RESURRECTION: REALITY AND REVOLUTION
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OPENER: (ill: “Wait what?” moment: Have you ever had a moment when you were told something that did not really sink in immediately and you said, “wait what?” Story...
OPENER: (ill: “Wait what?” moment: Have you ever had a moment when you were told something that did not really sink in immediately and you said, “wait what?” Story...
Jesus told His Apostles more than once that He would have to die and be resurrected on the third day but they did not get it. Mentally they might have had a wait what moment but still didn’t understand.
Jesus tells the Apostles He must die and be resurrected but they do not understand.
Many today still do not understand the great significance of the resurrection of Christ.
And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem. And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.”
OPENER:
Encouraging that the resurrection is emphasized. It is encouraging that there is a day in our country that Jesus’ resurrection is emphasized.
Encouraging that the resurrection is emphasized. It is encouraging that there is a day in our country that Jesus’ resurrection is emphasized.
While it is (1) only tradition (as scripture does not tell us to celebrate it once a year) and (2) has nothing to do with bunnies, candy, pastel colors or chocolate, it is good that the most important in history is recognized on a particular day in our culture.
If there are people who learn about the truth of Christ’s resurrection and are drawn to follow Him that that is a good thing. It is my hope that today people who come to worship who usually wouldn’t find a conviction to follow Christ with full and consistent commitment.
The resurrection and the rest of the gospel is something that should inspire and convict in us the commitment that Christ calls for which is full, complete and undivided. So much so that we sacrifice ourselves to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ because of what He accomplished for us.
As important and emphasized as it is I do not believe that many people understand the magnitude of the resurrection of Jesus Christ! I will talk more about why this is the case later but...
As important and emphasized as it is I do not believe that many people understand the magnitude of the resurrection of Jesus Christ! I will talk more about why this is the case later but...
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the climax and crowning moment of the gospel. It is the event that changed not only the tragedy of the cross and our sins into the greatest victory mankind can ever know.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the climax and crowning moment of the gospel.
It is the event that changed the tragedy of the cross, our sins, and our deaths into the greatest victory mankind can ever know.
It was not only victory for Jesus over the grave but victory for us over sin and death.
No matter who you are, what you have accomplished or how much money you have when you die, you still die and none of those things can chance that or help that.
Only Christ defeating death through His resurrection gave us a way to have death not be a day of defeat but a day of victory.
When you really think about it the gospel and the resurrection is the most incredible truth that we can know because it is answer to mankind’s greatest and most unavoidable problems; sin and death.
THE RESURRECTION IS REALITY
THE RESURRECTION IS REALITY
God gave many proofs of Jesus’ resurrection to make sure we knew without a doubt it was reality.
The importance God places on the resurrection is shown in how He gave proof after proof after proof that Jesus did rise from the dead. Think of all the many ways God proved this...
Many convincing proofs:
Verses>>> or examples...
Notice how the book of Acts starts and how the resurrection is magnified:
In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God.
Eyewitnesses:
We have the gospel accounts that tell the story of His death, burial and resurrection which have within them eyewitness accounts of so many people.
You have the lives of the Apostles and early Christians who were willing to and some did die because they knew it was a fact. They saw it with their own eyes. They were eyewitnesses.
he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
Prophecy: Notice God proved it through the prophecies about it that Peter pointed out on Pentecost.
he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.
Jesus’ physical activity after the resurrection proved that He really was physically resurrected. He allow them to touch the scars and see Him eat while with them.
God magnifies the resurrection and its importance in :
That it is of first importance, that without it our faith is useless and we are lost, that our resurrection hinges on the fact the He was, and victory over death as well.
, , ,
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,
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
1 Cor
But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
1 Corinthians 15:
It is because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ that God tells us in verse 57;
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
The gospel which is completed by the resurrection is of first importance because without it everything is lost. God’s plan is a loss, we are lost, death is our defeat.
But Christ was raised and so we will be as well. When you are looking at death through the eyes of truth you realize it will one day happen to you. So the resurrection is of greatest importance.
Because if Christ was raised we are raised spiritually and so will we be raised. Because of Christ we can have victory at that time.
THE RESURRECTION IS REVOLUTIONARY
THE RESURRECTION IS REVOLUTIONARY
The resurrection sets Jesus apart from and above all other religious leaders. His resurrection proves He is the Son of God and only Messiah.
;
Christ’s resurrection is revolutionary religiously because it proved that He was the only true Messiah there it. The resurrection proved Jesus was God’s Son and the promised Messiah.
No other religion or religious leader has overcome death and risen from the grave. And of course that could not because Jesus is the only Messiah that could come and save mankind.
