God’s Great Reversal
An Easter Message for Easter Sunday 2022
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation: 16 for by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones, or dominions, or rulers, or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him. 17 He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. 18 He is also the head of the body, the church; and He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything. 19 For it was the Father’s good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him, 20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.
21 And although you were previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His body of flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach-- 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. – Colossians 1:15-23 (NASB)
The BIG Idea
Humanity fell in sin, but God raises us up in Jesus Christ! The Resurrection of Jesus is God’s work of a “new creation” and a Kingdom that is to come! The physical Resurrection of Jesus from the dead transforms everything as we know it! The Resurrection invites us into God’s ongoing work of “new creation” – here and now, and in the eternal life to come!
ILLUSTRATION: The hollow egg and the hollow chocolate Easter candy. (What a rip-off!)
Few things are more miserable than a hollow life. The pursuit of sin makes life hollow.
Why was the death and the resurrection of Jesus even necessary?
Jesus was the substitute for Adam and Eve.
Jesus was the substitute for the Old Testament Priests and the Old Covenant.
Jesus came as the BETTER priest – or connection to God.
23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing; 24 Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.25 Therefore He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens; 27 who has no daily need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because He did this once for all time when He offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has been made perfect forever. – Hebrews 7:23-28 (NASB)
Good Friday represents the beginning of God’s great reversal.
“Our old history ends with the cross; our new history begins with the Resurrection.” - Watchman Nee
“Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won’t stay there.” – Clarence W. Hall
“Christ has not only spoken to us by His life, but He has also spoken for us by His death.” – Soren Kierkegaard
Earth’s saddest day and Earth’s gladdest day were just three days apart!
Because of His death and resurrection, everything now points to Jesus!
“Easter is always the answer to “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me!” – Madeleine L’Engle
Resurrection means being raised to a new existence for followers of Jesus!
These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. – John 16:33 (NASB)
“A dead Christ I must do everything for; a living Christ does everything for me.” – Andrew Murray
“Look for yourself and you will find loneliness and despair. But look for Christ and you will find Him and everything else.” - C.S. Lewis
Resurrection means there is no longer a need for a new angle to have a complete and full life. The tomb is empty! Death is defeated! Jesus is alive!
“Jesus did not die on the cross just so we could live comfortable, well-adjusted lives. His purpose is far deeper: He wants to make us like Himself before He takes us to Heaven. This is our greatest privilege, our immediate responsibility and our ultimate destiny.” - Rick Warren
Questions for Reflection
How would you explain the significance of the Resurrection of Jesus to someone else?
What does it mean that Christ is supreme over all?
Did God’s act of salvation have to go all the way back to the beginning? Why?
What does God’s great reversal of sin mean for us and our community?
How do we represent the reversal of sin in our own lives and in our own congregations?
How does the death and Resurrection of Jesus transform our lives? How do these events call us to transform our world?
21 And although you were previously alienated and hostile in attitude, engaged in evil deeds, 22 yet He has now reconciled you in His body of flesh through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach-- 23 if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. – Colossians 1:15-23 (NASB)
The BIG Idea
Humanity fell in sin, but God raises us up in Jesus Christ! The Resurrection of Jesus is God’s work of a “new creation” and a Kingdom that is to come! The physical Resurrection of Jesus from the dead transforms everything as we know it! The Resurrection invites us into God’s ongoing work of “new creation” – here and now, and in the eternal life to come!
ILLUSTRATION: The hollow egg and the hollow chocolate Easter candy. (What a rip-off!)
Few things are more miserable than a hollow life. The pursuit of sin makes life hollow.
Why was the death and the resurrection of Jesus even necessary?
Jesus was the substitute for Adam and Eve.
Jesus was the substitute for the Old Testament Priests and the Old Covenant.
Jesus came as the BETTER priest – or connection to God.
23 The former priests, on the one hand, existed in greater numbers because they were prevented by death from continuing; 24 Jesus, on the other hand, because He continues forever, holds His priesthood permanently.25 Therefore He is also able to save forever those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them. 26 For it was fitting for us to have such a high priest, holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens; 27 who has no daily need, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins and then for the sins of the people, because He did this once for all time when He offered up Himself. 28 For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, who has been made perfect forever. – Hebrews 7:23-28 (NASB)
Good Friday represents the beginning of God’s great reversal.
“Our old history ends with the cross; our new history begins with the Resurrection.” - Watchman Nee
“Easter says you can put truth in a grave, but it won’t stay there.” – Clarence W. Hall
“Christ has not only spoken to us by His life, but He has also spoken for us by His death.” – Soren Kierkegaard
Earth’s saddest day and Earth’s gladdest day were just three days apart!
Because of His death and resurrection, everything now points to Jesus!
“Easter is always the answer to “My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me!” – Madeleine L’Engle
Resurrection means being raised to a new existence for followers of Jesus!
These things I have spoken to you so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world. – John 16:33 (NASB)
“A dead Christ I must do everything for; a living Christ does everything for me.” – Andrew Murray
“Look for yourself and you will find loneliness and despair. But look for Christ and you will find Him and everything else.” - C.S. Lewis
Resurrection means there is no longer a need for a new angle to have a complete and full life. The tomb is empty! Death is defeated! Jesus is alive!
“Jesus did not die on the cross just so we could live comfortable, well-adjusted lives. His purpose is far deeper: He wants to make us like Himself before He takes us to Heaven. This is our greatest privilege, our immediate responsibility and our ultimate destiny.” - Rick Warren
Questions for Reflection
How would you explain the significance of the Resurrection of Jesus to someone else?
What does it mean that Christ is supreme over all?
Did God’s act of salvation have to go all the way back to the beginning? Why?
What does God’s great reversal of sin mean for us and our community?
How do we represent the reversal of sin in our own lives and in our own congregations?
How does the death and Resurrection of Jesus transform our lives? How do these events call us to transform our world?