I heard about a grandfather who wanted to see how much his 4-year-old granddaughter knew about the Easter story. He put her on his lap and asked, “Julie, why do we celebrate Easter?” Without hesitating, she said, “Jesus was crucified. After He died, His body was put into a grave. They rolled a big stone in front of the opening. A bunch of soldiers guarded the tomb. On the third day, there was a big earthquake and the stone rolled away.”

The Grandfather was very pleased with how much his granddaughter knew about the Easter story but then she continued with a confident smile, “And when the earthquake happened, the entire town came out by the grave. And if Jesus came out and saw His shadow, they knew there would be 6 more weeks of winter!”

Well, at least she had part of the story right.

Today is Easter. Time to eat all the candy and all the hard-boiled eggs that we can stand. For some, it may be a time to pig out with the family. For others it may be a time of relaxation. And yet for others it may be a time to ponder some of the great mysteries of the world. Let me begin by sharing a few of those mysteries:

Why is the word abbreviation so long? What would be a synonym for the word Thesaurus? Why is it that doctors call what they do “practice?” Why is it that on a computer in order to stop Microsoft Windows, you have to click on “Start?” Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons? Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker? Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour? Why isn’t there mouse-flavored cat food? Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections? Why don’t you ever see the headline, “Psychic Wins Lottery?” Why are there Braille labels at drive-up ATMs? Why can’t women put on mascara with their mouths closed? And the one that is most related to this day is, “Why is the resurrection of Jesus Christ such a big deal?”

I mean, there’s gotta be an if/then relationship. If Jesus rose from the dead ... then what? We deal with if/then statements every day. For example, Columbus once said, “If the world is round, then I can get to the East by sailing West.” Enrico Fermi said, “If we can just split the atom, then it’s gonna produce a whole lot of energy.” Or how about this one, “If you don’t do your job, then you will probably be fired.”

So ... what’s the big if/then statement for the resurrection? If Jesus rose from the dead ... then what? What are the implications? Does it affect my life more than the fact that I live in 2006 “A.D.”? If Jesus Christ rose from the dead, then does that affect what time I get up in the morning? If Jesus rose from the dead, then does it affect my situation at school or what’s going to happen at work tomorrow?

My guess is that a lot of you are silently agreeing with me because you’re not sure. And if you’re here at church and you’re not sure, the people you know who don’t go to church are even less aware of why Jesus’ rising from the dead would have any impact in their lives. Well that is what I want to look at this morning. (Before we begin, let’s pray!)
Easter is the oldest of our Christian holidays. It's been celebrated annually from the days of the church fathers, but there's also a sense in which we celebrate Easter every week. When Jesus rose from the dead, the first day of the week suddenly became the Christian Lord's Day. One of the most remarkable aspects of Christian history is how a group of Jewish believers immediately shifted their day of worship from the seventh day to the first day of the week. Every Sunday became a celebration of our risen Lord who said, “Because I live, you will live also.” So, because He lives there are some things that we have, and that is what I would like to look at briefly this morning.

Because He Lives, We Have Healing

I read about a Russian thief named Sasha who attempted to break into a Russian Orthodox Church. According to Outreach to the Nations, a publication of Derek Prince Ministries, he fell from the dome of the building and broke both of his legs. Sasha's whole life flashed before his eyes as he fell, but he later said, “I heard an audible voice saying that I would not die.” As he lay on the ground waiting for the police to come, he studied the Biblical theme portrayed in the paintings and artwork that adorned the church walls. He saw the stained glass that spoke of Christ and His Resurrection. Shortly afterward, he gave his life to Christ. Then another miracle occurred. Sasha's crime usually carries a sentence of 10 to 15 years, but his case became bogged down in the bureaucracy. By the time officials were ready to prosecute a year later, Sasha's life had changed so dramatically that the case was dismissed. He now helps run a Russian Correspondence Bible School.

You may feel like Sasha, mixed up, on the wrong road, stumbling, falling, tumbling downward, or maybee you are even hurting. But because Christ is alive, He can bring healing to your heart, to your life, and even to your circumstances. Because He lives, you can live also.

Suppose our bodies never healed? Suppose we carried with us all through life the scrapes, the cuts, and the bruises of childhood and everyday accidents? There are people who never heal emotionally. They carry with them through life the emotional bruises that could be healed.

We often forget that the ultimate healing for a Christian is gained through the resurrection of Christ. So, because He lives, we have healing.

Because He Lives, We Have Hope

One of our most popular gospel songs is based on today's text. It was written by Bill and Gloria Gaither. Bill and Gloria Gaither have written many wonderful Christian songs. 1 that Gloria wrote in the late 1960’s came while she was expecting a child. The couple was going through some terrible problems. Bill had been seriously sick, their music had been attacked as not being spiritual. And on New Years Eve night, Gloria sat in a dark room experiencing a time of torment and fear.

She said, “I sat alone in the darkness thinking about the rebellious world and all of our problems - and about our unborn baby. Who in their right mind would bring a child into a world like this?” She was at the height of her fear and then something happened. She said, “I can’t quite explain what happened in that next moment, but suddenly I felt released from it all.”

“The panic that had began to build inside was gently dispelled by a reassuring presence and a soft voice that kept saying, “Don’t forget the empty tomb, don’t forget the empty tomb.” Then I knew I could have that baby and face the future with optimism and trust. For I had been reminded that it was all worth it just because He lives.”

