The Resurrection

Why is the resurrection so important

First off if you preach the gospel without the resurrection you’ve not preached the whole gospel

We may be good at telling people Christ died for us but we must be sure not to leave out the resurrection.jj

1 Corinthians 15:1–4 “Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 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,”

Its first because it was in accordance with scripture.

1 Corinthians 15:17 “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.” This is a sobering thought. This is why the resurrection is important.

Romans 3:25-26 Reveals the death is the basis for our justification. He “passed over sins” so “that he may be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus Christ. So if death justifies, what does the resurrection reveal.

By raising Christ from the dead, God declared his satisfactions and appoval of the payment Christ made on our behalf, for our sins on the cross. He demonstrates his approval in raising Christ and that is directed toward us. Thats why Paul can say “that is Christ has not been raised your still in you sins. We have no assurance of our salvation. If Christ is not risen we have no confidence that God will raise us one day

First day of the week

This is the day after the Jewish sabbath.

We recognize it as the Lords day because Christ rose the day after the sabbath

During these 36 hours the body laid in the tomb, Christ was in paradise and His followers where at home keeping the fourth commandment, which was remember the sabbath and keep it holy, unlike those who professed to be religious and committed murder

Mary of Magdalen

The one who the Lord had cast seven devils out of

her love knew no limits so much that it seemed no one loved Christ as much as she did. None felt like they owed so much to Christ as her and none felt there was nothing too great to do for Christ

She was the last at the cross and the first at the grave. She stayed longer at the cross and got to grave sooner than the others

She brings to mind a question: How is it that many who profess and call themselves Christians, do so little for the Saviour whose name they bear? How is it that many, whose faith and grace it would be uncharitable to deny, work so little, give so little, say so little, take so little pains, to promote Christ’s cause, and bring glory to Christ in the world? These questions admit of only one answer. It is a low sense of debt and obligation to Christ, which is the account of the whole matter. Where sin is not felt at all, nothing is done; and where sin is little felt, little is done. The man who is deeply conscious of his own guilt and corruption, and deeply convinced that without the blood and intercession of Christ he would sink deservedly into the lowest hell, this is the man who will spend and be spent for Jesus, and think that he can never do enough to show forth His praise. Let us daily pray that we may see the sinfulness of sin, and the amazing grace of Christ, more clearly and distinctly. Then, and then only, shall we cease to be cool, and lukewarm, and slovenly in our work for Jesus

2 Corinthians 5:14–15 “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”

The grave clothes

Christ now in his glorified body.

The stone wasnt moved away for Christ to leave but for them to see in. We know that Christ was able to pass through the grave clothes, through the stone because scripture tells us He passed through the walls in the upper room

How is the linen laying there proof. Remember Lazarus was bound by the hand and feet and had to be loosed by his friends.

These bodies were wrapped tightly, like mummies, layered with linen strips then inscense to cover decay of flesh.

If someone had stolen the body heres what would have to happen. They first would have had to get passed soldiers. The tomb was sealed with large stone. They would have had to unwrap the body which they wouldn’t have wasted the time to do. If they had there would have been linen laying everywhere. Second the face cloth would not have been folded.

Lastly when we look at the lives of the disciples and their suffering and death we know there is no way they would die for a lie. They would not fake a resurrection and die for that hoax

The ignorance of the disciples

These two men for three years have heard Christ speak of His death and His resurrection. These men have read the scriptures that the messiah must die and be resurrected.

Luke spoke these things Luke 24:25–27 “And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.”

To see and believe falls wholly short of the the belief God gives us. Its found in the unbeliever John 2:22–25 “When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken. Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people and needed no one to bear witness about man, for he himself knew what was in man.”

Its also found in the believer as we see here.

This faith is human and is not of God. This faith does not purge the conscience of sin and allow communion with God. If faith is to have any value it doesn’t come by sight but from the scriptures. Our faith comes by hearing the word.

John 2:22 “When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.”

Once they were indwelt by the Spirit, who would lead them into all understanding, all the scriptures made since. The same reason some have a hard time understanding the old testament is because they dont use the new testament to explain it.