March 27, 2024 • 32 mins
Discover the unexpected peace that dawns in the wake of confusion and fear, as we traverse the transformative impact of Jesus Christ's resurrection. Through an encounter with the bewildering scene at the empty tomb, as described in Mark 16:1-8, we witness the shift from dismay to divine purpose, a journey not unlike our own search for clarity. I'll share why this biblical moment is a touchstone for anyone feeling adrift, reinforcing that, amidst life's trials, the fortitude and solace Jesus provides can lead us to a place of unshakeable faith and action.
Resurrection Sunday isn't a time for chocolate bunnies and egg hunts; it's a period steeped in profound spiritual Truth and transformation. Join me as I trace the evolution of "Easter" customs, revealing their pagan origins and how they've shaped our contemporary celebrations, in opposition with the Will of God. In doing so, we'll revisit the paramount story of Christ's resurrection, offering a poignant reflection on how this event reshapes our modern-day festivities and faith. Romans 12:2 serves as our guide, urging us to renew our minds and deeply discern the true essence of this joyous season.
As we wrap up this episode, I extend a warm invitation to bring the insights from our discussion into your daily conversations and personal reflections. I'm eager for you to explore further at renewedmindsets.com, where our journey towards spiritual growth and understanding continues. Remember, your engagement and stories enrich our community, and I look forward to possibly featuring your voice messages in our future episodes. Let's carry this energy forward, and I'll catch you next time for more exploration into the depths of faith, purpose, and life itself.
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Thank You. I Love You!
SEE YA!
Rick
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Rick Yuhas (00:01):
This week on Renewed Mindsets, as we prepare to
celebrate the resurrection ofour Lord and Savior, jesus
Christ.
I'll leave the basic yearlyretelling of the event to your
pastor.
I want to talk to you aboutfear and confusion.
Turn to hope, reassurance andpurpose, and I'll throw in the
(00:24):
importance that God places onwomen in ministry for good
measure.
I won't talk about paganrituals, bunnies or fertility
goddesses.
I'll let the Holy Spirit talkto you about that.
Let's go, boys.
Hey, welcome to RenewedMindsets, where we study the
(00:48):
basics of the faith through thelens of our middle-aged
experiences.
I'm Rick.
Welcome to the show where Ihelp you, gen Xers and
Millennials, navigatespiritually through a world that
looks nothing like we expectedback, when cars were square and
mullets were totally awesome.
I am so glad you're here.
(01:09):
Have you ever had a moment inyour life when you felt
completely lost?
Maybe it was a time when youdidn't know which way to turn or
what to do next?
I have.
I can relate to that feeling,and I'm sure most of you can too
.
I'm going to start off byreading some scripture.
It comes from the book of Mark,chapter 16, verses 1 through 8.
(01:33):
Saturday evening when theSabbath ended Mary Magdalene.
Mary, the mother of James, andSalome, went out and purchased
burial spices so they couldanoint Jesus' body.
Very early on Sunday morning,just at sunrise, they went to
the tomb.
On the way, they were askingeach other who will roll away
the stone for us at the entranceto the tomb.
(01:54):
But as they arrived they lookedup and saw that the stone,
which was very large, hadalready been rolled aside.
When they entered the tomb,they saw a young man clothed in
a white robe sitting on theright side.
The women were shocked, but theangel said don't be alarmed.
You're looking for Jesus ofNazareth, who was crucified.
(02:15):
He isn't here.
He's risen from the dead.
Look, this is where they laidhis body.
Now go and tell his disciples,including Peter, that Jesus is
going ahead of you to Galilee.
You'll see him there, just ashe told you before he died.
The women fled from the tomb,trembling and bewildered, and
(02:37):
they said nothing to anyonebecause they were too frightened
.
Then they briefly reported allthis to Peter and his companions
.
Then they briefly reported allthis to Peter and his companions
.
Afterward, jesus himself sentthem out from east to west with
the sacred and unfailing messageof salvation that gives eternal
life Amen.
Just like those women whovisited the tomb, we've all
(02:59):
experienced moments of sadnessand fear and confusion.
They had just lost theirbeloved teacher and now they
were faced with the shock offinding his tomb empty.
Can you imagine how they musthave felt?
It's like when we were kids andwe got lost somewhere.
We felt confused, we werescared, we didn't know what to
(03:21):
do.
But here's the neat part theanswer to their confusion and
fear actually came in the formof advice.
The women at the tomb receivedguidance from angels who
appeared to them.
These angels reminded them ofwhat Jesus had said and suddenly
everything made sense.
They gained clarity and purpose.
(03:48):
So let's talk about threeimportant things that we can
learn from this story.
First and foremost, it'simportant to remember that God
has a plan for each of our lives.
Sometimes, life can beconfusing and we struggle to
understand what's happening.
We may even question ourpurpose, even when things seem
to be going well.
But Resurrection Sunday remindsus that there's a bigger plan
at play and it's crafted by God.
(04:10):
Just like the women whodiscovered the empty tomb, we
can find purpose and meaning inour lives, even when things seem
confusing.
They were devastated at first,but then they learned about
Christ's resurrection andrealized that God's ultimate
plan for humanity was real.
We live in a world ofuncertainty.
(04:34):
Resurrection Sunday brings hopeand reassurance.
It reminds us that our liveshave a greater purpose, even if
we don't understand it.
It shows us that God's love andguidance is going to shine
through even in times ofdarkness.
We all need to take time toreflect on our faith and find
comfort in it.
With unwavering devotion andfaith, we can uncover the hidden
(04:59):
treasures in life's puzzles.
Resurrection Sunday inspires usto seek God's will and align
our lives with His plan andembrace the extraordinary
destiny that awaits us.
