The Ultimate Rescue

SUMMARY

Karl Ihfe begins his Easter sermon by comparing the resurrection to great rescue stories where hope triumphs over despair and life conquers death. He notes that the women who went to Jesus' tomb in Luke 24 expected to find it full, not empty, and even the disciples initially didn't believe their report that Jesus had risen. The shocking discovery of the empty tomb and the angels' question, "Why do you look for the living among the dead?" changed everything in human history.

Karl emphasizes that Easter declares death no longer has the final word, referencing Romans 6:4-5 to show that Christ's victory over death becomes our victory through faith. He shares Jesus' promise from John 11:25-26 that believers will live even though they die, noting how their recently departed friend Rebecca Talley staked her life on this promise and is now more alive than ever. However, the resurrection isn't just about future hope—citing Colossians 3:1, Karl explains that we have already been raised with Christ and are invited to live differently now. The sermon concludes with communion, which he frames as a victory meal celebrating Jesus' triumph over death, inviting the congregation to step out of whatever "graves" of fear, shame, or anxiety may still be holding them captive.

TRANSCRIPTION:

Well, it is good to be with you this morning. The first thing I want to say is, I know what time it is. I promise. I know we have some things planned with family and friends. Today has been a day we are so excited to get to celebrate together as family.

You know, in every great rescue story, there's a moment that changes everything. For a while, things seem hopeless, right? That fire is spreading throughout the building, or that swimmer is beginning to slowly go under. Or that that person trapped under the rubble is beginning to run out of air. But then comes that moment, that turning point, that moment when we get to see the firefighter emerge from the smoke holding that person in their arms.

Or when we see that lifeguard struggling, but finally pulling that swimmer to shore. Or maybe it's that moment when we get the image of that person who's been trapped under the rubble being brought out of the darkness and into the light. The moment is amazing, isn't it? We get to celebrate those moments. It's that reminder that life has triumphed over death, that hope has overcome despair, and that the rescue has been completed.

You know, for those of us who follow Jesus, Easter is our moment, right? It's that moment that we get to celebrate and remember that our God who rescues our God, restores, and our God calls us into new life. That's the theme of our series we've been walking through together called Rescue during the Lenten Season. It's tracing that thread all the way through scripture from the Old Testament to the New, of how God is a God who loves to rescue. In that moment, that moment that it's all been leading up to, is this moment, this Easter Sunday moment, this reminder that God's rescue has been fulfilled, it's been completed.

I was thinking this week, as those women went to the tomb that first Easter morning, they went with spices. We read that in Luke. In fact, just heard Cameron read that a moment ago. They went not because they were expecting an empty grave, they went expecting that grave to be full. And if you read through the rest of the story, they weren't the only ones expecting a full tomb.

In fact, in verse nine, we're told that the women weren't the only ones. When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the 11 and to all the others. And it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary, the mother of James and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, he got up and ran to the tomb Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves.

And he went away, wondering what happened. If you find yourself here this Easter morning wondering, is the rescue story? Is the empty tomb? Is it a little too good to be true? I want you to know you're in good company.

You're in good company. What the women found that day at Jesus tomb was shocking. It was unexpected. The stone was rolled away, the tomb was empty. And in fact, there were two angels standing inside.

And their question that they asked these two women is a question that still echoes in history. Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here. He has risen. Those words changed everything.

You see, up to this moment, death had had the final word. It got the last word every time. Every empire has fallen, every hero has died. Every life ended up in the grave. But Easter morning declared something that the world had never seen before.

Death no longer has the final word. God's rescue through the cross didn't just forgive sin. It did that. But it also overthrew death. Jesus empty tomb teaches us that the worst things that happen aren't the final things.

They're not the last things. Paul explained it to the Church in Rome like this. He said, for we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again. Death no longer has mastery over him. Now think about that for a moment.

Death no longer has mastery. Death ruled over humanity and was a cruel master, ruling over through fear and shame and ultimately the power of the grave. But. But when Jesus walked out of that tomb that very first Easter morning, he broke death's power. So the resurrection of Jesus is not just him coming back to life.

It's him conquering death. That's why we love to sing that song. What a beautiful name. We just sang it together a few moments ago. Death could not hold you.

The veil tore before you. You silenced the boast of sin and grave. The heavens are roaring the praise of your glory, for you are raised to life again. The grave tried to keep Jesus, but death is a defeated enemy. Paul will go on to say something even more incredible.

He says we were therefore buried with him through baptism into death, in order that just as Christ was raised from from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may have a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. Another way of saying, this is his victory, is now our victory. If Christ defeated death, then death does not get the last word. It doesn't have the final word.

For those who belong to Jesus, God's rescue is complete. It's been successful. It's that promise that Jesus made to Martha when she was grieving over the loss of her brethren. And Jesus said these words to her, this promise. He says, the one who believes in me will live even though they die.

And whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this, friends? This was a promise that Becky staked her life on. I cannot tell you how many times I've been to funerals, and I've heard Tim preach this very passage. Do you believe this?

