Easter 2020 NOTES NOT EDITEDIt Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over
Luke 24, esp v6
SIS—From the beginning of time the Devil has tried to convince God’s people that the game is over and he has won, but he learned at the Resurrection, “It Ain’t Over ‘til It’s Over!”
One of the most popular phrases in the English language, outside of the Bible is, “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over!” Immediately that connects with you, even if you don’t know who said it or the circumstances that prompted it to be said. If you are a bit older, and you are a baseball fan, especially a New York Yankee fan, you will recognize that as a “Yogism,” rising out of the commonsense wisdom of Hall of Fame catcher, Yogi Berra. This is a positive bit of irrepressible wisdom from a man who quit school when he was thirteen years old to become one of the greatest baseball players of all time.
Yogi’s phrase summons hope from the dark recesses of human tragedy and trials. Yogi’s phrase springs like a lightning bolt out a dark storm night, lighting up everything for miles around.
Yogi was typical of an eternal optimist. Baseball teaches a person to be an optimist. Hundreds of times, perhaps thousands of times, a team has come to the bottom of the ninth and final inning. They trail the opposing team by two runs and there are two outs. They have one out to score one run and nobody is on base. The situation seems hopeless. The next two batters are the weakest on the team, and the tying run is the team’s almost mythical Sultan of Swat.
This is exactly the situation that is staged in the most familiar poem in Baseball, “Casey At the Bat.” [POEM] The Mudville Nine are down 2 runs to 4. It is the last inning. It is the last bat. There are two outs runners on second and third. A homerun from the “Mighty Casey” would win the game. Casey lets the first pitch go by for “Strike One.” He lets the second pitch go by for strike two. One more pitch for a chance to win the game with a homer. I’ll pick up the poem there:
Yogi’s phrase summons hope from the dark recesses of human tragedy and trials. Yogi’s phrase springs like a lightning bolt out a dark storm night, lighting up everything for miles around.
Yogi was typical of an eternal optimist. Baseball teaches a person to be an optimist. Hundreds of times, perhaps thousands of times, a team has come to the bottom of the ninth and final inning. They trail the opposing team by two runs and there are two outs. They have one out to score one run and nobody is on base. The situation seems hopeless. The next two batters are the weakest on the team, and the tying run is the team’s almost mythical Sultan of Swat.
This is exactly the situation that is staged in the most familiar poem in Baseball, “Casey At the Bat.” [POEM] The Mudville Nine are down 2 runs to 4. It is the last inning. It is the last bat. There are two outs runners on second and third. A homerun from the “Mighty Casey” would win the game. Casey lets the first pitch go by for “Strike One.” He lets the second pitch go by for strike two. One more pitch for a chance to win the game with a homer. I’ll pick up the poem there:
They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,
And they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again.
And they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again.
The sneer is gone from Casey's lip, his teeth are clenched in hate,
[Casey] pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate;
And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.
[Casey] pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate;
And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.
Oh, somewhere in this favoured land the sun is shining bright,
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout,
But there is no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out.
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout,
But there is no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out.
Well, it didn’t work out for Casey and the Mudville Nine that day. When it was over, it was over, and the team fell short of runs. This is eerily similar to the story of the Cross and Easter. The difference is, with God, when it is over, we His people ALWAYS come out the winners. Let’s read the story of Easter together and then we will examine how Easter teaches us, “It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over.”
Let me restate my sermon in a sentence once again as we start: “From the beginning of time the Devil has tried to convince God’s people that the game is over and he has won, but he learned at the Resurrection, “It Ain’t Over ‘til It’s Over!”
Throughout the life of the Lord we see His victory of circumstances. At no less than seven points in the life of Jesus we learn what Paul declares: “We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ” (Rom. 8:37). As conquerors in Christ, even when the chips are down and the way ahead looks impossible, we know, with faith “It Ain’t Over ‘til It’s Over!”