Each year, resurrection Sundaycalls us to renew our spirits
and let go of our doubts.
(05:19):
It encourages us to embracepatience and perseverance, and
that leads to a fulfilling lifewith purpose and meaning.
We need to hold on to thebelief that God's plan for our
lives is beyond ourunderstanding, and with trust in
(05:41):
Him we can navigate throughlife with confidence.
Resurrection Sunday unveilsthat tapestry of purpose and
meaning, and it's waiting for usto discover it.
We may always find solace andenlightenment in the hope of
this sacred day.
It shoots us forward to afuture filled with joy and peace
and faith that unwavers.
(06:03):
A lot of times in life weencounter challenges and
obstacles that seem overwhelming.
Sometimes we don't think we'llever be able to overcome them.
Whether it's the pressures ofschool way back in the day,
personal relationships,uncertain futures, these kind of
(06:24):
difficulties can leave usfeeling scared and hopeless.
But there's a source ofstrength, a source of peace that
can help us face anything thatcomes our way.
That's Jesus, just like thewomen at the tomb who were
scared at first and overwhelmed.
A lot of times that we feelconsumed by fear and uncertainty
(06:48):
, it's in these moments thatwe've got to remind ourselves
that Jesus is present and aliveand he's ready to guide and
support us.
When we realize that Jesus iswith us, our fear dissipates and
it's replaced by a renewedsense of hope and courage.
(07:12):
Jesus in our lives can make aworld of difference in our
ability to face all thesedifferent challenges.
With him by our side, we canhandle anything that comes our
way.
His teaching and his exampleshow us how to navigate the
complexities of life.
It gives us grace, he gives ushumility, he offers us guidance
(07:35):
and wisdom to make the rightdecisions so that we can
overcome any obstacles that weface, trusting in Jesus and
leaning on his support andguidance is not a sign of
weakness, but it's anacknowledgement of our faith and
belief in his love for us.
We're going to go throughdifficult times.
(07:56):
We can turn to him for strengthand direction.
That's a big thing.
A lot of times we don't knowwhat to do, but it's just that
we don't know which way to go.
It's through our reliance onJesus that we can find the
courage to persevere, even whenthings seem bleak.
And with that, with Jesus byour side, we're never alone.
(08:20):
He's our constant companion.
He offers us comfort when we'resad.
He gives us a shoulder to leanon when we're weak.
In moments of doubt, hereassures us that he loves us
and he reminds us that we'recapable of overcoming anything
that comes our way, no matterthe situation, jesus' presence
(08:46):
can empower us.
His love for us knows no boundsand he promises to be with us
always.
When we let go of our fear andtrust in him, we unlock our true
potential and we tap into astrength that transcends our
(09:06):
human limitations.
So, as you're going throughlife and things get complex a
lot of times we find ourselvesoverwhelmed and scared by the
challenges that we face.
But we need to remember that,with Jesus by our side, there's
nothing that we can't handle.
But we need to remember that,with Jesus by our side, there's
nothing that we can't handle.
(09:26):
His presence brings us hope andcourage and the guidance that
we need to overcome any obstacle.
So let's trust in Jesus andlean on his support, knowing
that we're never alone, andlet's remember to follow Jesus,
because he knows what to do.
The women at the tomb were attheir wits end, not knowing what
(09:53):
to do next.
That feeling of beingdirectionless in life is
something that we can all relateto, but it's just like when we
get lost.
When we're on a drive, thelogical thing to do is ask for
directions.
But in life, jesus is thatguide who knows exactly what we
need to do, where we need to go,which road to take, which turns
to take.
By trusting and following him,we can find where and what we
(10:19):
need to do and we're no longerlost.
The emotions that the women atthe tomb experienced are
something that we can all relateto us Throughout our lives.
A lot of times we findourselves in situations where
we're confused and overwhelmed,and those feelings take hold of
(10:40):
us, whether we're facing a majorlife decision or dealing with
loss or just trying to getthrough challenging times.
It's just natural to feeluncertain and at a loss for
direction and, just like thewomen who encountered the empty
tomb, we long for clarity andpurpose.
(11:02):
We yearn for answers that canshed light on our cloudy
circumstances and provide uswith a sense of meaning.
In those moments, it can bedifficult to find solace and
reassurance, but the advice thatwas given to these women can
serve as an enduring lesson forall of us.
It reminds us that, despite ofour struggles and uncertainties,
(11:24):
there's a higher power that hasa plan for our lives.
It reminds us that we need tonot walk on this journey alone,
but that we can trust in theguidance of Jesus, who offers
clarity and purpose.
So this Sunday, thisResurrection Sunday, remember
(11:48):
this message.
It's a beacon of hope If youchoose to trust and follow him.
This is the way it serves as areminder, in the middle of all
the chaos of life, that Godoffers a sense of peace.
It instills in us the beliefthat we're not just wanderers
lost in the darkness, but thatwe have purpose and a destiny.
(12:10):
You know, high school studentsare at a juncture in their lives
that's pretty relevant to thismessage.
It could be your kids or yourgrandkids, as they're grappling
with choices regarding educationand career paths, and
relationships and personaldevelopment.
(12:32):
They're overwhelmed and thesedecisions can often lead to
confusion and doubt.
But when they understand thatthere's a greater plan in store
for them, it brings a greatsense of comfort and confidence.
And knowing that God has apurpose in our lives helps
(12:52):
students and adults and seniorsI guess adults and seniors is
the same thing, but it helps usall navigate the noise and
distractions that surround us.
It helps them make choices thatare aligned with their values
and their beliefs.
It offers them strength.
It offers us perseverance inthe path that's laid out before
(13:16):
us, especially when it's unclear.
Resurrection Sunday is a sourceof encouragement.
