Resurrection Sunday: April 5, 2015 – Even in the Face of Trial and Denial, Jesus Still Resurrects and Restores
Homily Audio:
Resurrection Sunday: April 5, 2015 – Even in the Face of Trial and Denial, Jesus Still Resurrects and Restores
Homily Audio:
Previous Resurrection-themed posts:
Emmaus City Liturgy | Sunday, April 20, 2014 – Jesus Comes to Us (Easter Sunday)
Raised? Finding Jesus by Doubting the Resurrection Parts 1 and 2: Doubt and Cycle
Raised? Finding Jesus by Doubting the Resurrection Parts 3 and 4: Faith and Life
Hallelujah, Death is Beaten! Christ is Risen from the Dead!
Even in the Face of Trial and Denial, Jesus Still Resurrects and Restores
Jesus' Prayer He taught His Followers
Our Father in heaven, may Your name be kept holy.
May Your Kingdom come. may Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today the food we need,
And forgive us our sins as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
And don’t let us yield to temptation, but rescue us from evil.
(For Yours is the Kingdom, the power and the glory forever. Amen.)
Scripture Text
1 Peter 1:3-9; The Gospels; Acts 2:22-41; 1 Peter 2:24; 3:18
Quote from Brett McCracken's "Stuck in Saturday" Article:
" ... Jesus was crucified on Friday. But the paralyzing hopelessness the disciples experienced continued to intensify as they lived into Saturday. We don’t typically talk a lot about Saturday in church. We spend plenty of time on Good Friday, which of course we should. Friday is the day redemption happened through the shedding of Christ’s blood. Friday is a very important day. Nobody would argue that we shouldn’t celebrate Easter Sunday. Jesus conquered death so we can have life. It doesn’t get any better than Easter Sunday.
But what about Saturday? It seems like a day when nothing is happening. In reality, it’s a day full of questioning, doubting, wondering and definitely waiting. It’s a day when we wonder if God is asleep at the wheel or simply powerless to do anything about our current problems. While we don’t spend a lot of time talking about Saturday, so much of our life here on this earth is lived out feeling trapped in 'Saturday.' I’m trying to get to a place in my life where I can embrace 'Saturday.' I’m trying to get to a place where I can view the wait as a type of preparation for what God might be doing in my life.
You may currently be in the midst of a horrible, out-of-control situation. You might feel as if God is not there, that nothing can be done. But here is the message of the Gospel for you while you’re stuck in your helpless Saturday-life: God does His best work in hopeless situations.
We worship a God who specializes in resurrections. He specializes in hopeless situations. After all, at Easter, we celebrate that He conquered death—the ultimate hopeless situation—so you could have life. Jesus’ followers were dejected and dismal—then Jesus rose from the dead. God did the impossible and in a matter of hours the disciples journeyed from hopeless to hope-filled; from powerless to powerful. Everything changed when they saw Him risen. The story of our salvation was born out of extraordinary uncertainty. But that’s the way hope works.
And no, that doesn’t take away your mom’s cancer. That doesn’t erase the bankruptcy you’re in the midst of. That doesn’t heal your broken relationship. That doesn’t replace your shattered dream. But it can remind you that while life is uncertain, God is not. While your power is limited, God is limitless. While your hope is fragile, God Himself is hope. Your world may feel chaotic, especially when you’re stuck in a Saturday, struggling hopelessly and waiting desperately.
But no doubt about it, God is still in control. And one way or another, Sunday will dawn."
Jesus’ Seven Last Statements from the Cross
" ... Jesus was crucified on Friday. But the paralyzing hopelessness the disciples experienced continued to intensify as they lived into Saturday. We don’t typically talk a lot about Saturday in church. We spend plenty of time on Good Friday, which of course we should. Friday is the day redemption happened through the shedding of Christ’s blood. Friday is a very important day. Nobody would argue that we shouldn’t celebrate Easter Sunday. Jesus conquered death so we can have life. It doesn’t get any better than Easter Sunday.
