He Must Rise

John 20:1-10

An incredible truth: “Jesus is raised from the dead.”

IYKYK - If you know you know

Some things we just can’t see, until they are revealed to us, then you cannot unsee it.

The resurrection of the Lord

The Worldly Mind cannot conceive it…

We need the Sprit to lead us into the truth…

Once you see it - you know - he must be raised.

Why Must Jesus Rise From the Dead?

He And the Scriptures Promised He Would

The Scriptures promise the resurrection. Peter and John, and the rest of the disciples, did not yet understand the Scripture… but it is there.

John doesn’t give specifics, but the word is clear:

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

Isaiah 53:10 “When his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days.”

Hosea 13:14 “I shall ransom them from the power of Sheol, I shall redeem them from Death.”

There is foreshadowing of being raised from the dead:

When Abraham was tested, Isaac was received back from the dead; Joseph, was delivered out of the pit; Daniel, was delivered out of the lions’ den; all pictures of death and resurrection.

Jesus promised many times in each of the gospels:

“The Son of man must be delivered over, to suffer and be killed, and on the third day be raised…”

John 11:25 To Martha, on the way to Lazarus’ tomb, he said, “I am the resurrection and the life.”

If the scriptures are wrong, they must not be believed; but if they are right, they are the foundation of our faith. His resurrection is vindication, proof beyond down, that everything He said is true and worthy of faith and trust.

He is the Lord and Author of Life

All things were made through Christ, He is the author and giver of life.

John 1 - All things were made through him… in him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Col 1:16ff By him all things were created… he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

He holds the power of life, and eternal life, in his hands

John 5:26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself… and the son gives life to whom he will (vs 21).

Death cannot contain life, cannot keep Christ from living.

Acts 2:24 - “God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.”

It was impossible for Jesus’ body to remain in the grave. Just as it was impossible for the divine nature of Jesus to die because God cannot die, so it was impossible for the human nature of Jesus to remain dead because of its union with His divine nature.

He is the Sinless One whose offering is Approved by God

Death is the curse, the payment due for sin. Those who sin are under the power of death, justly owing to God their life. People die only because they are born in sin, and without sin, there would be no death.

Rom 3:23 - All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God, and Rom 6:23 the wages of sin is death…

Heb 9:27 It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment…

1 Cor 15:21ff For as by a man came death… for as in Adam all die

But Jesus was innocent of all sin, he was the spotless lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world.

1 Peter 2:22 He committed no sin; 1 John 3:5 He appeared in order to take away sins, and in there here is no sin.

Death could not hold Jesus, it had no claim on Him, because He had no personal sin of His own. In His death, Jesus fully paid the penalty for His people’s sins, so they could not keep Him in the grave.

Confirms His Approval by God

In Jesus’ baptism, and at the transfiguration, the voice from heaven declared, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am pleased.”

Likewise resurrection declares that Jesus is the Son of God (Rom 1:4), and that God has accepted his atonement on our behalf.

The resurrection was God’s declaration that He had cancelled the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands (Col. 2:14).

Romans 4:25 He was crucified for our trespasses, raised for our justification

It is not that the resurrection accomplished our justification — Jesus’ sinless life and sin-bearing death did that — but his resurrection it assures us that by faith in him we are justified before God.

He is Raised to Save Us - We need Him to be raised.

He is Raised in victory!

1 Cor 15 - if he is not raised, we have no hope, but he is raised…

If Christ were still in the tomb it would mean God’s wrath was not satisfied, and we would still be in our sins, we would remain guilty before God, and we would be without hope.

His resurrection conquers the power of death and sin.

1 Cor 15:56-57 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.

He is Raised to reign -

If he is not raised, we have no one pleading for us, providing and protecting us, no mediator before the throne of God.

We don’t follow a dead prophet, entombed in the earth, but a living Savior, who gives life and power through his resurrection from the dead.

He is a living mediator.

We hav access to the throne of God, we enter into the holy places by his blood (Her 10:19).

He sends His Holy Spirit, He gives His word

He is Raised to Come Again

He must not forget that Jesus was raised, not just for our justification, not just to give us life, but also because he is appointed to come back in judgment.

Acts 17:31 God has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

We have no fear, for we are justified in Christ, and we look to that day that we might be found faithful.

Heb 9:28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

Because He Lives…

John saw and believed…

Christian faith is never cold doctrine, a set of codes and rules. Saving faith is a knowing the living Lord and Savior, experiencing of the power of righteousness, peace, and joy in His life giving Spirit.

This is the purpose of the gospel, that you may believe in Jesus Christ for your salvation.

He must be raised, you must believe

This salvation that is offered in Christ - this life that he gives, is God’s gracious gift, which we receive by faith

See and believe

Put your faith in the one who’s word is true.

Put your faith in the author and giver of life.

Put your faith in the sinless one, who’s sacrificed was received by God on your behalf.

Put your faith in the one who died, and was raised for your salvation, conquering sin and death as he rose in glory.

Put your faith in the one who ever lives to reign and rule over his people, and is coming again to save those who wait eagerly for him.