FBC Easter Sunrise Service

Well, good morning. He is risen He is risen indeed. Yes, he is

I am grateful for The opportunity to have a service in a building this morning.

Have you ever been to a sunrise service? It was outside on Easter Sunday morning it works well if it's

Easter is like today in the middle of April and it's a warm day I got up this morning and saw that it was 27 degrees outside and that was at about Well when

I saw it it was like 6 or 6 30 and I thought it might be a little chilly for an outdoor Easter sunrise service, but nevertheless glad that you made it this morning and looking forward to a good day of Rejoicing in the resurrection.

We want to begin the service today with a hymn. That's a prayer Regarding the risen

Christ. It's number 51 in your song supplement book By the way in the bulletin if you didn't already notice it there's a green sheet of paper that gives you the order of our service this morning so you'll you'll need that because after we sing and have a word of prayer then there is a responsive acclamation of the resurrection that we share together

So let's go ahead and stand together as we sing number 51 supplement book. Oh breath of God Prayer regarding the risen

Christ that we may know him. Oh Breath of God come fill this place

Revive our hearts to know your grace and from our slumber make us rise that we may know the

Risen Christ Oh Word of God so clear and true

Renew our minds to trust in you and give to us the bread of life that we may know the

Risen Christ Oh love of God so unrestrained

Refresh our souls in Jesus name let us reflect your

Sacrifice that we may know the risen

Christ may God the Father God the

Son and God the Spirit make us one in Holiness let us unite that we may know

The Risen Christ Let's pray

And so father I pray today that it would be our desire our longing of heart to know

The risen Christ that the fact that the reality that Christ is alive that Christ Did rise from the dead that he lives today

That that would make a huge impact in our lives not only for eternity

But for now for this life for the time being So father,

I pray that we would know Not only in our minds Intellectually, we know in our hearts experientially the risen

Christ I pray that you would bless this service this morning and use it to be an encouragement to our hearts today

We pray in Jesus name. Amen. Thank you, and you may be seated So in your bulletin is that green order of the service and there is this

Responsive acclamation we want to share together this morning So I'll begin and you you have the bold parts.

All right So let us let us let us exclaim That the

Lord is risen the stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone

Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures Christ has been raised from the dead the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep

For as an Adam all die. So also in Christ shall all be made alive. This is the day that the

Lord has made The sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law

The Lord is risen Amen And so he is and you picked up I trust when you came in a

Song sheet and we want to sing the song the day of resurrection the day of Resurrection earth tell it out abroad

The Passover of gladness The Passover of God From death to death

Eternal from this world to the sky Our Christ hath brought us over with hymns of victory

Our hearts be pure from evil That we may see a bride the

Lord in Praise eternal of Resurrection light and listening to his

Accents may hear so calm and His own all hail and hearing may raise the victor strain

Now let the heavens be joyful Her song begin

The world resound in triumph and all that is therein

Let all things seen and unseen Their notes in gladness

For Christ the Lord has risen our joy hath no end

We want to read the different gospel accounts of the resurrection begin with Matthew's account in Matthew chapter 28 and Verses 1 through 8

Your copy of Scripture and encourage you to follow along always good to Read for yourself that which is read publicly

Matthew 28 and the first eight verses Says now after the

Sabbath as the first day of the week began to dawn Mary Magdalene and the other

Mary came to see the tomb and Behold there was a great earthquake for an angel of the

Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it his countenance was like lightning and his clothing as white as snow and The guards shook for fear of him and became like dead men

But the angel answered and said to the women do not be afraid for I know that you seek

Jesus who was crucified He is not here for he has risen as he said

Come see the place where the Lord lay and go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead and indeed

He is going before you into Galilee there. You will see him behold. I have told you

So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy and ran to bring the disciples word

This time Mike Gottemoeller is going to share a reading Mike Where's thy sting?

He dies the friend of sinners dies lo Salem's daughters weep around a solemn darkness fails the skies a sudden trembling shakes the ground

Come Saints and drop a tear or two for him who groaned beneath your load.

