Full message of the Easter Sunday story.

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2. Eternity
Creation
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3. Easter is the focal point of history (HIS-
STORY).
Picture a timeline with a cross in the
centre.
The Bible tells us that every moment
from Creation on has been leading up to
the cross (as part of God’s eternal plan).
And that every moment since is lived in
light of Jesus’ death and resurrection.
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4. It has been said something like this, “The
cross rests on the time line of history (HIS-
STORY) like a compelling view. Its tragedy
summons all sufferers. Its meaninglessness
attracts all cynics. Its hope lures all searchers.
History has idolized it and despised it, gold-
plated it and burned it, worn it and trashed it.
History has done everything to it but ignore
it. That is the one option that the cross does
not offer. No one can disregard it!”
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5. THE WOMEN AT THE CROSS
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6. THE WOMEN AT THE CROSS.
“And many women who followed Jesus from
Galilee, ministering to Him, were there
looking on from afar” Matthew 27:55-56.
Jesus had many “behind the scene” followers.
All four Gospels describe a group of women
who were dedicated to special ministries to
Jesus.
These women served, supported, and even
travelled in order to prepare the way for Jesus
and the twelve disciples. 6

7. The fearless devotion of these women
shines out. They remained with Jesus when
most of the male disciples ran for their lives!
In fact, these women are of the few
followers (mostly women) who did not
desert Jesus even at the cross.
They remained for the entire tragic ordeal.
Imagine the wrenching of their hearts as
they helplessly watched the shocking
torture, humiliation, and Crucifixion of the
One they had found so understanding and
gentle. 7

8. These women stayed behind when the
crowds left the death scene, this loyal
group followed Jesus’ body to the tomb.
When Joseph had taken the body, he
wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and laid
it in his new tomb which he had hewn
out of the rock; and he rolled a large
stone against the door of the tomb, and
departed.
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9. THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB
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10. THE WOMEN AT THE TOMB.
“And Mary Magdalene was there, and the
other Mary, sitting opposite the tomb”
Matthew 27:61.
Special mention is made of the women
who had followed Jesus all the way from
Galilee to Jerusalem.
The same women witnessed Jesus’ death,
burial and resurrection (chapter 28:1);
there is therefore no room for mistake over
either the reality of Jesus’ death or the
identification of His tomb. 10

11. After the Sabbath, these women
again spent hours gathering the
spices used for burial—they still
served Him, every act of service
done for the Lord counts.
With heavy hearts they got up early
in the morning, packed the spices,
and with heaviness of heart walked
towards the tomb. 11

12. When they arrived, there was a
strange silence, not the silence of
death but rather of wonder the
tomb was open and empty!
The grave was opened not to let
Jesus OUT but to let His followers
see IN, and that the tomb was
empty.
Jesus had left the tomb before the
stone had been rolled away. 12

13. 13

14. God had honoured these faithful
women in a special way.
At the lowest point of Christianity,
Mary and her companions were the
first to receive the news that
changed the world; later it would be
said of Jesus’ followers “They are
turning the world upside down.”
More likely they where turning the
world the right way up. 14

15. The angelic announcement ceased at
this point. From here on the message
would be told by human lips.
“Come; see the place where the Lord
lay.” And that same Christ the Lord rose
again. “He is not here: for he is risen.”
Hymn writers through the centuries
have celebrated the message they,
alone, heard that morning, “He is
risen.”
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17. If Easter is truly the focal point of
HIS-STORY...
Then we have a choice to make:
Believe in Jesus, or dismiss Him?
Accept His claims, or reject Him?
You have to make a choice TODAY!
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