“Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, nor will you let your faithful one see decay.”
(Psalm 16:9-10 NIV)
On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!”
Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; but they were kept from recognizing him….Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly…But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us…For just as through the disobedience of the one man [Adam] the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man [Jesus] the many will be made righteous.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering…For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
“He is risen! He is risen indeed!”
God of the Resurrection,
Thank you that the one man Jesus took on the sins of the world as the sacrificial Lamb of God and made full atonement for all of us. Thank you that the bodily resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is real and that he comes to adopt us as sons and daughters of the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Thank you for opening our minds, hearts, and spirits to the Truth of your Resurrection and your Word, and for empowering us with Holy Spirit to share in your sufferings and your glory. Our hearts are glad, our tongues rejoice, and we are secure in your faithfulness and love for us. Praise and glory to the the Lamb who is alive forever, amen. Worthy is the Lamb, worthy of our praise, worthy is the one who has overcome the grave. We dance, sing, and praise our mighty, resurrected King!! Amen and Amen!
Scripture from Romans 5:6, 8, 19, Luke 24:1-6, 13-16, & 45-47, and Romans 8:1-3 and 14-17
Two of the songs we are doing today for our church’s Easter celebration:
“Bounty” by Joshua Smith & Krista Rouse © 2022 Joshua Smith
Three nails and a wooden cross
Was the bounty on my head
The judge handed the sentence down
And I was left for dead
Then a voice called my name
Said this one is mine
He took my cross and made it His
And there I watched Him die
But He rose He arose
Left that grave behind
He’s alive He’s alive
He paid the debt that was mine
It’s written in red crimson red
My Savior’s love for me
It’s written in red crimson red
Oh my Savior’s victory
“Alive, Forever, Amen” by David Moffitt, Sue C. Smith, & Travis Cottrell © 2003 CCTB Music (Admin. by Brentwood-Benson Music Publishing, Inc.)
Let the children sing
A song of liberation
The God of our salvation
Set us free
Death where is thy sting
The curse of sin is broken
The empty tomb stands open
Come and see
He’s alive alive alive
Hallelujah alive
Praise and glory to the Lamb
Alive alive alive hallelujah
Alive forever amen
Let my heart sing out
For Christ the One and only
So powerful and holy
Rescued me
Death won’t hurt me now
Because He has redeemed me
No grave will ever keep me
From my King
He’s alive alive alive
Hallelujah alive
Praise and glory to the Lamb
Alive alive alive hallelujah
Alive forever amen
Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy of our praise
Worthy is the One
Who has overcome the grave
Let the people dance
Let the people sing
Worthy is the mighty King