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On Good Friday, Jesus was brutally crucified on the cross, and his dead and lifeless body was buried in a tomb. However, come that Sunday morning, somehow Jesus came back to life. That’s the incredible event that Easter Sunday is designed to commemorate. Do you believe that?

On the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marvelling at what had happened. Luke 24:1-12, ESV

When these women went back to convey the incredible news to the apostles that Jesus had risen just as he had said he would, they rejected such talk as being nonsense. However, the apostle Peter was willing to check out the situation for himself.

Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marvelling at what had happened. Luke 24:12, ESV

Meanwhile, at another place on that same day — that very first Easter Sunday — two of Jesus’ followers were walking the seven mile trek from Jerusalem on the road to the village of Emmaus.

They were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed,. Luke 24:14-34a, ESV

So, what if it really is true? What if, despite all the odds against it being true, Jesus really did come back to life that first Easter Sunday?

I. God is _______________

Throughout the past 2000 years, opinions about the person of Jesus have of course varied. But Easter Sunday changes all of that, for the resurrection is the single greatest witness to understanding Jesus as not just being a great moral teacher, a caring humanitarian, or a brave revolutionary, but being none less than God himself.

“For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.” John 10:17-18, ESV

Now, if Jesus were anyone less than God, he couldn’t have pulled it off, he couldn’t have risen from the grave that first Easter Sunday. But if he did, and as such Jesus must be God, and if he is God, then God came to this earth some 2000 years ago.He did this so that we could know him, so that we could get close to him, so that we might have a relationship with him.

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature.... Hebrews 1:1-3a, ESV

II. New _______________ is possible

“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” John 10:10b, ESV

However, perhaps if the truth be known, some of us here this morning don’t know this life to the full, this new life, that Jesus came to offer to us. In fact, instead of life, we seem to be trapped in a tomb of some form or another, missing out on life as God meant it to be, needing someone to roll away the stone and set us free. But if Jesus was raised to life that first Easter Sunday then he’s in the resurrection business, and no matter what tomb holds us captive today, He can roll away the stone and set us free to live life as He intended it to be lived, a life to the full.

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. Romans 6:4, ESV

Jesus came back from the dead that first Easter Sunday to prove that God is knowable and new life, resurrection life, is possible. The person who places their faith in Jesus Christ as the Saviour who has died for sin and been raised from the dead—that person enters into a relationship with God and begins living a new life today that they will one day enjoy fully in heaven.

“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live…” John 11:25, ESV