lives were being changed – that there was hope – new life – new opportunities for life – because of the resurrection of Christ?
They sent word to Paul with these questions – and awaited his response.
Finally they got their response from Paul.
Paul agreed that if what he had told the Christians in Corinth and in so many other places were not true, they had a futile faith and he was a liar.
And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.
But – Paul assures them that this is not the case.
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep
Paul knew the truth.
Paul knew that – if Jesus had not risen from the dead – then the faith he had and the message that he was preaching was false.
But Paul also knew that the truth was that Christ had risen – and the faith he had and preached was reality.
Paul knew what Easter really meant.
Paul knew that God was up to doing something that was new and marvelous in the event of Easter.
Paul knew that God was changing people — and the world — by the resurrection of Christ.
Paul knew that — by the resurrection of Christ – peoples lives – in fact the world — was being changed – being made new.
Paul knew that the message of Easter was a message of hope and joy — especially when it is least expected.
Paul knew that:
The Lord has risen!
He has risen indeed!
Paul had experienced this new life and hope for himself.
He also knew some people who had experienced this new life and hope in their own life.
People like the Apostle Thomas.
People who thought that their lives were ruined and there was not anything else to hope for.
People who had given their lives to following Jesus – but had their hopes and dreams crushed on a Friday afternoon as Jesus died on the cross.
People who found it very hard to believe that their lives could be changed and that there could be anything in life to hope for.
People who found it very hard to believe in the power of the risen Christ.
People who found it very hard to believe the amazing — life changing — fact of Easter was that:
God could make their lives new.
God was up to doing something that was new and marvelous in their lives.
You know – I can understand what Thomas was feeling on that week after Easter.
People scoff at “Doubting Thomas” – but you know what – I can understand what Thomas felt. I can understand his doubts.
Can’t you?
The disciples may have been full of excitement when they told Thomas that they had seen the Lord — but – for him – nothing had changed.
He couldn’t see any difference in his life.
He was still scared.
He was still afraid the Jews would arrest him because he followed Jesus.
He still felt the shame for abandoning Jesus when Jesus needed him.
He just couldn’t understand what the others disciples were talking about.
“Things look just the same to me” he may have said.
“I don’t see any difference.”
“What new life are y’all talking about?”
What new life indeed.
But — what happened to Thomas?
He finally had his life changed, didn’t he?
He finally had his opportunity to see and experience the risen Christ — and believed.
He finally found a way to let the resurrected Lord change His life.
He finally found a way to believe that – because of the resurrection of Christ – God was up to doing something that was new and marvelous in the world and in his life.
He finally found a way to believe that God was changing him — and the world — by the resurrection of Christ.
He finally found a way to believe that – by the resurrection of Christ – his life was being changed – being made new.
He finally found a way to believe in the message of Easter – that message of hope and joy — especially when it is least expected.
And not only did he find a way to believe in what God was doing in his life because of the resurrection of Christ – he began to let the risen Christ change give them new life and new hope.
He began believing in — and experiencing — the new life that was offered to him because of the resurrection of Christ.
For Thomas, Easter finally meant that he could believe.
That’s what Easter can mean for you, too.
Easter means you can believe.
Easter means you can believe.
Easter means that you can believe the amazing fact that God is making your life new.
Easter means that you can believe that God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous in your life.
Easter means that you can believe that God is changing you by the resurrection of Christ.
Easter means that you can believe that — by the resurrection of Christ – your life can be changed — it can be made new.
Easter means that you can believe that you can be forgiven – you can have hope – and you can have new life – especially when it seems that forgiveness is impossible – life is hopeless – and a new life is only a dream.
Do you find that hard to do?
Do you find yourself like Thomas?
Do you find it hard to believe in the glorious hope and the new life you have because of the resurrection of Christ?
Do you find it hard to believe that God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous in your life?
Do you find it hard to believe that God is changing you — and the world — by the resurrection of Christ?
Do you find it hard to believe that — because of the resurrection of Christ your life – the world — can be changed — they can be made new?
Do you find it hard to believe the message of Easter – that there can be hope and joy in your life — especially when you least expect it?
Do you find it hard to believe that – because of the resurrection of Christ — you can be forgiven – you can have hope – and you can have new life?
If so, what makes it hard for you?
Is it because of fears – doubts – regrets – or feelings of guilt or failure?
Are these the things that hold you back from believing?
If so, you’re not alone.