I urge you to trust Jesus andbelieve that your life has
meaning.
As I close this out, theemotions that were experienced
by the women at the tomb they'rejust universal and they're
(13:39):
relatable, and they're areflection of the confusion of
the feelings that we allencounter.
And though the advice given tothose women came from angels, we
can use it now.
Today, we realize that God isguiding us according to his will
and his plan, and when thatplan plays out, we're going to
(14:06):
see that it was made for us.
This Sunday, resurrection Sunday.
This message should bring youhope and clarity and purpose if
you choose to trust and followhim.
Follow him.
This is a crucial time inhistory.
Decide to follow Jesus now,fully.
There isn't much time before hecomes back.
This message is for you.
(14:27):
You're out there, you'reoverwhelmed, you're questioning
your life and your purpose.
You're devastated, you'reuncertain, but you're going to
hear God's message and you'regoing to remember that Jesus
(14:50):
gives us hope and comfort anddirection.
And you're going to rememberthat Jesus is alive and that he
has something for you to do,that that tomb is empty.
The past is empty.
(15:11):
That tomb doesn't mean anythinganymore because Jesus came back
.
He came back from death.
You can come back from whateveryou're going through and all
the negative feelings that youhave, all the worry.
(15:35):
You're going to realize it wasa waste because you already knew
the truth.
You're overwhelmed becauseyou're overthinking and you're
in your own way.
And once you remember thatyou're going to get to work and
(15:57):
you're going to carry out God'sinstructions, the women at the
tomb went and found Peter andtold them that Jesus was alive.
I don't know what your purposeis going to be.
Get out of your way so you canget to work.
(16:25):
Ow, sorry about that.
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Makes me mad too.
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(16:46):
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Your purchase helps me put outgreat content.
Every week, visitrenewedmindsetsstore and use the
code SPRING10 to get 10% offeverything in the store.
You'll get some great stuff,and my baby will get a new pair
(17:07):
of shoes.
That's at renewedmindsetsstore,code SPRING10.
See ya.
Well, at the beginning of theshow I said I wasn't going to do
it.
I was going to let the HolySpirit talk to you about it.
But the Holy Spirit said to methat's not my job, that's your
(17:28):
job.
So here we go, best laid plansand all that.
We're going to talk about whywe observe the symbols and
tradition of Easter today.
Now, if you knew their origins,do you think that it would
affect you on how you allow yourchildren to celebrate this
(17:49):
holiday?
Now it's similar to thecelebration of Christ's birth at
Christmas.
Easter has become a mix ofactivities that are unrelated to
the death and resurrection ofour Lord.
Now people may think thattraditions like the Easter bunny
and Easter egg hunts may seemheartless, like believing in
Santa Claus.
They actually have a strongconnection to pagan worship and
(18:11):
the rituals from the past.
The name Easter, for instance,is not mentioned in the original
scriptures, especially inrelation to the death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It's actually derived from theword Yoster.
Yoster was the queen Samarimus,the wife of Nimrod, who was
(18:34):
Noah's great-grandson, known forhis evil acts in Genesis 10,
verses 6-8.
Yoster had a history.
Nimrod constructed the majorcities of Babel, asher, nineveh
and Kalah Genesis 10, 10-12,which were infamous for their
(18:55):
wicked worship practices andimmorality.
Remember the story of JonahWell.
After Nimrod's death, queenSamarimus continued these evil
practices by deifying Nimrod asthe sun god.
Later, queen Samarimus gavebirth to an illegitimate son
named Tammuz.
She convinced the people thatthis son was supernaturally
(19:16):
conceived and the promised childmentioned in Genesis 3.15.
The people worshipped Tammuz asthe reincarnation of Nimrod and
the queen Samarimus as themother goddess.
Now these false religionsinvolved human sacrifice,
idolatry, astrology and satanicworship the sun Nimrod and the
(19:38):
moon Yoster, and continued untilthe time of Tower of Babel.
Due to their sins, god confusedthe people's languages and
scattered them throughout theworld Genesis 11.7.
As the people resettled in newlands, they brought their pagan
worship with them.
Queen Samarimus became known asYostera, an Anglo-Saxon goddess
(19:59):
representing the dawn of a newday and new life in spring.
Estarte, the Phoenician goddessof the moon, iaster an
Ashtoreth, the wife of Baal andthe queen of heaven.
Y'all gotta cut me some slackon some of these names.
Sheesh Nimrod was also known asBaal, balaam and Molech, the
(20:23):
god of fire and the great lifegiver.
You know, a good once throughstudy of the Old Testament will
reveal that God just cannotstand this false worship, and he
specifically tells us not to dothat in Ezekiel 8.14.
Now the origin of Easter goesback to the springtime ritual
initiated by Queen Samarimusafter Tammuz's death.
(20:45):
Now the story has it thatTammuz could be resurrected in
the form of new vegetation onearth through Queen Samarimis'
tears.
You're killing me, smalls.
With the expansion ofChristianity, many, many, many
years later, it became a commonpractice to incorporate the
(21:06):
existing non-Christian festivalsinto Christian theology, since
the Queen, queen Semiramis orEoster, represented the goddess
of spring and symbolized renewaland rebirth.
The Christian belief in theresurrection of Christ aligned
well with these themes.
American history teaches usthat Easter was viewed as a
(21:30):
pagan holiday by the Puritanswho founded the nation and only
gained widespread observanceafter the Civil War.
Now here's something the Easteregg and baskets.
The Babylonians considered theegg a sacred symbol that
represented Osteros' fertilityand the new life, or the 28-day
(21:52):
cycle of the moon and a woman'smonthly cycle.
The Babylonians believed in amyth about a large egg that fell
from the sky into the EuphratesRiver and hatched Queen
Samarimus.
