Reigning Them In

He’s Alive!

The story we are going to be focusing on today is the very reason we are here. This event is what fulfilled scripture made our relationship with Jesus possible. This event is what sets Christianity apart from every other religion. We serve a living God, the founder of our faith did not die and offer us inspiring last words, He conquered death and gave us power and a hope that depends on what He has done instead of what we need to do.

Why are we here today

In this story today I want to focus on two main points in this text as to how God works and application for our lives: He pursues us, and He provides evidence. In this text we see the importance of both experience and evidence. Our faith can’t thrive without both. If all we have is experience but no evidence we have no foundation nothing grounding us to give us confidence. But if all we have is evidence with no experience then all we have is knowledge without any intimacy. Let’s begin this journey through the resurrection day together in .

Luke 24:1–43 HCSB

On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground. “Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. “He is not here, but He has been resurrected! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, ‘The Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’?” And they remembered His words. Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things. But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths. So he went home, amazed at what had happened. Now that same day two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. Together they were discussing everything that had taken place. And while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus Himself came near and began to walk along with them. But they were prevented from recognizing Him. Then He asked them, “What is this dispute that you’re having with each other as you are walking?” And they stopped walking and looked discouraged. The one named Cleopas answered Him, “Are You the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that happened there in these days?” “What things?” He asked them. So they said to Him, “The things concerning Jesus the Nazarene, who was a Prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed Him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified Him. But we were hoping that He was the One who was about to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it’s the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb, and when they didn’t find His body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they didn’t see Him.” He said to them, “How unwise and slow you are to believe in your hearts all that the prophets have spoken! Didn’t the Messiah have to suffer these things and enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted for them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. They came near the village where they were going, and He gave the impression that He was going farther. But they urged Him: “Stay with us, because it’s almost evening, and now the day is almost over.” So He went in to stay with them. It was as He reclined at the table with them that He took the bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized Him, but He disappeared from their sight. So they said to each other, “Weren’t our hearts ablaze within us while He was talking with us on the road and explaining the Scriptures to us?” That very hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and those with them gathered together, who said, “The Lord has certainly been raised, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they began to describe what had happened on the road and how He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. And as they were saying these things, He Himself stood among them. He said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and terrified and thought they were seeing a ghost. “Why are you troubled?” He asked them. “And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself! Touch Me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” Having said this, He showed them His hands and feet. But while they still were amazed and unbelieving because of their joy, He asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” So they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish, and He took it and ate in their presence.

He Pursues Us!

Evidence doesn't form relationship! Evidence is still left to interpretation, experience combined with evidence is undeniable.

/ - upper room

Grace will hunt you down! “Experience”

Peter and John ran to the evidence and was amazed but still acted in fear, back to upper room. Locked themselves back in. Evidence doesn't save.

- Mary, emeus road, locked door. The shepherd was drawing the herd back in.

Mary and Cleo offered witness testimony on their experience and gave evidence but it wasn't till the others experienced Jesus presence that they believed.

Peter and John ran to the evidence and was amazed but still acted in fear, back to upper room. Locked themselves back in. Evidence doesn't save.

Evidence doesn't form relationship! Evidence is still left to interpretation, experience combined with evidence is undeniable.

Experience solidifies relationship and evidence gives confidence. “Evidence”

Luke 1:1–4 HCSB

Many have undertaken to compile a narrative about the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as the original eyewitnesses and servants of the word handed them down to us. It also seemed good to me, since I have carefully investigated everything from the very first, to write to you in an orderly sequence, most honorable Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things about which you have been instructed.

Luke 1:1-

Acts 1:1–3 HCSB

I wrote the first narrative, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach until the day He was taken up, after He had given orders through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. After He had suffered, He also presented Himself alive to them by many convincing proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God.

Scars as Evidence

He wasn't wounded anymore, he had been healed. When you touch a wound it hurts you recoil, hurt ppl hurt ppl.

Scar Is evidence

Scar is opportunity

Scar Is reminder

Scar Is evidence

Scar is healing with purpose

Jesus scars didn't hold him back they were part of His power, they made Him more effective. They were the sign of His victory.

Our scars reveal the path we have traveled to get where we are today. Our scars are our story, and the evidence of the power of God in our lives.

Jesus was alive and healed, but still bore the scars, and that was a good thing. Like Jesus our wounds also can be healed and our scars have purpose. Scars proclaim His victory over death and evidence of the power of resurrection, in His life and ours.

His wounds killed Him (he allowed it), but His power resurrected Him.

What is our natural response to our scars? Hide them pretend they don't exist. This is the result of shame, reveals their still wounds? The power is in revealing them, talking about them. Reverse the curse . Fully known and loved.

Acts (Paul stoned) Paul said he bore the marks/scars

Our Scars are physical and emotional, self inflicted as well as a result of victimization. Christ brings healing to both.

1 Timothy 1:12–16 HCSB

I give thanks to Christ Jesus our Lord who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, appointing me to the ministry— one who was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an arrogant man. But I received mercy because I acted out of ignorance in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord overflowed, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. This saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” —and I am the worst of them. But I received mercy for this reason, so that in me, the worst of them, Christ Jesus might demonstrate His extraordinary patience as an example to those who would believe in Him for eternal life.

“I have been crucified with Christ 20 and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” HCSB