# What does the Resurrection mean to you

Category: Special Seasons
Key Passage: Mark 16:9
Speaker: Paul Chisgar
Date: April 3, 2024

Mark chapter 16. Mark chapter 16. Just this thought tonight: What does the resurrection mean to you?

I tried to emphasize that a little bit even before now. We are just going to take a couple of the people that were there that first Resurrection Sunday morning and look at their lives, what the resurrection might have meant to them tonight. Mark 16, and we’re going to look at the first person that Jesus appeared to after he rose again. The first person that Jesus appeared to, Mark 16, and just one verse as a way of introduction: verse number 9. Mark 16 and verse number 9.

Would you please stand as I read God’s word together? Mark 16, verse number 9. By the way, I appreciate you so very much being here on Easter Sunday night. This is a good crowd for Easter Sunday night.

Brother Kevin mentioned in his prayer, it’s so true; so many churches aren’t even having church tonight. And shame on the preacher. But can I be honest with you, in a lot of those churches, if the preacher had it, not many folk at all would be there. And so, yes, the preacher, but the people a lot of times, too. But, praise the Lord, you’re here tonight. I appreciate you being here. That’s awfully important, and we appreciate it very, very much. Mark 16.

Look at verse number nine right there, Mark 16:9. “Now when Jesus was risen early the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had cast seven devils.”

Now, would you pray that the Lord would just maybe help us to see the importance of the resurrection to you personally? And what does it mean to you personally? Maybe the Lord will just use this tonight to help us in that category.

Father, thank you that we get to pray to you because of our risen Savior. Thank you, Lord, as the song says, we can face tomorrow because he lives. Thank you, Father. We know you love us because he gave your Son, and he died and rose again. Thank you, Lord, for so many things. Lord, would you just make that more real to us tonight? Father, we’re just going to look at these people. Lord, just use the different people’s lives we’re looking at to help us grow in that category, and we’ll thank you, Lord, for what you do through it. It’s in Jesus’ name we ask. Amen.

Thank you so much for standing. You may be seated.

Mary Magdalene—or she was from Magdala, which is why we call her Mary Magdalene. We don’t know a whole lot about her. We know she was possessed with seven demons. Now, just stop and think about that: someone that is demon-possessed. Those demons have moved in, and they’ve taken possession of that person, that body. I’ve shared with you; you’ve heard me talk about probably the closest I’ve come to directly dealing with it was as a little boy.

My dad had knocked on a lady’s door, invited her to church. She said, “I’ll come, but I want you to know I have demons.” And she went to a convention and some rituals or whatnot, and she said, “I left her. I have demons.” And she didn’t want them at that point, and very common. Well, they possessed her. We picked her up, took her to church. I was sitting in the back seat—I was a little squirt, you know—and that lady was sitting in the back seat.

All of a sudden, that lady started talking in a man’s voice. It was the demon speaking through—very common. Same thing when Jesus was talking to the maniac of Gadara. She started talking in a man’s voice; the demon started talking through her. And I was a brave young man. I did the bravest thing I could: I started crying and got up in the front seat. Exactly what I did. I left that lady; she could sit back there by herself, you know. I mean, with my brother and sister, they needed it anyway. I’m moving up front now, you know, before car seats and all that, amen. That’s my dealing with demons. You see how brave your pastor is, you know.

It’s a real thing. They possessed this lady. I think about the man that had brought his son to the disciples, who couldn’t, then to Jesus, who cast the demons out. He said those demons would throw that boy into the fire. Often demon-possessed people, at that moment when the demons are just showing themselves, they don’t feel pain, it seems like. Sometimes they throw him in the water and just drown. You ever see people just do crazy things? I know of some situations where it just seems like those demons will have them destroy that body, and that person just beats their head against the wall, literally as hard as they can, cracking their skull, and they don’t feel it because those demons are just possessing that body.

