The Last Word
March 26, 2016
Matthew 28:5-6 “5The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay.”
Mary came to the graveyard on Easter morning to cry, to grieve, to say her goodbyes. As far as she was concerned the bad guys had won. They had crucified and killed this wonderful and innocent man named Jesus. She thought death and evil had the upper hand, the last word, a good life that ended in tragedy. She was so surprised to find the grave empty. She figured someone had moved his body. Then she heard a voice and it said, “Do not be afraid, you are looking for Jesus and He is not here. He is raised.” The Gospel of John reminds us that she also heard another voice, a familiar voice, the voice of Jesus, and He called her by name, “Mary.” In that moment, she discovered that sin and death and evil do not have the last word or the last move. God has the last move. On Easter you either get it or you don’t. You can’t explain Easter. You don’t explain miracles. Easter is something you experience. Easter is something that you believe. God always has the last word, the final move, and it is a good move. To believe in Easter is to know that God will not allow His purpose for your life to wind up in tragedy. Nor will He allow you to live in despair and hopelessness. No matter what you are facing today, no matter how hard, painful, hurtful, stressful or horrible, remember, it is Easter, and God has a future for you. Your future will be more glorious than your past.
– Tim Thompson, Senior Pastor
Mary came to the graveyard on Easter morning to cry, to grieve, to say her goodbyes. As far as she was concerned the bad guys had won. They had crucified and killed this wonderful and innocent man named Jesus. She thought death and evil had the upper hand, the last word, a good life that ended in tragedy. She was so surprised to find the grave empty. She figured someone had moved his body. Then she heard a voice and it said, “Do not be afraid, you are looking for Jesus and He is not here. He is raised.” The Gospel of John reminds us that she also heard another voice, a familiar voice, the voice of Jesus, and He called her by name, “Mary.” In that moment, she discovered that sin and death and evil do not have the last word or the last move. God has the last move. On Easter you either get it or you don’t. You can’t explain Easter. You don’t explain miracles. Easter is something you experience. Easter is something that you believe. God always has the last word, the final move, and it is a good move. To believe in Easter is to know that God will not allow His purpose for your life to wind up in tragedy. Nor will He allow you to live in despair and hopelessness. No matter what you are facing today, no matter how hard, painful, hurtful, stressful or horrible, remember, it is Easter, and God has a future for you. Your future will be more glorious than your past.
– Tim Thompson, Senior Pastor
Amen