Like No Other | Finding Hope In Empty Things | 3.26.2023

Pastor Nate Swearingen

Notes:

 

Not God. God is different. On the first Easter Sunday, instead of promises full of emptiness, God gave us emptiness that is full of hope.

 

John Chapter 19 & 20

 

First, let’s examine the empty cross.

 

• THE EMPTY ________

 

The empty cross promises_____________.  Hope Like no other!

 

• THE EMPTY _________

 

What about you? When you’re in John’s position, what do you do?

When you’re somewhere between yesterday’s tragedy and tomorrow’s triumph, what do you do? Do you leave God—or do you linger near him?

John chose to linger. And because he lingered on Saturday, he was around to see the miracle on Sunday.

 

John 20:5-8 

The empty clothes promise____________.

HOPE like no other!

 

• THE EMPTY______ Matthew 28:5-7a ESV

 

The tomb of Jesus remained empty as a symbol of life that outlasts the grave—life everlasting. In other words, the empty cave promises_________. HOPE like no other!

 

Forever. 

Our minds can hardly grasp the concept, yet Jesus promised it over and over. He told Nicodemus, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NIV).

He assured the woman at the well, John 4:14 English Standard Version (ESV)

John 6:47 ESV

 

He offers forever. He offers__________. The promise of eternal life is the heartbeat of hope.

 

The apostle Paul put it this way…

 Romans 6 English Standard Version (ESV) Dead to Sin, Alive to God

 

Ephesians 3:14-21 New International Version (NIV)

A Prayer for the Ephesians-Paul

The empty cave serves as a powerful reminder that Christ rose from the grave, never to die again. He promises that if we believe in him, then we will live with him… forever!

 

Next Step Questions

What’s empty in your life that needs Hope? 

When you’re somewhere between yesterday’s tragedy and tomorrow’s triumph, what do you do? Do you leave God—or do you linger near him?

Do you need to experience that Hope like no other today? Do you need to give your life to Jesus?