These are real stories about people that are demon-possessed. Think about this lady: she had seven demons that possessed her. Just imagine that. Can you imagine how they just wrecked havoc on her life? Sometimes it seems that it just ruins their health. I think that’s what it was with Mary Magdalene. Let me read for you verse Luke 8, verse number two. I’ll just read it for you: “And a certain woman, which had been healed of the evil spirits,” notice that, “healed of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary called Magdalene.”

Sometimes their bodies are just bent over, maybe their faces disfigured; sometimes they can’t speak, they can’t talk—different things, just physical diseases or handicaps. I think it had to do with her physically a lot because there it talks about being healed of evil spirits. But this lady, Jesus had cast those demons out, and when Jesus rose again, she was the first person that Jesus chose to show himself to.

Now, John, look over in the book of John, if you would. John chapter 20 gives us a little bit more detail about that time that Jesus showed himself to this lady, the first person that Jesus appeared to. By the way, wouldn’t it have been marvelous to be there that Easter, that first Easter Sunday morning, to go to the tomb and the angels are there: “He’s not here. He’s risen, just like he said he would.” Wouldn’t it be wonderful? Mary Magdalene was there, and we kind of read what happens there. John 20, look in verse number 11. John 20 and verse number 11.

“But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping.” They had already been there, and the angel said, “He’s not here. He’s risen.” The disciples had gone away, but Mary stood there outside the tomb, and she was just crying. “But Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping.” And as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the sepulchre. She saw two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. And they said to her, “Woman, why weepest thou?” And she saith unto them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.”

When she had thus said, she turned herself back and saw Jesus standing and knew not that it was Jesus. Jesus said unto her, “Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?” She, supposing him to be the gardener, said 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 said unto him, “Rabboni,” which is to say, “Master.” Jesus said to her, “Touch me not; 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.”

Now, why was it? Why was it? Jesus said, “Don’t touch me.” We mentioned this recently, but the high priest, once they were cleansed, they were going to the Day of Atonement, going into the Most Holy Place to apply the blood. Once they were cleansed, no one was to touch them. They were cleansed, and Jesus was going to take his own blood. He is a sacrifice; he is a high priest. He was taking his own blood and applying that to the true mercy seat up in heaven. That’s why he told Mary, “Don’t touch me. I am not ascended yet.” Notice he said, not just “my Father,” now he says, “your Father.” Not just “my God,” but “your God.”

Here’s my point: Jesus, before he had appeared to anyone else, before he had gone and done his priestly act, applied his own blood, Jesus took the time; he went directly to this lady that had been possessed with these demons. Can you imagine the fear that she had when she saw Jesus cry on the cross, “I thirst,” and maybe when he cried on the cross and said, “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit”? She was there just when she watched him die.

Can you imagine the fear that she thought, “Oh no, those demons—he’s the one that cast those demons out. Those demons, they have power, and maybe they can possess me again.” Maybe she went home and had nightmares about it; I don’t know. But just imagine all the thought processes about it: He’s the one. He had the power of God. I thought he was God, and yet now he’s dead. She was there taking his body and wrapping his body and all those things, and yet she maybe just had fear: “Oh no, my Savior is dead.” And yet Jesus appeared to Mary.

I love it when he just said, “Mary.” He had that certain way. By the way, he has a certain way of saying your name, doesn’t he? All of our names, if you’re his child. He has a certain way of saying her name. When he said her name, boy, she said, “I know who that is. That’s the one that cast the demons out of me. That’s the one that gave me freedom. That’s the one that gave me hope. That’s the one that just represented I’m forgiven. That’s the one that gave me a new life. That’s the one that healed my body.” Can you imagine all that went through her mind? Jesus is resurrected; he’s living.

He does have power over the demons. That three hours of darkness where the devil was working—hey, he won over that; he’s victorious. And Mary Magdalene, when she heard that, she said, “Oh, he’s risen!” Imagine the hope that just filled her whole body. Praise the Lord, I have victory over the devil and his demons. I don’t have to succumb to the pressure of the devil and his demons. Praise the Lord, he speaks your name. He says, “Marlene,” and he says, “Josh,” and “Wendy”—he speaks your name. Imagine, he’s freed us from the demons. My friend, we don’t have to worry about him. Greater is he that is in us, the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit living inside us. Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world. Hey, we have victory. Just think about it. What does a resurrection mean to you? I think Mary Magdalene’s meant so very, very much to her.

