What's Easter ACTUALLY about? | Phil Kniesel

Easter can feel like tradition, something we do every year without thinking much about it. But what if it’s more than that? What if it’s an invitation into something real that can actually change your life?

In this message, Pastor Phil walks through the resurrection story and the people who witnessed it first. Each of them carried a different story, but all of them were changed by Jesus. This message is a reminder that no matter your past, your failures, or where you find yourself today, your story isn’t finished.

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Transcript

0:16

- Hey, this is Phil Kal, lead pastor at Hope City Church. Thanks for tuning into our podcast. My prayer is that this helps and encourages you, gives you some practical ways to live out your- Faith and ultimately fills you with hope. Enjoy the message. Well, happy Easter and welcome to Hope City across all our campuses. My name is Phil Kiesel. I am the lead pastor here, and I'm just so glad that you decided to join us. I want you to know this you've been prayed for and I believe God wants to breathe life into you as we celebrate the greatest event in history. Now you ever meet someone, they tell you their name and five seconds later your brain goes, Nope. Not gonna remember that. It drives me a little nuts. I I hear it, I acknowledge it, I even repeat it, and then it just vanishes like lots of people's motivation to go to the gym after January. Anyone else? Or is this just me aging in real time? Here's the thing, sometimes I don't just forget the name, I commit to the wrong one. I'll be like, Hey Jason. And they're like, nah, it's Mark man. And I'm like, yeah, it's what I said. Hey, marks in right? And then there's times where people are too polite to correct me and so they live a double life for the next five minutes. Here's the thing, names are important.'cause names are personal names. Say, I see you, I know you, and you have a story that matters. And I wanna take you to the narrative of the resurrection of Jesus as recorded by Mark, one of four writers within the Bible that recount the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. And as I read his account, I want you to notice how many names he uses. This is Mark chapter 16. When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene Mary, the mother of James and Smy, brought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus's body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb? But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in white robes sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. Don't be alarmed. He said, you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene who is crucified. He has risen, he is not here. See the place where they laid him? But go tell his disciples and Peter, he's going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him just as he told you, trembling and bewildered. The woman went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone because they were afraid. So Mark starts his narrative by telling us about three women who early in the morning went with spices to anoint Jesus' body. This was done to offset the smell of decomposition. And what they were doing was following the tradition. When someone dies, they were doing what was expected. And maybe you're in church on Easter weekend because it's what you always do, it's tradition. You go to church, you vaguely understand the Jesus resurrection account. You vaguely lean into it. And if you're honest, it barely impacts your daily life. Listen, friend, I'm not downing on you. In fact, I commend you for being here. But Easter is more than just a tradition to observe. It's a reality to step into. The ladies going to the tomb that morning were following tradition, and they were not expecting a miracle. They were expect, they were not expecting a resurrection, they were expecting a dead body. And maybe you came today with zero expectations. Listen, my expectation for you is that you will have an encounter with the living God. Jesus. Rising from the dead is more than just something nice to occasionally contemplate. It's world changing, eternity changing and personally changing. It's a sign of God's power, God's plan, and his desired purpose for your life. The apostle Paul is a writer in the New Testament, and he says it this way, just as Christ was raised from the dead, we too may live a new life, meaning whatever your life has been to this point, a risen Jesus can bring newness, fullness, and hope. Because Easter is more than just a tradition to observe. It's a reality to step into. So who are these ladies and why does Mark name them? He could have said some woman went to the tomb early in the morning, but names are important names. Say, I know you, I see you and you have a story that matters. So he names three women. Mary Magdalene marry the mother of James and Salami. Why does he do this? Two reasons. First, for historical credibility, he's saying these are real people. So if you know them, go ask them about it. And in a culture where testimony mattered, naming witnesses was evidence. In fact, we know that over 500 people saw Jesus alive after his resurrection in a span of 40 days. So Mark's saying, this isn't mythology, it's a living testimony. Secondly, mark uses names to highlight personal transformation because Easter is not just about an empty tomb. It's about changed lives. It's about real people with real past encountering a real risen savior because every name carries a story and every story gets interrupted by resurrection. And friend, I know you too have a story. You have a narrative that has positioned your life, defined your life, and in some way directed your life. Maybe you've experienced disappointment, maybe tragedy, maybe success, maybe hurt, setbacks, wins, whatever it may be. My prayer is that your life gets interrupted by resurrection. And the first person mentioned here is Mary Magdalene. In a sentence you could say, her story was, you are not your past. And some of you need to hear that today you are not your past. Mary Magdalene is, is one of the most transformed people in the Bible. The New Testament writer. Luke tells us that Jesus delivered her from seven demons. She, she had a mess life. She was into some pretty crazy stuff. She was marked by brokenness, oppression, and pain. This wasn't just a rough week, it was a completely wrecked life. And Jesus restored and freed her. So much so that she became a devoted follower and supporter of his ministry. And this Mary is the first one on the list. She's the first one at the tomb. Very early that morning. Imagine the word on the street. Wait. Mary saw Jesus first. That Mary? Yeah, that Mary. Because Jesus specializes in rewriting stories. You are not your past. The Bible tells us if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. And so the one with the darkest past is the first one to see the greatest light. Her life was heavy, visible, and stigmatized. And Jesus wasn't just an improvement to her life. Jesus set her free. And this is Easter. The reality she stepped into her past didn't define her, her struggles didn't derail her. Her hangups didn't beat her. Some of you, you walked in today thinking, if anyone knew my past, I'd wanna crawl under a rock. Some of you believe that by walking into church, you might just catch on fire. Friend God knows you and through Jesus, he's reaching out to you instead