He is Risen!!!

Introduction:

Magandang umaga po sa ating lahat. Happy Easter! Batiin natin ang ating katabi ng Happy Easter!!
…. Today, we are celebrating Easter Sunday. Sa iba, ang tawag dito ay “Pasko ng Muling
Pagkabuhay”. Why are we celebrating Easter Sunday? What is the significance of this event or
occasion to us, as Christians?

How did it started?

There are many historical accounts, but as recorded in the Bible, the origin of Easter is as
follows: Jesus Christ, after the betrayal of one of His disciples, was taken to the court, was
sentenced and then nailed to the cross on Friday, for redeeming the world by His own willing
sacrifice. According to the Jewish law, Saturday was the Sabbath when all activities must cease.
So the followers of Christ could only hastily place His body in a grave by the sunset of Friday, and
then hurried off. On Sunday morning, people went back to the grave, only to find the body of Jesus
disappeared, and then they learned that Jesus Christ had been resurrected. Since then, the
Christians have called the Sunday in memory of Jesus Christ’s resurrection, Easter. This is the
origin of Easter.

Unfortunately, for a lot of people, Easter is just another Sunday, a part of what we call “Holy
Week”. Most of the workers/employees are excited to see these dates in the calendar. The last day
of work is Wednesday and starting Thursday until Sunday is a long weekend of fun and no work
dahil bakasyon. Sa mga bata naman, excited sila sa Easter egg hunting. Sa ibang mga kabataan,
pinaghahandaan nila ang outing or swimming sa beach man o sa ilog.

Hindi natin sinasabing ito ay masama, kaya lang sa ating mga Kristyano, hindi lang ang mga ito,
dahil alam natin ang mas malalim na kahulugan ng Easter Sunday.

We know better! For us Christians, Easter means the resurrection of Jesus from the dead! It means
the promise of life after death!

It means hope of a better life. It means joy.

The resurrection of Jesus is the basis of our faith. If Jesus didn’t rise from the dead then we’re just
wasting our time in our Church every Sunday.
The words, “He is not here, but He is risen”, changed the course of history! And they continue to
do so. Let us take a look at why the resurrection is so important to us.

The resurrection of Jesus is totally amazing even though many people of the world don’t know
this and many doubt it.

Mohammed didn’t get up! Confucius didn’t get up! Buddha didn’t get up! Joseph Smith is dead.

But Jesus is Alive! Nabuhay Syang mag-uli. Our God is Alive!

Easter means victory. Victory over death, victory over hell and the grave.

1 Corinthians 15: 3-8 .. (3)For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ
died for our sins according to the Scriptures, (4) that he was buried, that he was raised on the third
day according to the Scriptures, (5) and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. (6) After
that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are
still living, though some have fallen asleep. (7) Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
(8) and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

1 Corinthians 15:42-44.. (42) So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown
is perishable, it is raised imperishable; (43) it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown
in weakness, it is raised in power; (44) it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. If
there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.

The following are the key messages of the scriptures we just read:

1. Victory Over Death

In verse 42 Paul says we are sown perishable. But because of the resurrection we are raised
imperishable. We are born into this life as perishable beings. But because of the resurrection, we
have eternal life. From the moment we receive Jesus Christ into our life, we have victory over
death. Our physical body might fail us, but our soul will never die. We will be raised, forever to
live with Jesus in heaven.

We become imperishable. In the resurrection account the angel said to the women at the empty
tomb, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" They did not understand, but they soon did.
When they realized what he meant they no longer spend their lives fascinated with death. They
spent the rest of their lives fascinated with life.

In Christ, the greatest and the lowliest have the assurance that death is no longer victor because of
the resurrection of Christ.

2. Victory Over Sins

He goes on to say that we are sown in dishonor. We are born in sin, but because of the resurrection
we are raised in the glory of the father. When we invite Jesus Christ into our lives we are able to
stand before God spotless, just as if we had never sinned.

Paul says that we are sown in weakness but through the resurrection of Jesus we are raised in
power. We are born weak, with no power to resist sin and temptation, but because of the
resurrection of Jesus, the power of sin over our lives can be broken.

3. It Demonstrates the Power to Make a Comeback.

God is the God of the second chance. He can turn things around when they seem hopeless.