Egg dying was part of the evilrituals commemorating the spring
equinox.
The Egyptians also hungdecorated eggs in their temples,
(22:13):
and the Romans used decoratedeggs in processions honoring the
mother goddess.
The Druids considered the eggtheir sacred emblem.
The Gauls, chinese and thePersians also used colored eggs
in their ancient pagan springfestivals to symbolize rebirth.
During the Middle Ages,europeans collected different
(22:35):
colored bird eggs from nests touse as talismans against evil
and to bring good fortune, andlater the practice of painting
eggs became more popular.
Now Easter baskets are used tosymbolize birds' nests.
Here comes Peter Cottontailhopping down the bunny trail.
(22:55):
Rabbits have long been seen asa symbol of fertility and can be
traced back to the practicesestablished by Samarimus In the
1500s.
In Germany, some peoplebelieved that bunnies laid red
eggs on Holy Thursday andmulticolored eggs on the night
before Easter Sunday.
On Holy Thursday andmulticolored eggs on the night
(23:17):
before Easter Sunday.
Eventually, this customtransformed into edible Easter
bunnies made from a sugarypastry.
This tradition was brought toAmerica during the 1700s by the
Pennsylvania, dutch, germanimmigrants and evolved into
chocolate, easter bunnies andeggs.
During the American Civil War,children believed that if they
were kind to Osterhaw the Easterbunny, he would leave a nest of
(23:39):
colored eggs.
Now, after hearing everythingthat I've just said, you might
wonder is there a better way tocelebrate the resurrection of
Christ?
Well, there is.
A good reading of the Bible canprovide you with valuable
teaching on Easter's truemeaning.
Just look in 1 Corinthians, 15,3b-4.
(24:00):
Christ died for our sins,according to the Scriptures, and
that he was buried and that herose again the third day,
according to the Scriptures.
I'm telling you it's time toreturn the world's focus on
Christ's resurrection Sunday andoffer heartfelt praises for his
sacrifice and his triumph oversin and death.
(24:20):
Praise God, hallelujah, christhas risen While you're in your
car driving this morning orafternoon or evening, I've got
your captive attention.
I'm going to try something new.
I'm going to read the wholeresurrection week story for you
(24:42):
in 14 verses Matthew 21, 7through 9.
They brought the donkey and thecolt and placed their cloaks on
them, for Jesus to sit on, avery large crowd spread their
(25:03):
cloaks on the road, while theothers cut branches from the
trees and spread them on theroad.
The crowds that went ahead ofhim and those that followed
shouted Matthew 26, 14-16.
Then one of the twelve, the onecalled Judas Iscariot, went to
the chief priests and asked whatare you willing to give me if I
deliver him over to you?
So they counted out for himthirty pieces of silver.
(25:25):
From then on, judas watched foran opportunity to hand him over
.
Matthew 26, 18.
He replied Go into the city toa certain man and tell him the
teacher says my appointed timeis near.
I am going to celebrate thePassover with my disciples at
your house.
Matthew 26.36.
(25:48):
Then Jesus went with hisdisciples to a place called
Gethsemane and he said to themSit here while I go over there
and pray.
Matthew 26, 39.
Going a little farther, he fellwith his face to the ground and
prayed my Father, if it'spossible, may this cup be taken
(26:09):
from me yet, not as I will, butas you will.
Matthew 27, 1-2.
Early in the morning, all thechief priests and elders of the
people made their plans how tohave Jesus executed.
So they bound him, led him awayand handed him over to Pilate,
(26:30):
the governor.
John 19.6.
As soon as the chief priestsand their officials saw him,
they shouted Crucify, crucify.
Matthew 27.30-31.
They spit on him and took thestaff and struck him in the head
(26:51):
again and again.
And after they'd mocked him,they took off the robe and put
his own and struck him in thehead again and again.
And after they'd mocked him,they took off the robe and put
his own clothes on him.
Then they led him away tocrucify him.
Mark 15.33.
At noon, darkness came over thewhole land until three in the
afternoon.
Luke 23, 46.
(27:14):
Jesus called out with a loudvoice Father, into your hands I
commit my spirit.
When he had said this, hebreathed his last.
Matthew 27, 57-59.
As evening approached, therecame a rich man from Arimathea
(27:35):
named Joseph, who had himselfbecome a disciple of Jesus,
going to Pilate.
He asked for Jesus' body, andPilate ordered that it be given
to him.
Joseph took the body, wrappedit in a clean linen cloth John
19, 40 and 41.
Taking Jesus' body, the two ofthem wrapped it with spices and
(27:59):
strips of linen.
There was, in accordance withthe Jewish burial customs, at
the place where Jesus wascrucified there was a garden and
in the garden a new tomb inwhich no one had ever been laid.
Luke 24, 1-6.
On the first day of the week,very early in the morning, the
(28:21):
women took the spices they hadprepared and went to the tomb.
They found the stone rolledaway from the tomb, but when
they entered they did not findthe body of the Lord Jesus.
While they were wondering aboutthis, suddenly two men in
cloths that gleamed likelightning stood beside them.
In their fright, the womenbowed down with their faces to
the ground.
But the men said to them why doyou look for the living among
(28:45):
the dead?
(29:06):
He is not here.
He is risen.
Matthew 28, 8-10.
Then Jesus said to them Do notbe afraid, go and tell my
brothers to go to Galilee.
There they will see me.
Well, that's all for this week'sshow.
You know, the name of this showspeaks my hope for you.
(29:29):
It's taken from the words ofRomans, chapter 12, verse 2.
For you, it's taken from thewords of Romans, chapter 12,
verse 2.