Let’s look at another little thought about Mary Magdalene. Would you look over in Luke chapter 8? Luke chapter 8. Some of these movies and different people will really portray Mary Magdalene as a prostitute. The Bible never teaches us that anywhere. The Bible does teach you she was possessed with seven devils, but we don’t know exactly what that meant, especially if she was physically very limited. I don’t think that’s true, but I know she was healed of the evil spirits. We know she had seven demons. We don’t know what all that means, but the Bible never says that she was the immoral lady. I know that’s kind of taught and believed, but the Bible never teaches that. Maybe it’s true; we don’t know, but the Bible never teaches that. I do want you to see this about Mary Magdalene. Look over in Luke chapter 8. Luke chapter 8, look in verse number two, if you would please. Luke 8, verse number two.

“And certain women, which had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities.” I think it’s interesting; he doesn’t always say it the same way. This time he says, “healed of evil spirits and infirmities,” weaknesses, infirmities. “Mary called Magdalene, out of whom went seven devils; Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others, which ministered unto him of their substance.” That, in another passage very similar to this, makes us think that Mary Magdalene had some means, some financial means about her, and she ministered to Jesus. Some had even given him the seamless coat, which was very expensive in that day and time, and some financed some of his ministry, helped with that. It looks—it often looks—like she was the leader of these ladies. Her name is mentioned often when they mention a group of ladies like this. But they ministered to him of their substance. They had some substance. It looks like she had a little bit of financial backing, if you will, some way, somehow.

Can you imagine if you’ve taken your finances, your life, your substance, and you’ve devoted it to Jesus? You’ve given him your value, your earthly things; you’ve taken of your resources and invested in him and his ministry. Can you imagine he died and he’s dead? I thought about Brother Josh. I went home, got to spend some time with my wife and daughter, my mom, and we ate, and then I came back and studied. When I was coming back to study, Brother Josh was already leaving out on the night bus to pick up children. I thought, “Man, that guy, he’s a worker.” I thought he’ll be sleeping in church tonight, but he’s a worker—no, he won’t be.

I thought about that—just the people that invest their lives, their energy, their time into the work of the Lord. I think Mary Magdalene kind of represents that. She was a lady of substance; she was investing in the ministry of Jesus Christ. Can you imagine when Jesus was dead? I don’t know, but I do know the devil—and, boy, just so many wiles of the devil. Can you imagine the devil kind of tempting her? “Well, you’ve been investing in his ministry. You’ve been using your resources in the work of the Lord. Was it worth it? I mean, he’s dead now. He’s in the tomb now. How good was it to use your resources? How good was it to use your Saturdays working for the Lord, and Sundays, and Monday, some of you, and Tuesday, some of you, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, you know? How good is it to use your life just to invest in the work of the Lord?”

But oh, when she heard that, Mary—so many emotions and feelings came over her. One thought, I think maybe she had several lines, is, “Hey, it’s worth it. I’m glad I’ve taken my energy. I’m glad I’ve taken my finances. I’m glad I’ve taken my resources and invested it in Jesus and his ministry. It’s worth it.” By the way, he is a risen Savior. I wouldn’t want to invest my money in Charles Taze Russell or Mohammed or Confucius. I wouldn’t want to invest my money in some Pope that’s dead. Praise the Lord, I want to invest my money and my resources in the one that was dead and is alive forevermore. Amen.

Praise the Lord, my friend, he’s worth us giving—not me, not our church—but he is worth you giving every dime of everything you have, giving it all to Jesus Christ. He’s worthy of that, friend. Everything; he’s worthy. He is resurrected, and it says, “Hey, praise the Lord, it’s worth it to invest in Jesus. Everything you’ve got in Jesus, give it all to Him.” The old song used to sing, “Give it all, give it all, give it all to Jesus.” Just thoughts. What was it like? What is a resurrection? What did it mean to these folks on that first resurrection morning?

