Week 14: When Sunday Comes! (Easter)

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8a

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.” So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.

When Sunday Comes

Like many of you, Friday is my favorite day of the week! After church on Sunday, I started to dread the rough realities of the week ahead of me. On Monday, I can still fake a Good Attitude. By Tuesday, I'm just pressing my way through. On Wednesday, I have to encourage myself in the Lord. On Thursday, I'm saying "Stop this ride, I want to get off". But on Friday, I get up early and I'm excited because I know that a Good Friday leads me out to a Great Weekend. Please excuse my vernacular, but I loves me a Good Friday! A Good Friday, will set you up for the possibilities ahead. It'll start with some great weather, and good music. A Good Friday is like a paycheck with an unexpected Bonus. A Good Friday is like a great outfit that you found in the clearance rack. A Good Friday is having your favorite meal without having to cook or pay for it. All of these are symbols of a Good Friday but please bear with me as I make public that Jesus didn’t have a Good Friday. I know the calendar suggests that Friday was a Good Friday, I would have to argue that it wasn’t all that great for Jesus.

Jesus week begins with him riding in on a donkey with a crowd shouting for him to rescue them. Next, He curses the fig tree for not having fruit. Followed by His infamous cleansing of the temple, by flipping tables and beating people with whips. Then, His feet are washed and anointed, and he performs the Lord’s Supper with the 12 disciples. So far, this doesn’t look like too bad of a week. As we look behind the scenes, we see that Judas Iscariot is wagering the life of Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. He decides to betray Jesus with a holy kiss. As a result of this, Jesus is arrested on Thursday night. After Jesus is arrested, and being dragged back and forth to court throughout the night; he is finally sentenced to death. As he’s being paraded, Peter denies him. But this still doesn’t look too bad. Then the shift happens. Jesus is beat with 39 lashes, his clothes are being gambled off between soldiers, and he’s being tortured and every way possible. In Isaiah 53, The Prophet Isaiah said “he was wounded for our transgressions he was bruised for our iniquities. The chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we are healed.” He was nailed to a cross where he professed 7 Sayings, of which we have been in study of for the past week.

·         On Day 1, Nick Christian told us to give it to the father

o   "Father, Forgive Them for They Know Not What They Do"

·         On Day 2, Nicole Cooper redefined Paradise for us

o   "Today, you will be with Me in Paradise"

·         On Day 3, Yasmin Philor reminded us of our responsibility to our families (both Foreign and Domestic)

o   "Mother, Behold thy Son. Son, Behold, thy Mother."

·         On Day 4, Charryse Wright reminds us but the suffering of Jesus is what we deserved, not him

o   My God, My God. Why has thou forsaken me?

·         On Day 5, Kyle Boyer teaches us that the basic lesson in truth is that we’re all thirsty

o   "I Thirst"

·         On Day 6, Nicole Webb teaches us that Jesus cried out that our debt was paid in full

o   "It is Finished"

·         On Day 7, Joel Pakan teaches us about making a Closing Statement
"Father, Into thy Hands I Commend My Spirit" 

                 

              And after all of that, Jesus gives up the ghost. The reality is that Friday shared with the public world what has been happening in secret. And I wouldn’t be a preacher of God’s Gospel, if I didn’t tell you that he was dead all-night Friday, stayed dead all-day Saturday and stayed dead all-night Saturday. But.... Early on Sunday Morning, He got up with all Power in His Hands. So Early, that the women in this story didn’t catch Him coming out of the tomb.  So Early, that the Sun didn’t get to its post before He got Up. So Early, that Jesus was up earlier than the "Very Early" that this text would suggest. The Easter Message for me is anchored in these three words: He Got Up! No matter what happens on Friday, He will overcome it by Sunday and since He got Up, there is nothing that can keep me down! This text delivers rich insight about what happens when Sunday comes.

Peripheral Exposition:

When Sunday comes, people who had been commissioned to walk alongside you don’t show up for the task. John, the Beloved disciple, was commissioned to take care of Mary the mother of Jesus. Jesus told John from the cross “Behold Thy mother”; and while I love John (or as my wife calls him, the Real MVP), he didn’t show up when she needed him. You may not have seen it yet, but let me show you where John fell short. It is in verse 3, that the women are trying to figure out who will go with them to roll the stone away. While John may have been unable to roll the stone alone, his presence and assistance would have made the task much easier. John not being there for Mary and the women prove to me that some people only follow you when your livelihood benefits them. The other disciples had not shown up for the crucifixion but we all have faith in John. And John let us down. But not only is there Exposition when Sunday comes, there is also Divine provision.

Divine Provision:

The text shows to us in verse 4 that God knows what we want and need prior to us even realizing it. As the women are trying to figure out who will roll the stone away for them, God takes care of that problem before they notice that the problems been solved. Knowing our needs before we know we need them and going ahead of us to provide for us. God provides Beyond our own comprehension. God knew that we, Like Jesus, would have some fake friends and real enemies who would occupied both space and time in our lives. So God doesn’t rely on others to provide for us, God ensures we get just what we need! God did that on Sunday to Remind us of the Provision He made for us through the death of Jesus Christ. But even in the midst of it all Jesus didn’t die a death that caused him to stay dead; which reminds us that no matter what our Friday presents us with; Sunday is coming.

·         When Sunday Comes, everything that had me bound has to let me go!

·         When Sunday Comes, Sickness is already healed.

·         When Sunday Comes, Hope is restored.

·         When Sunday Comes, those who were weeping become Glad.

·         When Sunday Comes, those who were grieving are amazed.

·         When Sunday Comes, bitter water becomes Good Wine

·         When Sunday Comes, the impotent are restored.

·         When Sunday Comes, The Blind See.

·         When Sunday Comes, The Deaf Hear.

·         When Sunday Comes, All of the Hungry are fed.

·         When Sunday Comes, The Lepers Are Cleansed.

·         When Sunday Comes, The Least and the Left Out Are Cared for

While I love this Sunday, there is another Sunday! Where the wicked shall cease from troubling and the weary shall be at rest. There is another Sunday! Where we will have the marriage supper at the father’s table! There is another Sunday!  Where God will call up all of God’s Children in the Twinkling of an eye! There is another Sunday! That we will hear well done thy Good and Faithful Servant. There is another Sunday! Where we will walk the streets of Gold. There is another Sunday! Where we will see Jesus face to face! It is because of that Sunday that I can join in with the Hymn writer and say:

Oh, I want to see Him, look upon His face,

There to sing forever of His saving grace;

On the streets of glory let me lift my voice,

Cares all past, home at last, ever to rejoice

·         When Sunday Comes, The Poor in Spirit receive the Kingdom of God

·         When Sunday Comes, The Mourners are comforted

·         When Sunday Comes, The Meek inherit the Earth

·         When Sunday Comes, The Merciful receive Mercy

·         When Sunday Comes, The Peacemakers are called the Children of God

·         When Sunday Comes, The Pure in Heart See God

·         When Sunday Comes, those who hunger and Thirst after Righteousness are filled

·         When Sunday Comes, those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake receive the Kingdom of Heaven

·         When Sunday Comes, Justices rolls on like a river and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream

And all of this will happen when our Sunday comes!