And with those thoughts on her mind, she wrote: “How sweet to hold a newborn baby, and feel the pride and joy he gives; but greater still the calm assurance, this child can face uncertain days because He lives. Because He lives I can face tomorrow, because He lives all fear is gone, because I know He holds the future. And life is worth the living just because He lives....

So while grappling with that question, she realized that the power of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ gives hope for tomorrow, whatever the circumstances. Thus their wonderful song reflects the truth about Easter: “Because He lives, you can face tomorrow with hope.”

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is our hope today. It is our assurance that we have a living Savior to help us live as we should. He is alive, and therefore we have hope.

Because He Lives, We Have Holiness

Now I am not going to spend much time on this one. Paul wrote in Romans 4:25 about Christ and he said, “Christ was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification.” The blood of Jesus and the power of His Resurrection provide the necessary ingredients for our justification. We're made holy in God's sight through Him that we might be qualified through His merits for eternal life. Because He lives, we have holiness through Him.

Because He Lives, We Have Happiness

In John 16:19-20 and verse 22 John talks about the Upper Room. In the Upper Room on the eve of His crucifixion, Jesus warned the disciples and He said, “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me... I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy... You will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”

Imagine the grief of the disciples as the shadows of evening fell on crucifixion Friday. But now imagine their incredible joy when they saw Jesus alive again just a few days later. That's the happiness that we carry in our hearts to this very day.

Many years ago, a little boy was given a priceless possession: his deceased grandfather's gold pocket watch. How he treasured it! But one day, while playing at his father's ice plant, he lost the watch amid all the ice and sawdust. He searched and scratched, becoming frantic, but no watch. Then he suddenly realized what he needed to do. He stopped scurrying around and became very still. In the silence, he heard the watch ticking.

In a similar way, God has given each of us a priceless gift of happiness that can only be found in Jesus. How easy it is to lose our happiness in the scurrying around of life. Yet it is always there to find, and if we will pause and listen to the beautiful presence of Jesus in our hearts we will find that happiness. So, because He lives, we have happiness.

Because He Lives, We Have Heaven

According to Philippians 3:2021, when Jesus comes again, our bodies will be transformed and glorified after the pattern of His own Resurrection body, fitted for eternity, and equipped for everlasting life in His mansions of glory. Because He lives, we will experience Heaven.

Herman Melville's great classic, Moby Dick, is packed with Biblical themes and allusions. For example, there is a character aboard the ship who was beloved by the crew. When he was seized by a serious fever, everyone tended him carefully and he recovered. But the illness left him worried about his future.

Calling the ship's carpenter, he requested a coffin be made for him in the shape of a canoe. The carpenter took his measurements, gathered his planks and tools, and set to work. Soon it was finished.

Little more is said of the strange coffin, and, as the book progresses, the story returns to Captain Ahab and his fatal obsession with the great whale, Moby Dick. In the novel's dramatic climax, Captain Ahab finds Moby Dick, but the great whale overcomes the captain, smashing the boat to pieces, killing Ahab and tossing the crew into the sea to be eaten alive by sharks.

Ishmael, the storyteller, found himself floundering in the water, being sucked into the vortex of the sinking ship, circling in a fatal eddy, prey for the sharks. Suddenly a “black bubble” burst from the water, liberated from the depths by its own buoyancy. It shot up with great force and landed near Ishmael. It was the canoe-shaped coffin. Climbing into it, Ishmael floated for a day and night until he was rescued by a passing ship.

Now, because of Easter, our coffins are nothing more than canoes carrying us across to a wonderful world on high. So, because He lives, we have Heaven.

Because He Lives, We Have Him

Best of all, because of Easter we have Him. Jesus said in John 14:18, “I will not leave you as orphans.” Easter tells us that we serve a risen Savior; He's in the world today. He walks with us and talks with us along life's narrow way.

I like what Luke records in Luke 24:5-8. He writes, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, “The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.” And they remembered His words.”

Because He lives, we have Him. And best of all, He provided us with a way to remember Him each week. Through communion we spend an intimate time with Christ each week. I like the way that Paul talks about the Lord’s Supper or Communion in I Corinthians 11:23-26. Here in I Corinthians 11:23-26 Paul writes, “1”

Communion is a very serious time, because He lives, we have Him, and this time to remember Him. So at this time we’re going to remember what Jesus has done for us by taking communion now...(Take Communion)

As we close, no wonder Easter is our greatest day. Because He lives, we can face tomorrow. Because He lives, we have healing, we have hope, we have holiness, we have happiness, we have heaven, and the best of all, because He lives, we have Him.

Because He lives, we will live also. So if you have not already done so, why don’t you come to Christ today!

If you are new around here, again we are glad you are with us this morning. But if you are wondering what this is all about, we encourage you to put your life in the hands of Jesus today. Make that decision in your life to follow Him. At the very least we would like to see you here again. You see, if you really want to know if Jesus rose from the dead, keep seeking -- you will find out. God promises that those who seek, find; those who ask, get given to them; and those who knock get the door opened up to them. So please stick with it, and make that decision soon.

If you used to be on the right path spiritually, but you wound up in a ditch somewhere, and you are wondering how long the road back to Christ is, all you have to do is turn around. Jesus is right there and He is ready to say, “Welcome back!” He will help you get your life back on track. But you have to first turn around. So we encourage you to do that today is you need to.