Let’s change from Mary Mag. Let’s change over to Peter. You know Peter; you know of Peter. He was the loudmouth, wasn’t he? Peter was. He’s the one that, you know, open mouth and stuck his foot in before he even thought about it, you know. Some of us represent that every once in a while. He was just Peter. He was the one that was the one that was the one. He said, “Let me come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come.” He’s the one who stepped out, got out on the water. I mean, I understand he fell, but he’s got the record for walking on the water besides Jesus Christ, amen, you know, and beat you and me, you know. That’s just Peter, baby; he’s rambunctious, ready to go. He appears to be the leader, mentioned 160 times in the Bible named Peter.

When the apostles are listed, typically Peter’s the first one listed; he just appears to be the leader there. He’s the one over there in Matthew 16. Jesus said, “Whom do you say that I am?” I know they’re saying Jeremiah and Isaiah, but “Whom do you say that I am?” And Peter said, “Hey, you’re the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus said, “You’re right, Peter. Flesh and blood hadn’t revealed it to you.” By the way, that’s a great lesson for the soul. It’s not going to be us that reveals it to him; it’s the Holy Spirit that does that. But anyway, he said, “Flesh and blood hadn’t revealed that to you; my Father had to reveal that to you.” After that, Jesus began to talk a lot: “Hey, I’m going to have to go and suffer and bleed and die. I’m going to be buried.”

Peter didn’t like that. Peter began to rebuke Jesus. It’s amazing; the Bible says that Peter rebuked Jesus. Can you imagine that? And Jesus let it happen. After that, Jesus got on to Peter. He said, “Hey, get behind me, Satan.” I don’t think he was talking to Peter, saying, “You are Satan.” Satan was using you, Peter. And he says that. Peter says, “Oh, Lord, Lord, I’m ready. I’ll go to death with you.” Peter, “Lord, I’m not going to fall.” Remember Jesus said, “Be careful, Peter. Satan desires to have you that he may sift you as wheat.” Peter said, “Oh, I’m ready to die with you, Lord.” Remember what Jesus said? “Now, Peter, before that old rooster starts crowing, you’ll deny me three times.” Peter, “Oh, no.”

“I’m ready to go to the top with you,” you know. Remember what happened? Peter was just rambunctious, ready to go. Even before Peter started that—I think this is really where Peter started going downhill, though pride started way before—but then they were in the garden, coming out of the garden, and Judas brings the soldiers there with the kiss of betrayal. Peter gets the sword out, man; he’s ready to fight. He goes to cut his head off, but the high priest’s servant ducks, and he cuts his ear off. Jesus puts that ear back on. I don’t know if he ever did it, but I think that’s where Peter—Peter’s ready to fight—and Jesus said, “No, Peter, it’s not going to be like that.” Sometimes we have it all pictured in our minds how everything is going to happen. “I’m going to do that.” Lord, isn’t it amazing how many times when I think I’ve got it all patterned out, the Lord changes things on me? We live by faith. Peter said, “Well, I didn’t think this is how it was going to happen.”

After that, Peter started to follow him afar off. Then he was over there at the judgment hall, and Jesus was there. Somebody said, “Hey, you’re one of those apostles,” to Peter. By the way, they had been over there torturing Jesus; Peter had been watching that. Peter was ready to fight; he tried to cut the guy’s head off. Jesus said, “No, no, not Peter. We’re not going to fight like that.” So Peter was watching Jesus suffer and be beaten and slapped and buffeted and mocked. Somebody comes to Peter, says, “Hey, Peter, were you one of those guys?” And Peter said, “Oh no, not me. No, no, no, no, no.” Then somebody else comes a little bit later on and says, “Hey, you’re one of those. I’ve seen you. You’re with him. You’re one of those guys. I know you are.” And Peter said, “No, no, not me. I’m not one of those guys.” Then the third person comes along and says, “Hey, you’re one of those apostles, aren’t you? Yeah, I know you are. You got that look about you. I can tell by the way you’re talking.” Peter starts cussing: “Well, blank, blank, blank, blank, I don’t know him.” All of a sudden, that rooster starts, “Cock-a-doodle-doo.”

