Believing the Unbelievable

Introduction

Jesus resurrection has been taught and debated since the day it happened

Skeptics jump to:

Contradicting gospel accounts

swoon theory

“they went to the wrong tomb”….then, so did the angels.

“the disciples stole the body” the Pharisee’s made a good long term investment paying for this lie.

The resurrection is essential to the gospel; and without the resurrection, the death at the cross meaningless.

Some knew the truth, but didn’t care.

Some knew the truth, but didn’t want it.

Some cared about the truth, but couldn’t see it.

Those who cared about the truth, didn’t understand it…. yet.

In the gospels, especially surrounding the resurrection, we are confronted with many details, that at closer inspection, cause us to stop and think deeply about what we just read.

There are 4 accounts of the resurrection, and all 4 have a different perspective, it proves difficult to put them together chronologically without quickly jumping to the conclusion that there are contradictory narratives.

Today we are going to briefly touch on

Who was at the tomb

What were some of the events that took place

We are going to find a couple shocking truths

Why it matters and why it is important for us today

Scripture

Luke 24:1–12 “But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.”

Let’s Break it Down

The first day of the week

We call it Sunday

They called it the day after Shabbot,

The first day of the week

the 8th day

neat because the number 8 symbolizes

new beginnings

resurrection

renewal

Who was going to the tomb?

digging in the gospels shows us that a number of women were going to the tomb.

we can count at least 5 names

Mary Magdelene, whom Jesus cast 7 demons out of.

Mary mother of Jesus, who shouldn’t need an introduction in this group

Mary mother of James the younger, and Joseph, she was a witness at the crucifixion

Salome wife of Zebedee, mother of James and John

Joanna, wife of Chuza who was Household manager for Herod Antipas

possibly more, who are unnamed.

They were heading to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus with spices, and fragrant oils.

Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea already did this at the burial, but the dead would usually be anointed numerous times and by different people.

The women were wandering who was going to roll back the stone before they got to the tomb.

Let’s stop here….

Now we have to piece together the story, because if I just give you the simple narrative from 1 gospel something will be left out, and when you go closely read the accounts yourself you would either say

Ray messed up (which is not unlikely)

The gospels are contradicting

Jumping back and forth to the 4 accounts, in order to reconcile the perspectives, we are given a glimpse into this fantastically amazing piece of scripture.

On the evening after the burial, the Pharisees went to Pilate and asked to have the tomb protected from the disciples of Jesus lest they take his body. So pilate sent out guards and had them seal the tomb.

On the morning of the resurrection there was a great earthquake, and an Angel rolled back the stone and sat on it, scaring the soldiers to death, they went to the Pharisees and told them what had happened.

the pharisees just heard the truth, and paid the men to lie and cover up the truth.

That is knowing the truth, and not wanting it!

the guards are an example of knowing the truth and not caring

John 20 records that Mary Magdelene arrived first, while it was still dark, arrived at the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed and with out looking in, she figured that someone had taken Jesus’ body, she ran to get Peter and John telling them that someone had stolen the body.

Peter and John arrived, and because John was allowed to write his own gospel, he wanted the whole world to know to who won the race. John arriving at the tomb first, but did not go in, but peter catching up ran past John and into the tomb. Peter marveled at what he saw and John believed.

John and Peter went back to their house., John 20 says “they did not yet understand the scripture”

Mary stayed at the tomb, this time she went in, and she saw 2 angels sitting where Jesus’ body had laid. She was crying and the angels asked why are you crying? She answered “they have taken my Lord!”

Mary did not see that Jesus stood at the tomb opening, and assuming Him to be the gardener, she asked “where have you taken my Lord?”

Jesus said “Mary!” and she said Rabboni, and she embraced Jesus and Jesus said “don’t cling to me, for I have not ascended to the Father” Basically, Im not staying here but I must go again.

Mary, now with the correct information, is running again to tell the 11.

Meanwhile, back at the tomb, the other ladies arrive and look in the tomb, there is a young man sitting there in a white robe, an Angel, and he said to them “do not be alarmed, you seek Jesus, but He has risen, and He is not here, go tell now and tell the disciples” Mark 16

On their way to go tell the disciples, Jesus met them and said “Greetings!” The women worshipped him and held His feet. Jesus told them to go tell His disciples.

The Disciples

Now we have the women, who have all seen Jesus, telling the disciples that they saw Jesus and He is alive.

The disciples…. what? did not believe.

They thought the women were telling some made up story.

No one believed that He rose from the dead leading up to the point until anyone saw proof of Jesus’ resurrection, save maybe John who just saw the linens lying there, unmoved.

John may have logically concluded that nobody is unwrapping a dead body to move it, that Jesus had to have risen through the linens.

Ironically, the Pharisees believed that at least the disciples would try to deceive people by stealing Jesus body, because they had remembered that He said “After 3 days, I will rise”

It was only after these encounters that the disciples remembered the things Jesus said about His resurrection.

Jesus meets two men on the road to Emmaus

2 men heading toward Emmaus about 7 miles from Jerusalem, they are sad and discussing the events surrounding the death of Jesus.

Jesus met them on the road.

Luke 24:16 “But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.”

Jesus asked them why they were sad.

Where have you been?

Don’t you now what happened to the prophet Jesus?

they had no idea who Jesus was at this moment.

The men went on.

Luke 24:22–24 “Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.”

Jesus retorted “Oh foolish ones, slow of heart to believe what the Prophets have spoken”

they had all the information they needed, but they still didn’t understand.

Jesus went with the men to Emmaus interpreting the scriptures from Moses to all the prophets concerning Himself.

The 2 asked Him to stay and when Jesus broke bread and blessed it, their eyes were opened and they recognized him

Jesus Appears to the Disciples

The disciples had locked themselves in a room because they were afraid of the Pharisees.

Jesus appeared to them, scaring them, (which is always funny,)

He showed he was actually there, he even said “see my hands and my feet, touch me, spirits don’t have flesh and bone.”

They still disbelieved, so Jesus asked for food. basically “can spirits eat?”

Luke 24:44 “Then Jesus said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.””

At this time, they couldn’t really see, understand or believe anything that was happening or what had been taught to them.

so Jesus gave them another gift.

Luke 24:45 “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,”

It is God that opens the eyes, and ears and heart to the understanding of scripture.

The Holy Spirit

At this moment the disciples had not recieved the Holy Spirit, it wouldn’t be for another 49 days, the day of Pentecost that the disciples would receive the Holy Spirit.

Believing the Unbelievable

Not one of Jesus disciples believe the essential gospel, not when Jesus gave them the facts, not when it was unfolding before their very eyes.

They did not believe until God open their eyes, opened their ears, and gave their heart understanding.

When the Gospel is shared today, by those with the indwelling Holy Spirit, that gospel, the words of God that are being spoken to the lost have power to save.

We are weak, but He is strong.

We have no power to believe ourselves , but we are the temple of the Holy Spirit,

God uses us to share His word, and we are commanded to do so.

When was the last time you gave someone the gospel, and not a watered down…. gospel

How about your faith, when was the last time you shared your faith. doing so usually leads to the sharing of the gospel.

let us not hide our light under a basket.

Now I call you to Respond.

Let’s Pray.