1. It Ain’t Over Because Circumstances are Bad (Lk. 2)
Let’s back to the birth of Jesus. 6 While they were there [Bethlehem], the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
1. It Ain’t Over Because Circumstances are Bad (Lk. 2)
Let’s back to the birth of Jesus. 6 While they were there [Bethlehem], the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Here’s a young couple who were engaged. The government called for a tax audit. Mary was a young woman (maybe a teen) and was nine months pregnant. And, she WAS NOT MARRIED! They had to make a trip of just under twenty miles to Bethlehem, there city of birth—a city I might add that was so insignificant it would have never been known to history if it were not for the Christmas story. When she gets to Bethlehem, nearing nightfall I would suspect, there are no rooms in the local inns. Jesus, the King of Heaven, was born in a stable with a feeding trough as his crib.
The circumstances of Jesus’ beginning of His life on earth were bad. But, nobody’s success in life is determined by “how one starts, but how one finishes!” Keep that in mind as we move through the life of Jesus and see that at every turn, “The Lord conquers life, He doesn’t surrender to it!”
The circumstances of Jesus’ beginning of His life on earth were bad. But, nobody’s success in life is determined by “how one starts, but how one finishes!” Keep that in mind as we move through the life of Jesus and see that at every turn, “The Lord conquers life, He doesn’t surrender to it!”
2. It Ain’t Over Because Temptations Are Many (Mt. 4:3)
Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the Devil.
Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.
The character of Christ was tried and tested in the crucible of temptation just like you and I. At the very inauguration of the Lord’s ministry He was led into the wilderness to be attacked, challenged, and tempted by the Devil himself. Three times the Devil raised a morsel of enticement before the Lord, and three times the Lord stood on the Word of God and denounced the evil designs of the Devil. It is part and parcel of what it means to be human to be tempted. This challenge never goes away and it never gets easier.
I once read that the reason so many convicts go back to prison after serving their time is because they cannot deal with the number of “choices” that we have to make in a day. The article I read estimated that the typical person—you and I—have to make about 12,000 decisions every day. In prison, a convict never has to make more than a couple thousand.
I once read that the reason so many convicts go back to prison after serving their time is because they cannot deal with the number of “choices” that we have to make in a day. The article I read estimated that the typical person—you and I—have to make about 12,000 decisions every day. In prison, a convict never has to make more than a couple thousand.
Every choice is a temptation. Every choice either brings blessings or it brings cursings. At the very least every choice requires we choose between the “good” and the “best,” which is itself a temptation. Temptations abound. The battle for holiness is 24/7. It can become wearisome to constantly be on guard against the evil traps of the Devil. Christianity is NOT FOR SISSIES!
But, It Ain’t Over simply because we face many temptations.
3. It Ain’t Over Because Our Faith Is Small (Mt. 17:20)
Everywhere the Lord went He was teaching His disciples. That must have been a very taxing responsibility—always on the job. But, the Lord conquered that challenge in His life just like all the others. He never gave in; He never gave up.
On one occasion Jesus was teaching and healing and man brought his son to Jesus. His son was possessed by a demon and would jump into fires or try to drown himself. The man complained to the Lord, “I brought him to Your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.” (v16).
On one occasion Jesus was teaching and healing and man brought his son to Jesus. His son was possessed by a demon and would jump into fires or try to drown himself. The man complained to the Lord, “I brought him to Your disciples, but they couldn’t heal him.” (v16).
Jesus rebuked the disciples charging them with having “little faith.” This is a common term in Matthew and can be easily misunderstood as a reference to the “quantity” of faith, rather than the “quality.” Of faith. The use of the mustard seed as the minimum measure of faith indicates the Lord is not talking about the “size” of our faith, but the “source” of our faith—quality, not quantity. In the ancient world there was no seed smaller than the mustard seed. The only step down from the size of a mustard seed was no seed at all—hence no faith at all. Jesus was saying in affect, the problem is not the “size” of your faith but the “source” of your faith. You are trusting in what “you” can do instead of what “I can do THROUGH you.” When our abilities, skills, ingenuity, or cleverness becomes the measure of our faith it is “no faith at all.” It is smaller than a mustard seed. When we rely our faith in our clever plans, it is “Game Over!” The demons just laugh at such presumption. Demons know real faith when the see it, not because of its “size” but because of its “source”—The Lord Jesus, Himself.
