This is the manuscript of the sermon preached at Christ Church Los Angeles, on Sunday April 27, 2025
Scripture
1 Peter 1:3-16 NIV [3] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, [5] who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. [7] These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. [8] Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, [9] for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. [10] Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care, [11] trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow. [12] It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. Even angels long to look into these things. [13] Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. [14] As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. [15] But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; [16] for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
Sermon
This is the first Sunday after the glorious celebration of Resurrection Sunday. Last Sunday, the air was filled with shouts of "He is risen!"
Today, perhaps the echoes of that joy still linger, but we might also find ourselves returning to the routines of life.
This is precisely where the promises of Resurrection take on an even deeper significance. It's one thing to rejoice in the miracle on Resurrection Sunday morning, but it’s another to live in the unwavering faith that this miracle continues to shape in our reality.
Text
1 Peter 1:3 NIV Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
Think about the disciples. On that first Resurrection Sunday morning, they heard the unbelievable news from Mary Magdalene and the other women.
Luke 24:1-12 NIV [1] On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. [2] They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, [3] but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. [4] While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. [5] In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? [6] He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: [7] ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” [8] Then they remembered his words. [9] When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. [10] It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. [11] But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. [12] Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.
The disciples initial reaction wasn’t immediate faith; it was disbelief. Scripture tells us, “But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense” (Luke 24:11). Even after Peter and John ran to the tomb and found it empty, their understanding was incomplete.
John 20:3-4, 9-10 NIV [3] So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. [4] Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. [9] (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) [10] Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
It often takes time for the reality of such a profound event to truly sink in. This is a crucial time for us to move beyond the initial excitement and cultivate a deep-seated faith in the promises that the resurrection holds.
One powerful promise we see immediately following the resurrection is the promise of encounter with the risen Christ. The gospels record several appearances of Jesus to His disciples in the days and weeks after His resurrection. He didn't remain hidden; He showed Himself. He ate with them, spoke with them, and reassured them.
John 20:19-20 NIV [19] On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” [20] After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.
1 Corinthians 15:3-8 NIV [3] For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, [5] and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. [6] After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. [7] Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, [8] and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
These encounters transformed their disbelief into unwavering faith. It reminds us that the risen Christ is not a distant memory, but a living presence in our lives today. We may not see Him physically as the disciples did, but through the Holy Spirit, through scripture, and through fellowship, we can encounter His living presence.
Another crucial promise is the promise of peace in the midst of fear. The disciples were locked in a room, gripped by fear of what might happen to them. When Jesus appeared, His first words were, “Peace be with you!”
This wasn’t just a casual greeting; it was a profound declaration of the peace that His resurrection brings.
John 14:27-31 NIV [27] Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
When Jesus said “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you" it came at a moment when Jesus is preparing his disciples for his departure and the difficulties they will face. He offers them a peace that is different from the world's peace, a peace rooted in their faith in him and the promise of the Holy Spirit. It's a peace that will sustain them through trials and give them confidence in their future with him.
The resurrection shattered the power of death and sin, the very things that fuel our deepest fears. The peace of the resurrection is a peace that transcends our circumstances, a peace that anchors us in the love and victory of Christ.
Finally, the resurrection promises us a mission and a purpose.
After showing Himself to the disciples, Jesus commissioned them.
John 20:21-22 NIV [21] Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” [22] And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:18-20 NIV [18] Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. [19] Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, [20] and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The resurrection wasn't just about Jesus' victory; it was about empowering His followers to continue His work in the world. We, too, are called to be witnesses to the resurrection, to share the good news of hope and new life with those around us. The promises of the resurrection empower us for this mission, providing us with the Holy Spirit to guide and strengthen us.
As we navigate this time after Resurrection Sunday, let us not allow the world's anxieties and distractions dim the light of the resurrection. Let us hold fast to the promises of encounter with the living Christ, of His peace that calms our fears, and of the mission He has entrusted to us. May our faith, like that of the disciples who eventually went out and changed the world, be strengthened by the reality of the resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Let us pray.
Prayer:
Risen Lord, we thank You for Your glorious resurrection, the foundation of our faith and the source of all our hope. We acknowledge that sometimes, even after the joy of Resurrection Sunday, doubt and fear can creep into our hearts. We pray for a deeper encounter with Your living presence in our lives. Grant us Your peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace that anchors us in Your love and victory. Empower us by Your Holy Spirit to embrace the mission You have given us, to be Your witnesses in the world, sharing the good news of resurrection and new life. Help us to live each day in the light of Your triumph over death, trusting in Your promises and growing in our faith. Amen.
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