The Hope of the Risen Christ A Special EASTER Sunday Message John 20:1-18 March 31, 2013 Pastor Paul K. Kim Pastor Paul K. Kim

THREE FACTS ABOUT THE FIRST EASTER MORNING The first witnesses of the resurrection were: women. This is a counterintuitive evidence for the resurrection of Jesus. The first person to whom the risen Jesus spoke was: Mary Magdalene. She was in despair—her faith and hope were gone and only sorrowful love for Jesus remained in her. The first words of the risen Jesus were: “Woman, why are you weeping?” The risen Jesus is asking the same question to each of us this morning. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. John 16:22

THE HOPE OF THE RISEN CHRIST THAT TURNS OUR SORROW INTO JOY 1) The hope of the risen Christ turns the sorrow of OUR SIN AND GUILT into joy. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 1 Corinthians 15:17  Jesus’ resurrection validated his substitutionary death for redemption of our sin—i.e., Jesus is who he claimed to be.

For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Romans 5:17

THE HOPE OF THE RISEN CHRIST THAT TURNS OUR SORROW INTO JOY 1) The hope of the risen Christ turns the sorrow of OUR SIN AND GUILT into joy. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 1 Corinthians 15:17  Jesus’ resurrection validated his substitutionary death for redemption of our sin—i.e., Jesus is who he claimed to be.  But, there is still a room and need for godly sorrow (Matt. 5:4; 2 Cor. 2:4; 7:9-10).  The resurrection does NOT exempt us from spiritual battle with our old self and sin on earth but the hope of the risen Christ wipes away our tears of despair in sin and guilt.

THE HOPE OF THE RISEN CHRIST THAT TURNS OUR SORROW INTO JOY 2) The hope of the risen Christ turns the sorrow of OUR TROUBLES into joy. 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love. Ephesians 3:16-17  There is a room for tears and a time for sorrow in our lives until we get to heaven (Psalm 56:8).  But, despairs and hopelessness are wiped away by the power of the resurrection.  The hope of the risen Christ gives us strength and courage as well as comfort that dries our tears in trouble.

THE HOPE OF THE RISEN CHRIST THAT TURNS OUR SORROW INTO JOY 3) The hope of the risen Christ turns the sorrow of OUR FEARS Into joy. 36 As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:36-37  Jesus wept because of human sorrow before his close friend Lazarus’ death; so, tears are necessary to grieve (John 11:35).  But, the fears of unknown future and death can be wiped away by the power of the resurrection.  The hope of the risen Christ gives us the spirit that is more than conquerors to face death and unknown future.

55 “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:55-57

"This is the end—for me the beginning of life.” Dietrich Bonhoeffer (April 9, 1945)

THREE PRACTICAL QUESTIONS FOR OUR EVERYDAY LIFE 1.In what ways do I need trust in the risen Christ for my struggles with sin and guilt? 2.In what ways do I need trust in the risen Christ for my sorrows of the current troubles? 1.In what ways do I need trust in the risen Christ for my sorrows of fear?