The HOPE of Easter

The HOPE of Easter

The HOPE of Easter

The HOPE of EasterHope: “Enjoyment of the future in advance!”

The HOPE of EasterI – Hope for the Present



When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who

himself had also become a disciple of Jesus. This man went to Pilate and asked

for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. And

Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid it in his own

new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock; and he rolled a large stone against

the entrance of the tomb and went away. And Mary Magdalene was there, and the other Mary, sitting opposite the

grave.Matthew 27:57 – 61


So the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary was standing

outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; and she saw two angels in

white sitting, one at the head and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had

been lying. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She

said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus

standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you

seeking?”


Supposing Him to be the gardener, she said to Him, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to

her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” (which

means, Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Stop clinging to Me, for I have not

yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God

and your God.’” Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had

said these things to her. John 20:10 – 18

The HOPE of EasterI – Hope for the PresentII – Hope for the Future


Now I say this, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God;

nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold, I tell you

a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will

be changed.


For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put

on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and

this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is

written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting

of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who

gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 15:50 – 55


For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put

on immortality. But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and

this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is

written, “Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” The sting

of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who

gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

I Corinthians 15:50 – 55


For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the

flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to

choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain

on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake!

Philippians 1:21 – 24


The HOPE of EasterIf you believe, and God exists, you gain

everything!If you believe, and God doesn’t exist, you lose nothing!If you disbelieve, and God doesn’t exist, you lose nothing!If you disbelieve, and God exists, you lose everything!

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The HOPE of Easter