When things look bad and the Devil is shouting at you, “Game over, buddy!” We need to turn to him, in faith, and say, “It Ain’t Over ‘til It’s Over.” It ain’t over because circumstances are bad. It ain’t over because temptations are many. It ain’t over becaue our faith is small. And . . . , while we are on the subject of the Devil let me mention:
4. It Ain’t Over Because the Devil is Big (Eph. 6:11-12)
There are two equal but opposite errors Christians can make in regard to dealing with the Devil. One, to make too much of the Devil and err on the side of impotence; or two, to make too little of the Devil and err on the side of arrogance.
I know people who see a demon behind every bush—they are literally paralyzed by the understanding that there is a literal, evil being we call the Devil. This point of view will never allow you to be “more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus.” You will always be a victim. The Bible warns us that, by faith, we have absolute power over the Devil. James says, “Resist the Devil and he . . . get this, MUST flee from you!” (Jam 4:7) The Devil was absolutely defeated at Calvary.
I know people who see a demon behind every bush—they are literally paralyzed by the understanding that there is a literal, evil being we call the Devil. This point of view will never allow you to be “more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus.” You will always be a victim. The Bible warns us that, by faith, we have absolute power over the Devil. James says, “Resist the Devil and he . . . get this, MUST flee from you!” (Jam 4:7) The Devil was absolutely defeated at Calvary.
On the other hand, many people get in trouble by not recognizing that although the Devil is defeated, he has not yet been banished from this world. We must learn how to conduct “spiritual warfare” so we do not become a Prisoner of War in this battle we call life. Eph. 6:11-12 instructs us:
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.
11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. 12 For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.
The Devil is defeated, but he has not yet been banished into the final pit of eternal fire. We must not give him too much credit and we must not give him too little. Sometimes, oftentimes, in prayer we have to stand boldly and rebuke the Devil in the Name of Jesus!
5. It Ain’t Over Because the Enemies Are Loud (Ps 22:6-8)
Psalm 22 is considered a “Messianic Psalm,” meaning it was a prophetic picture of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. Depending upon which date is picked for the psalm, that is whether it was written by David or later during the exile, it was written at least 500 to 1000 years before the death of Jesus. It is an ugly verbal photograph of the Lord’s anguish. In part it reads:
Psalm 22 is considered a “Messianic Psalm,” meaning it was a prophetic picture of the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. Depending upon which date is picked for the psalm, that is whether it was written by David or later during the exile, it was written at least 500 to 1000 years before the death of Jesus. It is an ugly verbal photograph of the Lord’s anguish. In part it reads:
6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by people. 7 Everyone who sees me mocks me; they sneer and shake their heads: 8 “He relies on the Lord; let Him rescue him; let the Lord deliver him, since He takes pleasure in him.” . . . . . 12 Many bulls surround me; strong ones of Bashan encircle me. 13 They open their mouths against me— lions, mauling and roaring. . . . . 16 For dogs have surrounded me; a gang of evildoers has closed in on me.
Beyond the obvious physical pain of crucifixion, Jesus endured the mental anguish of the scoffing of His enemies. The Psalm says, “everyone who sees me mocks me; they sneer and shake their heads.” This scoffing of His enemies makes the Lord feel like “a worm and not a man.” The enemies scoffing at the cross are compared to “raging bulls” and “lions , mauling and roaring” hoping to tear at His flesh. There is a “gang of evildoers closing in on the Lord.”
I’ve never been “booed” by the crowd when stepping on to a court of field to play a sport. I’ve been cheered—well, not me personally but the team—when we’d take the basketball court in college for pre-game warm-ups. Jesus was “booed” to an eternal degree at the cross. At the cross, His enemies were many and his friends were few. It certainly looked like “GAME OVER!” as the enemies of Jesus cheered and jeered in the crowd.
