Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our sermon or midweek study. You will normally see us posted on Sunday and Wednesday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love. It doesn’t conform to society’s wishes. This ministry shares the Word of God, the Spirit of Christ Jesus. Those who know me well will recognize that there are definitive differences in the creation of every sermon from this point forward. It is God’s will that has brought this to be. We wish only that God’s truth will be shared within His words as brought to us by the Spirit as it fills my heart, mind, and soul to be shared with my hands, but with His words alone.
You will find us in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Prayer List: We have many on our prayer list. Some wish to remain anonymous, and others only wish to have their first names mentioned. Our prayer list has grown from last week. This is our current prayer list for this week.
- Please pray that my sister gets good news in the coming weeks after a very promising weekend.
- Pray for those near and far who have been suffering in battles that do not have to be. Pray that peace can be found amidst the fear and anger, frustration and more. May hope blossom and bring that peace once more.
- Pray for our friends and our enemies, may they all find that the gift of God’s Son, Jesus, holds the hope and faith everyone seeks.
- Pray for the victims of terror this week and their families.
- Keep hope alive in your prayers no matter the pain or strife we might suffer.
Prayer:Father in heaven, we thank You for this day and for these who are here to share it with us. We thank You for the blessings brought and for those yet to come. We pray that You can remind us always what we should be looking forward to. We praise the blessing that is Christ the Lord and the gift of His resurrection. We bring prayers for those who have been seriously ill. We pray for those who are in need around this world. We pray for those who are suffering that they find peace and healing. We pray for friends and family and for our enemies as You have taught. We pray all this in Your Holy Name through the Savior Jesus Christ, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: He Lives! (I Serve A Risen Lord) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qF6aBDS3drA
Sermon: Good afternoon. This Easter inspiration focuses on the stone that was
covering the tomb of Jesus. Like others, this inspiration came very late last
evening. In this case, the Spirit surprised me. Normally at Easter He has
brought a different view, that of the one where Jesus appears in front of the
apostles. Today will be considerably different. We will explore how the
different gospels share the open tomb as Jesus is resurrected. We’ll start at
the beginning with the Gospel of Matthew.
Matthew 28:1-6 KJV – In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn
toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see
the sepulcher.
And behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
And behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.
His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:
And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.
And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
The interesting part of this portion of the gospels
would be in the fact that the perspectives are all the same but different. This
is easily explained as there are four different men writing the accounting from
separate points of view. This is added to the fact that each of the accounts
were written usually long after the fact. Here would be the second view found
in the Gospel of Mark.
Mark 16:1-6 KJV – And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene and
Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might
come and anoint him.
And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
Notice how there now would be more than Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, as well as Salome. There are other details, including the angel found inside the sepulchre where the stone was rolled away. Note that this angel was sitting there beside the wrappings Jesus had worn when He was placed there just three days before. Here we’ll see yet another view of the stone being rolled away.
Luke 24:1-7 KJV – Now upon the first day of the week, very early in
the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had
prepared, and certain others with them.
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day will rise again.
And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day will rise again.
Okay, here we find more details in regard to the angel, in fact two angels, both inside the sepulchre. There is no mention as to who is there to anoint Jesus’ body. Just the word “they” would be notice that there would be more than one. Again, the different perspective keeps it a mystery in a lot of ways as to what truly happened. Yet, still it adds dimension to what was spoken of in the Gospels of Matthew and Mark. Here we will look at the last of the gospels.
John 20:1-7 KJV – The first day of the week cometh Mary Magdalene
early, when it was yet dark, unto the sepulchre, and seeth the stone taken away
from the sepulchre.
Then she runneth and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
So they ran both together; and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
Then she runneth and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid him.
So they ran both together; and the other disciple did outrun Peter, and came first to the sepulchre.
And he stooping down, and looking in, saw the linen clothes lying; yet went he not in.
Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie,
And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.
Notice this time we have only Mary Magdalene visiting the tomb early in the morning. Then she runs to get the apostles. Those who came were Simon Peter, and Peter, and the disciple. Now, it is not said as to who this disciple was. It is also shown that there were no angels shown when the apostles were there. In another verse soon after we see the angels talking to Mary Magdalene as she wept.
John 20:11-16 KJV – But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping:
and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulchre,
And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing there, and knew not that it was Jesus.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say master.
And seeth two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
And they say unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? She saith unto them, Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.
And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing there, and knew not that it was Jesus.
Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.
Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say master.
First it was the angels, and then the nearly risen Lord Jesus. Yet she did not recognize the Lord. She didn’t until He called her name after she had turned away. Her sorrow instantly changed to joy. Yes, joy. That is the way to see Easter with the risen Lord. The best view in fact being the suspense builds and builds, more details are shared in different ways, and always there is seen hope. Yet, the only time Jesus speaks would be in John. Even unrecognized He spoke, but only to Mary Magdalene. When recognized, joy should be seen, realized, felt. This is how Mary reacted. Unequivocal joy as it had been when Jesus was born, would be seen again as He has risen from death to life once again. Life for the living has forever been changed in the blessing of Resurrection. In His love we live with His spirit surrounding and within each of us. Now that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that Jesus brought us.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13)
Closing Song: Sing Hallelujah
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=86WPXjsRmnU
~Shalom~
Rev.
Laura A. Neff ~ The Rainbow Minister
Covenant
of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com/
Scripture
Excerpts: The New Open Bible Study Edition: Copyright © 1990: Thomas Nelson
Publishers, Inc.
Scripture
Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © 1982: E. E. Gaddy and Associates, Inc.
Scripture
Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © circa 1890-1910: International Bible
Press, The John C. Winston Co.; Philadelphia, PA., USA
Sermon or
Study Copyright © 2015
Our mission for Covenant of Hope Ministries is not to exploit
fear, but to conquer it, and overcome all that is created through fear together
as the bringers of the light of Jesus found in the midst of darkness.
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