Pastor Larry Sundin, Rock Springs Church
We all need hope. We can’t live without hope. In fact, those who study hope tell us that those who live with a high degree of hope have less stress, anxiety, and stress in their lives. But the realities of life often have a way of eroding our hope. Your financial portfolio takes a hit; a good friend ends her life; your spouse abandons you; your age takes a toll on you. Not only that, but every time you open your news app, you cringe hearing of another senseless shooting or shudder at the possibility of war in the Middle East. You see how inflation keeps climbing, violence keeps erupting, and morals keep declining, and you find yourself wondering: Is there any real hope today?
And my answer is a resounding yes. For that’s what Easter Sunday is all about. On that day, Christians all over the world celebrate the one event that gives us all hope: the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the grave. Why does this event give us hope?
First, when Jesus rose from the grave, he defeated death. One of the certainties of life is that each of us will eventually face death. There’s no way around it. We don’t like to talk about death. We’re not comfortable with death. For some of us the prospect of death troubles us, for others it fills us with fear. So, the very first message of the resurrection was meant to calm our fears: Jesus is not in the tomb. He has risen. He was crucified, but he now lives. Jesus conquered death. And that’s good news. Peter said it this way in his first sermon: “You, with the help of wicked men, put him (Jesus) to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.” Acts 2:23-24. Now, when anyone puts their trust in Jesus, fear of death no longer has a hold on you, because now hold onto the hope of a risen Savior. That’s one reason the resurrection of Jesus gives us hope.
Second, when Jesus rose from the grave, he defeated sin. How can this give you hope? Well, the Bible says that if you’ve placed your faith in Jesus, His resurrection secures your forgiveness. In other words, every sin you ever committed was nailed to the cross the day Jesus died. Every sin was buried with Him. Then when Jesus rose from the grave, every sin you ever committed stayed in that grave. Because Jesus rose from the grave, you can be forgiven. Because Jesus lives today, you don’t have to be trapped in your past. Because Jesus lives today, you can have a new life now. You can be forgiven. That’s the hope of the resurrection. We have hope in the darkness because Jesus defeated sin and death the day He rose from the grave!
So, if you’re looking for a hope in a world that erodes our hopes, let me encourage you to join us as we celebrate our living hope! We all need hope. We hope you will join us this Easter and celebrate the risen Savior with us! Rock Springs Church gathers every Sunday morning at 9 a.m. in the ballroom to worship Jesus together.