Do not be conformed to thisworld, but be transformed by the
renewal of your mind that bytesting you may discern what is
the will of God, what is goodand acceptable and perfect.
(29:50):
If you enjoyed what you heard,do me a favor, please, and tell
someone you know about it.
Send them a link in a text youknow.
You may even need to downloadit to their phone and show them
what a podcast is.
If it was valuable to you, itwill be to them.
(30:11):
Visit renewedmindsetscom tohear past episodes, read the
blog and check out the new merch.
And, as always while you'rethere, send me a voicemail by
clicking the button at thebottom right corner of the main
page.
Tell me what you think aboutthis show.
I just might play it on afuture episode.
(30:32):
Until next week, I'm Rick.
I love you.
See ya.
The intro and outro music forthe Renewed Mindsets podcast is
(30:54):
Are you Ready?
By Floodgate From the album Areyou Ready?
Copyright 2002, offbeatMinistries, incorporated.
No-transcript.
This week on Renewed Mindsets, as we prepare to
celebrate the resurrection ofour Lord and Savior, jesus
Christ.
I'll leave the basic yearlyretelling of the event to your
pastor.
I want to talk to you aboutfear and confusion.
Turn to hope, reassurance andpurpose, and I'll throw in the
(00:24):
importance that God places onwomen in ministry for good
measure.
I won't talk about paganrituals, bunnies or fertility
goddesses.
I'll let the Holy Spirit talkto you about that.
Let's go, boys.
Hey, welcome to RenewedMindsets, where we study the
(00:48):
basics of the faith through thelens of our middle-aged
experiences.
I'm Rick.
Welcome to the show where Ihelp you, gen Xers and
Millennials, navigatespiritually through a world that
looks nothing like we expectedback, when cars were square and
mullets were totally awesome.
I am so glad you're here.
(01:09):
Have you ever had a moment inyour life when you felt
completely lost?
Maybe it was a time when youdidn't know which way to turn or
what to do next?
I have.
I can relate to that feeling,and I'm sure most of you can too
.
I'm going to start off byreading some scripture.
It comes from the book of Mark,chapter 16, verses 1 through 8.
(01:33):
Saturday evening when theSabbath ended Mary Magdalene.
Mary, the mother of James, andSalome, went out and purchased
burial spices so they couldanoint Jesus' body.
Very early on Sunday morning,just at sunrise, they went to
the tomb.
On the way, they were askingeach other who will roll away
the stone for us at the entranceto the tomb.
(01:54):
But as they arrived they lookedup and saw that the stone,
which was very large, hadalready been rolled aside.
When they entered the tomb,they saw a young man clothed in
a white robe sitting on theright side.
The women were shocked, but theangel said don't be alarmed.
You're looking for Jesus ofNazareth, who was crucified.
(02:15):
He isn't here.
He's risen from the dead.
Look, this is where they laidhis body.
Now go and tell his disciples,including Peter, that Jesus is
going ahead of you to Galilee.
You'll see him there, just ashe told you before he died.
The women fled from the tomb,trembling and bewildered, and
(02:37):
they said nothing to anyonebecause they were too frightened
.
Then they briefly reported allthis to Peter and his companions
.
Then they briefly reported allthis to Peter and his companions
.
Afterward, jesus himself sentthem out from east to west with
the sacred and unfailing messageof salvation that gives eternal
life Amen.
Just like those women whovisited the tomb, we've all
(02:59):
experienced moments of sadnessand fear and confusion.
They had just lost theirbeloved teacher and now they
were faced with the shock offinding his tomb empty.
Can you imagine how they musthave felt?
It's like when we were kids andwe got lost somewhere.
We felt confused, we werescared, we didn't know what to
(03:21):
do.
But here's the neat part theanswer to their confusion and
fear actually came in the formof advice.
The women at the tomb receivedguidance from angels who
appeared to them.
These angels reminded them ofwhat Jesus had said and suddenly
everything made sense.
They gained clarity and purpose.
(03:48):
So let's talk about threeimportant things that we can
learn from this story.
First and foremost, it'simportant to remember that God
has a plan for each of our lives.
Sometimes, life can beconfusing and we struggle to
understand what's happening.
We may even question ourpurpose, even when things seem
to be going well.
But Resurrection Sunday remindsus that there's a bigger plan
at play and it's crafted by God.
(04:10):
Just like the women whodiscovered the empty tomb, we
can find purpose and meaning inour lives, even when things seem
confusing.
They were devastated at first,but then they learned about
Christ's resurrection andrealized that God's ultimate
plan for humanity was real.
We live in a world ofuncertainty.
(04:34):
Resurrection Sunday brings hopeand reassurance.
It reminds us that our liveshave a greater purpose, even if
we don't understand it.
It shows us that God's love andguidance is going to shine
through even in times ofdarkness.
We all need to take time toreflect on our faith and find
comfort in it.
With unwavering devotion andfaith, we can uncover the hidden
(04:59):
treasures in life's puzzles.
Resurrection Sunday inspires usto seek God's will and align
our lives with His plan andembrace the extraordinary
destiny that awaits us.
Each year, resurrection Sundaycalls us to renew our spirits
and let go of our doubts.
(05:19):
It encourages us to embracepatience and perseverance, and
that leads to a fulfilling lifewith purpose and meaning.
We need to hold on to thebelief that God's plan for our
lives is beyond ourunderstanding, and with trust in
(05:41):
Him we can navigate throughlife with confidence.
Resurrection Sunday unveilsthat tapestry of purpose and
meaning, and it's waiting for usto discover it.
We may always find solace andenlightenment in the hope of
this sacred day.
It shoots us forward to afuture filled with joy and peace
and faith that unwavers.
(06:03):
A lot of times in life weencounter challenges and
obstacles that seem overwhelming.