of rejecting you, he went to a cross for you and your sin, and he didn't stay dead, but he rose to show you. It's all been defeated. So you don't need to clean yourself up first. You don't need to get your life together and then come to him. Whatever you are carrying, whether it's shame, addiction, regret, secrets, things you hope no one else ever finds out. Easter says, you are not your past. Jesus didn't avoid Mary Magdalene because of her past. He overcame it. He set her free. And the same power that raised Jesus from the dead is the same power that can raise your life from what has burred you. This is Easter. The reality you can step into. The second person mentioned is Mary, the mother of James. In case you haven't noticed, Mary was a pretty common name. And Mark is making sure his readers know who this Mary is. In the previous chapter, mark calls her Mary, the mother of James, the younger. In Matthew's account of the resurrection. He calls this woman the other Mary, kind of funny, kind of a slam like I wouldn't want to be known as the other Phil. You know what I'm saying?. Here's the point. This Mary isn't famous. She isn't flashy. She is ordinary, yet consistently faithful. She shows up at the cross at the burial and at the tomb. In one sentence you could say her story was God sees those who others don't. She's not platform. She's not highlighted. She just represents quiet, enduring faithfulness. She brings the spices. She stays when others leave, when things got hard, hers was a life of steady devotion. If she had Instagram, it would say, day 4,872 of loving Jesus and doing the right thing. And then she would've three likes and one would be from her mom. in the world's eyes, plain vanilla. But heaven sees differently. God sees those who others don't. And maybe you chose to follow Jesus at some point. You made him Lord and leader of your life. You've trusted him with all things. It was nothing flashy, nothing famous, nothing to stand out o other than real, ordinary, everyday belief. And through thick and thin, your story would say, you've been faithful. You've stayed committed when life got hard and you've held firmly to your faith. Listen, friend God notices Easter reminds us that God sees those who others don't. The world celebrates platforms. God celebrates presence. So much so that this Mary's name was recorded in scripture forever. Her name made the list of people who were part of the greatest event on planet earth. God sees faithfulness. That's Easter. The reality we step into. The third woman mentioned is salami. She is likely the mother of the disciples called James and John the sons of Zedi. She wants asked Jesus for power and position. She wanted her sons to sit at Jesus's right and left in his forever kingdom. Big, bold, ask. She wanted greatness for her sons. And yes, most parents want something great for their kids, like we want them to play in the NHL or whatever. That's big. But who asked if they can sit beside Jesus forever? This lady did. But later, salami is seen at the foot of the cross when Jesus was crucified. And in that moment, her ambition turned into surrender. She is someone who represents transformed expectations. She wanted status and and I love how Jesus calmly redirects her when she makes this request of her sons. He says, you don't know what you're asking. And she learns over time that following Jesus isn't about position, it's about sacrifice. In one sentence, you could say her story was surrendered. Ambition. It's not about what God can do to make your life better. It's saying, I'm gonna lay my life down for the sake of following Jesus. Some want Jesus to just improve their lives. But Easter says He came and rose to transform our lives. And that can only be done with surrendered ambition. That's the reality we step into. You see, these women aren't just random names. They're a statement. The first witnesses of the resurrection of Jesus were, were polished, powerful, or perfect. They were transformed, faithful and surrendered. But Mark includes another name. Not sure if you heard it or recognize it. The angel says to the ladies, but go tell his disciples. And Peter, Peter was a disciple. So why single him out? Because Peter talks big then collapses. And there was this moment right before Jesus went to the cross. This is what happened. Jesus says to his disciples, you will all fall away. Peter declared, even if all fall away, I will not truly, I tell you, Jesus' answer today, yes, tonight before the rooster grows twice, you yourself will disown me three times. But Peter Stic emphatically, even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you. Big talk. And sure enough, Peter doesn't just mess up. He folds under pressure at the worst possible moment. He denies Jesus three times. And I think we all relate. Peter failed to live up to what he said he would. And in one sentence we could say, Peter feels disqualified. We've been there. Big promises, small follow through. God will never do that again. And then 24 hours later we do, the angel says, and Peter, and you know what that is? It's targeted grace. It's heaven saying, make sure Peter knows he's still included. Because after his denials, Peter was living in disqualification. And Easter says, I'm not gonna miss the one who thinks they are out. Friends, listen, you are not disqualified from the grace offered in Jesus. He names you not your failure. Even though your failure may be part of your story, it's not your forever identity. Go tell the disciples and Peter, go tell the disciples and you, that's Easter targeted grace, a reality that you can step into all four of these individuals. They are met by resurrection and friend. You too can be met by resurrection. But let's talk honestly for a moment. Maybe you're skeptical about the actual resurrection of Jesus. It's a massive, bold claim. Let me give you some reasons why this stands up. First, the tomb is empty. No one can make that up. A body has never been found and even enemies of Jesus admitted it. Secondly, we have the eyewitnesses by name who talked about it. Thirdly, we see the disciples of Jesus completely transformed. They ended up martyred for their claims. And no one does that unless they know it's true. Fourthly, we see the explosion of the early church rather than a movement dying to the point that the church is still exploding and expanding today. So something happened. CS Lewis said, Christianity is, is either the most important truth or a complete lie. There is no middle ground. Lee Strobel, former atheist journalist, investigated the resurrection and concluded the evidence is overwhelming. Easter says, Jesus died, but now he is alive forevermore. And it's true. This living savior can transform your life. By the way, mark actually mentions one more name. The angel says, you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene who is crucified. He has risen. He is not here. Praise God, Jesus rose. But notice it's not just you are looking for Jesus. You are looking for Jesus. The Nazarene Nazareth was nothing special. It was ordinary, a small overlooked town. Yet that is how Jesus is identified. Why? Because it reminds us, God stepped into ordinary life. Even later. The angel says He's going ahead of you into Galilee. Not the temple, not a sacred mountain. Galilee, their ordinary life. Jesus doesn't just meet you in church. He's with you in your ordinary life. He meets you in traffic in your workplace and in your anxiety.