He shed a thousand drops for you a thousand drops of richer blood

Here's love and grief beyond degree the Lord of glory dies for man

But lo what sudden joy joys appear We see

Jesus the dead lives again The rising God forsakes the tomb in vain the tomb forbids his rise cherubic legions guard him home and shout him welcome from the skies

Break off your tears ye Saints and tell how high your great deliverer reigns

Sing how he spoiled the hosts of hell and led the monster death in chains

Say live forever wondrous King born to redeem and strong to save Then ask the monster.

Where is thy sting? And where's thy victory boasting grave?

Would you take your hymnal and turn to number 272 272 we'll sing eventually all four stanzas sing a couple stanzas and then

Hear Luke's record of the resurrection and then we'll sing the stanzas three and four number 272 good

Christians now rejoice and sing Try Marking to all the world glad news we bring

Hallelujah of life is risen today

Bring flowers of song to screw his way

Let all mankind Rejoice and say

And Luke's gospel Luke chapter 24 24 and the first 12 verses

Says now on the first day of the week very early in the morning They and certain other with women with them came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared

But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb Then they went in and did not find the body of the

Lord Jesus and It happened as they were greatly perplexed about this that behold two men stood by them in shining garments

Then as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth. They said to them. Why do you seek the living among the dead?

He is not here but has risen remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee saying the

Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and Crucified and the third day rise again and They remembered his words

Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest It was

Mary Magdalene Joanna Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles and their words seemed to them like Idle tales and they did not believe them

But Peter arose and ran to the tomb and stooping down he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves and he departed

Marveling to himself at what had happened stanzas three and four of good

Christians now rejoice in sing Praise we in songs of victory

That love and life which cannot die and sing with hearts

Uplifted high Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia I name we bless so risen

Lord and sing today with one accord

The life laid down is now restored

Alleluia Alleluia And then

John's account in John chapter 20 John 20 and verses 1 through 18 says now the first day of the week

Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early while it was still dark and Saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb

Then she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved and said to them They have taken away the

Lord out of the tomb and we do not know where they have laid him Peter therefore went out and the other disciple and were going to the tomb so they both ran together and the other disciple outran

Peter and came to the tomb first and He stooping down and looking in saw the linen cloths lying there yet.

He did not go in then Simon Peter came following him and went into the tomb and he saw the linen cloths lying there and a

Handkerchief that had been around his head not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself

Then the other the other disciple who came to the tomb first went in also and he saw and believed

For as yet, they did not know the scripture that he must rise again from the dead Then the disciples went away again to their own homes but Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb and She saw two angels in white sitting one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain

Then 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

Now 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? She supposing him to be the gardener 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 Rabboni, which is to say teacher

Jesus said to her do not cling to me for I have not yet ascended to my father But go to my brethren and say to them

I am ascending to my father and your father and to my God and your God Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the

Lord and that he had spoken these things To her and then on your song sheet again

I'm sorry before that song sheet that Beth Brill is going to come with a reading that Jesus lives and so shall

I death thy sting is gone forever He who deigned for me to die lives the band of death to sever he shall raise me with the just Jesus is my hope and trust

Jesus lives and reigns supreme and his kingdom still remaining. I shall also be with him ever living ever reigning

God has promised be it must Jesus is my hope and trust Jesus lives and by his grace

Victory over my passions giving I will cleanse my heart and ways ever to his glory living

The week he raises from the dust Jesus is my hope and trust Jesus lives and I am sure not shall air from Jesus sever

Satan's wiles and Satan's power pain or pleasure. You shall never Christian armor cannot rust

Jesus is my hope and trust Jesus lives and death is now but my entrance into glory

Courage then my soul for thou has to crown of life before thee Thou shalt find thy hopes were just Jesus is the

Christians trust Thank you

Beth. And now that song sheet. I know that my Redeemer lives. This is to the tune of Jesus shall reign

Like you're familiar with that tune And let's stand shall we as we sing we'll sing stanzas one two, and then six seven and eight

What comfort this sweet sentence gives

He lives he lives who once was dead

He lives my Everlasting head

He lives triumphant From the grave

He lives eternally To say

He lives all glorious in the sky

He lives Exalted there on high and the sixth he lives my kind wise heavenly friend

