The Resurrected Christ

Please open your Bibles to Acts 4.

Open in prayer.

Let’s begin this morning with a question.

What exactly are we celebrating this morning?

Matthew 28:1-6- “Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.”

The central historical event that we celebrate this morning is that when people went to the tomb, it was empty.

Not because of theft, but because Jesus had been raised from death to life.

Acts 2:24- “God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”

can you imagine.

What a remarkable historical event. This is not normal, and it is far and beyond anything else that Jesus has done.

What am I to make of the resurrection of Jesus Christ? Not do you believe that it happened, but what do you make of it? What difference does it make in the world, what difference does it make in your life?

1 Corinthians 15:3-5- “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.”

At the heart of our faith in Jesus Christ is His death and resurrection.

Last week, the death of Jesus. He became sin and suffered the consequences in order that we might become the righteousness of God.

In the cross, we find the payment for our sins and the model for our lives. In the resurrection, we find the fuel for such a life.

Much was accomplished in the resurrection of Jesus from the grave.

Westminster Larger Catechism- “He rose again from the dead the third day by his own power, whereby he declared himself to be the Son of God, to have satisfied divine justice, to have vanquished death…and to be Lord of quick and dead: all which he did as a public person, the head of his church, for their justification, quickening in grace, support against enemies, and to assure them of their resurrection from the dead at the last day.”

Proves His divinity, put death to death, justified His church, gave support against opposition, assurance of our own life after death.

How has the resurrection of Jesus changed those followers of Jesus?

Read Acts 4:32-35- “Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”

From before to after- the gospels vs. the book of Acts.

Something happened. What difference was made in the disciples and early Christians?

Thus, what sort of differences should be made in our own lives?

1. The resurrection creates unity.

A major theme throughout the book of Acts, especially at the beginning, is that the believers were of one heart and soul (v. 32).

Everything that the early church accomplished depended on this unity.

Matthew 20:20-24- “Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something. And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers.”

Indignant anger.

Clear division in the ranks of the followers of Jesus.

Why was it that the ten were so upset? Because of the elevation of man.

What we find here is the wandering off a few. All to be moving in the same direction, following Jesus, but here a mother introduces the idea that a couple of these men could have different plans, goals and ideas.

The resurrection does away with the elevation of any man.

But it’s not just divisions caused by pride, but all divisions that are overcome.

Paul makes this clear in his letter to the church at Ephesus. Notice how Paul speaks of racial division.

Ephesians 2 - You Gentiles were called the uncircumcision, you were divided off from the Jews, but Christ brought you near.

The resurrection levels everyone and points everyone in the same direction.

Galatians 3- Neither male nor female, jew nor gentile.

Like putting children in front of a tv screen.

2. The resurrection turns your attention outward.

V. 34-35- What is mine is no longer mine, but ours.

Matthew 18:1-4- “At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

Mark’s account (Mark 9) tells us that they were arguing with one another. Not simply who is the greatest, but who among us is the greatest among us?

Very little concern for the status of others, as long as the status of self was greater.

Imagine this mentality in the early church. I have what I need. I’ve cared for myself. Too bad for everyone else.

The resurrection rids such a mindset.

1 Corinthians- fighting over who to follow. The resurrection of Jesus allowed Paul to point only to Jesus.

What does it mean to become like a child?

What’s ours is theirs.

Excitement to serve. Aletheia looking forward to the next opportunity to serve other people.

This was the mentality of the early church, ought to be the mentality of each of us today, changed by the resurrection.

3. The resurrection creates a bold voice.

The apostles spoke boldly about the resurrection of Jesus.

Notice the change that happens in the disciples from before the resurrection to after.

Mark 14:48-52- “And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” And they all left him and fled. And a young man followed him, with nothing but a linen cloth about his body. And they seized him, but he left the linen cloth and ran away naked.”

Children yelling when they are telling the truth.

No fear- they were walking in the very footsteps of Jesus.

Matthew 5:11-12- “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

What are we to make of the resurrection?

If Christ has been raised back to life, then everything should change.

The very fabric of our reality should be remade- new life, new purpose, new aim, new direction.

Everything aimed at Christ. Love for Jesus. Obedience to Jesus. Worship of Jesus. He is the focal point for all of life.

Job 19:25-27- “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!”