Sermon - Resurrection Day Luke 24 - Littleby Baptist Church - April 5, 2026

1.     Happy Resurrection Day!

2.     We are going to continue in Luke right where we left off on Good Friday.

3.     Please turn to Luke 24.

4.     Between Good Friday and Resurrection Day.

a.      Those who walked with Jesus were taking their Sabbath.

b.     Today most don’t call it a Sabbath anymore.

c.      But hopefully it includes time honoring God.

d.     Beyond that for many it is time to do stuff around the house.

e.      Maybe go for a drive.

f.      Go for a ride on the bike.

g.     Hang out with friends, whatever we like to do.

h.     We see it as a time to enjoy ourselves, rest, or get some stuff done that we don’t classify as our job.

5.     To those who walked with Jesus.

a.      The Sabbath day meant you stayed home or very close to home.

b.     It was a day of rest.

c.      Time to honor God.

d.     A day to put your feet up and relax.

e.      Even to the point that meal preparation for the Sabbath was done the day before.

f.      It would be like us curling up with a good book.

g.     Maybe watching movies, or bingeing on Netflix during a cold icy day while eating yesterday’s leftovers.

6.     For Peter, John, Andrew, Simon, James, Mary, and the others this Sabbath was not a good day.

a.      It was a day that they would have dwelled on the events of the last week.

b.     A few short days ago they remembered Jesus purposefully heading into Jerusalem and the shouts of joy that filled the streets.

c.      They remembered the Holy Zealousness that Jesus showed when He chased the money changers out of the temple.

d.     They remembered the teachings of that final week that they had with Him.

7.     The Apostles would have remembered fondly reclining in the Upper Room with Jesus.

a.      Thinking back to when He broke bread and said it represented His body that He was giving it for them.

b.     That He took the fruit of the vine that was symbolic for His blood that was being poured out for them.

c.      But they had those memories to cling to as they were reflecting on all that had happened.

8.     All of them were probably regretting falling asleep in the garden.

a.      Wondering if they had stayed awake would they have been able to warn Jesus.

b.     Maybe He could have escaped.

9.     Peter was probably beating himself.

a.      He had argued with Jesus that he would never deny Him.

b.     Then it happened.

c.      Peter did exactly what Jesus said he would do.

10.  Some of them witnessed the events of Good Friday.

a.      I bet when they closed their eyes, they could picture it.

b.     They could still see how beaten and bloodied Jesus looked in vivid detail.

c.      Those that were there at the very end would remember seeing His lifeless body as it was taken down from the cross.

11.  They would not have understood how things went south so fast.

a.       They did not understand how Jesus was now dead.

b.     Some would have thought they had failed Jesus.

c.      They had witnessed so many Awesome things.

d.     They had been filled with hope.

e.      And now they were completely lost.

12.  Everyone who was following Jesus had a Sabbath Day to dwell on what happened.

a.      Some would have cried through the night.

b.     Some probably paced around the house, afraid of what was going to happen next.

c.      Others likely sat there staring off in the distance in pure disbelief.

13.  They were lost.

14.  By the time Resurrection Morning came around.

a.      Their joy was gone.

b.     There was no hope.

c.      And they were afraid.

15.  When I flip through my prayer book.

a.      There are many different prayer requests.

b.     Salvation for loved ones.

c.      Strength for those facing challenging times.

d.     God's healing touch.

e.      Freedom from depression.

f.      Peace and joy to counter fear and anxiety.

g.     Guidance for decisions being made.

h.     Closer relationships with Jesus.

i.       Deliverance from temptations.

j.       Job related things.

k.     Restoration of relationships.

l.       And more.

16.  There are things listed on my prayer list that are overwhelming.

a.      Medical challenges are hard to face.

b.     Financial issues can feel like they are crippled.

c.      The need for loved ones to open their eyes and ears and see that they need Jesus.

d.     Feels more urgent today than it was before.

e.      Fear, anxiety, stress, anger, which can overpower our Peace and Joy.

f.      I wish I could say this is something that only impacts those who do not know Jesus.

g.     But if we are honest with ourselves, it can hit all of us.

17.  We can easily get lost in our struggles.

18.  Like those dwelling on what had happened as the sun rose on what we affectionately call Resurrection Morning.

a.      We can easily let life overwhelm us.

b.     Whether we have been a believer for 50 years or are still trying to figure out who this Jesus is.

c.      When our world is turned upside down.

d.     We can easily feel anxious, afraid, and lost.