Sometimes we don't think we'llever be able to overcome them.
Whether it's the pressures ofschool way back in the day,
personal relationships,uncertain futures, these kind of
(06:24):
difficulties can leave usfeeling scared and hopeless.
But there's a source ofstrength, a source of peace that
can help us face anything thatcomes our way.
That's Jesus, just like thewomen at the tomb who were
scared at first and overwhelmed.
A lot of times that we feelconsumed by fear and uncertainty
(06:48):
, it's in these moments thatwe've got to remind ourselves
that Jesus is present and aliveand he's ready to guide and
support us.
When we realize that Jesus iswith us, our fear dissipates and
it's replaced by a renewedsense of hope and courage.
(07:12):
Jesus in our lives can make aworld of difference in our
ability to face all thesedifferent challenges.
With him by our side, we canhandle anything that comes our
way.
His teaching and his exampleshow us how to navigate the
complexities of life.
It gives us grace, he gives ushumility, he offers us guidance
(07:35):
and wisdom to make the rightdecisions so that we can
overcome any obstacles that weface, trusting in Jesus and
leaning on his support andguidance is not a sign of
weakness, but it's anacknowledgement of our faith and
belief in his love for us.
We're going to go throughdifficult times.
(07:56):
We can turn to him for strengthand direction.
That's a big thing.
A lot of times we don't knowwhat to do, but it's just that
we don't know which way to go.
It's through our reliance onJesus that we can find the
courage to persevere, even whenthings seem bleak.
And with that, with Jesus byour side, we're never alone.
(08:20):
He's our constant companion.
He offers us comfort when we'resad.
He gives us a shoulder to leanon when we're weak.
In moments of doubt, hereassures us that he loves us
and he reminds us that we'recapable of overcoming anything
that comes our way, no matterthe situation, jesus' presence
(08:46):
can empower us.
His love for us knows no boundsand he promises to be with us
always.
When we let go of our fear andtrust in him, we unlock our true
potential and we tap into astrength that transcends our
(09:06):
human limitations.
So, as you're going throughlife and things get complex a
lot of times we find ourselvesoverwhelmed and scared by the
challenges that we face.
But we need to remember that,with Jesus by our side, there's
nothing that we can't handle.
But we need to remember that,with Jesus by our side, there's
nothing that we can't handle.
(09:26):
His presence brings us hope andcourage and the guidance that
we need to overcome any obstacle.
So let's trust in Jesus andlean on his support, knowing
that we're never alone, andlet's remember to follow Jesus,
because he knows what to do.
The women at the tomb were attheir wits end, not knowing what
(09:53):
to do next.
That feeling of beingdirectionless in life is
something that we can all relateto, but it's just like when we
get lost.
When we're on a drive, thelogical thing to do is ask for
directions.
But in life, jesus is thatguide who knows exactly what we
need to do, where we need to go,which road to take, which turns
to take.
By trusting and following him,we can find where and what we
(10:19):
need to do and we're no longerlost.
The emotions that the women atthe tomb experienced are
something that we can all relateto us Throughout our lives.
A lot of times we findourselves in situations where
we're confused and overwhelmed,and those feelings take hold of
(10:40):
us, whether we're facing a majorlife decision or dealing with
loss or just trying to getthrough challenging times.
It's just natural to feeluncertain and at a loss for
direction and, just like thewomen who encountered the empty
tomb, we long for clarity andpurpose.
(11:02):
We yearn for answers that canshed light on our cloudy
circumstances and provide uswith a sense of meaning.
In those moments, it can bedifficult to find solace and
reassurance, but the advice thatwas given to these women can
serve as an enduring lesson forall of us.
It reminds us that, despite ofour struggles and uncertainties,
(11:24):
there's a higher power that hasa plan for our lives.
It reminds us that we need tonot walk on this journey alone,
but that we can trust in theguidance of Jesus, who offers
clarity and purpose.
So this Sunday, thisResurrection Sunday, remember
(11:48):
this message.
It's a beacon of hope If youchoose to trust and follow him.
This is the way it serves as areminder, in the middle of all
the chaos of life, that Godoffers a sense of peace.
It instills in us the beliefthat we're not just wanderers
lost in the darkness, but thatwe have purpose and a destiny.
(12:10):
You know, high school studentsare at a juncture in their lives
that's pretty relevant to thismessage.
It could be your kids or yourgrandkids, as they're grappling
with choices regarding educationand career paths, and
relationships and personaldevelopment.
(12:32):
They're overwhelmed and thesedecisions can often lead to
confusion and doubt.
But when they understand thatthere's a greater plan in store
for them, it brings a greatsense of comfort and confidence.
And knowing that God has apurpose in our lives helps
(12:52):
students and adults and seniorsI guess adults and seniors is
the same thing, but it helps usall navigate the noise and
distractions that surround us.
It helps them make choices thatare aligned with their values
and their beliefs.
It offers them strength.
It offers us perseverance inthe path that's laid out before
(13:16):
us, especially when it's unclear.
Resurrection Sunday is a sourceof encouragement.
I urge you to trust Jesus andbelieve that your life has
meaning.
As I close this out, theemotions that were experienced
by the women at the tomb they'rejust universal and they're
(13:39):
relatable, and they're areflection of the confusion of
the feelings that we allencounter.
And though the advice given tothose women came from angels, we
can use it now.
Today, we realize that God isguiding us according to his will
and his plan, and when thatplan plays out, we're going to
(14:06):
see that it was made for us.
This Sunday, resurrection Sunday.
This message should bring youhope and clarity and purpose if
you choose to trust and followhim.
Follow him.
This is a crucial time inhistory.
Decide to follow Jesus now,fully.
There isn't much time before hecomes back.