Then Jesus—maybe by that time just bloody, beaten, swollen—turns and looks at Peter. Peter says, “Oh, my goodness. When it all was on the line, if you will, when the chips were down, I failed him.” When the pressure was on, the heat was there, and everything was happening, Jesus is suffering and being tortured. Peter says, “I failed. He told me this was going to happen. He’s already warned me, and I fell flat on my face.” That’s Peter. Can you imagine that? Peter went out and he wept bitterly. “I am a failure. What a coward. I thought I was somebody. What a coward I am.”

Then Jesus dies. He laid down his life from the cross of Calvary. Yet, when Jesus is resurrected, look, if you will, over in Mark chapter 16. We’ve been there earlier. Look back over there, Mark 16. It’s amazing how Jesus—the Bible gives glimpses of it—he reaches out to Peter in such a specific and special way to Peter. Mark 16, look in verse number six. Mark 16:6. “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. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.”

Remember a little bit later on? Jesus is walking with the two apostles on the road to Emmaus. They didn’t recognize him. This is what they said to Jesus, Luke 24:34, saying, “Lord, he has risen.” Saying, “The Lord is risen indeed.” And to Peter, Simon—even those apostles knew that Jesus had—he really had gone after Simon. 1 Corinthians 15:5: “Then was he seen of Cephas [that’s Peter], then of the twelve.” Jesus reached out to Peter individually. Later on, when they were all gathering in the upper room—excuse me, in the room, and two different Sundays, you know—it appears, but Jesus reached out to Peter.

Think about this: Peter, I’m sure, was defeated. “Man, I failed him. I’m just a failure. When it came to the clutch of the moment, I let down; I failed Jesus so bad.” And yet Jesus went after Peter. “Peter, I’m not done with you.” He kept reaching out to Peter. Can you imagine? Doesn’t Jesus do this when we fail him and we’re just so miserable and tired of ourselves? Isn’t Jesus good at reaching out to us? I praise the Lord that a resurrected Savior reaches out after us. He did after Peter. Can you imagine the feelings Peter had? “My goodness, I’m the one that denounced him. I’m… He keeps reaching out to me.” Think about the resurrected Savior reaching out to you. Imagine Peter there: “I can’t believe he’s forgiven me after he warned me, told me what was going to happen, and I still—I was proud, I was cocky—and I still fell flat on my face. And yet he’s forgiven me.” Aren’t you glad you have a resurrected, forgiving Savior?

He goes after us when we are sometimes in our worst moments. Sometimes we say, “Well, I’m glad I found the world.” I understand what you’re saying, friend, but the honest truth is he found you. I’m glad he goes looking for us. He went after Peter, the resurrected Savior. Imagine Peter’s forgiveness: “I can’t believe it forgave me.” Let me be honest—I’m going to try to hurry along here, but let me be honest—even after that, Peter just wasn’t right. Sometimes our failure just haunts us. Jesus doesn’t want that, but we let it haunt us. I’m not sure about everything about it, but look over in John chapter 21 real quickly here; we’re going to be done. John chapter 21. The Lord had appeared to Peter in a special way just after he resurrected: “I’m going after you, Peter.”

After all that, let’s see what Peter does in John 21. Look in verse number three. John 21, verse number three: “Simon Peter saith unto them, I go a fishing.” He was talking to the other apostles. Remember in the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry, Jesus said, “Hey, come follow me,” and they left their nets, the business of fishing, you know, for a living. Jesus said, “Hey, you’re not going to be fishing for those kind of fish. From now on, you’re going to be fishers of men.” Remember that? That’s when they went into the ministry; that was their call to the ministry. But Peter says, “I’m tired of the fishing for men’s stuff. I’m going to go back to fishing.”

