Death Was Defeated

John 20:11–18 ESV

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Intro

Apologetics - being able to make a defense of your faith

Jesus descended to the dead

Really really

Jesus really died, He really rose from the dead

Defining of Terms

Heaven

Abode of God

Our Father in Heaven

Heaven is associated with the sky, what is above us

Part of that is because it is out of our reach

Higher things are good things

Lower things are bad things

Why is my soul cast down within me?

Lift up your heads!

Future heaven

A new heaven and new earth

This is our eternal dwelling place, but not yet

Hell

In modern translations the term ‘hell’ is only in the New Testament

Sheol, Abaddon, the grave, Hades

Disembodied state

“Hell” is a place of torment after death

Jesus went to the dead, but He was certainly not tormented

Psalm 16:10 “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.”

The ‘lake of fire’ is the final destination for those who rebelled against God

We are not transported to a far away place

The Kingdom of heaven is at hand

This is eternal life, to know God and Jesus (John 17:3)

This earth will pass away and a new heaven and new earth will come

We are not of this world, we are of that world

World = worldview, not so much place

Where was Jesus?

He went to prepare a place for us

John 14:2-3 “In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

These were rooms in the temple

Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father

Most likely she hugged Jesus, but she had to let go so He could go to the Father

If He hadn’t yet ascended to the Father, then where was He?

He descended to the dead; Sheol, the grave

Ephesians 4:8-10 “Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)”

Jesus really died

His soul was separated from His body

Death was the wage that had to be paid

By being in death’s grasp He was then able to defeat death

Romans 6:9 “We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.”

Hebrews 2:14-15 “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”

He proclaimed to the spirits in prison

1 Peter 3:18-20 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.”

This was a victory proclamation, not a chance for salvation

He preached the gospel to those who were dead

This was the gospel message to those in Sheol who believed in Jesus

1 Peter 4:6 “For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.”

Ephesians 4:8 “Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.””

He then appeared to the disciples for while then ascended to the Father

Romans 8:34 “Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.”

What happens when we die?

Two choices until the Final Judgment

Hell

Paradise

Luke 16:22-26 “The poor man died and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried, and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in anguish in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner bad things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in anguish. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.’”

Revelation 6:9-11 “When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, “O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been.”

After the Judgment are two options

Lake of Fire

Revelation 20:11-15 “Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

New Heaven and New Earth to dwell with God

Revelation 21:1-4 “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.””

Heresies

Jesus didn’t die

How can God die?

He simply took on the shell of humanity

Death was the penalty and death had to be paid

Jesus’ resurrection was merely spiritual

Physical bad, spiritual good

The new heaven and new earth are set up as physical places

Purgatory

A place to pay for your sins

Jesus paid for your sins

His blood was enough

We are not angels

The angels are one creation and we are another

Luke 20:34-38 “And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore, because they are equal to angels and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.””

So What?

Jesus really died, He really rose from the dead

Romans 6:5 “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.”

You do not enter death alone

It may seem you are the one transitioning while others watch around you, but Jesus has gone before you and prepared the way

Benediction

Hebrews 13:20–21 ESV

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.