The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the best thing ever.

A dead Jesus hanging on a cross.. They take his body and put in a grave.. In that moment it was the WORST THING EVER.
The people who loved Him. Those that believed He was the messiah the prophets told us would come. The disciples who left their lives behind to follow. They all thought it was over. It could not get worse.

A dead Jesus makes life worse. A resurrected Jesus makes life better.

When Jesus rose from the dead on the 3rd day it meant that everything He said was true. It meant that there was still hope. It also meant that we too could rise from the dead and have everlasting life.
A resurrected Jesus makes life better… But Jesus did not come to make life marginally better. He came to give us THE BEST.
The Resurrection is the BEST THING EVER. If you have not received Him, you are really missing out.

Best Thing Ever 1 – Resurrection from Redemption Church on Vimeo.

Best thing Ever 1 – Resurrection

Sermon notes by Chris Fluitt

Redemption Church Plano Tx

Vid Bumper 1
The Quest for Better
We are always looking for better.. the latest and greatest. We see things that are newer, faster, prettier, the latest style and we want them.

You are itching to buy that new smart phone.. not because your current one is broken but because the newer model is better.
We are looking a better job… a promotion or raise at work because it would mean better money & authority.
Even when we love where we live we still daydream of a better place to live or improvements to make our current house better.
New cars, new clothes, new usually means better.

We are addicted to better… We just gotta have it.
Today and for the next 4 weeks we are going to talk about the quest for better. Often we are searching for Better when God is standing by willing to give us THE BEST.
Resurrection Sunday
I want to welcome you to Redemption Church. My name is Chris Fluitt and I serve as lead pastor here. Happy Resurrection Sunday! I hope everyone is having a great Easter. We are honored to have you join us today.
When Jesus Died…
When Jesus breathed His last on the cross, it was as if Hope itself had breathed its last breath. The teachings of the man Jesus had turned the nation of Israel on its head. There was such power, understanding, and revelation in His words. But that was now only a memory of a once great man. The man did things no one else had ever seen done. He healed the blind and the leper and even raised the dead. But for some reason He did not heal himself. They were certain that Jesus would be the King of Israel that would overthrow evil and fulfill the prophecies. But what they saw happen to Him… He was murdered as a common thief… He was not held as a King.
When Christ died and was buried in the tomb it seemed like the WORST THING EVER.
Jesus was supposed to make things better, but this just seemed worst. I imagine that some of His followers said to themselves “I wish I had never met Him… I wish I had just kept mended my fishing nets when He said ‘follow me.’ The last 3 and half years are nothing but a bad memory.”
In Luke 24 2 such disciples were talking on the road… They said this of Jesus
Luke 24:19 “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. (NIV)
Luke 24:20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him;(NIV)
Luke 24:21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.(NIV)
He was a prophet… they had hoped… At this moment the death of Jesus was the worst thing ever. …But the Resurrection changed everything. The resurrection changed the Worst thing ever to become the Best thing ever.
Matthew 28:1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.(NIV)
Matthew 28:2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.(NIV)
Matthew 28:3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.(NIV)
Matthew 28:4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.(NIV)
Matthew 28:5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.(NIV)
Matthew 28:6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.(NIV)
Matthew 28:7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: `He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”(NIV)
Matthew 28:8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.(NIV)
Matthew 28:9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.(NIV)
Matthew 28:10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”(NIV)
Do you believe this story? I believe it!
Hope died on a cross – But Hope was resurrected. Now we all have hope.
The healer died on a cross – But was resurrected. Now we all have healing.
The savior died on a cross – But lives again! Now we all have salvation.
Look at somebody and say THE RESURRECTION IS THE BEST THING EVER!
If Christ is not raised WORST THING EVER
A death without the resurrection is just another sad story of what could have been. Without the resurrection Jesus would have been another story of a good person that tried to change the world but failed. His story would be at best a small blip in history. He would have been largely forgotten.
And we who are gathered together today as Christians.. as believers in Jesus.. Look how the apostle Paul describes us without the resurrection.
1 Corinthians 15:16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.(NIV)
1 Corinthians 15:17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.(NIV)
1 Corinthians 15:18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.(NIV)
1 Corinthians 15:19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.(NIV)
If Christ is not raised WORST THING EVER
You are still in your sins.. your faith is futile, worthless, powerless… your loved ones are gone forever… we are more to be pitied than anyone – IF CHRIST IS NOT RAISED it is the worth thing ever.
Without the Resurrection

Jesus words were not True.
He was just another dreamer.
There is no hope for us

Death comes to all people. Death is undefeated.
The Grave swallows up everyone. The Grave always wins.
BUT ON THE 3^RD DAY JESUS ROSE FROM THE GRAVE!
BUT ON THE 3^RD DAY JESUS CONQUERED DEATH!
1 Corinthians 15:55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?”(NIV)
The Resurrection is the Best Thing Ever
Without a resurrection the death of Jesus is bad. It makes life worse. With a resurrection our lives are better.
But I want you to know the resurrection does not make your life marginally better.
Not marginally better
Gift cards
Does anyone here drive a car? Does anyone here purchase gas for their car? Would anyone here be interested in a $5 gas card. (pick a volunteer)
This $5 gas card is yours. Does it make your life better?
Now you can have this $5 gas card.. or I can give you this $6 gas card instead. Would the $6 gas card be better?
It would be marginally better. It would be a slight improvement.

When Jesus rose from the dead it was not a marginal improvement.
Jesus improved your life… But he also gave you and abundant over flowing life… He gave you a new life… He gives you an everlasting life that never ends!
The difference between a $5 & $6 gas card is marginal. Jesus gives us not just BETTER he gives us BEST.
If I were able to pull out a gas card that paid for all the gas you could ever use. If I could give you an “Everlasting Gas Card” that would be better than $6 gas card. That would be more than a marginal improvement. When it came to gas gifts that would be the best.

The Resurrection is the Best Thing Ever
Do you understand how radically better your life is because of Jesus?
You ever dream of winning the lottery? Pulling 1 dollar out of your wallet and purchasing the power ball winning ticket. What Christ did for you is better than winning millions in the lottery. Jesus gives you more than better – He gives you the best.
Isaiah 61:3 …to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
Isaiah 53:4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.(NIV)
Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.(NIV)

You are here on Easter Sunday.
You can have some time with family. That is something better.
You can go paint Easter eggs and take pictures with a bunny. And that family time might make a better memory.
You can come to church and have some good feelings while we sing to God. That is something better.
You can hear an inspirational sermon and receive something better to carry you through the week.
But Jesus has something for you today that is so much more than better. He has BEST for you today.
If you have never believed the message of Jesus before… He has best for you today.

If you have been a Christian all your life… He still has best for you.
1 Corinthians 2:9 However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”–(NIV)
Here is what I want you to do today… I want you to spend some time asking God “What do you have for me today? I want your Best God.”