Easter 2020 Sermon: Fearful but Raised

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Easter 2020 Sermon: Fearful but Raised

Fearful YET Raised
 

Exodus 14:10-15

10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, 11 and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? 12 Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”

13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. 14 The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!

 

Matthew 28:1-10

Early on Sunday morning,[a] as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.

Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”

The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

 

Reprieve.  This word comes to mind for me this Easter morning.  We need a reprieve.  More than once in my life as a child I can recall the threat, “When I get you home, I’m going to …..” With every stop I prayed that my grandmother would forget what I did.  I was nice and helpful, patient and willing…anything to attempt to outweigh the pending danger that was heading my way when we got home.  Once we arrived, she got busy with other things and several hours later came bedtime.  I took a sigh of relief cause surely I had escaped that dreaded torment.  And like a thief in the night, hear comes that, “Oh, I know you thought I forgot.”  Looking back, yes I thought or at least hoped she forgot but upon my reflecting I am sure that what I would have gotten, based on the level of emotion that was present when the incident happened, was less due to my acts of contrition the remainder of the day.

Reprieve means a cancellation or postponement of a punishment especially someone condemned to death.  I believe I have heard from the Lord today and what he is granting us this Resurrection Sunday, all over the world is a reprieve!  Now I know we do not know what to do right now with no organ and keyboard, no drums and tambourines but let me tell you…this is a GREAT place for a PRAISE!  God has granted us a REPRIEVE! And today is proof that his love for us outweighs our grievances toward Him.  The dance you have been waiting on…go ahead and have it now because the chains HAVE been broken and what is to come we have what we need to withstand.

 

The children of Israel were on their first leg of the journey out of Egypt and as soon as the first imposition came they forgot their salvation and immediately began to complain.  The text said: As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, 11 and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? 12 Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”

We look to God for answers.  When what is before us seems so great, but the word of the Lord is here to remind us, ““Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. 14 The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

Fear is real!  Faith talk is not being afraid and lying about that fear. Faith is an action…faith is MOVING while fearful.  Faith, great faith, is walking on wobbly knees.  What is the proper response to fear, Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!

 

This resurrection Sunday we bare witness to the risen savior.  Our Jesus died on that cross and today we celebrate his raising from the tomb…yes he has risen and in so doing he has made recompence for the world!  Yet we, like the children of Israel have a task and command in this age of corna-virus and that is to get moving…moving in our faith and moving in our worship!  There is a praise that must ring out this Easter like never before.  Not a cry of why but a cry of thanks!  Thanks to a God that has seen and heard and now God opens our eyes to the reprieve that has already been afforded to us.

“Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”

The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

Fearful Yet Raised

Raised means: Elevated to a higher position or level; lifted.  It further means to: lift or move to a higher position or level.

I may be fearful but I am being elevated.  I may be fearful but I am being given a higher position and taken to a higher level.  I may be fearful, glory to God but I am being lifted!

 

 

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