Sermon Notes: 4/20/25

"A Greater Garden"

Pastor Albert Almore

Our big idea for this Resurrection Sunday is this….

📝 • God doesn’t LEAVE THINGS UNDONE!

The resurrection of Jesus Christ, is a testament to this—GOD DOESN’T LEAVE THINGS UNDONE!

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that IT WAS GOOD…

Genesis 1:1-4 KJV

In fact everything was good UNTIL sin came into the world. Genesis 1 was good. Genesis 2 was good. But Genesis 3, we’re introduced to a snake IN THE GARDEN OF EDEN. That was a sad day in the Garden…But God made a promise in the Garden that this wouldn’t be the end!

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed. HE WILL CRUSH YOUR HEAD, and you will strike his heel.”

Genesis 3:15 BSB

But this promise didn’t manifest in the book of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus…

People got weary. People got tired. Matthew 13:16-17 NLT…

““But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous people LONGED TO SEE WHAT YOU SEE, BUT THEY DIDN’T SEE IT. AND THEY LONGED TO HEAR WHAT YOU HEAR, BUT THEY DIDN’T HEAR IT.”

Matthew 13:16-17 NLT

For centuries, they looked and longed for The Messiah. Finally the time came. Galatians 4:4 says…

“BUT WHEN THE RIGHT TIME CAME, GOD SENT HIS SON, born of a woman, subject to the law. GOD SENT HIM TO BUY FREEDOM FOR US who were slaves to the law, so that he could adopt us as his very own children.”

Galatians 4:4-5 NLT

THIS BABY BOY WOULD GROW INTO A MAN TO DIE FOR MY SINS, YOUR SINS, YOUR CHILDREN’S SINS.

He lived His life. Called 12 disciples to follow Him. He taught them the way, the truth, and the life.

When the days drew near for him to be taken up, HE SET HIS FACE TO GO TO JERUSALEM.

Luke 9:51 ESV

“From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, BUT ON THE THIRD DAY he would be raised from the dead.”

Matthew 16:21 NLT

“He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. YET I WANT YOUR WILL TO BE DONE, NOT MINE.” Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him.”

Luke 22:41-43 NLT

“He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like GREAT DROPS OF BLOOD.”

Luke 22:44 NLT

From there he was arrested. Mock trial. Beaten. 

I offered my back to those who beat me and my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard. I did not hide my face from mockery and spitting.

Isaiah 50:6

Just stay down Jesus. “I can’t. I’m making all things new. Just stay down Jesus. “I can’t, I must finish the work of Him who sent me.”

From the whipping post. To carrying His cross. To being nailed to the cross. To His last sayings. IT IS FINISHED—BUT HE WASN’T! Because just like he said, on the 3rd day He rose with all power in His hand, signifying to us, that I am who I say I am. Therefore you are who I say you are. I have the keys to death, to the grave…making his words true in John 11:25…

 “Jesus said to her, “I AM THE RESURRECTION and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;”

John 11:25 NIV

I got so ahead of myself and left out one fine detail about his, “nevertheless not my will, but your will prayer…” Matthew 26:36..

Then Jesus went with them to A GARDEN, which is called Gethsemani. And he said to his disciples, “Sit down here, while I go there and pray.”

Matthew 26:36 CPDV

I got so ahead of myself and left out one fine detail about his burial…. John 19:40 NKJV

“Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury.”

John 19:40 NKJV

“Now in the place where He was crucified THERE WAS A GARDEN, AND IN THE GARDEN A NEW TOMB in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.”

John 19:41-42 NKJV

“But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.”

John 20:11-12 NKJV

“Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.””

John 20:13 NKJV

“Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.”

John 20:14 NKJV

“Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, SUPPOSING HIM TO BE THE GARDENER, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.””

John 20:15 NKJV

“Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher).”

John 20:16 NKJV

““I am the true vine, and MY FATHER IS THE GARDENER.”

John 15:1 NIV

“Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. AND THE LEAVES OF THE TREE ARE FOR THE HEALING OF THE NATIONS.”

Revelation 22:1-2 NIV

“NO LONGER WILL THERE BE ANY CURSE. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.”

Revelation 22:3-4 NIV

“There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”

Revelation 22:5 NIV

📝 It started in THE GARDEN. Jesus surrendered in THE GARDEN. It was finished in THE GARDEN. You’ve been invited back to THE GARDEN. ““

📝 Where satan once claimed DEATH, Jesus has now claimed LIFE IN THE GARDEN.

📝 He has made everything BEAUTIFUL IN ITS TIME.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV

God has made everything fit beautifully IN ITS APPROPRIATE TIME…

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NET

📝 God hasn’t forgotten HOW TO BE GOD. He’s not going to leave your situation UNDONE!

“For I know the PLANS I have for you,” declares the Lord, “PLANS to prosper you and not to harm you, PLANS to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

📝Do you trust His TIMING?