Easter's Aftermath
Notes
Transcript
Aftermath
Aftermath
We’re now a week past our annual celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. But we actually celebrate his resurrection every Sunday. It’s why the Christians gather together on Sundays. His resurrection is pretty important, it’s recorded in every Gospel and the day is noted, the first day of the week.
So what happened after resurrection before the ascension? What’s happened? Sometimes we forget, or maybe you never noticed the time these things take place but Jesus does not ascend immediately after his resurrection. He visits the disciples after the resurrection. I want to walk through that a little bit with you. It’s hard to just see what happened through all the pieces here and there in the Bible without really seeking it out; So I’ve put together a bit of a timeline for what seems to have happened.
I didn’t realize until last week when Pastor Mark gave us all an activity during the sermon that that was even a possibility so I was far too unprepared to come up with a really good arts and craft version of this for y’all to do. I didn’t even get the felt board with all the people to show you as we talked about the story so I’m sorry I just didn’t have a heads up that we could do that but maybe I’ll keep that in mind the next time Pastor Mark is on vacation and I fill in.
On Sunday the morning a whole group of women go to the tomb. The names we know of are Mary Magdalen, Mary the mother of James, Joanna, and Salome but there might have been more their names are just not reported in the Bible. They find an empty tomb with an Angelic message that Christ has risen and the disciples need to be told.
But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.”
Little bit of a burn there, tell the disciples… and Peter… clearly excluding him from being considered a disciple.
Mary Magdalen seems to split off early though and runs to tell Peter who is apparently with John because those two race back to the tomb where Mary follows too. When Peter and John find out that the tomb is in fact empty they aren’t rejoicing because they haven’t figured it out yet, they finally now believe that the tomb is empty but didn’t understand what had really happened. The two go home.
Mary stays and weeps by the tomb.
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.
Meanwhile the other women are heading to find the other disciples possible scatter around the city but they’re met by Jesus.
And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
The women go and tell the disciples and apostles all of these things but it’s a bit hard to believe still. My best guess is that many of these disciples head out to go tell more of the disciples that had left town about these reports of the resurrected Jesus and to pass on the instruction to them to head up to Galilee to see Him.
That’s where we come upon the story of the disciples that were on the road to Emmaus.
That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,
Jesus joins them in their walk but they don’t recognize Him and He, as Jesus often does, starts asking questions. Then they get a sermon from Jesus about Jesus from the whole of the old testament. They invite him into dinner after arriving at the destination but then recognize him when he blesses and breaks the bread. Then he vanished from their sight! I can image one of them reaching over smacking the other one “I knew it dude!” This exciting news can’t wait, they get up and head back to Jerusalem that very night. It’s a little more than a 2 hour walk, they certainly could have made quicker time with a jog. But when they get there they aren’t the ones breaking the news. They come upon the eleven and other disciples already talking, lets back up and read it from
And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.
So somewhere, not recorded anywhere in the Bible was Jesus’ first appearance to Simon Peter who then seems to have come together with the other apostles and disciples to tell them. Then we get this in the next verse
As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.
It was too good to be true disbelieved for joy.
Jesus was truly resurrected, he is truly God and truly man. He spoke with people, was touched by people, and ate food. He was no ghost or hallucination. He is real.
But we move on from Resurrection Sunday because you see we find out in John 20 that Thomas wasn’t there with them when this happened. So he hears the report of what happened and says he won’t believe it until he can put a finger on the mark of the nail. Well they’re gathered again together eight days later when Jesus appears to them again with Thomas. Now 8 days later would be tomorrow in our timeline if last Sunday was Resurrection day. We get the admonition of Thomas but also the blessing spoken of us who have not seen and yet have trusted in the resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
At some point the disciples and apostles all make it up to Galilee where, if you remember, they were instructed to all go to see Jesus. Sometime before revealing Himself to everyone is when he brings Peter back into fellowship. This is where Jesus is on the shore and tells the seven disciples who stayed out all night fishing to cast to the other side of the boat. They catch so many fish that John knows this is Jesus and shouts “It’s the LORD!” So of course Peter bails right into the water to head straight to him. Jesus has a fish breakfast going but tells them to bring some of their catch too.