This message is for you.
(14:27):
You're out there, you'reoverwhelmed, you're questioning
your life and your purpose.
You're devastated, you'reuncertain, but you're going to
hear God's message and you'regoing to remember that Jesus
(14:50):
gives us hope and comfort anddirection.
And you're going to rememberthat Jesus is alive and that he
has something for you to do,that that tomb is empty.
The past is empty.
(15:11):
That tomb doesn't mean anythinganymore because Jesus came back
.
He came back from death.
You can come back from whateveryou're going through and all
the negative feelings that youhave, all the worry.
(15:35):
You're going to realize it wasa waste because you already knew
the truth.
You're overwhelmed becauseyou're overthinking and you're
in your own way.
And once you remember thatyou're going to get to work and
(15:57):
you're going to carry out God'sinstructions, the women at the
tomb went and found Peter andtold them that Jesus was alive.
I don't know what your purposeis going to be.
Get out of your way so you canget to work.
(16:25):
Ow, sorry about that.
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Makes me mad too.
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(17:07):
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That's at renewedmindsetsstore,code SPRING10.
See ya.
Well, at the beginning of theshow I said I wasn't going to do
it.
I was going to let the HolySpirit talk to you about it.
But the Holy Spirit said to methat's not my job, that's your
(17:28):
job.
So here we go, best laid plansand all that.
We're going to talk about whywe observe the symbols and
tradition of Easter today.
Now, if you knew their origins,do you think that it would
affect you on how you allow yourchildren to celebrate this
(17:49):
holiday?
Now it's similar to thecelebration of Christ's birth at
Christmas.
Easter has become a mix ofactivities that are unrelated to
the death and resurrection ofour Lord.
Now people may think thattraditions like the Easter bunny
and Easter egg hunts may seemheartless, like believing in
Santa Claus.
They actually have a strongconnection to pagan worship and
(18:11):
the rituals from the past.
The name Easter, for instance,is not mentioned in the original
scriptures, especially inrelation to the death and
resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It's actually derived from theword Yoster.
Yoster was the queen Samarimus,the wife of Nimrod, who was
(18:34):
Noah's great-grandson, known forhis evil acts in Genesis 10,
verses 6-8.
Yoster had a history.
Nimrod constructed the majorcities of Babel, asher, nineveh
and Kalah Genesis 10, 10-12,which were infamous for their
(18:55):
wicked worship practices andimmorality.
Remember the story of JonahWell.
After Nimrod's death, queenSamarimus continued these evil
practices by deifying Nimrod asthe sun god.
Later, queen Samarimus gavebirth to an illegitimate son
named Tammuz.
She convinced the people thatthis son was supernaturally
(19:16):
conceived and the promised childmentioned in Genesis 3.15.
The people worshipped Tammuz asthe reincarnation of Nimrod and
the queen Samarimus as themother goddess.
Now these false religionsinvolved human sacrifice,
idolatry, astrology and satanicworship the sun Nimrod and the
(19:38):
moon Yoster, and continued untilthe time of Tower of Babel.
Due to their sins, god confusedthe people's languages and
scattered them throughout theworld Genesis 11.7.
As the people resettled in newlands, they brought their pagan
worship with them.
Queen Samarimus became known asYostera, an Anglo-Saxon goddess
(19:59):
representing the dawn of a newday and new life in spring.
Estarte, the Phoenician goddessof the moon, iaster an
Ashtoreth, the wife of Baal andthe queen of heaven.
Y'all gotta cut me some slackon some of these names.
Sheesh Nimrod was also known asBaal, balaam and Molech, the
(20:23):
god of fire and the great lifegiver.
You know, a good once throughstudy of the Old Testament will
reveal that God just cannotstand this false worship, and he
specifically tells us not to dothat in Ezekiel 8.14.
Now the origin of Easter goesback to the springtime ritual
initiated by Queen Samarimusafter Tammuz's death.
(20:45):
Now the story has it thatTammuz could be resurrected in
the form of new vegetation onearth through Queen Samarimis'
tears.
You're killing me, smalls.
With the expansion ofChristianity, many, many, many
years later, it became a commonpractice to incorporate the
(21:06):
existing non-Christian festivalsinto Christian theology, since
the Queen, queen Semiramis orEoster, represented the goddess
of spring and symbolized renewaland rebirth.
The Christian belief in theresurrection of Christ aligned
well with these themes.
American history teaches usthat Easter was viewed as a
(21:30):
pagan holiday by the Puritanswho founded the nation and only
gained widespread observanceafter the Civil War.
Now here's something the Easteregg and baskets.
The Babylonians considered theegg a sacred symbol that
represented Osteros' fertilityand the new life, or the 28-day
(21:52):
cycle of the moon and a woman'smonthly cycle.
The Babylonians believed in amyth about a large egg that fell
from the sky into the EuphratesRiver and hatched Queen
Samarimus.
Egg dying was part of the evilrituals commemorating the spring
equinox.
The Egyptians also hungdecorated eggs in their temples,
(22:13):
and the Romans used decoratedeggs in processions honoring the
mother goddess.
The Druids considered the eggtheir sacred emblem.
The Gauls, chinese and thePersians also used colored eggs
in their ancient pagan springfestivals to symbolize rebirth.
During the Middle Ages,europeans collected different
(22:35):
colored bird eggs from nests touse as talismans against evil
and to bring good fortune, andlater the practice of painting
eggs became more popular.
Now Easter baskets are used tosymbolize birds' nests.
Here comes Peter Cottontailhopping down the bunny trail.
(22:55):
Rabbits have long been seen asa symbol of fertility and can be
traced back to the practicesestablished by Samarimus In the
1500s.
