16 April, 2017 Jesus is risen.

He has risen indeed Easter Sunday

Introduction:
Friends, truth is one of the most important & useful things in life. Because
when we know the truth about something, then we know how to use it
properly. And really, there is truth everywhere truth is all around us.
For example, electricians know the truth about electricity. This means an
electrician understands what electricity is & how it works he knows the
truth about it. And because an electrician knows the truth about
electricity we trust them to come into our homes & safely fix our lights.
And it's the same with people who are mechanics & doctors & dentists
& plumbers they are all people who know the truth about very important things in life. And because
they know the truth we can trust them to help us. Now friends, what is the truth about life? I mean, who
understands how life works & who can show us how to live life, well? In other words friends, who can you
trust with your life? Well, I think that Jesus is the most important & influential teacher in all of human
history. And so much of his teaching is memorable, challenging, so practical & so powerful. Friends,
listen to some of the teaching of Jesus.

38 You have heard that it was said, Eye for eye, & tooth for tooth. 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil

person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other cheek . 40 And if anyone wants to sue you &
take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42
Give to the one who asks you, & do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

Friends, can you imagine if people did that? Or this. Jesus said:

43You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbour & hate your enemy. 44 But I tell you, love your
enemies & pray for those who persecute you, 45 so you may be children of your Father in heaven.

Well, that would solve all the problems in the Middle East, wouldnt it? If people loved their enemies. Or
this. Jesus says:

9 Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths & rust destroy, and where thieves break in
and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths & rust do not destroy, and where
thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Well, if people did that there would have been no global financial crisis because everyone would be
too generous with money. Or what about this? Jesus said:

31So do not worry, saying, What shall we eat? or What shall we drink? or What shall we wear? 32
because the people who do not know God run after all these things, & your heavenly Father knows that you
need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom & his righteousness, & all these things will be given to you as well.

Friends, imagine living a life where you never had to worry about anything? Well, the good news is that
Jesus says that the life described in these verses is now possible & is available to all people. But friends,
are these words true? I mean, how can we be sure that Jesus way- is the way, the truth & the life? Well
friends, I think we can be sure because Jesus rose from the dead on the first Easter Sunday. I mean,
forget chocolate eggs & forget Easter bunnies - Jesus rose from the dead never to die again. He is
alive. He is risen!

And friends, because Jesus rose from the dead we can be sure that what Jesus did & what he said &
what he taught is true. It is the truth it is the only real truth. And anything else that is true in this world will
fit in with what Jesus said. You see, the truth is that what Jesus taught is the best available information
that we have to live our lives, well- that is the truth. Friends, the resurrection of Jesus back to life again
on the first Easter Sunday shows us that the life that he lived, & the life that the describes to us, & the life
that he now offers to us is true & it cannot be destroyed. And not even death can rob you of the
eternal kind of life Jesus gives to you when you begin to follow him. I mean, think about it for a minute.
What is the worst thing that can happen to us? Well, we could try to cross Beamish St & get run over by
a bus & dieso what? Jesus rose from the dead back to life, & he promises to raise us up with him. And
so now there is no need to fear death. And because there is no need to fear death, now we have the
freedom to learn & to do the crazy things that Jesus said to do like loving your enemies. In other words,
we have the freedom to live our lives, well as we wait for our own death & resurrection.
And so now, loving our enemies is actually possible because Jesus rose from the dead, & turning the
other cheek when someone insults is now the only smart thing to do because Jesus rose from the dead;
& now it makes sense not to waste all our time & energy buying the latest everything & working 7 days a
week because Jesus rose from the dead; & now it is possible to not worry because God is looking after
you & he will raise us up with him, because Jesus Christ rose from the dead. You see, the resurrection of
Jesus changes everything!

Friends, I have a secret I would like to share with you this morning. Are you ready? The secret is this: I
love watching soccer games on TV. Are you surprised? But friends, the truth is that I only really like to
watch my favourite teams play after I know the final score. Now my son Caleb doesn't really
understand this. He says watching replays is not as exciting as watching the game live. But I like to
watch my favourite team play when I already know that they have won. Why?...Well, if I already know
that my team has won, I can sit there on the couch, relax & know that no matter what happens during
the match - my team will win. I mean, my team could be losing 10-0 at half time. It doesnt matter
because I already know they have won & so I can enjoy each moment.

Friends, Jesus has won. Jesus has conquered sin & death, & he now lives, forever. And so now, we are
free to follow him & to enjoy each moment, because there are no risks. Now, yes, there is a cost & the
cost of following Jesus is that we have to give up trying to control & manipulate our lives that is the
cost. But friends, there is no risk, whatsoever. Because Jesus has won, Jesus has defeated sin & death,
Jesus has risen from the dead, & that is our future too. Friends, lets finish with these words from the
apostle John in John 6:

39 Jesus said, And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but

that I should raise them up at the last day. 40 because it is my Fathers will that all who see his Son & believe in
him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.

Lets pray