Christianity Expalined - The Resurrection

Last week we began our study of explaining Christianity by talking about Jesus. We learned that both he and his followers demonstrated that there has never been anyone else like him: he claimed to be both God and man. We saw his authority as a teacher, over evil spirits, sickness, nature, to forgive sins, over life and death, and over people. No one can be neutral toward Jesus.

We learned the basics of who Jesus is, then began talking about the greatest things Jesus has done.

We talked about Jesus’ death, how that in his death, he carried the guilt of our sins, and took God’s wrath. Those who believe on Christ are treated as innocent. Those who reject what Christ has done for them are still in their sin.

The resurrection predicted

Mark 10:32–34 KJV 1900

And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him, Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.

On many occasions, Jesus foretold his own death and rising again.

The resurrection: the facts

Mark 16:1–8 KJV 1900

And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great. And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. And they went out quickly, and fled from the sepulchre; for they trembled and were amazed: neither said they any thing to any man; for they were afraid.

Mark’s account of the resurrection is the briefest of all the Gospel accounts. Point out that there are at least ten separate occasions on which Jesus subsequently appeared to his disciples. He invited them to touch him (Luke 24:39). He even ate a meal in front of them (Luke 24:42-43).

The resurrection: its central meaning

A. It ensures Jesus’ identity.

Matthew 12:38–40 KJV 1900

Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

B. It ensures justification.

Romans 4:5 KJV 1900

But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.

Comment that the question of death and life after death has haunted people in all ages. What happens after death? Is there a heaven, a hell, or nothingness? As one writer expressed it:

Death itself is nothing,

But this we fear:

To be

We know not what

We know not where

In the Bible the answers to these questions are found in the resurrection of Jesus.

Acts 10:39–43 KJV 1900

And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree: Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly; Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead. And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead. To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

Peter has been speaking to Cornelius, a non-Christian man. Notice what Peter is saying. These are the things Jesus commanded to be taught (verse 42). Five things to note in this story (Have these on flash cards and produce them one at a time).

All people will be raised

Verse 42 refers to the living and the dead. The Bible looks to a day when all people living and dead from all ages will be raised. This sounds good, but it may not be.

All people will then be judged

Jesus has been appointed to be judge of the “living and the dead” (verse 42). We are not free agents. We all must give account one day - on the Day of Judgement - to the God who gave us life.

The risen Jesus will be judge on that day

Jesus is the one whom God has appointed judge of everyone.

That is why the resurrection of Jesus is so vital. It not only guarantees our resurrection, it also guarantees our judgement. It is to Jesus we are accountable! He was not exercising judgment while on earth, because He came to provide forgiveness. But now He is executing judgment.

John 5:22–27 KJV 1900

For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man.

All people will be divided into two groups

Matthew 25:31–33 KJV 1900

When the Son of man shall come in his glory, and all the holy angels with him, then shall he sit upon the throne of his glory: And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats: And he shall set the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on the left.

Many of Jesus’ parables speak of this division. He talked about the division between wheat and weeds, sheep and goats, and good and worthless fish.

This division is forever

In the Bible there is no concept of a second chance after death. This life, now, is our one and only opportunity.

Conclusion:

Your attitude toward Jesus in this life is the same as his attitude to you in the next.

If you accept him now, he will accept you then.

If you reject him now, he will reject you then.