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I PETER 1:3,4

"LIVING HOPE"

I. THE WORLD TO WHICH JESUS CAME WAS FILLED WITH HOPELESSNESS, DARKNESS, AND DESPAIR.
        A. It was a world in        .
                1. Men had been bludgeoned into submission by the Roman legions.
                2. Those who were not slaves to Rome were slaves to their own passions.
        B. It was a world of hatred and suspicion.
                1. The were plots and counter-plots.
                2. Paranoia reigned.
                        a. Herod, the ruler over the province was paranoid.
                                1. Reflected in the fortresses he built, Herodian and Masada.
                                2. He killed his sons and his wife.
        C. It was a world as Paul described, without Christ, having no hope.
                1. There was religion to be sure.
                        a. Men were using it to support their bigotry.
                        b. But the goals of the religious leaders varied little from the civil
                           leaders.
                                1. They too sought to subjugate men and perpetuate themselves
                                   in power.

II. WITH THE COMING OF CHRIST CAME A RAY OF HOPE TO THIS HOPELESS WORLD.
        A. Matthew's gospel describes it: "The people who sat in darkness saw a great Iight."
        B. Those who followed Jesus were filled with joy.
                1. They were convinced He was the Messiah.
                2. They expected Him to break the chains of slavery and bring
                        peace to the world.
                3. They felt the day had come when the lion would lie down
                        with the Iamb.
        C. But all that changed, for they watched as politics took one of its ugliest forms 
           and a innocent man was condemned to die by crucifixion.
                1. Even as He hung on the cross they hoped for a last minute
                        miracle.
                2. But no miracle came, and for reasons they could not understand
                        He died.
                3. When the limp body of Jesus was placed in the sepulcher and
 the stone rolled over the door the darkness seemed greater
 than ever.
                        a. If you are in a darkened room, your eyes become somewhat adjusted, 
                           but when walking from brilliant sunlight into that same room, how 
                           dark it now appears.
                        b. Walking from the brilliant light of Christ love, back into the dark 
                           world of hatred was too much.
                4. He had spoken of: the power of good over evil, love over hate, light over 
                   darkness, freedom over slavery.
                5. He spoke of the possibility of salvation.
                6. But now it was like going to sleep when you are starving to death and 
                   dreaming-that a sumptuous table is set before you and just as you start to
                   indulge you wake up.
                7. Their miracle did not come in the last minute but three days later when 
                   they discovered the empty tomb.

III. WITH THE EMPTY TOMB-CAME A RENEWED HOPE.
        A. Death cannot conquer theLord of life.
        B. The resurrection brought more than hope, it was now a living hope.
        C. Go tell the world, the light was not extinguished; He is risen as He said, He is 
           alive and His kingdom is forever. Love shall triumph; Love shall come; Jesus shall
           reign.
        D. What a difference the discovery of the empty tomb made.