The Resurrection of Jesus

Introduction

The last couple of months we have been spending looking at the character of Jesus

We’ve looked at:

His humanity

His authority

His patience

His humility

His long-suffering

And we are going to be finishing the series today

But it’s a little bit different that a characteristic of Jesus

Tonight we are going to be talking about the resurrection of Jesus

(Which ties into his power/authority)

I think that the resurrection is often overlooked and underemphasized, but tonight I pray that the reality of the resurrection would come to life in your hearts

Scripture Reading:

Our scripture readings are going to be from 1 Corinthians 15, one of the clearest writtings on the importance of the resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:1–5 (CSB)

Now I want to make clear for you, brothers and sisters, the gospel I preached to you, which you received, on which you have taken your stand and by which you are being saved, if you hold to the message I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve.

This is the Gospel!

Tonight we are going to continue through 1 Corinthians 15 and see:

The Importance of the Resurrection

The Reality of the Resurrection

The Hope of the Resurrection

The Importance of The Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:12–19 (CSB)

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is in vain, and so is your faith. Moreover, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified wrongly about God that he raised up Christ—whom he did not raise up, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. Those, then, who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.

Our faith is on the basis that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead

Paul goes on to say that if the resurrection didn’t happen then our proclaimation is in vain, our faith is worthless, we are liars, we are still in our sins, we have no hope for our lost loved ones, and we should be more pitied than anyone on earth.

Wow

Guys, billions of people have died in the history of humankind

Only one person has been raised from the dead to never die again

This is one of the greatest miracles in the history of the universe

C.S. Lewis

‘If (the White Witch) could have looked a little further back, into the stillness and the darkness before time began…she would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor’s stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start to work backwards.”

We’ll talk about it later: but death itself has been defeated

Humanity’s greatest enemy is defeated

This truth fueled the Early Church

Through suffering and persecution

Unlikely beginnings (apologetic)

Who would have thought?

The Reality of the Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:32–36 (CSB)

If the dead are not raised, Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die. Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Come to your senses and stop sinning; for some people are ignorant about God. I say this to your shame.

But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? What kind of body will they have when they come?” You fool! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies.

Since we believe in the resurrection, we have something to live for

If there was no resurrection, life would be about having as much fun before we all die

But because of the resurrection we know that we have a hope awaiting us

Paul gives us the analogy of a seed that is sown

Think of a beautiful plant with beautiful flowers and fruits

It all started with a seed

The seed needed to die to grow into the plant

It couldn’t stay a seed forever

Our lives are in little seed form what we are awaiting in the resurrection

Followers of Jesus are people that are marked by their belief in the reality of the resurrection

The Hope of the Resurrection

1 Corinthians 15:51–58 (CSB)

Listen, I am telling you a mystery: We will not all fall asleep, but we will all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. For this corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality. When this corruptible body is clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body is clothed with immortality, then the saying that is written will take place:

Death has been swallowed up in victory.

Where, death, is your victory?

Where, death, is your sting?

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Guys, this is our hope as Christians

Death will not have the final word

The people of this world strive and strive to be meaningful and enjoy their lives but we all answer to death

It is the greatest fear and the worst enemy of humankind

In Christ we can have no fear in death

Life is no longer about how much I can do/enjoy

We have a new purpose

Our vision isn’t set on the ‘vapor’ or flicker of this present life

But it is set on eternity

Two Comforts Here:

Our suffering is temporary

All of the difficulties we endure and trials we face are limited

We will have a time where we sin no more, where there is no more sorrow, where there are no more broken relationships

Our lives aren’t meaningless

Like Paul says 1 Cor 15 58

1 Corinthians 15:58 CSB

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

So many peoples’ lives are filled with labor and tireless hours, that is all in vain

They will pass and everything they have worked for will be taken from them

In Christ, we have a strong foundation, a reason for living that cannot be take from us, even through death

Conclusion

I just want to say that death and resurrection go hand in hand

As you face trials and sorrows in this world, know that they will not have the last word

Know that our lives really are short, build it on something that will last

We have to keep our vision set

And be excited! It is our hope! It is something we long for!

Our friendships here are just a seed of what they will be in heaven

The more we mediate on our glorious destiny the more hope and strength we have for each day