"LIVING HOPE."
I. THE WORLD TO WHICH JESUS CAME WAS FILLED WITH HOPELESSNESS, DARKNESS, AND DESPAIR.
A. It was a world in bondage.
1. Men had been bludgeoned into submission by the Roman legions.
2. Those who were not slaves to Rome were slaves to their own passions.
B. It was a world of hatred and suspicion.
1. There were plots and counter-plots.
2. Paranoia reigned.
a. Herod, the ruler over the province was paranoid.
1. Reflected in the fortresses he built, Herodian and Masada.
2. He killed his sons and his wife.
C. It was a world as Paul described, without Christ, having no hope.
1. There was religion to be sure.
a. Men were using it to support their bigotry.
b. But the goals of the religious leaders varied little from the civil leaders.
1. They too sought to subjugate men and perpetuate themselves in power.
II. WITH THE COMING OF CHRIST CAME A RAY OF HOPE TO THIS HOPELESS WORLD.
A. Matthew's gospel describes it: "The people who sat in darkness saw a great light."
B. Those who followed Jesus were filled with joy.
1. They were convinced He was the Messiah.
2. They expected Him to break the chains of slavery and bring peace to the world.
3. They felt the day had come when the lion would lie down with the lamb.
C. But all that changed, for they watched as politics took one of its ugliest forms and an innocent man was condemned to die by crucifixion.
1. Even as He hung on the cross they hoped for a last minute miracle.
2. But no miracle came, and for reasons they could not understand He died.
3. When the limp body of Jesus was placed in the sepulcher and the stone rolled over the door the darkness seemed greater than ever.
a. If you are in a darkened room, your eyes become somewhat adjusted, but when walking from brilliant sunlight into that same room, how dark it now appears.
b. Walking from the brilliant light of Christ's love, back into the dark world of hatred was too much.
4. He had spoken of: the power of good over evil, love over hate, light over darkness, freedom over slavery.
5. He spoke of the possibility of salvation.
6. But now it was like going to sleep when you are starving to death and dreaming - that a sumptuous table is set before you, and just as you start to indulge you wake up.
7. Their miracle did not come in the last minute but three days later when they discovered the empty tomb.
III. WITH THE EMPTY TOMB CAME A RENEWED HOPE.
A. Death cannot conquer the Lord of life.
B. The resurrection brought more than hope, it was now a living hope.
C. Go tell the world, the light was not extinguished; He is risen as He said. He is alive and His kingdom is forever. Love shall triumph; Love shall come; Jesus shall reign.
D. What a difference the discovery of the empty tomb made.