Easter 1b April 8, 2012
Mark 16:1-8 A Story to Tell
v Easter is an exciting time.
§ Families get together
§ Spring is about us
v What do you get excited about?
§ We fill our lives with the things we love.
§ We talk about the things that are of most interest
§ We share that which we are most excited about.
Throughout the Gospel of Mark,
Jesus heals,
And the people get excited
Jesus then tells them to “tell no one”
But how can they not? They all go and tell!
None keep quiet
In our text this morning…
Christ is Risen – and the Angel, tells the women to go and tell:
Mark 16:6-7 “He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. 7 Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.”
Christ is Risen!
He is RISEN!
As the Appostles Creed states:
We believe in Jesus Christ God’s only Son
suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, dead, and buried;
the third day he rose from the dead
Ø The Risen Christ is the foundation for who we are.
Ø The Risen Christ is the Transformational message of the story of God.
Romans 3:23 reminds us that “All have Sinned and Fall Short.”
As we read Scripture:
We understand we are the ones who fall short
We are the ones who have sinned
But it Scripture doesn’t stop there:
2 Cor 5:21 says: "Yet He who knew no sin became sin for us, that we may become the righteousness of God through Him."
v The Transformational message is found in the fact:
§ The stone was rolled away
§ Christ was RISEN
§ And we are to go and Tell.
v We are not bound to secrecy.
v We are not to keep this knowledge to ourselves.
§ It is for the whole world.
§ It is for every people, nation, tribe
§ It is for every tongue
Go and tell
v 1 Cor 15:3 “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me…”
§ We must continue the cycle of telling!
§ We must tell the greatest story ever told!
Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said.
v We are Set Free – to go and tell.
The women are told this, but what do they do?
The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened. Mark 16:8
v We don’t have to be afraid.
§ 2 Tim 1:7 God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, and love
v We are no longer bound to be quiet.
v We are no longer held captive.
§ We are not caged to sin
§ We are not caged to secrecy
Ø We are set free to LOVE.
§ Christ is Risen, He bore our sins…
¨ that we may be the righteousness of god
§ He canceled our debt.
§ He took away the fear.
Ø Christ is RISEN.
§ We are set free!
§ We are Free to LOVE… as Christ has loved.
Mark 12:30-31 “you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength, and ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.
How better to love your neighbor – than to Go and Tell!
Even tell Peter
v The Angel tells the women to make sure they tell Peter
Ø Peter, the one who was so bold
§ The one who ran away in fear
§ The one who denied knowing Jesus 3x
§ The one who made a fool of himself.
v The message of the resurrection…
§ Is one of invitation.
Ø Out of the depression – comes victory.
§ Peter was invited.
¨ Peter was depressed, discouraged, appalled
§ The story of God’s transformation resurrection reaches out to those who have denied him.
v If you have denied him.
§ God is sending his servants to tell you about his resurrection
§ God is reaching out to you.
§ He always has been.
§ God is telling you,
¨ In HIM you are FREE
¨ In him, you are included
Ø The story of God’s transformation resurrection reaches out to those who have denied him.
v Easter is an exciting time.
§ Families get together, Spring is about us
v What are you excited about?
Ø You have a story to tell!
§ Share your story, share the Good News
§ Invite others into the ongoing redemption of God
Today we are here to
CELEBRATE THE RESURECTION
And out of our excitement we are called to:
GO AND TELL
v Communion: Jesus’ body, his blood –broken and spilt
v Christ gave, that we may live
Ø Take, eat and be filled with the presence of God
§ and Go and Tell your story
of how God broke into your life
As you go, celebrate the Resurrection by telling the greatest story ever told. Go and Love!
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