Jesus Can Week 7: Jesus Can Conquer Death Message Summary: Despite our A.I and WiFi, we still die. We are, as the Bible says, in “bondage to decay,” on a moving walkway that leads to our final breath. But Jesus can! Jesus, the king who conquered death on Easter, has promised eternal life in his name and the resurrection of our bodies from the grave. ✦ Matthew 27:57-61,65-66 — As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb…“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. ✦ EasterTruth #1 — Jesus really died. ✦ Matthew 28:1 — After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. ✦ Matthew 28:2-4 — There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. ✦ Matthew 28:5-7 — The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” ✦ Easter Truth #2 — Jesus really rose. ✦ Matthew 28:8-10 — So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,”he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” ✦ 1 Corinthians 15:16-22,56-57 — For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive…The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ✦ Easter Truth #3 — Jesus resurrection is really for you. ✦ 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 — Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage one another with these words. ✦ Easter Truth #4 — You will really rise. Planting Jesus Roots GATHER — Join us next week for a needed message about how God can exist (and be good) despite all the evil, pain, and suffering in the world. GROUP — Ask at least one person the question that Pastor Mike’s friend dreamed about. Depending on their answer, share what you learned from today’s message. GROW — Read more about the resurrection of Jesus in Luke 24 (you can Google it or find it in the Bible). GIVE — Thank someone who is serving/volunteering on this busy holiday weekend. Wonderful services like this one could not happen without an army of selfless people who are willing to serve. GO — Do you know someone who doesn’t believe (1) that the resurrection of Jesus is real or that (2) God’s love isn’t really for them? Send them a link to today’s message. Homework: Isaiah 55:8-9 (Keywords: Easter, Life, Death)