Separated from his father he cried: My God, My God why have you forsaken me. But God is the
God of the second chance. He do not forsake us - and what seemed so hopeless that Friday
afternoon was to become the greatest comeback the next Sunday morning.

The truth is that no matter how far we have strayed from God. No matter how long we have been
on that wayward path, on that broad road, it is not too late. Because of Christ’s resurrection we
can reach up from where we are today and take the hand that is reaching out to us, and we can
make a comeback.

4. That First Easter Sunday Demonstrates the Reach of God’s Redemption.

Look at what Paul writes in vv. 7-8. “Then He appeared to James, then all the apostles and last to
me as one abnormally born.” In the Greek the phrase "one abnormally born" is one word which
means literally to be "Snatched" from the womb as in a cesarean section, or an abortion. You see
Paul had nothing to be proud of—he persecuted the Christians—he says I am least of the apostles—
it was only by the grace of God that I am what I am. He was snatched out of the depths of his
sinfulness.
What Paul is saying here is that no matter how unworthy we are. No matter how undeserving of
his grace. When we come to him confessing our sins and inviting him into our lives, he reaches
down to wherever we might be and lifts us into his everlasting arms.Psalm 119 tells us that there
is never a mountain to high, never a sea too deep, never a place too far that God cannot reach us.

God should have given us the blast of judgment. But instead he offers the blessing of redemption.

Conclusion:

Why do we celebrate Easter Sunday? Today, we are celebrating the completion of Jesus Christ’s
redemptive action. With His resurrection, there is always hope if we put our complete trust in Him.
Today’s celebration is very significant for this is the very foundation of our faith as Christians. In
1 Corinthians 15:17, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; you are yet in your sins.” The
Lord Jesus’ resurrection was indeed the foundation of the faith of all Christianity; without it, there
would be no faith in the Lord in the Christian world.

Pero, marami pa rin sa ating mga Kristyano ang mahirap mag celebrate ngayong araw despite it’s
Easter Sunday dahil sa kahirapang nararanasan natin ngayon. Marami ang mga kulang ang
pagkain, mga walang trabaho o kulang ang kinikita para sa pamilya. Marami ang may sakit.
Nariyan din ang El Nino… sa aming Barangay halos wala nang agos ang mga gripo. Mga
nasisirang pananim ng mga magsasaka na kung saan ito lang ang kanilang pinagkukunan ng
hanapbuhay. Laganap pa rin ang krimen at mga kaguluhang pampulitika. Nariyan din ang tsimis
na sangkot ang pamilya ng Pangulo sa drugs. Kumakalat din ang mga balita ng tension at banta ng
digmaan sa South China Sea. Merong mga pag-aaway hindi lang sa mga kapitbahay kundi maging
sa loob mismo ng sariling pamilya.

Can we still celebrate Easter in this kind of life situations?

Personally, for me, one of the most inspiring message of Easter Sunday is HOPE.

Maybe, there are many among us here this morning who are passing through seasons of life in
which there is great difficulty. Maybe it’s the economy, maybe it’s family issues, maybe it’s about
health, maybe it’s a job, maybe it’s just one problem on top of another.

But let’s be patient, God is patient, be patient with yourself. Eventually, all our problems shall
come to pass, in God’s time.
The Bible says, "All power is given unto them who believe. Though we were dead, yet shall we
live." Do we know what that means? It means that because of the resurrection of Jesus we have
power over sin. Power over temptation. Power over lust of the flesh. Power over drugs and alcohol.
Power over broken relationships. Power over financial bondage. Power over every circumstance
in life. All power is given to us through the resurrection of Jesus. Since the power of God was able
to raise Jesus from the dead, how much more can that same power enable us to live extraordinary
lives?

Let us remember the sin, sickness and disease that has been washed away by the blood and sacrifice
of Jesus.

We have the victory over death’s defeat, victory over sins dominion, we have the power to
comeback and finally, we see God’s redemptive nature.

Let us celebrate and praise our Living God this Easter Sunday Morning.

Halleluiah, Amen.

Scripture Reading:
Matthew 28:1-8 New International Version (NIV)
28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other
Mary went to look at the tomb.
2 Therewas a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to
the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes
were white as snow.4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
5 The 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. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you
into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 New International Version (NIV)

sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according
to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas,[b] and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he
appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are
still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the
apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.