So of all the religions in the world Jesus stands as true over all of those that are false and the resurrection is the crowning miracle that proves He is the only one who can save.
This is something that Jesus said Himself, that He is the way, the truth and the life, and the resurrection and the life. (So in other words, no matter what others claim that you can be saved through different avenues or religions…Jesus’ own words show that to be false and His resurrection shows Him to be the only one who has the power to save.)
But the gospel is meant to save us eternally but also from a life of sin now.
The resurrection is meant to cause a complete revolution of our lives.
It is not just that we can be saved and resurrected to eternal life but that we are resurrected spiritually.
God makes an incredible parallel and truth in the idea of the resurrection. We were dead in our sins (spiritually) and He raised us to live a new life. (To completely revolutionize how we live)
Also, we will be raised on the last day to life eternal:
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his.
Romans 6:
This verse shows that the resurrection is something that should absolutely revolutionize our lives. That is what it did for those in scripture. The Apostles are a great example of this.
How did the resurrection revolutionize the lives of His Apostle?
As we begin to answer this question we need to point out that they did not understand the resurrection before or even shortly after Jesus was resurrected.
Yes, Jesus did tell them a number of times that He would die and be resurrected on the third day but they just did not get it. One of the problems is that they had an agenda for Jesus that was not mutual. Even after Jesus was resurrected they thought Jesus was going to “restore physical Israel.”
Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
We Know that Jesus was winning an infinitely greater victory that defeating Rome. He was securing freedom from sin for all time for the whole world not giving Israel freedom from Rome.
But when the Apostle came to believe Jesus was resurrected and understood through the Holy Spirit the magnitude of what it meant then the change in them was incredible.
Before they saw the resurrected Lord the Apostles were scattered, disillusioned and scared.
Before they saw the resurrected Lord the Apostles were scattered, disillusioned and scared.
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
Luke’s account tells us that they did not understand the scriptures that prophesied of Jesus’ resurrection and that Jesus explained it to them.
So before they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, they did not understand Jesus’ purposes and they had the wrong idea in mind for what Jesus was supposed to do.
But afterward they were given the Holy Spirit as Jesus promised and their lives and missions were revolutionized.
The Apostles, after the resurrection, were not afraid but preached the gospel of Jesus with boldness and sacrifice.
,
And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening.
Acts 4:
So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”
Acts 4:
THE APOSTLE PAUL’S LIFE CHANGED FOREVER BECAUSE HE MET THE RESURRECTED LORD
VERSE>>>>
We know How he was before see the resurrected Lord. He did not believe Jesus was anything than a teacher and heretic.
But afterward notice what He says...
Verses
having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
So
Trans: WHILE SCRIPTURE AND OUR EXISTENCE TELLS US THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RESURRECTION,
The reality and revolutionary power of the resurrection is still taken for granted today.
ITS REALITY AND REVOLUTIONARY POWER ARE STILL TAKEN FOR GRANTED.
Now you might wonder how this could be when so much significance is put on it especially on this day of the year. But the resurrection of Christ is not meant to be simply recognized but to completely change our lives through making Christ Jesus Lord of our lives and futures.
When Thomas, who at first doubted Jesus’ resurrection came face to face with the resurrected Christ He said “My Lord and My God.” He was changed and He was verbalizing what Jesus was to HIM!
Thomas did not say, “Oh you are alive, wow” He said “My Lord and My God.”
It is not enough for us to recognize that Jesus was resurrected but if that is true then it demands that we do something with that reality. If He is Lord then will we follow Him? And if we will follow Him will we do so according to His terms as our Lord.
What have you done with the truth of the resurrection of Jesus?
What impact has the reality of the resurrection had on you?
what impact has the reality of the resurrection had on you?
This is a really important question because while many, many people believe in the resurrection their lives remain largely unchanged from the world and their devotion shows it. That is the reason for the question “how has it impacted your life?”
Why is it so important? Again, because everything hinges or hangs on the resurrection of Jesus Christ: our salvation, our resurrection, heaven, eternity, Christ’s power in our lives through the Holy Spirit, hope, joy and peace in this life even.
FIRST OF ALL “DO YOU BELIEVE THAT Jesus WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD?” If yes, what difference has that fact made in your life?
It is understood that because of the resurrection you have been given the opportunity of being saved. As says, “the gospel is the power of God to salvation.” We get that but is that all?
Not that salvation is a small thing but the resurrection is not just a possibility it is an absolute certainty and Christ Lordship goes further than a one time event or occasional recognition.
WHAT EFFECT SHOULD IT HAVE ON US?
To help us see how it should influence us...
