Before we jump into the celebration this Easter Sunday, I want to rewind a moment back to when Jesus was on the cross, Luke 23:39-43 (NCV):
39 One of the criminals on a cross began to shout insults at Jesus: “Aren’t you the Christ? Then save yourself and us.”40 But the other criminal stopped him and said, “You should fear God! You are getting the same punishment he is. 41 We are punished justly, getting what we deserve for what we did. But this man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”43 Jesus said to him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.”
Luke tells us that “the other criminal” on the cross…
- Acknowledged his wrongdoings.
- He accepted his justified punishment.
- He believed in Jesus and asked Jesus to remember him.
- He had faith that Jesus was the Messiah of God.
- He believed there was a “kingdom” of God.
- He believed there was a life after death!
Those who stood under the cross and witnessed the thief’s ramblings must have thought these men were out of their minds. But this sinner had faith. He called upon the name of the Lord and was saved.
With this in mind, let us look at Psalm 47.1-2:
1 Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples!Shout to God with the voice of triumph!2 For the Lord Most High is awesome;He is great a King over all the earth
On Resurrection Sunday, which we also refer to as Easter, we gather to celebrate the resurrection power of our risen Lord. Christ is risen! Christ is risen indeed! Isn’t that what it is all about?
This is often a day we welcome the CEO Christians (Christian-Easter-Only Christians) into our church. Which leaves us asking, why this Sunday? Why today? Why did you come to church this morning? For some people:
- I wanted to see the pretty flowers.
- I wanted to show off my new clothes.
- I am here because that is what my family wanted to do today.
- I am here because I always attend church on Christmas and Easter.
- I am here because of Mama!
- I am here because I want to get my religion out of the way for a while, sort of pay my yearly dues.
- I am here out of obligation. Where does this obligation come from, I do not know?
To all, you are welcome here in church today. You are welcome every Sunday. To our CEO Christian friends, we hope after today you will return next week, and the week after. Because you belong here. However, all of these reasons, are WRONG reasons for coming to church on Easter Sunday. It is about God! Not you or I! Do any of these reasons apply to your life this morning? If not, maybe you are here for all the right reasons.
There is an old joke we hear often – It was Easter Sunday in Sunday School. Mrs. Ross was trying to teach her students about the meaning of Easter.
What does Easter mean? She asked.
Little Suzie put up her hand and Mrs. Ross acknowledged, Okay, Suzie go ahead…
It is when we get to hunt Easter Eggs! Suzie said.
Mrs. Ross answered, Yes, that is partially true.
Turning to little Bobby, she asked if he knew.
Bobby said, Is that when we get to go to Jesus’ funeral?
Mrs. Ross said, Not quite.
She turned to little Billy, Billy, do you know what the meaning of Easter is?
Billy paused for a moment: It is the day Jesus rose from the dead.
Mrs. Ross was excited, “Yes, go on!”
Bobby said, And Jesus comes out of the tomb…
Yes, go on!
And when he sees his shadow, we will have six more weeks of Easter!
This is one of the problems we have today is the problem of Biblical illiteracy. We don’t know the Bible. Psalm 47:1-2, again, reads:
1 Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples!Shout to God with the voice of triumph!
2 For the Lord Most High is awesome;He is a great a King over all the earth.
We celebrate today not only the event where Jesus Christ rose triumphantly from the dead. But because “He is the great King over all the earth!” He is the creator and ruler of the universe! Jesus Christ is Lord!
In the Psalmic tradition, we are to “clap our hands” and “Shout to God.” This might look different from church to church. Some might literally be clapping their hands and shouting, while others might have a true and meaningful way of worship through songs of praise. Yet, some Christians get caught up in clapping and shouting that they forget (or do not know) the deep spiritual sense as to why.
- Why am I clapping my hands?
- Why am I shouting?
- Why am I here?
- And what is the meaning of life? Maybe I will go and ask Plato.
Another great and wonderful dynamic act of worship is singing praise to God. Singing praise to God from our hearts. In Psalm 47.6-7:
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises!Sing praises to our King, sing praises!7 For God is the King of all the earth;Sing praises with understanding.
We sing praises to God and we know WHY we are praising Him. In Psalm 47.5:
5 God has gone up with a shout,The Lord with the sound of a trumpet.
This verse speaks of God going up, which we also refer to as ascension. The last words in Luke’s Gospel read (Luke 24:49-55 (NKJV)):
49 Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in the city 4of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high.”
50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. 51 Now it came to pass, while He blessed them, that He was parted from them and carried up into heaven. 52 And they worshiped Him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple 5praising and blessing God.
The first six sentences of the Apostles Creed are:
- I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth:
- And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord:
- Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary:
- Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, dead and buried: He descended into hell:
- The third day he rose again from the dead:
- He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty:
The Apostles Creed represents basic Christian doctrine.
- We believe in God.
- We believe in the Son of God—Jesus Christ.
- We believe in the virgin birth of Jesus as conceived by the Holy Spirit.
- We believe that he stood condemned by Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, was buried, and went to visit hell.
- On the third day, Jesus rose from the dead.
- He ascended/went up into heaven, and He sits on the throne at the right hand of God.
If someone were to ask you what is so great about Christians going to church on Easter Sunday. Would you tell them it is about celebrating our risen Lord? Would you tell them because Jesus is worthy of our praise and He is greatly exalted?
Tell them it is because “HE IS GREATLY EXALTED” (Psalm 47:9)!
Sermon Title: Clap Your Hands All You Peoples | First Christian Church (DOC) Winfield, Kansas April 8, 2012
