What Easter Means to You

Notes: What Easter Means to You
Pastor Greg Laurie
Easter at the Bren
April 20, 2014
Mark 16

Pastor Greg was talking about how he likes to tell bible stories. When he tells kids the bible story he puts funny things in there, so that the kids stay interested.

He talks how the Easter story reminds people of different things, some people its a thankful day, some know this day as a marker in time of something sad such as the loss of someone. Some are sitting there being very skeptical, Greg says Easter is for skeptics so he is happy those people are here.

Mark 16:1–11 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.” 8 So they went out quickly[a] and fled from the tomb, for they trembled and were amazed. And they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 9 Now when He rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had cast seven demons. 10 She went and told those who had been with Him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

Who is Easter for:

1. Easter is for those who have been devastated by death.

Greg is talking about how devastated it is to lose a loved one, like how he lost Christopher. How there are so many that are suffering through things like that. 

He says, death is not the end, it is just a bend in the road. Jesus had told his disciples this and they did not seem "to get that memo." 

Jesus did bring Lazarus back from the dead, he did that after he saw the devastation it caused us. But, those in Heaven are not wanting to come back. Death hurts the ones that are left here. Believers are in Heaven as soon as they die.

Mark 16:6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.

1 Corinthians 15:20–22 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

Skeptics say that the disciples wanted to start a new religion, however, all of the disciples besides John died a martyrs death, not one of them recanted. Not really the result one goes for if they are trying to start a new religion.

The resurrection of Jesus was the death of death!

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Luke 24:39 Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself. Handle Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have.”

Jesus has beaten death.

2. Easter is for the person who has failed spiritually.
(Mark 16:6–7 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”)

“But go, tell His disciples; and Peter.”
(Mark 16:7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”)

Some people are a little ashamed that they are at church only for Easter.

One person said that most Americans only attend church three times, when they are hatched, latched and dispatched. 

Peter needed a word of encouragement because he denied the Lord, he swore that he was not a disciple, and Jesus gives second chances. Jesus even predicted the denial.

Easter is a time of second chances. 

3. Easter is for the person who feels as though God has let them down.

Examples of those that are single and don’t want to be, those divorced that did not want to be, thinking that Jesus may have let them down.

Disappointment is Gods appointment. 

Mark 16:12–13 After that, He appeared in another form to two of them as they walked and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it to the rest, but they did not believe them either.

Hebrews 10:24–25 And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.

God restores hope to our broken hearts by His Word.

Luke 24:32 And they said to one another, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?”

Mark 16:14 Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.

Every step away from the cross is a step in the wrong direction! Meaning if you are sinning, then go back closer to God, He will accept you and forgive you. 

4. Easter is for doubters!

Isaiah 1:18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson,They shall be as wool.

Some think that to believe, "you need to check your reason at the door."

Skepticism is looking for light; unbelief is content with darkness.

Doubt is not a sign that man is wrong, it is a sign that a man is thinking.

Unbelievers have no intention of changing or believing, they don’t want to believe. Skeptics will believe if they are presented the facts.

Mark 16:11 And when they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they did not believe.

You are in the Easter story: John 20:29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas,[a] because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” 

That is us, we have not seen yet believe!

There is hope for the Christian, death is not the end. 

Jesus has absorbed your wrath from sin when he hung on the cross at Calvary.

Revelation 3:20 (NKJV) Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

He is not forcing Himself on you, but He is standing there waiting for you to invite Him in.

Jeremiah 33:3 ‘Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.’

Jesus died on that cross and rose from the dead for you!