An Idle Tale? (Easter Sunday)

**Turn to Luke 24:1....

Background:

LUKE & ACTS dedicated to THEOPHILUS

to GIVE ASSURANCE concerning WHAT HE WAS TAUGHT...

I PRAY that THIS TEXT today, GIVES YOU MORE ASSURANCE & GREAT JOY

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TEXT TODAY BEGINS w/ ACCOUNT of WOMEN GOING to TOMB.

description begins in Ch. 23:55...

FRIDAY AFTER CRUCIFIXION... they PREPARED SPICES

RESTED on SATURDAY (SABBATH)

ROSE EARLY SUNDAY to GO TO the TOMB.

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JEWS DIDN’T EMBALM…after few days, CORPSES WOULD STINK

CERTAIN PEOPLE (PEOPLE of HONOR)…GOT SPICES to HELP w/ SMELL...

So, this group of women was going to the tomb early Sunday morning, following Sabbath rest, to help the smell of Jesus’ corpse…this is where text picks up today...

Read text & pray (v1-12)

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Intro:

SOMETHING I LOVE about CREATION is that GOD has PUT NATURAL LAWS and rules IN PLACE to KEEP THINGS FUNCTIONAL & LIVABLE.

LAW of GRAVITY

KEEPS us GROUNDED…NOT FLOATING AWAY

ALSO, CAUSES US to FALL

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AT TIMES, EXCEPTIONS to the RULE...

(Q) Anyone else here commonly think you’re the exception?

Over-training for 1/2 MARATHON = PAIN 2.5 years LATER.

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WE’RE STUCK to LAWS/RULES...

YET, GOD = CREATOR....HE ISN’T…HE CAN CHANGE the RULE!

STOP the MOVEMENT of the SUN in the SKY

TURN the SUN DIAL BACK

(Q) ANYONE REMEMBER NEWTON’S FIRST LAW of MOTION?

An object will not change its motion unless something else acts on it…

SIMILARLY, NATURAL LAWS WON’T CHANGE…UNLESS an OUTSIDE/ SUPERNATURAL FORCE ACTS UPON THEM.

FAVORITE EXAMPLE: RESURRECTION

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WAGES of SIN = DEATH.

&& YOU DON’T GET ANOTHER CHANCE ONCE DEAD…LAW/RULE

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READING “The Resurrection of the Son of God”: “INTELLIGENT” OPPONENT to CHRISTIAN FAITH SAYS.

“Dead people stay dead.”

AUTHOR POINTS OUT....THAT’S the WHOLE POINT!!

That’s not an opposition to it, that’s the whole reason it’s amazing!

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COMES DOWN to WORLDVIEW:

COMMITTED to NATURALISM??

WILLING to BELIEVE, THERE’S A SUPERNATURAL FORCE OUTSIDE CREATION that can ACT??

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If dead people regularly rose on their own and resumed bodily life after being dead a few days, then the resurrection of Jesus would be of no consequence…

AT FUNERAL…HEARING KNOCKING “LET ME OUT” INSIDE CASKET...

SITTING UP @ VIEWING

NOT HOW WORLD WORKS...

See, Christ’s resurrection is one of the many times when we see our Sovereign God stepping into His creation to break the rules and do as He pleases.

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Text:

Thought 1: The women discover the empty tomb

Luke 24:1–12 (ESV)

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.

Beginning: WOMEN RISE @ EARLIEST POINT of DAWN to GO TO TOMB...

DEDICATION & HONOR…GOING ASAP!

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NOT GOING to SING CELEBRATE JESUS....GOING to FRESHEN UP A CORPSE.

& MARK TELLS US, THEY WERE CONCERNED ABOUT MOVING the STONE!

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UPON ARRIVAL:

PROBLEM SOLVED! Stone’s moved away!

PROBLEM ARISES…Jesus’ body is missing.

(Q) And can you imagine what this would have been like for them? They go to freshen up what is now a missing body.

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GRAVE ROBBING WASN’T UNCOMMON…yet JESUS’ GRAVE HAD NO RICHES in it.

At this point, they were STUCK WITH a NEW PROBLEM WITHOUT a SOLUTION.

