1 Peter 1:3-9
Humanity has always hoped for life that extends beyond the grave. The American Indians placed arrowheads in the tombs of their dead for use in the happy hunting grounds and cooking utensils with which to cook their meals.
The Egyptians placed in the coffins of their dead a book of prayers that they were to use to help them go into that vast unseen world.
The Greeks put a silver coin in the mouths of their dead that they might pay Charon, the ferryman, to take them across the River Styx.
The Laplanders buried flint and wood with their dead so they would have light for their journey into darkness.
The Norsemen buried a fallen warrior’s horse and armor with him so he would be triumphant in his ride into Valhalla.
The Greenlanders buried a dog with a boy who died so that he might have a friend and guide into the next life.
The Orientals developed a concept called re-incarnation so they would live again coming back as another person. This idea has taken hold today and is found in many groups including new agers. It speaks of man’s insatiable desire for some evidence, some hope, for life beyond the grave.

In recent science, freezing the body until some future scientific development that will revive it has been employed.

Aren’t you glad that we who know Jesus have a clear and certain hope of life eternal. It was there in the Old Testament. When you read the opening pages of Genesis you see that the great patriarchs who died were “gathered unto their fathers.” As you progress through the Old Testament you finally come to that passage in Ecclesiastes 12:7 that speaks of the body and spirit: “…the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.”

Then in the time of Jesus, there was already a fully developed concept of the resurrection. The two religious parties in the life of Judaism had strong feelings about it. The Sadducees, who were in control of the Temple at the time that Jesus was crucified, did not believe in the resurrection. But the Pharisees had a strong belief in the resurrection of the dead. The teachings of Jesus made it clear that his mission was to give abundant life now and eternal life later to those who believed in him. The thief on the cross beside Jesus said, “Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus replied, “Today you will be with me in paradise.”

It is more fully developed in the teachings of the Apostle Paul. As he writes of his own death he says, “I have a desire to depart and be with Christ which is far better.” On this Easter Sunday, we must not deal in things that are trivial, for the question, “Who will roll the stone away for me?” must be answered by each one of us.

On that first Easter morning, the women went to the tomb and they found the stone already rolled away. The tomb was empty. The clothes in which Jesus was wrapped were there neatly folded. The angel gave for the triumphant message, “He is not here, but is risen.”

Peter was one of the first ones to the tomb. He and John rushed there having been told by the women that Jesus was alive. Peter rushed in to see if it really was so. Looking back on that experience years later, Peter writes the passage that we read a few moments ago. In effect he is saying that in Christ the stone is rolled away for all believers and WE HAVE A LIVING HOPE. (1 PETER 1:3) “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.”

This hope is born in me and you when we experience the new birth that comes about through the repentance of sin, the faith that Jesus is our only hope, the confession that he is Lord of our lives, and when God accepts our spiritual birth as genuine. The living hope can only be given when we settle our relationship with God. This hope is not nebulous and uncertain, but is alive and quickened in our souls. It is not primarily a belief in a theology, not in a system, not in a church, not in a book, but a hope that is centered in a person. And that person is Jesus the Christ who is back from the dead as the great conqueror of our last enemy called death.

When the power of God came into the tomb his body was revived, his spirit came back from Paradise, and he was given his glorious resurrection body and he appeared in many settings and to many people to show himself alive.

A young girl was talking to a skeptic about her belief in Jesus as her Savior. He said to her, “My dear, don’t you know that he world has had hundreds of saviors? How do you know which one to trust?” She replied, “I trust the one who arose from the dead.”

In the early days of the immigration to the west, a traveler approached the Mississippi River in the deep wintertime and noticed that the great expanse of the river was frozen all the way across. He had to get to his destination across the river. He debated with himself all day whether or not to step out on the ice. Finally, late in the day, he decided to step out. He got down on his hands and knees to distribute is weight. He was going to crawl across the river. When he was a good way out from the bank, he heard a noise behind him. He turned around and saw a wagon filled with coal drawn by four horses that had come down the lane and out on to the ice. They were merrily making their way across the ice. Here he way, so afraid to try, and one who knew how thick the ice was could make his way without any doubt.

Christians are like the latter, who know that when it is our time to cross the river of life can do so triumphantly for we have one who has crossed it before us and has taken the danger out of it.

Someone has beautifully written: “Think of stepping on shore and finding it heaven. Or taking hold of a hand and finding it Christ’s hand; Or breathing new air and it being celestial air; Or feeling invigorated and finding it to be immortality; Or passing from storm and tempest to perfect calm; Or waking up and finding it home.”

