The Empty Tomb
Notes
Transcript
The last time that we gathered together, was this past Friday. We celebrated Good Friday, the time where we remember the crucifixion of Christ.
Today we celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
As we come here today, I want us to remember to think about all that God has done.
What we celebrate today is the most consequential event that has ever happened.
Intro Question: Why does all of this matter?
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”
So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb.
Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.
And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in.
Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,
and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself.
Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;
for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
Then the disciples went back to their homes.
Who is Jesus?
Who is Jesus?
Who do people say that he is?
Fake
A good teacher
Most people view Jesus as a place where they can turn for good moral teaching.
There have certainly been many who have twisted his words for their benefit because of his reputation.
A prophet
Most religions in the world acknowledge Jesus in some way.
The Quran talks about him and acknowledges him as being from God
Hindu’s respect him as a holy man, even acknowledging him as divine, though not uniquely in their religion.
Buddhists see him as enlightened and a holy man.
The Jews view him as a failed messiah of sorts, as he did not fulfill what they expected the messiah to be.
A political revolutionary
Who does the Bible say Jesus is?
Who did Jesus Claim to be?
The Son of Man
Jesus consistently referred to himself as the Son of Man.
This title is one that had enormous significance to those who heard him.
In Daniel, the Son of Man is the one that the Ancient of Days will give an everlasting kingdom that all nations will serve within.
The Son of God
The Gospels are filled with examples that people believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and he does not correct them, even expressing that to people at times.
Even going a bit further than that, Jesus claims to be God. Father, Son, Holy Spirit - The Trinity. Three distinct persons, all fully God, there is only one God.
This is what we believe about him. Emmanuel, means God with us.
He makes this distinctly clear in John 8:57-58
So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”
Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am.”
This phrase “I am” is how God revealed himself to Moses and how he was to speak to the people as he went back to them Exodus 3:14
God said to Moses, “I am who I am.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ”
Even more than this when Jesus answered those who sought to arrest him, this is what happened. John 18:4-6
Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?”
They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.
When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
The way to the Father
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
We come to an crossroads about Jesus.
Many have respect for him, but he very clearly dictates that he is distinct from all others.
Liar, Lunatic, Lord.
Consider the Evidence
Why would the people believe it?
The Disciples
The Apostle Paul
313 AD that Christianity became LEGAL after the Edict of Milan.
Why did Jesus Come?
Why did Jesus Come?
To solve the problem of sin.
Adam and Eve
Sin enters the world.
The Law
God gives his law to his people to follow. The first Covenant.
The Prophets
God reveals that he has a plan of salvation and setting things right.
God’s plan of redemption through Christ.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
How would he accomplish this?
Why did Jesus die on the Cross?
Why did Jesus die on the Cross?
Penal Substitutionary Atonement.
There is wrath from God for sin.
God is a just God and will punish sin.
We are all sinful.
God made a way for us to be saved.
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—
the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction:
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
We cannot earn our salvation or pay for it in any other way.
God has made a way of righteousness that is not based upon our works, but by faith in Christ.
All people who believe have salvation - regardless of background.
Jesus was put forward as a propitiation by his blood, that we receive in faith.
Jesus atoned for our sin, appeased the wrath of God.
He took our sin so that we might be called righteous.
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
This has been seen as God’s plan from the beginning.
Abraham being told to sacrifice Isaac.
Isaac is led by his father, carrying wood to the place of his death, God provides the sacrifice.
Jesus is led by his father, carrying the cross to the place of his death, the perfect sacrifice provided by God for the forgiveness of our sins.
The prophecy of Jesus.
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
This is why Jesus died. He died for you, to take your sin and your shame, so that you might be forgiven. So that you can have life.
That leads to our next question.
Why does the Resurrection matter?
Why does the Resurrection matter?
The Resurrection is why we are here today.
Because this life is not all that there is.
For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised.
And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
If you remember why Jesus came, he came so that whoever believed in him would not perish but have eternal life.
The crucifixion is the means by which God has atoned for our sins.
The Resurrection is the way that he displays his glory and power in the triumph over death.
The Resurrection is promise that God has not only forgiven our sins, but raised us to new life in Christ.
This eternal life that is available to all who believe, it starts now and lasts forever.
The resurrection matters because we don’t serve a man who died and was buried and remains there. Many religions are founded upon such things.
We serve the living God! The one who has been raised from the dead, and through his sacrifice we can pass from death to life and have eternal life with him.
Who do you say that Jesus is?
Who do you say that Jesus is?
In Matthew 16:15-17 Jesus is talking with his disciples. He asks who people think the son of man is. The one spoken of in Daniel. and then he asks this.
He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.
This is the essential question that you must answer, and it is a question that only you can answer.