Transition: But now, if you look at verse 4, you’ll see what they did find.

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Thought 2: Angelic communication

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. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”

From WEIRD & CONFUSING to WHOLE NEW LEVEL...

ANGELS APPEAR

“Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

((They say there are NO DUMB QUESTIONS, but the women probably thought this was one))

“Why do you seek “the living one?” amongst the tombs?? Don’t you know tombs are for dead people…??”

LAST WE KNEW....JESUS WAS DEAD PEOPLE!

CRAZY PEOPLE EVER MAKE YOU WONDER IF YOU’RE CRAZY?

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(V6) 1ST PROCLAMATION of GOSPEL…CHRIST HAS RISEN!!

This was the ULTIMATE VINDICATION....

Jesus is the MESSIAH

He is the SON of GOD

He is the WORLD’S TRUE LORD!

SAVIOR DIED AS a CONVICT

The CROSS was RESERVED for EITHER JESUS…OR BARABBAS (murderer & insurrectionist)

&& they released Barabbas!!

The CROSS that was RESERVED for BARABBAS, FOR ME, and FOR YOU…was BORNE by the ONLY ONE WHO DIDN’T DESERVE it.

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DEAD -- WAGES for SIN…CHRIST HADN’T SINNED…COULDN’T REMAIN DEAD.

Raised again to NEW BODILY LIFE that would NEVER DIE AGAIN! He was RAISED INCORRUPTIBLE!!

LAZARUS DIED AGAIN

JAIRUS’ DAUGHTER died again

SON of the WIDOW @ NAIN died again...

CHRIST ETERNALLY RAISED W/ NEW RESURRECTION BODY

PHYSICAL…TOUCH, BE TOUCHED, EAT...

COULD ENTER LOCKED ROOMS & DISAPPEAR

Yet, Jesus was PHYSICALLY & BODILY RAISED from DEAD...

NOT A SPIRIT! “RESURRECTION” ALWAYS MEANT BODILY!!

YET, DIFFERENT & RENEWED...

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(6B-7) The ANGELS SHARE the GOOD NEWS…and REMIND the WOMEN that THEY’D HEARD IT BEFORE...

It was ALL PART of GOD’S PLAN

B4 WORLD…B4 TREE in GARDEN…GOD HAD A PLAN of REDEMPTION!

GOD’S PEOPLE DIDN’T UNDERSTAND.....EXPECTING A MILITARY MESSIAH/DELIVERER

PETER REBUKED JESUS CONCERNING PREDICTION of DEATH!

ANGELS REMIND WOMEN that JESUS PREDICTED IT ALL!

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1st century Judaism:

SADDUCEES DIDN’T BELIEVE in RESURRECTION

PHARISEES DID…1 RESURRECTION @ END of TIME.

JUST ONLY

JUST & UNJUST TOGETHER...

**NO ONE ANTICIPATED a RESURRECTED MESSIAH…it WASN’T SOMETHING the APOSTLES MADE UP to FIT the PREDICTED MOLD…it was a BRAND NEW IDEA to them...

Transition: So, what did the women do in response to the good news? Look at verse 8.

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Thought 3: The First Proclamation of the Christian Gospel

8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles,

WOMEN GO & TELL the GOOD NEWS to the DISCIPLES.

**NOTE, NO DISCIPLES WENT to TOMB!

ALL HAD HEARD the PREDICTIONS...

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RANDOM GROUP of WOMEN… 1ST BEARERS of GOOD NEWS.

In THAT DAY = SCANDALOUS

WOMEN’S TESTIMONY WASN’T CREDIBLE in COURT...

Downplayed intelligence or overplayed emotion...

IF RESURRECTION WAS FABRICATED…THEY WOULDN’T HAVE MADE UP THIS PART!!

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IRONY…APOSTLES = EYEWITNESSES

ENTRUSTED to CARRY MESSAGE of SALVATION...

1ST HEAR GOOD NEWS from WOMEN in BACKGROUND ROLES...

Mary Magdalene— 7 DEMONS...

OTHER WOMEN??

THE FIRST to BEAR WONDERFUL NEWS!

Transition: So, now we’re going to see the response of the apostles to this testimony from the women. Look at verses 11 and 12.