It would be one thing if Peter didn’t want to do God’s will; he’s just kind of stuck in his pity party: “I failed him.” I’m not sure if that’s even after he forgave him, but Peter just says, “I’m going to go fishing.” That’s one thing if Peter went backslidden on his own. But he tells the other ones—he could have just gone fishing by himself—but he tells them, “Hey, I’m going fishing; come on,” you know. It’s amazing; six of those guys follow him. Peter backslides and leads six of the—half of the guys—to follow him in fishing. Jesus said, “No, we’re going to go fishing for men.”

Jesus knew that. He’s out there; he’s got all these other apostles out there fishing with him. We won’t have to take time to look at all of it, but look what Jesus does here. Look in verse number five. Jesus comes to them. Then Jesus saith unto them, “Children, have you any meat?” They’re out in these boats fishing; they couldn’t catch anything. Jesus says, “Put your net on the right side.” Put it out there; they caught 153 big old fish. Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any meat?” Notice that: “Children, have you any meat?” By the way, it’s a good thing about eternal security. Even when I backslide out of the will of God, I’m still a child of God, amen. He is so good and merciful. “Children, have you any meat?” They answered him, “No.” He said unto them, “Cast the net on the right side of the ship, and ye shall find.” They did it, which I have already talked about.

Let’s keep going. I don’t want to try to hurry on time; I know you’re tired; you’ve been busy today. Jesus feeds them. He says, “Come and dine,” and takes care of them. Then watch what Jesus does to Peter. Look down in verse number 15, if you would. Verse number 15: “So when they had dined, Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these?” You’re so stuck on this earthly stuff and what you did and what you’re just fishing—do you love me more than these? He saith unto him, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.” He saith unto him, “Feed my lambs”—lambs, baby sheep. He said to him again the second time, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?” He said to him, “Yea, Lord; thou knowest that I love thee.” He said, “Feed my sheep.” He said then the third time, “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?” Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, “Lovest thou me?” He said unto him, “Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee.” Jesus said unto him, “Feed my sheep.”

Can I say this? The resurrected Savior going to Peter: forgiveness, yes. But then, even after that, the Lord says, “Peter, I want you to get involved in the work of the Lord. Peter, I’m not through using you. Peter, I still have a plan for your life. Peter, I still have lambs and sheep that I want you to feed. Peter, I’m coming back to you singularly. I’m resurrected, and I want you to know there’s still value in your life. There’s still something I want to do in and through you. I’m still working on you, Peter. I haven’t given up on you, Peter. You may have given up on yourself. You may say, ‘I want to go do this earthly thing,’ but I’ve got something better. I’ve got eternal value in you. I want to use you to do something.” Aren’t you glad our resurrected Savior, as long as you’re breathing, still wants to use you? He sees some eternal value in you. He sees so much. He says, “I’ve got some lambs and I’ve got some sheep that I want to use you to feed. I want you to be involved in the work of the Lord.” Forgiveness? Oh, yes, I believe Peter felt it all. I praise you, Lord, he’s going after me. He’s forgiven me. He still loves me. But also, I think Peter realized he still wants to use me; he still has plans for my life.

Satan loves for us to live in our past defeats. We have horses behind us—or not ours, but our neighbor has some horses—and there’s an electric fence going around that field, and that electric fence has not worked in years. But those horses remember in the past when they got shocked by that electric fence. That’s amazing. If the fence is all the way down, they’ll get out. We have to put the wire back up there. But that thing hasn’t been active for years. Those horses live in captivity; they can break that little bit of wire, no problem at all. That thing has no power to hold them in. A lot of Christians are just kind of stuck in past defeats. Satan lost the power over you. Jesus unplugged the electric fence, if you will, when he won the victory. But they just live there. Jesus comes to us even stuck in bondage when he says, “Hey, come on, I have value. I want to use you.” If you love me, Peter, I want you to get back to being useful. I want you to get back in the work of the Lord. By the way, Peter did.

