This Must Be the Place

They wrapped him in linen, sealed the stone, and walked away. But the third day, the earth shook, an angel descended like lightning, and the one they crucified was not there. He had risen, just as he said. The tomb didn't defeat him, it announced him. He is risen. Happy Easter, Legacy Church. Come on, let's celebrate what Jesus has done for us. I think you can do a little bit better than that on Easter Sunday. Jesus, we bless you. Jesus, we celebrate all that you've done. You have conquered death, hell, and the grave, and we are grateful. Are you grateful this morning? Look at your neighbor and say, I'm grateful. Now look at your other neighbor, the one you rejected. Ask him, say, are you grateful? Tell him, I'm grateful. Now just give him a quick compliment. Say, you look great today. Love the hairstyle. Fragrance is popping. We're glad that you're here today. Welcome to Easter Sunday service. He is risen. Y'all know it. Ancient Christian paschal greeting. He is risen. He is risen indeed. Today we're going to go to Matthew 28 and read the first six verses of Scripture of Matthew 28. If you have your Bible, please join me in Matthew 28.

Once you've found it, please stand to your feet for the reading of the word of God. We're going to read out loud all together as a church family. Matthew 28, verses 1-6. If you're ready, read along with me. Verse 1, now after the Sabbath toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him, the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen. And that's where we'll stop. And I decided to title this message, This Must Be the Place. Because if you are looking for Jesus, I can tell you where he is and I can definitely tell you where he is not. And he is not in the tomb. He has risen. So if you came looking for Jesus today, we testify this must be the place. Let's pray. Lord, we say thank you for your word. It's everlasting and unchanging and yet we know that it always changes us. So Holy Spirit, I pray that you would move as you desire to move in this place. Take hold of each and every one of us and transform us more into your image. For your glory we pray in Jesus' name. And the church said amen. You can be seated. Well, the first thing I want to say about Easter is this. Easter is not for perfect people. And neither is church. I know we have some folks here today. You've come to Easter Sunday service out of tradition.

And I want you to know I respect that greatly. And we are so grateful that you've come. But I also want to say that if you're afraid to come back next week because you're not exactly perfect, well, join the club. And if that's where you're at today, I'd like to introduce you to a few people, particularly Mary Magdalene and then the other Mary. Because if you do any research on this woman named Mary Magdalene and you do any research at all on this woman, the other Mary, then you will know that the people who showed up on Easter Sunday morning searching for Jesus were people with a past. So if you study Mary Magdalene, you can look at a. Luke chapter 8 verse 1 and 2 where the Bible says soon afterward Jesus went on through cities and villages He was preaching and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God and the 12 were with them but also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and Infirmities meaning they were delivered of demons and they were healed of all of their diseases This is what Jesus does and also this is what Jesus is still doing one of which was named Mary called Magdalene catch this from whom seven demons had gone out seven count them So if you're thinking to yourself, I'm not holy enough to be pursuing Jesus today Can I introduce you to Mary Magdalene who was demonized? By seven demons and no matter how bad you are in the room today I would think that it's improbable that you've got seven demons but even if you do Or if you've got more than seven I Want to tell you that before you leave this room today, you can get free in Jesus name because Jesus is still healing and Jesus is still delivering The same power that drove those seven demons out of Mary Magdalene is the same power that is operating in the Church of Jesus Christ today it is that Supernatural power, I'll say it like this of the Holy Ghost because I grew up Pentecostal. So we said Holy Ghost same power of the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit is more powerful than any Spirit that you've got even if you've got a party of seven plus Mary proves to us that Jesus can find us at our absolute worst and Then transform us into warriors for God, which is what Mary Magdalene became

I don't know if you've seen the TV show The Chosen or not. I hate to admit this I haven't Allison and I were at a wedding recently and there was a guy sitting next to me He said what do you do? I said, I'm a pastor. I said, what what do you do? He said I'm the producer of The Chosen and I said I repent I haven't watched it Some pastor I am but when I was talking about Mary Magdalene to a few friends this week They said oh you must have seen The Chosen Because that's exactly how The Chosen depicts her and I said I haven't seen The Chosen, but they must depict her at least Close to accurately because the way the scripture details the relationship that Mary Magdalene had as a disciple of Jesus Was one of very close proximity She was following him very closely and if you came for Good Friday Then you'll know that Mary Magdalene was standing at the cross And if you read the Gospel of John, you'll see that Mary Magdalene was actually closer than pretty much anybody else at the cross Jesus took a demonized person and turned her into a mighty disciple Not only was she demonized but also just catch this. I want to say this very quickly Mary was also wealthy All right. She was also a woman of great financial need Means and Luke chapter 8 verse 3 if you continue reading where we started in Luke 8 You'll see that these women were helping to support them out of their own means meaning Mary Magdalene And so just as I'm sure some people are going to disqualify themselves From following Jesus closely because they're experiencing spiritually dark times in my experience As a pastor so to the rich so to business people so to marketplace leaders entrepreneurs People who are ambitious or passionate about their hustle. They're like I would follow Jesus. I would go to church I would live a holy life, but i'm sure that Jesus understands because i'm grinding right now, bro Like i'm getting after it. I'm building a business. I'm building a brand but if Mary Magdalene could follow Jesus And become an ongoing supporter for the entirety of his ministry So can you because Jesus don't have a problem with your hustle and it's obviously acceptable to follow Jesus Even if you're wealthy, but I just want to say that having a high-paying job or even a strong desire to become rich Doesn't disqualify you from following Jesus as I think that he would tell you come one Come all if you want to follow me So that's Mary Magdalene now you got another Mary that the Bible says is the other Mary