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Thought 4: The Response of the Disciples

11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.

The DISCIPLES DIDN’T BELIEVE!

WOMEN’S TESTIMONY was an “IDLE TALE” or “NONSENSE”

“That which is TOTALLY DEVOID of ANYTHING WORTHWHILE” (BDAG).

APOSTLES…ENTRUSTED to carry MESSAGE of SALVATION…1ST RESPONSE…NOTHING of VALUE in THIS MESSAGE!

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EMOTIONAL ROLLER-COASTER for these women:

GO to FRESHEN up CORPSE

BODY = MISSING

ANGELIC VISITORS tell them he’s alive

DISCIPLES DON’T BELIEVE a thing!

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SOMETHING INTERESTING: In EVERY GOSPEL ACCOUNT, DISCIPLES’ INITIAL REACTION = UNBELIEF!!

(Q) How many of you have ever HEARD of “DOUBTING THOMAS”

For 2,000 YEARS he’s had a BAD RAP....

**Yet, ALL the DISCIPLES’ initial REACTION was DISBELIEF... UNTIL they SAW EVIDENCE...

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They “DIDN’T BELIEVE” in this text COULD also BE TRANSLATED, “THEY REFUSED to BELIEVE.”

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PEOPLE BURNT = SCARED to GET BURNT AGAIN?

KEY to HAPPINESS = LOW EXPECTATIONS

AVOIDING RELATIONSHIPS…Because BAD PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

BUSINESS OWNERS REQUIRING MONEY UP FRONT.

PEOPLE BURNED on RELIGION/ BAD CHURCH EXPERIENCE...

THINGS HAPPEN to NEARLY ALL of US!

XTERRA PURCHASE w/ “SMALL” EXHAUST LEAK...

“fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.”

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These things encompass where the disciples were at...

Peter, Andrew, James, & John GAVE UP their FISHING BUSINESS...

JOHN & JAMES LEFT FATHER W/ BUSINESS!

MATTHEW LEFT his TAX BOOTH & profitable job

ALL the DISCIPLES GAVE UP their FORMER LIVES to FOLLOW this RABBI from NAZARETH.

Their FAITH GREW....

They SAW him work MIRACLES...

They BELIEVE he was the MESSIAH…the SAVIOR…

&& ONE of THEIR OWN BETRAYS JESUS....HE IS BRUTALLY KILLED & BURIED.

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STRUGGLE = REAL…DIDN’T KNOW WHOLE STORY!

(R.H. Stein) “Only the clear and unmistakable appearance of the risen Christ could have overcome such doubt and replaced it with unshakable faith.”

THOMAS WASN’T ALONE…he might have been OUTSPOKEN…BUT ALL in SAME BOAT...

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(V12)....Closing... PETER WENT TO SEE for HIMSELF.

John: Peter & John GO TOGETHER...

PETER STOOPS IN & SEES LINEN CLOTHS...

IF the BODY was STOLEN, WHY’D THEY UNWRAP HIM??

PETER’S RESPONSE:

HE MARVELS

GOES AWAY to HOME or WONDERING to HIMSELF (GK isn’t Clear)

HE DOESN’T:

GO PREACH in the SYNAGOGUES.

GO SEARCHING for the BODY

ISN’T SURE WHAT to THINK...

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DISCIPLES’ BELIEF TOOK EVIDENCE.

***EMPTY TOMB + APPEARANCES of JESUS together!

EXPLANATIONS for EMPTY TOMB…BUT for BOTH?? ONLY EXPLANATION = RESURRECTION!

**You DON’T DIE for the STORY YOU’VE MADE UP or the STORY YOU’RE UNCERTAIN ABOUT......

YOU RECANT.

DISCIPLES WENT FROM DOUBTERS to MARTYRS…THEY KNEW THE TRUTH.

Big Idea:

The stone was rolled away, the tomb was empty, Jesus Christ was raised to life by God the Father, and he lives forevermore as the exalted Son of God!

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2 QUESTIONS:

1. “Do I believe?”

2. “What am I going to do about it?”

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CAN BELIEVE IT

CAN NOT BELIEVE IT.

CAN’T IGNORE IT.

NO ONE SHOULD BE INDIFFERENT!!