As we begin to answer this question we need to point out that they did not understand the resurrection before or even shortly after Jesus was resurrected.
Yes, Jesus did tell them a number of times that He would die and be resurrected on the third day but they just dd not get it. One of the problems is that they had an agenda for Jesus that was not mutual. Even after Jesus was resurrected they thought Jesus was going to “restore physical Israel.” ().
We Know that Jesus was winning an infinitely greater victory that defeating Rome. He was securing freedom from sin for all time for the whole world not giving Israel freedom from Rome.
But when the Apostle came to believe Jesus was resurrected and understood through the Holy Spirit the magnitude of what it meant then the change in them was incredible.
To show this let us look at their behavior before they saw the resurrected Lord and what they did after.
Before they were scattered, disillusioned and scared.
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
So before they were afraid of the Jewish leaders, they did not understand Jesus’ purposes and they had the wrong idea in mind for what Jesus was supposed to do.
But afterward they were given the Holy Spirit as Jesus promised and their lives and missions were revolutionized.
THE APOSTLES THEM WERE NOT AFRAID BUT PREACHED THE GOSPEL OF JESUS WITH BOLDNESS AND SACRIFICE.
VERSES>>>>>>>>>>
THE APOSTLE PAUL’S LIFE CHANGED FOREVER BECAUSE HE MET THE RESURRECTED LORD
VERSE>>>>
We know How he was before see the resurrected Lord. He did not believe Jesus was anything than a teacher and heretic.
But afterward notice what He says...
Verses>>>>
having a hope in God, which these men themselves accept, that there will be a resurrection of both the just and the unjust. So I always take pains to have a clear conscience toward both God and man.
SO IF YOU BELIEVE THAT THE RESURRECTION IS IMPORTANT…HOW DOES YOUR LIFE SHOW IT?
IN LIGHT OF THE THE COMING RESURRECTION THE APOSTLE PAUL SAID THAT HE ALWAYS TAKE PAINS TO HAVE A CLEAR CONSCIENCE.
THOMAS DECLARED JESUS HIS LORD AND GOD WHICH MEANT THAT EVERYTHING IN AND ABOUT THOMAS’ LIFE WAS CHRIST’S.
To the Apostles the reality of the resurrection revolutionized everything; the purpose of the Messiah and the purpose that their lives had. In other words what they would live for and who they would be. Also what they would die for because it was worth it.
While we may know this we may forget just what that means to those who are living for Christ. Look at the contrast in .
Because of Christ was raised we will be raised as well and all the tragedy of death (pain, weakness, dishonor, physical frailty) will be reversed when we are raised to have a spiritual body that is imperishable.
So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
Because of Christ was raised we will be raised as well and all the tragedy of death (pain, weakness, dishonor, physical frailty) will be reversed when we are raised to have a spiritual body that is imperishable.
Christ’s resurrection proves and points to our future resurrection from the dead. Just as Jesus said there would be a resurrection of both the righteous and unrighteous.
John 5:
Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
While we may know this we may forget just what that means to those who are living for Christ. Look at the contrast in again.
Because of Christ was raised we will be raised as well and all the tragedy of death (pain, weakness, dishonor, physical frailty) will be reversed when we are raised to have a spiritual body that is imperishable.
Because of this our works will not be in vain and we have reason to stay faithful.
1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
The “therefore” here is in reference to what was just said…because of the resurrection and the victory over death through Christ’s resurrection. Because of the reality of the resurrection we need to not give up, get discouraged thinking none of it really matters or feel like our work for the Lord is useless as people may treat it.
Instead our lives and work for God matters. It is not in vain. Our lives matter. They are not just insignificant dots on the timeline of history but precious to God.
Because of the resurrection we are given the Holy Spirit who dwells in us and gives us the ability to live the life God has called us to.
Because Christ was resurrected we can have hope no matter what happens in this life. The resurrection is the greatest beacon of hope because it guides us to remember that we have heaven waiting.
HAS THE REALITY OF THE RESURRECTION REVOLUTIONIZED YOUR LIFE?
The reality of the resurrection is the most revolutionary truth in history because of everything that it accomplishes and allows through Christ.
BUT AS REVOLUTIONARY AS IT IS TO HISTORY AND ETERNITY AND MILLIONS OF BELIEVERS IN CHRIST WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE IS UP TO YOU!
HAS IT HAD THE EFFECT IT SHOULD HAVE HAD ON YOU? HAS YOUR MIND AND LIFE BEEN CHANGED BECAUSE OF THE RESURRECTION?
Because Christ was resurrected we can have hope no matter what happens in this life. The resurrection is the greatest beacon of hope because it guides us to remember that we have heaven waiting.