Fifty days after the Day of Pentecost, fifty days after the resurrection, what happened? The Day of Pentecost, and 3,000 people were saved. Who is up there preaching? I think maybe some others were, but Peter was amazing. He’s up there preaching away, old Peter. 3,000 saved and baptized. A little bit after that, there were threatenings and warnings. Peter didn’t deny him that time. Then there was persecution. Peter didn’t back up one inch. In fact, they rejoiced that they were worthy to suffer like Jesus did. Peter, praise the Lord, said, “You know what? The Lord came after me when he resurrected. He’s not finished. He has value in my life.” Peter faced the same test, but he passed, flying in colors next time. Wow, old Peter. The Lord says, “I failed him so many times.” Hey, the Lord’s not done with you. He comes and says, “Hey, I still have value. I still want to use you. Don’t identify yourself with past defeats.” That’s under the blood for him.

History tells us that at the end of his life, Peter was in Rome. Rome was kind of the hot seat with Nero and persecution and all that. Peter was there preaching it. At the end of his life, history tells us they would have crucified Peter, martyred him. Peter said, “You know what? I’m not worthy.” By the way, he didn’t deny him then. Peter said, “I’m not worthy to die like my Savior did. I was there.” So he asked, “Why not crucify me upside down?” History tells us that Peter died, crucified upside down. Jesus said, “Peter, I’m not done using you. I can see what you can become if you keep following me.” Pray, Lord, that a resurrected Savior comes to us saying, “I’m not done with you.” Just think about it. What does the resurrection of Jesus mean to you?

Would you bow your heads and close your eyes? Just for a moment, would you thank him? Thank you for dying and suffering and bleeding and dying, and thank him for resurrecting and coming to you. Oh, I’m so glad it gives me hope. I don’t have to live in fear with the devil and the demons. I don’t have to live in fear. It’s worth it to live for the Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, I failed him. We all failed him, but he’s forgiven me. He says, “I’ve got plans for you, Peter. You really love me? Feed my lambs. Feed my sheep.”

Would you stand, please? We won’t be long tonight; I know you’re tired. Let’s just spend some time thanking him and loving him for being a resurrected Savior. Would you do that? Father, thank you that you love us and you come to us. It’s amazing; we have failed you many a time, but you never failed us, and you keep coming to us, giving us hope, value, love, strength, forgiveness, youth, usefulness. Thank you, Lord; you give all that to us. Father, would you help us just draw nigh to you? Thank you; you will draw nigh to us. Bless the folks in these minutes, and in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen. Would you just spend some time being obedient to the Lord as our instruments play?

You’re coming to me. Thank you for your forgiveness, your love, your hope, your healing, your power. I don’t have to worry about the demons of hell. Why? Because Jesus is living. He’s risen. He’s got plans for you. He’s not finished with you, friend. Just come to love him and thank him and rejoice in him. I’m so glad he’s risen. He’s risen. He’s risen. It’s amazing how he comes to us just when I don’t deserve it; he comes to us.

The early church, they say, the highlight of their year was the day they celebrated as resurrection. That was kind of Christmas in our modern world; it was a big thing. Easter or Resurrection Sunday was their big thing in the early church. Praise the Lord, we serve a risen Savior. Amen. Just think about that. What all does it mean to you personally? We are serving a risen, resurrected Savior, amen. What a blessing it is. Good to have you. Thank you for being here Sunday night on this victory day. God has been so good to us, and praise the Lord for him working in hearts and lives. Good to have some folks back we haven’t seen in a while, and what a blessing. Thank you for all your hard work. The choir did a good job, and everyone—we just praise the Lord for good people doing God’s work. People are getting saved; lives have been changed. Praise the Lord for it. It’s an honor to be a part of the team. Amen. What a blessing it is, and praise the Lord for it.

Original File: Pastor Paul Chisgar ＂What does the Resurrection mean to you＂ - Sunday PM 03⧸31⧸2024 [JmBHobySaWA]