WE HAVE AN INCORRUPTIBLE INHERITANCE. (1 Peter 1:4) “…and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade – kept in heaven for you.”

Peter tells us of that which God has in store for the redeemed. It is an inheritance that is of incorruptible quality. It will never perish. It will never fade away. It is reserved in heaven until we get there.

Edith Burns was a wonderful Christian who lived in San Antonio, Texas. She was the patient of a doctor by the name of Will Phillips. Dr. Phillips was a gentle doctor who saw patients as people. His favorite patient was Edith Burns. One morning he went to his office with a heavy heart and it was because of Edith Burns.

When he walked into that waiting room, there sat Edith with her big black Bible in her lap earnestly talking to a young mother sitting beside her.

Edith Burns had a habit of introducing herself in this way: “Hello, my name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?” Then she would explain the meaning of Easter, and many times people would be saved. Dr. Phillips walked into that office and there he saw the head nurse, Beverly. Beverly had first met Edith when she was taking her blood pressure. Edith began by saying, “My name is Edith Burns. Do you believe in Easter?” Beverly said, “Why yes I do.” Edith said, “Well, what do you believe about Easter?” Beverly said, “Well, it’s all about egg hunts, going to church, and dressing up.” Edith kept pressing her about the real meaning of Easter, and finally led her to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Dr. Phillips said, “Beverly, don’t call Edith into the office quite yet. I believe there is another delivery taking place in the waiting room.”

After being called back in the doctor’s office, Edith sat down and when she took a look at the doctor she said, “Dr. Will, why are you so sad? Are you reading your Bible? Are you praying?” Dr. Phillips said gently, “Edith, I’m the doctor and you’re the patient.” With a heavy heart he said, “Your lab report came back and it says you have cancer, and Edith, you’re not going to live very long.” Edith said, “Why Will Phillips, shame on you. Why are you so sad? Do you think God makes mistakes? You have just told me I’m going to see my precious Lord Jesus, my husband, and my friends. You have just told me that I am going to celebrate Easter forever, and here you are having difficulty giving me my ticket!” Dr. Phillips thought to himself, “What a magnificent woman this Edith Burns is!”

Edith continued coming to Dr. Phillips. Christmas came and the office was closed through January 3rd. On the day the office opened, Edith did not show up. Later that afternoon, Edith called Dr. Phillips and said she would have to be moving her story to the hospital and said, “Will, I’m very near home, so would you make sure that they put women in here next to me in my room who need to know about Easter.”

Well, they did just that and women began to come in and share that room with Edith. Many women were saved. Everybody on that floor from staff to patients were so excited about Edith, that they started calling her Edith Easter; that is everyone except Phyllis Cross, the head nurse. Phyllis made it plain that she wanted nothing to do with Edith because she was a “religious nut”. She had been a nurse in an army hospital. She had seen it all and heard it all. She was the original G.I. Jane. She had been married three times, she was hard, cold, and did everything by the book.

One morning the two nurses who were to attend to Edith were sick. Edith had the flu and Phyllis Cross had to go in and give her a shot. When she walked in, Edith had a big smile on her face and said, “Phyllis, God loves you and I love you, and I have been praying for you.” Phyllis Cross said, “Well, you can quit praying for me, it won’t work. I’m not interested.” Edith said, “Well, I will pray and I have asked God not to let me go home until you come into the family.” Phyllis Cross said, “Then you will never die because that will never happen,” and curtly walked out of the room.

Every day Phyllis Cross would walk into the room and Edith would say, “God loves you Phyllis and I love you, and I’m praying for you.” One day Phyllis Cross said she was literally drawn to Edith’s room like a magnet would draw iron. She sat down on the bed and Edith said, “I’m so glad you have come, because God told me that today is your special day.” Phyllis Cross said, “Edith, you have asked everybody here the question, ‘Do you believe in Easter?’ but you have never asked me.” Edith said, “Phyllis, I wanted to many times, but God told me to wait until you asked, and now that you have asked…”

Edith Burns took her Bible and shared with Phyllis Cross the Easter Story of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Edith said, “Phyllis, do you believe in Easter? Do you believe that Jesus Christ is alive and that He wants to live in your heart?” Phyllis Cross said, “Oh I want to believe that with all of my heart, and I do want Jesus in my life.” Right there, Phyllis Cross prayed and invited Jesus Christ into her heart. For the first time Phyllis Cross did not walk out of a hospital room, but she entered eternal life.” (Told by Harvie Neatherlin).

WE HAVE AN INEXPRESSIBLE JOY. Look at the truth in verses 8 and 9. “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, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
PRAISE BE TO HIS NAME!