He lives and loves me to the end

He lives and while he lives I'll sing

He lives my prophet priest and king

He lives and grants me daily Breath he lives shall conquer death

He lives my mansion to prepare

He lives to bring me safely

There He lives all glory

To his Name he lives my

Jesus still the same Oh the sweet joy this sentence gives

I know that my Redeemer lives

You may be seated and then we look at Mark's account of the resurrection and Mark chapter 16 verses 1 through 6

Notice in all of these accounts There are some things that are similar and then there are some things that are unique to each of these gospel writers

Which is as we would expect They're writing from four different perspectives or different individuals and they give us a fuller picture of this event of the day

Mark 16 verse 1 now when the Sabbath was passed Mary Magdalene Mary the mother of James and Salome brought spices that they might come and anoint him

Very early in the morning on the first day of the week. They came to the tomb when the Sun had risen and They said among themselves who will roll away that stone from the door of the tomb for us but when they looked up they saw that the stone had been rolled away, but it was very large and Entering the tomb.

They saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side And they were alarmed

But he said to them do not be alarmed you seek Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified.

He is risen He is not here See the place where they laid him. It's a brief prayer

Our father bless these thoughts to our hearts today as we as we reflect on those who sought

Jesus But initially did not find him. We pray in Jesus name.

Amen You know during Jesus earthly ministry he was often sought after and He was sought after by a variety of people for a variety of reasons, but mostly pretty much self -oriented reasons and They consistently found him when they sought him.

I think think with me about some of these for example one of the the very first record the earliest record of Jesus existence on this planet

Involved people seeking him the shepherds they got the message that Jesus had been born in Bethlehem and After the angels departed from them.

They said to themselves let's go find this child and they went seeking for him and they found him and then

Luke's then the other record Matthew's record of that same birth of Christ follows quickly with the visit of the

Magi Who were seeking the one who was born king of the Jews came to Jerusalem looking for him and didn't find him there

But the star guided them on to Bethlehem and those who were seeking him these Magi they found him

But then also we read next of his parents his own parents seeking him remember this in Luke chapter 2

The next event after the the birth narrative is this this event when

Jesus is 12 years old and his his family had gone to Jerusalem for a festival for the feasts and After the thing was over they all left to go back to Nazareth And this would have been a caravan of people a bunch of people from Nazareth traveling together the women with the women and the men with the men and Having a great time of traveling until the end of the day and Joseph and Mary came together for the night and Mary says, where's

Joseph or where's Jesus and Joseph says I thought he was with you. He wasn't with you No, he wasn't with me.

I thought he was with you and they Couldn't find him until they went back to Jerusalem and sought for him and then they eventually found him in the temple

Disputing with the doctors and so forth in the temple in matter in Mark chapter 1

One of the earliest things that Mark records for us in chapter 1 Verses 35 to 37 is that his disciples sought for him?

The day before this event up until sunset Jesus was dealing with people who were sick and had various diseases

But it says in verse 35 in the morning having risen a long while before daylight Jesus went out and departed to a solitary place and there he prayed and Simon and those who are with him as Peter Peter and the other disciples they searched for him expected him to keep

Keep on keeping on with this public ministry of healing and casting out demons and so forth

They searched for him and when they found him they said to him everyone is looking for you

They searched for him and they found him. They found him praying in a solitary place a

Couple chapters later in Mark chapter 3 in verses 31 and 32 we read about Jesus relatives his mother and his brothers came looking for him and He he was very busy in the work of the ministry and early in this earlier in this passage

We read that he was so busy that he didn't have time to eat and this caused his relatives.

No No small concern But in verse 31 of Mark 3 we read that his brothers and his mother came and standing outside They sent to him calling him.

They came seeking him The multitude was sitting around him and they said to him look your mother and your brothers are outside Seeking you they sought him and they found him.

They found him instructing the masses in John 6 we read the account of the feeding of the 5 ,000 or what follows the feeding of the 5 ,000

Where a multitude of people came looking for Jesus and it seems quite evident that they came looking for him because they wanted to keep on eating and they

They sought him after he fed the multitude by the Sea of Tiberias and they found him in the city of Capernaum and then there's this wonderful little story of Zacchaeus the wee little man who?

