Isaiah 25:6-9
Easter Joy
The
one thing most people want is happiness. Our expressions at Easter indicate
that Easter is supposed to a happy time, “Easter Joy” and “Happy Easter” are
just a few expressions which come to mind. It is a time of rejoicing not
because of our happy circumstances but because, and only because of what God
has done for us in the Resurrection. True Christians are happy regardless of
the hardships they may face. If circumstances indicate that you may be
experiencing hardships, handicaps and misfortunes God has a message for you
this day – Easter joy is based not on outward circumstances rather on God’s
victory which He invites you to share this day.
Easter is a happy time because…
I.
It is a feast – Isaiah 25:6 On this mountain the LORD Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food
for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of
wines.
“On
this mountain,” the LORD will prepare a sumptuous, Julia-Childs-worthy
meal. The LORD crawls to the back of the wine cellar to retrieve the best
vintage wines. Wines that have aged for years. Perhaps in preparation for this
very occasion. V 6
On this same mountain where the china
has been laid out and the wine glasses are sparkling, the LORD will not only
nurture and feed; He will destroy. The LORD will destroy “the shroud” and “the
sheet” that cover all people (verse 7).
Turns out this a feast to commemorate
the LORD’s defeat of nothing less than death itself.
A.
This passage from Isaiah looks forward to the day when God would destroy
death forever. Isaiah looks to the day when God would offer a fest for all the
nations. A banquet in the Old Testament stood as a symbol of the consummation
of God’s saving purpose in history.
B.
This feast is a celebration of God’s victory over death. God will
swallow death up forever and thus death will no longer plague mankind. This is
the work of God, and people have reason to celebrate His salvation with joy.
At this event, God will demonstrate
that He is able to supply far more than any of His children could ever dream.
There will be feasting and celebration in abundance!
In eternity, we will not need to give
up any good thing to be with God! What God offers will far surpass any good
thing we could imagine in this world!
Paul speaks this way. Now to
him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think,
according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in
Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. –
Ephesians 3:20-21
The Lord God can do so much more than
we can imagine! What He offers is far better than what this world offers.
Everything in this life will pale in comparison with this feast. He will prepare the most epic party ever for
His people!
II. It is a victory – Isaiah 25:7-8 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples,
the sheet that covers all nations; he will swallow up death forever. The
Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the
disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken.
A.
A question could be asked “how can
we find an Easter message in an Old Testament passage?” It is found in the form of a promise of the
future. The future was fulfilled on Easter.
B.
Today we’ve been given a perspective of God’s plan of salvation which
was in His mind from the time of creation. When Isaiah wrote these words is was
God Himself giving us His Word. On Easter God gave us His deed!
Notice who is invited to this feast;
it is “for all peoples” v 6, “from all faces;” and “from all the earth” v.8
You may well remember Jesus speaking
of a feast where many were invited. “The
kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his
son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast,
but they would not come. Again he sent
other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my
dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is
ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding
feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to
the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and
gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled
with guests. - Matthew 22:2-3; 8-9
Jesus’ parable shares this similar
scene, of a feast where people of all kinds invited to celebrate with the king.
This feast on the mountain includes
all types of people: every race, language, culture, background, economic
make-up; they’re all invited.
So, all peoples, that is; all that
God has saved from the earth, will gather in one place, at a homecoming feast
with their Savior.
III. It is salvation – Isaiah 25:9 In that day they will say, “Surely this is our God; we trusted in him,
and he saved us. This is the LORD; we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be
glad in his salvation.
A.
Your happiness does not depend on your well being in this world.
Christians to this hour are oppressed, persecuted, and defeated yet they still
rejoice. How so?
B.
The reason is the source of Christian’s joy – God. A person can rejoice
because God Himself has defeated our worst enemy – death. God has provided a
banquet feast for us.
This feast, however, is THE moment
that God’s people have been waiting for. Death is dead, sorrows are gone, tears
flow no more, and God has kept His promise.
They will say, ‘This is our God! He’s the one that we’ve waited for! We are now in His
presence! We will rejoice in Him!’ This will be a joyous celebration,
forever!
On Easter we celebrate the reality that life overcomes death
by the power of the resurrection. This was the promise Isaiah hoped for – for
us today we celebrate its reality. Now death is dead forever! This is what God
has done for us! This is reason for rejoicing and celebration.
Passive Sentences -11%
Readability – 76%
Reading Level – 6.0
Easter copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
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