But, it ain’t over because our Enemies are Scoffing. We see this in our world today many times, especially in social media where everyone has at least three opinions on any one issue. Christianity is despised for the most part in our nation today. The Democrat Party even passed a resolution declaring them to be the “No-Religion Party.” Of course, they only mean, “No Christianity.” Islam and nearly any other religion is welcome.
If you give too much weight to the “negative voices” crowding around you, especially in a time of deep personal challenge, you are finished before the game begins. You need to reject the negative voices of the “Enemies Scoffing at Your Faith,” and listen only to what the Lord says—His voice is all that matters. I will repeat what the Lord said through Paul: “37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Rom. 8:37, ESV).
But, it ain’t over because our Enemies are Scoffing. We see this in our world today many times, especially in social media where everyone has at least three opinions on any one issue. Christianity is despised for the most part in our nation today. The Democrat Party even passed a resolution declaring them to be the “No-Religion Party.” Of course, they only mean, “No Christianity.” Islam and nearly any other religion is welcome.
If you give too much weight to the “negative voices” crowding around you, especially in a time of deep personal challenge, you are finished before the game begins. You need to reject the negative voices of the “Enemies Scoffing at Your Faith,” and listen only to what the Lord says—His voice is all that matters. I will repeat what the Lord said through Paul: “37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (Rom. 8:37, ESV).
In reality, the game of life is won or lost dependent upon whether you are going to listen to the sound advice of the Coach Jesus Christ, or the scoffing of the opposing team. Choose to listen to Christ.
The Devil has been shouting at God’s people since the Garden of Eden: “you are lousy at following God. You are losers. The game is over for you.”
We simply need to reply: It Ain’t Over ‘til It’s Over! It ain’t over because circumstances are bad; it ain’t over because temptations are many, it ain’t over because our faith is small; it ain’t over because the Devil is big; it ain’t over because the enemies are scoffing, and
6. It Ain’t Over Because the Grave Was Sealed! (Mt. 27:64-66)
64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
Now here’s the deal. Listen carefully. This is what Christianity is all about. Here’s what Easter is all about. AN EMPTY TOMB!
Even the Roman leaders knew the prophecy that the Messiah would rise from the grave. The Enemies of Jesus KNEW that the one thing they could not let happen was for that grave to come up empty on Sunday morning. The posted an elite Roman guard, and probably also the elite Temple guard. They probably even installed a Ring Doorbell. That grave HAD TO REMAIN SEALED!
Guess what: It Ain’t Over Because the Grave was sealed.
The Word of God declares this (I can hardly contain my excitement as I write this in my notes): Luke 24:1: But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.
When the Roman authorities “sealed that grave” they thought they sealed the fate of God’s plan of redemption for all mankind. Had Jesus stayed in that grave, every one of us as His followers would stay in our graves. BUT JESUS DIDN’T STAY IN THE GRAVE. IN FACT, HE DIDN’T STAY DEAD! Luke 24:4-6:
4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 HE IS NOT HERE, BUT HAS RISEN.
7. It ain’t over because: JESUS IS ALIVE!
From the beginning of time the Devil has tried to convince God’s people that the game is over and he has won, but he learned at the Resurrection, “It Ain’t Over ‘til It’s Over!”
It Ain’t Over because circumstances are bad; temptations are many; our faith is small; the Devil is big; the Enemies are Scoffing; or the Grave was Sealed. IT AIN'T OVER BECAUSE JESUS IS ALIVE!
God sent His Son
They called Him Jesus
He came to love, heal and forgive
He lived and died to buy my pardon
An empty grave is there to prove my Savior lives
Because He lives I can face tomorrow
Because He lives all fear is gone
Because I know He holds the future
And life is worth the living just because He lives
My dear friends, regardless of how bad things might look at the time, with Jesus, “It Ain’t Over ‘til It’s Over, and When It’s Over, It’s Just Begun.”