Sought after Jesus in Jericho in Luke chapter 19 The crowd was so great that this and this man was so small that he was

It's quite certain that he wouldn't be able to see him but he climbed up into that sycamore tree the

Savior for to see and Sure enough he who sought the Savior he who sought

Jesus and those crowded streets of Jericho Found him after climbing that tree now you think about those instances and certainly many more that could be that could be cited and the motives for seeking in almost all of these occasion all these occasions was largely

Self -oriented and not not necessarily selfish as in sinful

But but there was something within themselves that needed to be satisfied and that's why they sought after Jesus I mean think of the shepherds for example, what was their motive in seeking

Jesus? Well, they they had just seen this incredible event on this hillside a bunch of angels came and said that this

Jesus is born in Bethlehem and and you go and you find him He'd be lying in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes and they heard this story they saw this incredible incredible scene before them and they said

Let's let's go see this thing which has come to pass They wanted to go and verify the incredible story that had just been told them in this angelic visitation

Now the Magi they came seeking after Jesus and they seem to be an exception Don't they their motive seems to be exclusively to worship him

There's no hint or indication that they had any Self -oriented motive for seeking him

Maybe just to be the first among their peoples I don't know but but everything we have record of the

Magi visit was a was a pretty noble motivation But then his parents they went seeking him in Jerusalem.

What what was motivating them to seek him? Well, if you're a parent, you know full well the motivation they were filled with fear.

What's happened to our son? Where could he be? will we ever find him and So they sought after him to satisfy their very understandable fears that had controlled them

The disciples that came to him when he was out in that solitary place. What was their motive for coming to seek after Jesus?

Well, they wanted him to carry on in the ministry There were all kinds of people seeking him and this would be a wonderful way to keep promoting

Jesus in his ministry if they if he would be found of them His relatives who came to him when he was teaching the masses and didn't even have time to eat

They thought that he had Maybe maybe lost it a little bit that the he was a little bit beside himself

He wasn't even taking time to eat wasn't taking care of himself. And so they came to minimize their own embarrassment that Jesus our relative is

Is is gone a little crazy here and then the multitude after the feeding of the 5 ,000

What was their motive in seeking after Jesus? Huh a full tummy They they they they found this one who could take a few small fishes and a few loaves of bread and Multiply it and feed everybody till they were satisfied.

We want this guy around all the time We don't have to worry about inflation. We don't have to worry about empty shelves

I mean if we find anything on the shelf, he can take it and multiply it and we're we're we're good

So the multitude and then there's Zacchaeus What was his motive for climbing up into that sycamore tree?

Well, he just wanted to satisfy his curiosity who is this what what's so special about this individual that comes

Comes into town and everybody crowds him and throngs him all of these motives were essentially

Self -oriented the Magi being and of course an exception but here in Mark chapter 16

After Jesus death, you know, there's all those cases of people seeking him and finding him

But here after Jesus death he is sought and he's not found at least not initially

He's not found we read that in verse 6 of Mark 16 that they came to the tomb and The angel says to these women don't be alarmed you seek

Jesus of Nazareth. He is not here He is not here You've come seeking him

But he is not here Now who is it that's doing the seeking here? You know this story very well

We just read it four times you have these different women these various women Mark records the names of Mary Magdalene Mary the mother of James and Salome and There were other women as well in this party that came on that Easter Sunday morning the morning of the resurrection and notice the timing of their

Coming very early in the morning on the first day of the week this indicates their earnestness

Their eagerness. I mean think think about your morning already today. I Mean it is it's an hour earlier than normal Sunday school start and yet here you are

You you got up earlier today and went through your Sunday morning routine that much earlier

With or without a great deal of enthusiasm But you you at least did so because you wanted to be here for this this morning service

Well these women Very early in the morning before it's Sun even rose while it was still dark

They made their way to that garden tomb But this was the day after the

Sabbath as early as they could possibly make that trip. They made it And it was of course the third day after Jesus death

Verse 2 also tells us that the place of their seeking was the tomb they came to the tomb

Now this this is a place Stick with me here.

