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Message: Were You There?

Romans 6:4-11

    On Easter most Christian Churches emphasize the death, burial and Resurrection of Christ.   This is a historical event which happened almost 2000 years ago.  But the Spiritual meaning of these events happens in our lives today.  And this isn’t emphasized enough.

    Paul explains the significance of the Death, Burial and Resurrection for us.  “When we were baptized, we were buried with Christ and shared his death. So, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the wonderful power of the Father, we also can live a new life.  Christ died, and we have been joined with him by dying too. So we will also be joined with him by rising from the dead as he did.  We know that our old life died with Christ on the cross so that our sinful selves would have no power over us and we would not be slaves to sin.  Anyone who has died is made free from sin’s control. If we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.  Christ was raised from the dead, and we know that he cannot die again. Death has no power over him now.  Yes, when Christ died, he died to defeat the power of sin one time—enough for all time. He now has a new life, and his new life is with God.  In the same way, you should see yourselves as being dead to the power of sin and alive with God through Christ Jesus” (Rom.  6:4-11).

SCRIPTURE:   
                             
22  They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull),
23  Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take rt.
24  And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get. 
25  It was the third hour when they crucified him.
33  At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.
34  And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eioi... lama sabachthani?” –which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 
37  With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last” (Mark 15:22-25; 33-34; 37

I.   WERE YOU THERE WHEN JESUS DIED?

    The death of Jesus represents the destruction of sin.  Paul said, “How can we continue living with sin?  Did you forget that all of us became part of Christ when we were baptized? We shared his death in our baptism” (Rom.  6:2b-3).

    So, when it comes to the crucifixion of Jesus, the answer to “Were You There?” is a resounding “Yes!”  We were there.  Paul said, “I died to the law so that I can now live for God.  I was put to death on the cross with Christ, and I do not live anymore—it is Christ who lives in me. I still live in my body, but I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself to save me” (Gal.  2:19b-20a).

    He also said, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their own sinful selves. They have given up their old selfish feelings and the evil things they wanted to do” (Gal.  5:24);

    “Through the cross of Jesus my world was crucified, and I died to the world” (Gal.  6:14b).

SCRIPTURE:   
                               
42  It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached,
43  Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for Jesus' body.
44  Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the Centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died.
45  When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph.
46  So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb”  (Mark 15:42-46).

II.  WERE YOU THERE WHEN JESUS WAS BURIED?

    The burial of Jesus represents the fact that our sins are covered.  Our past is obliterated.  Our old life is gone forever.  Paul said, “We know that our old life died with Christ on the cross so that our sinful selves would have no power over us and we would not be slaves to sin.  Anyone who has died is made free from sin’s control.  If we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him” (Rom.  4:6b-8).

    So when it comes to the burial of Jesus, the answer to “Were You There?” again is,  “Yes!”  We were there.  Paul said, “When you were baptized, you were buried with Christ, and you were raised up with him through your faith in God’s power that was shown when he raised Christ from the dead” (Col.  2:12).

    In fact, he said, “I die daily” (I Cor.  15:31).

SCRIPTURE:   
                                   
1  When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body.
2  Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb
3  and they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4  But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.
5  As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6  "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him” (Mark 16:1-6).

III.  RESURRECTION.

    The resurrection of Jesus represents the New Life that can be lived in the power of God.  Paul said, “By his power God has raised the Lord from the dead and will also raise us from the dead” (I Cor.  6:14);

    “It is the same with the dead who are raised to life. The body that is “planted” will ruin and decay, but it is raised to a life that cannot be destroyed.  When the body is “planted,” it is without honor, but it is raised in glory. When the body is “planted,” it is weak, but when it is raised, it is powerful” (I Cor.  15:42-43).

    So when it comes to the Resurrection of Jesus, the answer to “Were You There?” again is,  “Yes!”  We were there.  Paul said, “You have begun to live the new life, in which you are being made new and are becoming like the One who made you. This new life brings you the true knowledge of God” (Col.  3:10).

    So the Death, Burial and Resurrection of Jesus is of supreme importance, not only because of what he did for us back then; but they are important because of what he is doing in us right now. 

    The CRUCIFIXION abolishes sin’s hold on us.  Selfish instincts, bad habits and evil choices can now be overcome.

    The BURIAL eradicates our old life.  Its mistakes and failures and regrets can be disregarded.

    The RESURRECTION produces a new life with limitless possibilities and great opportunities.

    But in order for us to take advantage of these benefits, we must participate:

    To be there at the CRUCIFIXION requires a personal choice.  To be there at the BURIAL requires a personal choice.      To be there at the RESURRECTION requires a personal choice.

    Are we willing to identify with Christ in crucifying the negative past; in burying the old life; and in reaching out to our new possibilities?

    There is a story told about a missionary who discovered a tribe of Indians in a remote part of the jungle.  The lived near a large river.  The tribe was in need of medical attention.  A contagious disease was ravaging the population.  People were dying daily.  A hospital was located in another part of the jungle and the only hope for the tribe was to go there for treatment.  In order to reach the hospital, however, the Indians would have to cross a river. 

    They believed the river was inhabited by evil spirits.  To enter the water meant certain death.  The missionary explained how he had crossed the river and arrived unharmed.  No luck.  He led the people to the bank and placed his hand in the water.  The people still wouldn’t believe him.  He walked out into the river and splashed water on his face.  The people watched closely, yet were still hesitant.  Finally, he dived into the water and swam beneath the surface until he emerged on the other side.
    The Indians broke into cheers and followed him across.

    Jesus saw people dying in sin and enslaved by fear.  He explained that the river of death was nothing to fear.  The people wouldn’t believe him.  He called others back to life.  The followers were still unconvinced.  It was necessary for him to enter the river himself and come out on the other side before people would believe.

    And that’s the Easter Story

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WC1217)
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