You may feel that no one else has ever had the doubts you have – no one else has ever done the things you’ve done – or no one else has ever failed the way you have.
If you feel that way – I want to listen to what I’m about to say –
We all have things that keep us from believing the good news – and living it out every day of our lives.
We all have our doubts – our regrets – and our feelings of guilt and failure.
What makes it hard for you to believe that you can be forgiven – you can have hope – and you can have new life?
Is it guilt?
Is it regret over things you’ve done or things you haven’t done?
Is it a habit you just can’t seem to shake?
Or
Is it worry over your job – or your family – or your marriage – or our health?
Friends – Easter means you can believe!
Easter means that you can believe the amazing fact that God is making your life new.
Easter means that you can believe that God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous in your life.
Easter means that you can believe that God is changing you by the resurrection of Christ.
Easter means that you can believe that — by the resurrection of Christ – your life can be changed — it can be made new.
Easter means that you can believe that you can be forgiven – you can have hope – and you can have new life – especially when it seems that forgiveness is impossible – life is hopeless – and a new life is only a dream.
Easter means you can believe.
Easter means you can believe.
There are indeed times when nothing in the world or in our lives seem changed — but everything seems stuck in the same old rut — no matter how bad that rut may be.
There are times we may wonder if things will ever change for us — or if the new life God promises us through the resurrection of Christ will ever come.
It indeed is hard for us sometimes to believe in the promises of Easter.
But — what happened to Thomas?
He finally had his life changed.
He finally had his opportunity to see and experience the risen Christ — and believed.
He finally found a way to let the resurrected Lord change his life.
He finally put his fears – his doubts – his regrets – his feelings of failure – aside – and began to let Christ change the things in his life that he could not change on his own – and began experience the new life the resurrection of Christ made possible for him.
He finally found a way to believe.
Easter means you can believe.
Easter means you can believe.
Even though there may be times when the new life God offers us through the resurrection of Christ may be hard for you believe in — the event of Easter shows you that you can be forgiven – you can have hope – and you can have new life – especially when it seems that forgiveness is impossible – life is hopeless – and a new life is only a dream .
You can believe the amazing fact that God is making your life new.
You can believe that God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous in your life.
You can believe that God is changing you by the resurrection of Christ.
You can believe that — by the resurrection of Christ – your life can be changed — it can be made new.
Easter means you can believe.
Easter means you can believe.
The thing is that the message of Easter — the message that you can indeed believe in and experience the new life the resurrected Christ offers us — does not gloss over reality. It does not overlook our world and its struggles — or your individual life and individual struggle.
Instead — the message of the risen Christ at Easter is:
“Yes — your life may not be what you want it to be –
Your life may not be at this point what God wants for you —
Nevertheless
Nevertheless
The Lord has risen!
The situations and circumstances of your life — regardless of how bad or painful or hard they may be — can be changed.
Your faith can be strengthened.
There can indeed be a new beginning — for you — for me — for all of us — because of the risen Christ.
There indeed can be new life.
We can believe — and experience — new life because of the resurrection of Christ.”
Easter means you can believe.
Easter means you can believe.
You can have new life as you experience the risen Christ.
You can have new life as you allow the risen Christ to change you.
You can have new life as we come to believe that God gives us new life through the risen Christ.
Yes — your life — and all of its situations and circumstances can be changed
You can believe — and let Christ give you new life.
That’s what Easter means.
Paul believed it.
He expressed it when he wrote that
if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.
More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised.
But –
Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep
Thomas believed it.
He expressed it when he proclaimed to the risen Christ:
My Lord and my God!
You can believe it.
You can believe the amazing fact that God is making your life new.
You can believe that God is up to doing something that is new and marvelous in your life.
You can believe that God is changing you by the resurrection of Christ.
You can believe that — by the resurrection of Christ – your life can be changed — it can be made new.
Easter means you can believe.
Easter means you can believe.
If you came here this morning wondering if new life is indeed possible – if your life and your situation can truly be changed — I invite you to leave today celebrating a truth.
I invite you to re-experience the risen Christ — and let your life be changed.
No — the risen Christ does not promise to make your life easy or painless — but He does promise to be with you when your life is hard and painful.
He promises to help you defeat habits that may undefeatable.
He promises to give you strength to live your life — and to make your life new.
He promises to make it possible for you to believe in — and experience — new life — a different life — now and forever.
You can believe it.
Easter means you can believe.
Amen.
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