19.  Let’s see what Luke has to tell us today.

20.  Luke 24:1-8

a.      They started their morning with the death of Christ at the forefront.

b.     But that is not where it ended.

c.      The angels appeared to them and asked, ‘Why are you looking for the living among the dead?’

d.     They declared, ‘He is not here, but he has risen!’

21.  They had forgotten what Jesus had taught them.

a.      They were trapped in their fear and anxiety.

b.     They were lost.

22.  There is a little more to that conversation as can be found in Matthew.

23.  Matthew 28:5-6

a.      Do NOT be afraid!

b.     Jesus is alive!

c.      His Death was not permanent!

d.     The end that the Disciples and all the others were fearing was not the end.

e.      The events of Good Friday that they were dwelling on was a critical step.

f.      A necessary part of the process.

g.     But the Story is NOT over.

24.  Jesus is the Risen Lord!

25.  There is no reason to be afraid!

26.  Fear is one of those things that can paralyze us.

a.      Especially if we dwell on the things going on in our lives.

b.     The fear of loss.

c.      The hurt.

d.     The brokenness in our lives as well as in those we love.

27.  One of the things Jesus’ resurrection is telling us is that we do not need to be afraid.

a.      No matter what happens on this side of Glory.

b.     The best is yet to come.

c.      Through Jesus’ resurrection there is more to our LIFE.

d.     More than we will ever truly comprehend while we are on this side of eternity.

28.  Jesus is alive!

a.      His Resurrection tells us that we do not need to be afraid of anything that happens today.

b.     Through His death and resurrection, we are given new life.

c.      All who believe and turn to Jesus.

d.     Will have life eternal.

e.      Through the wiping away of our sins.

f.      But the story does not end there.

29.  2 Corinthians 5:17

a.      As a follower of Jesus, we are a new creation.

b.     This means that not only did Jesus sacrifice Himself to wipe away our sins, but He has completely cleansed us.

c.      Our old sinful self has been wiped away with Jesus’ death and replaced with a new creation.

d.     One that has been made Holy by the blood of Jesus.

e.      We have been re-born with His Resurrection from the dead.

30.  We will look the same.

a.      Our voice will sound the same.

b.     And for a while we may act the same.

c.      But as the Holy Spirit works in us.

d.     As we grow in our faith in Jesus.

e.      God continues to mold us.

f.      Shape us.

g.     Change us.

h.     Making us more like the new creation we are.

31.  Jesus defeated death when He rose from the dead giving us New Life.

a.      In order that we would have Hope in what is yet to come.

32.  Those who spent the Sabbath dwelling on the events of Good Friday had lost all hope.

a.      They thought all their hope died with Jesus.

33.  Some here may be wondering if their Hope is running out.

34.  What I want everyone to hear this morning is that we had no Hope before Jesus died on that cross.

a.      We had no hope of ever earning our way into eternity.

b.     We could not get there by following a bunch of rules.

c.      There is no hope in how much we give or do.

d.     It is not about being a good person.

35.  Our Hope comes from the sacrifice on that cross.

a.      Followed by the Resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

b.     Without His death we could never pay our sin debt.

c.      Without His Resurrection we could not become a new creation.

d.     We would be Lost.

36.  John 14:6-7

a.      Through Jesus’ Resurrection we have been granted access to the one and only path to Heaven.

b.     Jesus is the only truth that can set us free.

c.      He is the only way to a New Life on this earth and for all of Eternity.

37.  Through Jesus we are Children of God.

a.      We are loved.

b.     Chosen.

c.      Forgiven.

d.     And redeemed.

38.  No matter what we are facing.

a.      If we have repented of our sins and have chosen to follow Jesus, we are not alone.

b.     Our God, Our Lord, Our Savior, is with us always.

39.  Our Lord is the one and Only Risen Lord!

40.  Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life!

41.  He went through all of this to give you an opportunity to be a part of His Family.

a.     Because He loves you.

42.  If you do not know where you are going to spend eternity.

a.      If you have yet to repent of your sins and commit to following Jesus.

b.     I want to give you that opportunity today.

c.      Faith in Jesus is the Only way to be forgiven.

d.     The only way to receive eternal life in Heaven.

e.      If that is you, I would love to talk and pray with you.

43.  For us Christ followers.

a.      Remember to look to Jesus.

b.     Don't dwell on the things that cripple us.

c.      Focus on Jesus who has set us free.

d.     Trust in Him each and every day.

e.      Knowing that Jesus is with you.

f.      He will never leave you or forsake you.