IF JESUS was just a RANDOM JEW who LED a SMALL INSURRECTION EFFORT, or a GOOD MORAL TEACHER, or EVEN a PROPHET...... HIS DEATH WAS MEANINGLESS and SURELY we WOULDN’T HAVE to WORRY about a RESURRECTION.

BUT IF HE IS WHO HE SAID HE IS.....

IF HE’S BEEN RAISED.

THIS MATTERS MORE than ANYTHING ELSE in this WORLD!!

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EVERYONE has their BELIEFS & OPINIONS:

POLITICS

the DAY’S WEATHER

BRANDS they LIKE to buy

STORE to SHOP...

where to get GOOD COFFEE...

OPINION on THESE THINGS…RELATIVELY INSIGNIFICANT...

THIS OPINION GOES to GRAVE

But WHAT MATTERS MOST, is WHAT WE DO IN RESPONSE to this AMAZING CLAIM that JESUS CHRIST is the MESSIAH, the SAVIOR of the WORLD,,,,,,who was CRUCIFIED by the Romans on FRIDAY and come SUNDAY MORNING he was RAISED to LIFE AGAIN!

(Q) Is this an idle tale, is this nonsense, or is this the hope of your salvation this morning??

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Gospel:

The MOST IMPORTANT BELIEF we can hold:

Romans 10:9-10...if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

JESUS CHRIST —INCARNATED…LIVED SINLESS LIFE,, TO DIE FOR YOUR SIN!

3RD DAY = VINDICATION.

GOD BROKE INTO TIME!

AGE to COME, BREAKING INTO PRESENT....

GOD BROKE THE RULES.

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BELIEF on JESUS & his RESURRECTION + PROFESSION of LORDSHIP (PERSONAL & CREATION) = SAVED.

FREE GIFT

BY GRACE

THROUGH FAITH ALONE, NOT WORKS!!

GOD’S PLAN FROM BEFORE TIME...

JESUS CAME to BREAK CURSE of SIN & DEATH

OFFERS HOPE to HOPELESS WORLD....

HOPE of ETERNAL LIFE

FUTURE RESURRECTION BODY LIKE CHRIST’S

DWELLING FOREVER W/ GOD

This is the hope of the gospel! Christ has been raised, and because of this he has secured our future, the fact that we ourselves will one day be raised.

1 Cor. 15:17-20...if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

IN ADAM—INHERIT SIN & DEATH

IN CHRIST—INHERIT (RESURRECTION) LIFE!

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UNSURE? BE LIKE PETER…LOOK INTO IT!

Just finished reading “The Resurrection of the Son of God.”

The most historically feasible explanation for the rise of early Christianity was that it was true.

LEE STROBEL, “Case for Christ”…ATHEIST TURNED BELIEVER

MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION today: “Do you believe?”

****If you aren’t sure you’re saved, please stay after service to talk with leadership

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Takeaways:

JESUS CHRIST was PHYSICALLY, BODILY, RAISED from the DEAD.

HE WASN’T a SPIRIT/Ghost

YET BODY WAS INCORRUPTIBLE

DISCIPLES DIDN’T BELIEVE WITHOUT EVIDENCE

LATER THEY WERE WILLING TO DIE FOR THESE CLAIMS...

EMPTY TOMB + APPEARANCES

@ RESURRECTION…CHRIST WAS VINDICATED...

WORLD’S TRUE LORD

ISRAEL’S MESIAH

SAVIOR of the WORLD.

DIVINE STAMP of APPROVAL UPON HIS LIFE, MINISTRY, ETC....TAKE IT SERIOUSLY!

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Application:

1ST QUESTION: “DO YOU BELIEVE?

2ND QUESTION: “What are you going to do about it?”

CAN RETURN HOME MARVELING...

CAN INVESTIGATE IT....

CAN LIVE UNDER LORDSHIP...

TELL OTHERS LIKE WOMEN & (EVENTUALLY) APOSTLES.

Yet, ALL of us SHOULDN’T BE ABLE to HEAR this GREAT MESSAGE of the GOSPEL and ALL that JESUS HAS DONE AND DO NOTHING IN RESPONSE to it.

**Close in prayer