This is a place where finding him Should have been no problem whatsoever

Think about it. Let me just drive down the road here and to the right side of the road is

Calvary Cemetery And I don't think there are any mausoleums in there a lot of grave sites don't go a little further across across High Lincoln Highway, and then you come to Riverside Cemetery And there are some mausoleums in there and you you go into those cemeteries you go up to you drive up Route 40

And you got Oak Knoll on both sides of the road and and you you could if you were intending

To find someone who's buried there that would be the place to find the body and You could be pretty sure you could be very sure that you find the marker

That's where the person would be at least the body what's left of the body. It would be a very certain thing

So they came to the place where they were quite certain. They would find the body of the

Lord Jesus The tomb Why are they there?

Anyway, what's their motive for seeking him you think about all those self?

Self -oriented motives that we already recounted in many of the others But but look at their motive in verse the end of verse 1 they came and they brought

Spices that they might come and anoint him there was there was nothing Self -oriented about this whatsoever.

They came to minister to the body their motive to do so was

Stimulated by their love and devotion to the one whose body they assumed

Still lay there in that garden tomb They had this undying

Devotion to the one whom they had witnessed die

This was their motive. This was all of their motive and what was the outcome of their seeking in verse 6?

He's not found He's not found So so this is the this is the one time

Again, the Magi accepted. This is the one time that Jesus is sought after for the purpose of ministering to him with no thought of Self -satisfaction whatsoever and he's nowhere to be found

Yeah, you could you could cite a few other examples. I'm sure but but this is amazing.

Isn't it? this is the one time when there's this great sacrifice to be made and And and to to have been seeking after him in this time of grief and sorrow simply for the purpose of ministering to his body of Serving him and he's not to be found

This really fits well with what Jesus said of says of himself Doesn't it in Mark chapter 10 where he said the

Son of Man came not to be ministered unto but to minister Even in his resurrection

He didn't come to be ministered unto He wasn't found that he might his body might be ministered unto

With all of the spices and so forth so they came seeking after him But he's not found and yet in Contrast to all of those other accounts of seeking him where they did find him if they had not found him

If the shepherds came to Bethlehem and they found this they found this stable and They found a manger, but there was no baby there the

Magi came and and they They heard this prophecies to be born in Bethlehem of Judea and they went to Bethlehem of Judea and they never found him

Where his parents went back to Jerusalem seeking for him and they did not find him and on and on through the rest of these accounts

Would there not have been deep? disappointment Imagine the disappointment of those shepherds.

For example, they were told you go there and you'll find him and they go and he's not found What disappointment what confusion would be left in their minds?

But here here they seek after Jesus and he's not found and yet there is no disappointment

He's not here Because he has risen He's not going to be found by you here in this tomb because he is alive

He has risen He has risen Think of the blessing that came to the hearts and the minds of these women who came seeking after Jesus to anoint his body and Yet to be the first the first to be told

He's alive He is not here He is risen I I think that the greatest blessings come to you and to me as followers of Christ Who seek the

Lord not for what we can get out of him? But for what we can give to him we seek the

Lord to serve him Not so we ourselves can be so greatly benefited

But simply because we love him and are deeply devoted to him

Even as these women who came seeking him, but did not find him and were blessed abundantly and richly

Because they heard the message He is not here. He is risen even as he said

Lord bless these thoughts to our hearts today And let's take our song supplement again and we'll close this service with number 40 in the supplement in Christ alone

Let's stand together as we sing shall we in Christ alone?

My hope is found He is my light my strength my song this cornerstone this solid ground

Firm through the fiercest drought and storm what heights of love

What depths of peace when fears are still when striving cease?

my comforter my all -in -all Here in the love of Christ I stand in Christ alone

Who took on flesh? Fullness of God in helpless babe this gift of love and righteousness

Scorned by the ones he came to save till on that cross

As Jesus died the wrath of God was

Satisfied for every sin on him was laid

Here in the death of Christ I live there in the ground his body lay light of the world by darkness slain then bursting forth in glorious day

Up from the grave he rose again and as he stands in victory

Sins curse has lost its grip on me For I am his and he is mine bought with the precious blood of Christ No guilt in life

No fear in death This is the power of Christ in me from life's first cry to final bath

Jesus commands my destiny No power of hell

No scheme of man can ever pluck me from his hand till he returns

Or calls me home Here in the power of Christ I stand