ADDITIONAL POEM REFERENCED IN SERMON
CASEY AT THE BAT
The outlook wasn't brilliant for the Mudville nine that day:
The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play,
And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,
A pall-like silence fell upon the patrons of the game.
The score stood four to two, with but one inning more to play,
And then when Cooney died at first, and Barrows did the same,
A pall-like silence fell upon the patrons of the game.
A straggling few got up to go in deep despair. The rest
Clung to the hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
They thought, "If only Casey could but get a whack at that—
We'd put up even money now, with Casey at the bat."
Clung to the hope which springs eternal in the human breast;
They thought, "If only Casey could but get a whack at that—
We'd put up even money now, with Casey at the bat."
But Flynn preceded Casey, as did also Jimmy Blake,
And the former was a lulu, while the latter was a cake;
So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat,
For there seemed but little chance of Casey getting to the bat.
And the former was a lulu, while the latter was a cake;
So upon that stricken multitude grim melancholy sat,
For there seemed but little chance of Casey getting to the bat.
But Flynn let drive a single, to the wonderment of all,
And Blake, the much despisèd, tore the cover off the ball;
And when the dust had lifted, and men saw what had occurred,
There was Jimmy safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third.
And Blake, the much despisèd, tore the cover off the ball;
And when the dust had lifted, and men saw what had occurred,
There was Jimmy safe at second and Flynn a-hugging third.
Then from five thousand throats and more there rose a lusty yell;
It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;
It pounded on the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,
For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat.
It rumbled through the valley, it rattled in the dell;
It pounded on the mountain and recoiled upon the flat,
For Casey, mighty Casey, was advancing to the bat.
There was ease in Casey's manner as he stepped into his place;
There was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile lit Casey's face.
And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,
No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Casey at the bat.
There was pride in Casey's bearing and a smile lit Casey's face.
And when, responding to the cheers, he lightly doffed his hat,
No stranger in the crowd could doubt 'twas Casey at the bat.
Ten thousand eyes were on him as he rubbed his hands with dirt;
Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt;
Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip,
Defiance flashed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip.
Five thousand tongues applauded when he wiped them on his shirt;
Then while the writhing pitcher ground the ball into his hip,
Defiance flashed in Casey's eye, a sneer curled Casey's lip.
And now the leather-covered sphere came hurtling through the air,
And Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped—
"That ain't my style," said Casey. "Strike one!" the umpire said.
And Casey stood a-watching it in haughty grandeur there.
Close by the sturdy batsman the ball unheeded sped—
"That ain't my style," said Casey. "Strike one!" the umpire said.
From the benches, black with people, there went up a muffled roar,
Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore;
"Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted someone on the stand;
And it's likely they'd have killed him had not Casey raised his hand.
Like the beating of the storm-waves on a stern and distant shore;
"Kill him! Kill the umpire!" shouted someone on the stand;
And it's likely they'd have killed him had not Casey raised his hand.
With a smile of Christian charity great Casey's visage shone;
He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
He signaled to the pitcher, and once more the dun sphere flew;
But Casey still ignored it and the umpire said, "Strike two!"
He stilled the rising tumult; he bade the game go on;
He signaled to the pitcher, and once more the dun sphere flew;
But Casey still ignored it and the umpire said, "Strike two!"
"Fraud!" cried the maddened thousands, and echo answered "Fraud!"
But one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed.
They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,
And they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again.
But one scornful look from Casey and the audience was awed.
They saw his face grow stern and cold, they saw his muscles strain,
And they knew that Casey wouldn't let that ball go by again.
The sneer is gone from Casey's lip, his teeth are clenched in hate,
He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate;
And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.
He pounds with cruel violence his bat upon the plate;
And now the pitcher holds the ball, and now he lets it go,
And now the air is shattered by the force of Casey's blow.
Oh, somewhere in this favoured land the sun is shining bright,
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout,
But there is no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out.
The band is playing somewhere, and somewhere hearts are light;
And somewhere men are laughing, and somewhere children shout,
But there is no joy in Mudville—mighty Casey has struck out.
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