When they finish breakfast Jesus turns to Peter who denied him three times and asks him three times do you love me? and with each response Jesus calls him to ministry.
Then at some point they are gathered on the mountain there in Galilee. It’s my guess this is where the large numbers of people we hear Paul reference are gathered and also see the risen Christ. It’s part of the historical claim about the reality and truth of Christianity. It’s about the Gospel. Paul restates the Gospel in
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, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
We also find here Jesus appears more times to more people. It’s not a surprise John mentions at the end of his gospel that so many things happened that couldn’t possibly be recorded. Lastly they’re all back in Jerusalem where Jesus leads them out to Bethany which is on the Mount of Olives. He gives his last instructions with the great commission but he tells them to stay in Jerusalem until they are baptized with the Holy Spirit. At this point it’s 40 days since the resurrection. 40 days of random appearances of Jesus to his disciples encouraging them building their faith, confirming his resurrection. 40 days which if last Sunday were the resurrection this would be May 10th.
In another ten days the day of Pentecost arrives and with it the Holy Spirit who moves upon all the disciples who preach and see many come to Christ. To this day the Holy Spirit still works to save. Faith comes to those who hear the word of God. The word we proclaim the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. We remember his death in the participation of the Lord’s supper like we are going to do this Sunday. We remember his resurrection every Sunday that we gather together. We remember the giving of the Holy Spirit in every sharing of the Gospel.
So what is the Aftermath of Easter? It’s the book of Acts all the way to today and through all the tomorrows. Is it an aftermath only for the Apostles who saw the risen Christ? NO! Its a world changing event that that divides all time The time before Christ and the time After his arrival. Paul says it best later on in that same chapter of Corinthians
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.
Then later Paul also says
1 Corinthians 15:32b (ESV)
If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.”
There is no purpose or point if there is no resurrection. We are complete idiots if the resurrection isn’t true. Well if we believe it is true what is the point? To glorify God. How do we glorify God? Do all he commands, which when all the commandants were summarized they came out to two things. First Matthew 22:37 “And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” and Matthew 22:39 “And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” It’s a simple reality - Love God, Love people.
We think we’ve laid out 4 basic principles for this church to know how to do both.
First, Gather together. Come to church. I’m very glad you’re here this Sunday morning.
Did you make it at 9:30 for Sunday School? It’s still later than getting up for work, for most of you anyway. What about the Women’s or Men’s bible study? What about Wednesday nights? Those are the places you’re much more likely to do the second thing, Grow.
Give is the third principle. I know people don’t like to hear about money in church and we don’t want to convince you to just give us money. We do believe that God has called all believers to support His ministries. So to best love God one of the key principles is to Give faithfully.
Lastly to love others we must Go to others sharing the gospel and ministering to them. Maybe that’s volunteering to help feed people. Maybe that’s dropping by the neighbors house and inviting them to dinner where you tell them about Jesus. Maybe it’s mowing that overgrown lawn you think is an eyesore just to find out it’s someone who been sick and unable but now you can pray with them about their trouble....
Gather Grow Give and Go are principles for glorifying God.
Worship is part of glorifying God. It’s easy to think the praise portion of the service is the “worship” portion of the service but it’s not. The whole service is a worship service. We sing and praise in worship. We read the word aloud together, in worship. We listen to a message together in worship. We pray together… “in worship” and this Sunday some of us will also take the Lord’s Supper in worship. But this thanksgiving of Christ where we eat and drink is not for everyone.
If you are not a Christian I’m very glad you’re here checking us out please come talk to me after our service, but you shouldn’t participate in this. If you haven’t been baptised, you shouldn’t participate. If you are angry with someone about something you haven’t resolved you shouldn’t participate. The Bible gives us a clear warning in 1 Corinthians 11:27 “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord.” Be serious in our time of worship where we remember the body of Christ that was broken for us and the blood that he shed to pay for ours sins. This last Wednesday we were in Zechariah 7 where God calls out his people for just going through the motions… Are you doing this unto Me? He asks them… Be intentional this morning if you are going to participate. Remember what the Lord has done for you.