Do we believe this? Becky believed this. And I know it's hard for us to see now because we are confined to time and space, but Becky's more alive than she's ever been. Those who we love, who've gone on before us, they're more alive than they've ever been because this promise has come true. This is the good news.

But you know what's amazing about Easter is it's not just good news for what happens when we die. What we discover in the Easter story is this is good news for what do we do when we keep living, when we stay alive? To the church in Colossae, Paul said, since then, you have been raised with Christ. Set your hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand. You notice Paul's words there.

He doesn't say, since one day you will be raised with Christ. He says, since then, you have been. Resurrection is not just a future reality, it's a present reality. Because Jesus is alive, we're invited to live differently. We no longer have to live trapped in the old graves that have kept us shame and fear and anxiety and worry.

See, the resurrection means we don't belong to the grave anymore. Easter isn't merely a celebration of an empty tomb. It's also an invitation to leave the grave behind, just the way Jesus did.

The question is, how will we respond? You know, what we've learned through this series of rescue is a rescue only works if we receive it. The rescue is only good if we receive it. Jesus has defeated sin. He's overcome and overpowered death, and he's opened a door to new life.

How will we respond? Will we respond like Arwen did just a few minutes ago, with new faith, this new chapter in life? Or maybe some of us who've been following Jesus for a while, we may need to respond the way the disciples did, with a renewed faith and a renewed passion. You see, some of us have been following Jesus, but we've been living like we're still in the grave and a victim of shame and doubt and fear and anxiety. But we were raised with Christ, Paul says, and because of that, we get to live differently.

Which brings us to the moment now that we celebrate every Sunday. But the Lord's table, you see, the resurrection story always leads to a table. If you keep reading in Luke 24, you see it led to a table. It still leads to a table. Today, on the night before Jesus was crucified, he took some bread and he.

And he took some wine, and he said, take and eat, take and drink. This is my body, my blood given for you. And he gave them this meal as this reminder of the incredible sacrifice that he would make on their behalf. But after the resurrection, that story took on an even deeper meaning. That table.

Now it takes on an even more powerful meaning because it reminds us both of not only the cross, but of the empty tomb, that now we have a chance to live differently, Right? The bread as his body, the cup as his blood. The resurrection reminds us that this is not a funeral meal that we celebrate today, friends. This is a victory meal. This is a meal that reminds us that Jesus is alive and that the tomb is empty, that the rescue is complete and death has been defeated.

The table is an invitation. It's an invitation to come, to remember, to celebrate the new life that God has given to us. So in just a minute, we're going to actually come forward and receive the elements at the table. In fact, I'm going to invite our ushers. We're going to have some ushers that will help kind of help you navigate around to the different stations, the different tables.

Some of you may say, carl, I can't get up and get out of my chair and come down. No problem. If you need to stay seated where you are, we're going to have some others that will bring the elements to you. But at each one of these stations, we'll have a chance to get up out of our seat and step into the aisle and come forward to receive that invitation that Jesus gave. Would you follow him?

Would you step into a new life together?

As we come in just a moment, I just invite you to be reflecting on a couple of things as you. As you walk ahead. Once you receive your elements, you may want to take them right then and there. That's fine, no problem. You may want to take them back to your seat and have a seat there with your family and just remember together the body of Christ.

You may want to gather and just step to the Side with those that you came with. And just to celebrate, to remind one another of the power of the resurrection. While we're taking communion, you're going to hear a song. There'll be a video that goes with it. And so after you finish taking your elements, if you want to have a seat again and just be blessed by the music that you'll hear, we hope it will be an inspiration and an encouragement to you as we walk this road together once again to the table.

As you do so, I just invite you to reflect on a couple of things. Number one, would you believe the good news? Would you remember that the tomb that is empty reminds us not only that Jesus is alive again, but that we have a chance to step into a new life? And the other thing is, I just invite you to consider, what grave is Jesus inviting you to step out of this Easter Sunday? What place in your life do you feel trapped still in the grave?

And maybe Jesus is inviting you this Easter Sunday. Would you come? Would you come to the table? Would you leave the fear, leave the shame, leave the guilt, and instead come to Jesus? Let's pray together.

God, what a gift it is to get to be with family this morning. As we think about the power of this Easter Sunday, one that we have been anticipating and looking forward to all Lenten season long. God, for some of us, we're celebrating it a little differently this week as we think of those who we love and who have gone on before us. God, would you meet us as you met those disciples on the road to Emmaus? Would you be present with us in a way that's more real, where God, our heart might begin to burn once again within us?

Would you bring comfort and peace and hope into our lives once again? God, as we get a chance to celebrate this Easter supper, we are mindful, Jesus, of your body that was given for us, of your blood that was shed for us, not only to forgive us of the sin of our past, but to invite us to step out of the grave and into a new way of life. So, Father, as we leave here today, would you help us to set our minds, set our hearts on things above that we would be a part of answering the prayer that you taught us to pray, Jesus, that we would help your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven? God, would you start with each and every one of us? Father, thank you.

Thank you for the gift of Jesus. May we celebrate him today. In his name we pray. Amen.