Easter Sunday 9:30 Title: Many Resurrections 04/24/11

Rom 6:3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?

Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Is it Friday or Sunday for you?

What does it mean to rise to walk in newness of life?

Rev 21:5 And he who sat upon the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new."

Christ is always doing a new thing in our lives. How does this work?

Mark 5:24 And he went with him. And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. 25 And there was a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse.

Mark 5:27 She had heard the reports about Jesus (1), and came up behind him in the crowd (3) and touched his garment (4). 28 For she said, "If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well." (2)‏ 29 And immediately the hemorrhage ceased; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.

Mark 5:30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone forth from him, immediately turned about in the crowd, and said, "Who touched my garments?" 31 And his disciples said to him, "You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, 'Who touched me?'" 32 And he looked around to see who had done it.

Mark 5:33 But the woman, knowing what had been done to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him, and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease." Your faith?

What makes the difference? The problem was clear and in focus. The solution was open: let Jesus work. The “your faith” process was fourfold. Are you clear about the problem? Are you clear about the solution?

(1) She had heard the reports about Jesus,

(2) She came to a a decision: For she said, "If I touch even his garments, I shall be made well." Mark 5:27 Mark 6:56 And wherever he came, in villages, cities, or country, they laid the sick in the market places, and besought him that they might touch even the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well.

(3) Action: and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. You might actually have to do something instead of wait on the couch for your new beginning. Many problems don't require a miracle; often they just require some hard work.

(4) get in touch with Jesus. … and touched his garment. New beginnings are enhanced by getting closer to Jesus. He is the source of “all things new” in our lives.

Are you willing to surrender? Are you ready for a new beginning?

Easter can be more than a holiday. It can be a holy day of new life.

Rom 6:4 … so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. What is your new beginning? Let it begin this Easter! One Minute for God