At 2: 18:27

17 AM in Mark chapter 16, here, everybody shows up with a story tied to their name. But Mark 16 also shows us that there is one name that has the power to rewrite your story. Because when Jesus rises, he doesn't just leave the tomb. He rewrites identities. He offers new realities. Here's something I find interesting. When the woman arrived at the tomb that morning, the stone had been rolled away. In fact, we read on their way. They were even asking each other, who's gonna roll the stone away? They were worried about something that God had already handled. And there are some stones that you were never meant to move. Only God can and God's already handled his part. The Bible is clear that all of sin and fallen short of the glory of God. Sin is how we miss the mark of God's standard of holiness. That's been evident in these stories of these individuals. And the Bible says, the wages of sin is death. And imagine if that's how the story ended, hope would be gone. But God sent his son Jesus to die for our sins in our place. He took the death we deserved. God demonstrates his own love for us in this. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. So Easter shows us God's love. He made a way to himself through the sacrifice of his son. But Jesus didn't just die. He rose. He's not in the tomb. He is alive. And friends, that's God's part. Your part is simply declaring with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believing in your heart that God raised him from the dead. And if you do this, you will be saved. That's how you encounter resurrection. Every person here in Mark, every name has a story. Mary Magdalene, a brutal pass. Mary, the mother of James, ordinary faithfulness, Salome, sidelined ambition, Peter, massive failure. These were their identity markers shaped by their life experience. But notice Jesus' name by his origin and his work. It's Jesus the Nazarene, the crucified one. It wasn't the miracle worker, the teacher or the popular popular leader. Why? Because he is named by what he chose to do for us. He came humbly. He died willingly, and he rose victoriously. Hope city. There is only one name that has the power to rewrite your story. There is only one name that can change your life forever. There is only one name that can set you free. And that name is Jesus who is alive forevermore. So don't live like the stone is still there. Don't live like death. Winds don't live like your past defines you because the tomb is empty. Your life doesn't have to be. And so no matter who you are, no matter what your situation is, no matter what you have lived to this point, I wanna ask you a question. What story are you living in? The one shaped by your past or the one Jesus is offering? God knows your name. He says, I see you. I love you. I know you. I died for you, and I rose just for you. Easter is more than a tradition to observe. It's a reality. You step into soul. Will you step into it? Listen, if God can raise the dead, he can raise anything in your life. And so right now, I I just don't want to talk about that truth. I want us to respond to it. Because friends, when you realize who Jesus is, the one who can rewrite your story, the one who is not just part of your story, but king over it all, the one who is alive forevermore and offers each of us that same living hope when you see him for this, you wanna worship him for who he is. And so I'm gonna ask you to stand with me if you are able to, across all our campuses, in a moment, we're gonna sing a song. And I want to challenge you. Don't just watch. Don't just listen. Make this your declaration. If you've never surrendered your life to Jesus, this could be your moment. If you've been carrying something you were never meant to carry, lay it down. If you've been living like the stone is still there, step into freedom. Let King Jesus, the one who changed people's stories and continues to change people's stories. Change your story as well. The song says, at best, all, hail king Jesus, all hail the Lord of heaven and earth. Let's worship him together.