See, I Told ya So!

Silencing the Skeptics

First, the Gospel accounts differ, but do not contradict each other, not spending the time on that this morning, except that when all the witnesses agree word for work, there’s trouble with the credibility

Second, even among non-Christians, the Resurrection is considered to be an historical event

“Renowned atheist-turned-deist philosopher Antony Flew affirms that “the evidence for the resurrection is better than for claimed miracles in any other religion. It’s outstandingly different in quality and quantity.”

“Jewish scholar Pinchas Lapide even states, “I accept the resurrection of Easter Sunday not as an invention of the community of disciples, but as a historical event.”

Though not directly addressing the resurrection, but lending weight to the arguments, agnostic Bart Ehrman writes: “It is hard today to understand just how offensive the idea of a crucified messiah would have been to most first-century Jews. . . . Since no one would have made up the idea of a crucified messiah, Jesus must really have existed, must really have raised messianic expectations, and must really have been crucified.”

Also, the event was discovered by women!! Their testimony was not considered credible in that culture—were this a work of fiction, there would have been a more noble and noteworthy witness to the event

Finally, the apostles were preaching about it less than weeks later—if there’s been a body, someone could have produced it—no one did

And, those same apostles held their story…most to their martyrdom

Setting the Scene

In vv. 1-5 the women coming to the tomb found just one more event they could not process

They’d been following Jesus for months to years; seen Him do miracles; thought that maybe…just maybe this was the Messiah who would—in their mind—free their nation from the rule of Rome and restore the kingdom to what it was “supposed to be”…as David or Solomon had made it

Then the fanfare of His triumphant entrance…things were looking good

Then the arrest, the sham of a trial, and another trial, finally to Pilate, then to the cross

Then to the tomb…NOW HE’S GONE!

They couldn’t wrap their heads around any of this...

Then, the angels appeared

Seeing What He Said

Luke 24:6–7 (ESV)

Remember how he told you...that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.

The angels merely told them what they should have known---but under the pressure of the events of the day, seemed to have forgotten

Luke 9:22 (ESV)

The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

Luke 18:32–33 (ESV)

For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon. And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.

He had, told them so! and yet, they’d forgotten in their shock and grief

To their credit, they got with the program, told the remaining apostles—and even they had some trouble believing as well…despite the fact that he’d told them

Seeing Some More

Jesus said much more—did so much more

We’re moving now to some of the other statement Jesus made

We do this because, like the apostles/disciples in the time of the resurrection, we get over-stressed, and forget the truths we should know

Maybe we’ve never had them taught to us correctly

We’ll look at what are called the I AM statements of Jesus, all from John’s Gospel

The Bread of Life, in 6:25

The Light of the World, in 8:12

The Door, in 10:9

The bread is, of course, spiritual nourishment; when we’re running on spiritual empty, do we forget our source of nutrition? I think so

We we face what appears to an ever-darkening future, either as individuals, families…or the world at large, do we look to the LIGHT? …or do we rely on conventional wisdom, some self-help books?

The door is the door to salvation---are we looking to find our own way? …more in a minute

The Good Shepherd, in 10:11&14

The Resurrection and the Life, in 11:25

The Way the Truth and the Life, in 14:6

The Vine, in 15:1&5

We can learn much about the shepherd and sheep from the 23rd Psalm…how often do we run away from the shepherd, thinking our way is better?

Our bodies will be resurrected yet, we often live as though they’re disposable; we will either rise to be with Him, or to spend an eternity in Hell

Most of my previous thoughts in here are directed at those who have come to Christ, but slipping into short-sighted behaviors when the stressors of the day start to close in around us

The last two pieces…the final I AMs of John’s Gospel....are for those who may think there are many paths to salvation.

Jesus is The Way, The Truth and The Life

That is singular, exclusive…and thus, not popular in our pluralistic society; but that’s God’s Word

…and, He is the vine; as we remain attached to Him, He provides for us, allowing us to be fruitful…productive

English Standard Version Chapter 24

Remember how he told you

Maybe this morning, you recognize yourself as one who has forgotten what He said

Maybe the life you have lead has put all this out of your mind

If so, let all this be a reminder

Maybe, just maybe, you’ve never heard these things before

Now you have

Either way, it’s time to deal with the facts of this Resurrection Morning—He is RISEN, JUST AS HE SAID

Take Him at His word

Come to Him, either for the first time, for salvation…to be freed from the penalty of sin, to see an eternity with Him in your future

Or return to Him…for clarity in a dark world, nourishment of your empty soul,