In Germany, some peoplebelieved that bunnies laid red
eggs on Holy Thursday andmulticolored eggs on the night
before Easter Sunday.
On Holy Thursday andmulticolored eggs on the night
(23:17):
before Easter Sunday.
Eventually, this customtransformed into edible Easter
bunnies made from a sugarypastry.
This tradition was brought toAmerica during the 1700s by the
Pennsylvania, dutch, germanimmigrants and evolved into
chocolate, easter bunnies andeggs.
During the American Civil War,children believed that if they
were kind to Osterhaw the Easterbunny, he would leave a nest of
(23:39):
colored eggs.
Now, after hearing everythingthat I've just said, you might
wonder is there a better way tocelebrate the resurrection of
Christ?
Well, there is.
A good reading of the Bible canprovide you with valuable
teaching on Easter's truemeaning.
Just look in 1 Corinthians, 15,3b-4.
(24:00):
Christ died for our sins,according to the Scriptures, and
that he was buried and that herose again the third day,
according to the Scriptures.
I'm telling you it's time toreturn the world's focus on
Christ's resurrection Sunday andoffer heartfelt praises for his
sacrifice and his triumph oversin and death.
(24:20):
Praise God, hallelujah, christhas risen While you're in your
car driving this morning orafternoon or evening, I've got
your captive attention.
I'm going to try something new.
I'm going to read the wholeresurrection week story for you
(24:42):
in 14 verses Matthew 21, 7through 9.
They brought the donkey and thecolt and placed their cloaks on
them, for Jesus to sit on, avery large crowd spread their
(25:03):
cloaks on the road, while theothers cut branches from the
trees and spread them on theroad.
The crowds that went ahead ofhim and those that followed
shouted Matthew 26, 14-16.
Then one of the twelve, the onecalled Judas Iscariot, went to
the chief priests and asked whatare you willing to give me if I
deliver him over to you?
So they counted out for himthirty pieces of silver.
(25:25):
From then on, judas watched foran opportunity to hand him over
.
Matthew 26, 18.
He replied Go into the city toa certain man and tell him the
teacher says my appointed timeis near.
I am going to celebrate thePassover with my disciples at
your house.
Matthew 26.36.
(25:48):
Then Jesus went with hisdisciples to a place called
Gethsemane and he said to themSit here while I go over there
and pray.
Matthew 26, 39.
Going a little farther, he fellwith his face to the ground and
prayed my Father, if it'spossible, may this cup be taken
(26:09):
from me yet, not as I will, butas you will.
Matthew 27, 1-2.
Early in the morning, all thechief priests and elders of the
people made their plans how tohave Jesus executed.
So they bound him, led him awayand handed him over to Pilate,
(26:30):
the governor.
John 19.6.
As soon as the chief priestsand their officials saw him,
they shouted Crucify, crucify.
Matthew 27.30-31.
They spit on him and took thestaff and struck him in the head
(26:51):
again and again.
And after they'd mocked him,they took off the robe and put
his own and struck him in thehead again and again.
And after they'd mocked him,they took off the robe and put
his own clothes on him.
Then they led him away tocrucify him.
Mark 15.33.
At noon, darkness came over thewhole land until three in the
afternoon.
Luke 23, 46.
(27:14):
Jesus called out with a loudvoice Father, into your hands I
commit my spirit.
When he had said this, hebreathed his last.
Matthew 27, 57-59.
As evening approached, therecame a rich man from Arimathea
(27:35):
named Joseph, who had himselfbecome a disciple of Jesus,
going to Pilate.
He asked for Jesus' body, andPilate ordered that it be given
to him.
Joseph took the body, wrappedit in a clean linen cloth John
19, 40 and 41.
Taking Jesus' body, the two ofthem wrapped it with spices and
(27:59):
strips of linen.
There was, in accordance withthe Jewish burial customs, at
the place where Jesus wascrucified there was a garden and
in the garden a new tomb inwhich no one had ever been laid.
Luke 24, 1-6.
On the first day of the week,very early in the morning, the
(28:21):
women took the spices they hadprepared and went to the tomb.
They found the stone rolledaway from the tomb, but when
they entered they did not findthe body of the Lord Jesus.
While they were wondering aboutthis, suddenly two men in
cloths that gleamed likelightning stood beside them.
In their fright, the womenbowed down with their faces to
the ground.
But the men said to them why doyou look for the living among
(28:45):
the dead?
(29:06):
He is not here.
He is risen.
Matthew 28, 8-10.
Then Jesus said to them Do notbe afraid, go and tell my
brothers to go to Galilee.
There they will see me.
Well, that's all for this week'sshow.
You know, the name of this showspeaks my hope for you.
(29:29):
It's taken from the words ofRomans, chapter 12, verse 2.
For you, it's taken from thewords of Romans, chapter 12,
verse 2.
Do not be conformed to thisworld, but be transformed by the
renewal of your mind that bytesting you may discern what is
the will of God, what is goodand acceptable and perfect.
(29:50):
If you enjoyed what you heard,do me a favor, please, and tell
someone you know about it.
Send them a link in a text youknow.
You may even need to downloadit to their phone and show them
what a podcast is.
If it was valuable to you, itwill be to them.
(30:11):
Visit renewedmindsetscom tohear past episodes, read the
blog and check out the new merch.
And, as always while you'rethere, send me a voicemail by
clicking the button at thebottom right corner of the main
page.
Tell me what you think aboutthis show.
I just might play it on afuture episode.
(30:32):
Until next week, I'm Rick.
I love you.
See ya.
The intro and outro music forthe Renewed Mindsets podcast is
(30:54):
Are you Ready?
By Floodgate From the album Areyou Ready?
Copyright 2002, offbeatMinistries, incorporated.
No-transcript.
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