If there were two people by the same name that went to this church How would you like to be the one called the other john? the other bobby Bro, that ain't cool man. Why you got to call me the other? Well, the reason why she was called the other is because she was obviously not as notable as Mary Magdalene But her claim to fame catch this was actually who her son was Okay, because her second name was son was James, the son of Alphaeus, which is whom historian says is James the lesser. Maggie was literally Matthew when she first entered the church So I know you don't want to be called the other, it'd be even worse to be like you're Lyle the lesser. This dude don't even have a speaking part in the gospels. And so his mom, the other Mary is this woman who is known by reputation because of who her son is. And so I want to say it like this, because I think this is the way that culture or society today would speak about certain women. She is just a mom. So if you're disqualifying yourself from playing a part in the kingdom of God today, because you are air quotes, just a mom. Well, I just drive the minivan. I just dropped the kids off at soccer practice. The only reason that I'm known about is because of who my children are. If that's where you're at today, can I remind you that the two characters, the two women of God that showed up first at the resurrection was a woman who was wealthy and demonized and a woman whose entire reputation was built on the fact of who her kid was. And these are the women that Jesus chose to reveal himself to first. Easter is not for perfect people. It is for everybody, especially people with the past, especially people who have a sour reputation. And even though one Mary might be a bit more prominent than the other, both of them certainly do have one thing in common. They came looking for Jesus. This must be the place. And they had sadness in their heart and grief deep down in their soul. And here's what they did not expect. Anything at all to change. And here's what I know as a pastor doing Easter. Now, this

is my 10th Easter sermon for legacy. Praise God. Hallelujah. We're 10 years this year. Y'all is that there's a lot of people that show up to Easter and they're like, man, this is great. I like going to Easter service. I always leave feeling encouraged, but to be honest, I don't expect anything to change. And that was the story of the women that showed up to the tomb. They didn't expect anything to change. And maybe you don't expect anything to change today. Maybe the Jesus in your life has died as well. Maybe you are removed from anything that looks like hope. Maybe the light has gone out in your life. Maybe your story is my best days are far behind me and I don't see a future for myself. Faith is disappearing and perhaps today your heart is hurting. If that describes where you're at, then I want you to know that Easter Sunday is for you. And I've been praying for you all week because I know we always have visitors and we always have guests and we have people here who are far from God and they've shown up with a friend. And if that's you today, I want you to know that the Holy Spirit has your number. You are not here by accident. You're not here because you received an invitation. You are here because the Holy Spirit drew you himself. No matter how hungry you believe you are for God. Can I tell you today, church, that God is more hungry for you. Your discipleship does not begin with your desire for God. Your discipleship begins with God's desire for you. You didn't get saved because you wanted God. You got saved because God wanted you. And that's exactly why you're here today. And as I prayed for you all week and as our staff has prayed for you all week and as I was praying for you this morning, whenever my woop band went off at 5 a.m. and I got up and grabbed a cup of coffee and I started to pray, here's what I prayed. I prayed that you would experience a divine, supernatural earthquake. I don't know if y'all saw that part of the Bible when the resurrection took place, but the Bible says, you realize, Christians, we believe some crazy stuff, man. I counted up this week in my studies, there were 17 earthquakes in the scripture. There's like 5 or 6 in the book of Revelation alone. That's wild to me. There was an earthquake that happened at the crucifixion. Do you remember that? Like as Jesus is hanging up high on the cross, there is an earthquake that takes place. Look at Matthew chapter 28. It says, and behold, there was a great earthquake. Let me actually read Matthew 27. And Jesus cried with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. That's how you know that

