4-12-98 " Can It Be Real?" John 20

Is He Alive to You?

By Ronald E. George Jr.

"Christmas is the Promise, and Easter is the Proof." - Pulpit Helps, 1981

During Napoleon's Austrian campaign his army advanced to within six miles of Feldkirch. It looked as though Bonaparte's men would take Feldkirch without resistance. But as Napoleon's army advanced toward their objective in the night, the Christians of Feldkirch gathered in a little church to pray. It was Easter Eve. The next morning at sunrise the bells of the village pealed out across the countryside. Napoleon's army, not realizing it was Easter Sunday, thought that in the night the Austrian army had moved into Feldkirch and that the bells were ringing in jubilation. Napoleon ordered a retreat, and the battle at Feldkirch never took place. The Easter bells caused the enemy to retreat, and peace reigned in the Austrian countryside. --Selected

A far greater peace than this can be ours through Christ's resurrection. When Jesus rose from the dead, He accomplished more than a temporary retreat by satan. He brought to pass the total defeat of our enemy, the devil. Hallelujah! --Duane V. Maxey

John 20:11 (KJS) But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, [and looked] into the sepulchre, 12 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. 13 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. 14 And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus. 15 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. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master. 17 Jesus saith unto her, Touch me not; for I am not yet ascended to my Father: but go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and [to] my God, and your God. 18 Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and [that] he had spoken these things unto her.

What/Who are you looking for? The Women came seeking Jesus. Have you been looking for something in life to give you real satisfaction? Why do you cry as someone who has no hope?

1. A Real Resurrection: Could it be real that Jesus is alive? When all hope is gone, he is still there to give to each of us the hope of the resurrection to live in day by day. Can He raise Him up from the dead? God did raise Him from the dead.
2. A Real God: He is more than a man. He is the God/Man. Could it be real that God is alive? Can a real God make a difference in your life? Can God be real in your life? Are you looking for something that is real in life? Try looking for God.
3. A Real Touch From Him: Could it be real that God is in my life to make a difference. John 20:27 (KJS) Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust [it] into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. Would you reach out you hand to see his sacrifice for you and believe in Him?
4. A Real Eyewitness of Him: Have you seen Him? Go and tell it to the others who need some hope in this life. Have you been his witness?

Invitation: Is He alive to you?

The great Easter truth is not that we are to live newly after death -- that is not the great thing -- but that we are to live here and now by the power of the resurrection; not so much that we are to live forever as that we are to, and may, live nobly now because we are to live forever. -- Phillip Brooks

A father knelt down beside his little boy's bed. It was time for prayers, hugs and kisses, and tucking in. The little boy began the childhood prayer he had repeated so many times before: Now I lay me down to sleep; I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake Pray the Lord, my soul to take. This time the words got mixed up. Unwittingly, the child spoke words of the greatest wisdom. He prayed, "If I should wake before I die." Embarrassed, he stopped. "Oh Daddy, I got all mixed up." Wisely, his dad responded tenderly, "Not at all, Son, that's the first time the prayer was properly prayed. My deepest longing for you is that you make wake up before you die." The child drifted to sleep, but the father turned the prophetic words about in his mind. "If I should wake before I die. That's it!" he exclaimed. "That's the promise and hope of Easter. This is the time to come alive and live forever!