But what about Saturday? It seems like a day when nothing is happening. In reality, it’s a day full of questioning, doubting, wondering and definitely waiting. It’s a day when we wonder if God is asleep at the wheel or simply powerless to do anything about our current problems. While we don’t spend a lot of time talking about Saturday, so much of our life here on this earth is lived out feeling trapped in 'Saturday.' I’m trying to get to a place in my life where I can embrace 'Saturday.' I’m trying to get to a place where I can view the wait as a type of preparation for what God might be doing in my life.
You may currently be in the midst of a horrible, out-of-control situation. You might feel as if God is not there, that nothing can be done. But here is the message of the Gospel for you while you’re stuck in your helpless Saturday-life: God does His best work in hopeless situations.
We worship a God who specializes in resurrections. He specializes in hopeless situations. After all, at Easter, we celebrate that He conquered death—the ultimate hopeless situation—so you could have life. Jesus’ followers were dejected and dismal—then Jesus rose from the dead. God did the impossible and in a matter of hours the disciples journeyed from hopeless to hope-filled; from powerless to powerful. Everything changed when they saw Him risen. The story of our salvation was born out of extraordinary uncertainty. But that’s the way hope works.
And no, that doesn’t take away your mom’s cancer. That doesn’t erase the bankruptcy you’re in the midst of. That doesn’t heal your broken relationship. That doesn’t replace your shattered dream. But it can remind you that while life is uncertain, God is not. While your power is limited, God is limitless. While your hope is fragile, God Himself is hope. Your world may feel chaotic, especially when you’re stuck in a Saturday, struggling hopelessly and waiting desperately.
But no doubt about it, God is still in control. And one way or another, Sunday will dawn."
Jesus’ Seven Last Statements from the Cross
“Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34)
Forgiveness for people murdering Him
“Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43)
Salvation for those who trust in Him
“Woman, behold, your son! … Behold, your mother! (John 19:26-27)
Care for His family
“I thirst” (John 19:28)
Humility in His human anguish and pain due to the cost of our sin
“I thirst” (John 19:28)
Humility in His human anguish and pain due to the cost of our sin
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46)
Mysterious break of His perfect communion with God
Mysterious break of His perfect communion with God
“It is finished” (John 19:30)
Atonement for sin and complete reconciliation for His people, and God's love, holiness, righteousness, and justice for the world showcased and accomplished
“Father, into Your hands I commit my
spirit” (Luke 23:46)
Restored to God the Father like those who trust in Him will also be
Creed | Confession
Belgic Confession Article 20
1561 A.D.
We believe that God—who is perfectly merciful and also very just—sent the Son to assume the nature in which the disobedience had been committed, in order to bear in it the punishment of sin by his most bitter passion and death. So God made known his justice toward his Son, who was charged with our sin, and he poured out his goodness and mercy on us, who are guilty and worthy of damnation, giving to us his Son to die, by a most perfect love, and raising him to life for our justification, in order that by him we might have immortality and eternal life.
We believe that God—who is perfectly merciful and also very just—sent the Son to assume the nature in which the disobedience had been committed, in order to bear in it the punishment of sin by his most bitter passion and death. So God made known his justice toward his Son, who was charged with our sin, and he poured out his goodness and mercy on us, who are guilty and worthy of damnation, giving to us his Son to die, by a most perfect love, and raising him to life for our justification, in order that by him we might have immortality and eternal life.
Communion
Hymns and Songs
Out of the Depths lyrics and video by City Hymns (original by Henry W. Baker)
1868 A.D.
How Deep the Father's Love lyrics and video by King's Kaleidescope (original by Stuart Townend)
1995 A.D.No Greater Aim lyrics and video by Austin Stone Worship
2014 A.D.Seas of Crimson lyrics and video by Bethel Music
2014 A.D.
1876 A.D.
Benediction
"Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." – Hebrews 13:20-21
Benediction
"Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen." – Hebrews 13:20-21
Next liturgy and homily: Sunday, April 12, 2015 – Where does Truth meet us? Where does Truth take us?
– Sully
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