no man did it. If a man did it, it would have been torn from the bottom to top. And then it goes on to say, and the earth shook. That's an earthquake. God is great. That's an earthquake. And then in Matthew chapter 28, as Jesus resurrects, and behold, there was a great earthquake. God is great. I started thinking like, Lord, what in the world is happening with all these earthquakes? And what I... I feel the reason why there's so many earthquakes is because it is impossible for creation not to respond to creator. It's impossible. It's impossible. So that's what I've been, that's what I've been praying all week. I'm like, God, I am praying that people would go beyond attending a Sunday service. I am praying that people would go beyond the formalities of just being a part of a gathering on a Sunday morning. I am praying for a supernatural, spiritual, divine, prophetic earthquake so that everybody who is spiritually asleep would wake up and recognize that I have a purpose, I am called by God, I am alive for a reason. If you are not dead, you are not done. God has a plan for your life and I want you to be encouraged by that today. So if you need that earthquake, God, I pray in Jesus' name that you would receive it. In Jewish thought, earthquakes were very significant because they represented the ending of one era and the beginning of a new era. And we know that that's exactly what took place on Easter. It was the ending of an era and it was the dawning of a new day. What is that new day? That death is done. Death is defeated. Death no longer has the last laugh. Death no longer has the final word. The grave is no longer the end. We know this is true because Jesus got back up and we can check in on the posture of the

angel to prove it. Whenever the angel descended, he rolled away the stone and look at his posture. He just sits down on the tombstone like, what's up? This is the posture. I can rest knowing that death has been defeated. And this new era that begins is one in which we are all welcomed into new life. We no longer have to fear death. We no longer have to be intimidated by our last days. In 1 Corinthians, Pastor Brian read this a moment ago, oh death, where is your victory? Oh death, where is your sting? And here's the reality. The angels didn't roll away the stone to let Jesus out. They didn't roll away the stone to let Jesus out. Jesus didn't need no help. Need we forget Jesus can walk through walls. Jesus didn't need no help rolling away the stone. He could do that without even saying a word. The reason why the angels rolled away the stone was not to let God out. The reason why the angels rolled away the stone was to let humanity in. Come and see. Come and see for yourself. Come and look at the place where they laid him down. He is not here. He is risen. I know the last time that you saw him, he was dead, but he is not dead any longer. The chains of death could not hold him back. This must be the place. Come and see. And here's what they said. They said, don't be afraid.

Don't have any fear. Don't be afraid. Just approach with boldness, knowing that you're going to be accepted because of what he has accomplished on your behalf. So I don't know how you showed up today. Maybe you've been in a dark spot just like Mary Magdalene was. Maybe you're in a spiritually dark spot today. Maybe you have been searching for answers in spiritual things. Maybe you have tried everything that you know to try to find a solution for your grief, for your sadness, for your anxiety, for your depression, for your sleepless nights. I don't know where you're at today. Maybe you would say, Mary Magdalene, that sounds like my profile, man. Or maybe you would say, the other Mary, that sounds exactly what my life is like right now. I'm just going through the motions. But if I was ever honest, I am bankrupt in my soul. If that is you today, then I want to tell you like that angel, don't be afraid. You can come to Jesus. Jesus said before he was crucified in John chapter 11, I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, shall he live. And everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. And then he asked the question, do you believe this? If you believe it today, church, just say, I believe it. We believe it. Will you stand to your feet? Romans chapter 6, verse 23, the Bible says, for the wages of sin is death. And that's the price that Jesus paid for all of us as a substitutionary sacrifice. The death that Jesus experienced is the death that all of us deserve. Because as the Bible says, the wages of sin is death.

But the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord. I wanna give you an opportunity to respond today to the gospel, and I wanna remind you of what the word of God says. If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and you believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, God promises that you will be saved. Can we take a moment? Would you just bow your head, close your eyes? Lord, we believe. And Lord, we say thank you for getting up out of that grave. We say thank you for the opportunity to see that place where you were laid and confess for ourselves that you are not dead, but you are alive. And Lord, we say thank you for the invitation into resurrection life, that you are willing to share that life with us. If you're in here today and you need to make a decision to give your life to Jesus so that you can receive the life that he wants to give to you, now's an opportunity to do that. Just with every eye closed and every head bowed, if you know you need to make a decision to give your life to Jesus today, will you just lift your hand in this place? We're gonna pray. I'm not gonna embarrass you or anything. We're all gonna pray with you.

But if that's you, will you just lift your hand? If you're in here today and you know you need to rededicate your life to Jesus, would you also lift your hand? Because we're gonna pray for you as well. If there's anybody in the room, I know sometimes that rededication is really the moment where everything shifts for so many saints. So if that's you, will you also lift your hand? And I don't see any hands, so if that's you, lift them high. I wanna pray for you if that's you. Awesome. Awesome, okay. Amazing. Amazing, I see you. Awesome. Can we pray with those who have lifted their hands all together as a church family? Can we say Jesus? Jesus. Come on, one more time, church. Say Jesus. Jesus. I repent of my sins. I repent of my sins. I turn from my ways. I turn from my ways. And I turn towards you. And I turn towards you.

Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit. Help me. Help me. Lead me. Lead me. All the days of my life. All the days of my life. I belong to Jesus. I belong to Jesus. In Jesus' name we pray. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.