He Has Risen! So What?
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Introduction
Opening Illustration - Picture of a coffin...
At the heart of Christianity is the The claim of Christianity is that a dead man rose back to life. I mean, this is absolutely ridiculous! I have been to many funerals over the course of my life and I have approached many corpses during those funerals and to date, none of them woke up! In fact, I might have died myself if they had woken up!
The claim of Christianity is that a dead man rose back to life. I mean, this is absolutely ridiculous! I have been to many funerals over the course of my life and I have approached many corpses during those funerals and to date, none of them woke up! In fact, I might have died myself if they had woken up!
The thought of a man being raised from the dead is foolishness to the highest order…or is it? What if it were true? What if there was a man who actually beat death? What if there was a man who beat death and that same man made it possible for you to beat death, eternal death as well? What if you could know today that because of this man’s death and resurrection you could be assured of eternal life? This is the main idea of the sermon this morning...
Main Idea - Jesus Was Raised From the Dead, Just As He Said! - Do You Believe?
Transition -
Transition - There are three actions I want you to see that the disciples take in , and the first is...
1. A Walk of Unbelief (vs. 1-5)
1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 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?
It was early Sunday morning, the first day of the week (no Monday isn’t the first day of the week, resurrection day is!), and they, the ladies mentioned in , namely, Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James and the other women...
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,
...walked to the tomb and their walk was one of unbelief. You may ask, “How do you know they were walking there in unbelief”
Luke
Well, we can tell because they were going to finish the embalming process they were not able to finish on Friday because the Sabbath was upon them...
walked to the tomb and there walk was one of unbelief. You may ask, “How do you know they were walking there in unbelief” Well, you can tell because they were going to finish the embalming process they were not able to finish on Friday because the Sabbath was upon them...
53 Then he took it down and wrapped it in a linen shroud and laid him in a tomb cut in stone, where no one had ever yet been laid. 54 It was the day of Preparation, and the Sabbath was beginning. 55 The women who had come with him from Galilee followed and saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56 Then they returned and prepared spices and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
What does their action of walking with the embalming spices show us? What did the ladies believe? They believed that Jesus was DEAD! They Believed He was still in the tomb. They were walking there in unbelief!
-56
Explain -
Verse 1 - "The first day of the week" = Sunday. "they went to the tomb" = The women mentioned in verse 23:55 and 24:10. "the tomb" = the borrowed tomb where Jesus had been laid. Spices?
But when the arrived at the borrowed tomb where Jesus was laid to rest, what did they find? The stone was moved!
How big was the stone. No wounded/crucified man had the wherewithal to move such a weight.
Show Picture of tomb...
The entrance of a Jewish tomb was quite small, so the stone needed to cover the opening would only be 4-6’ in diameter, and approximately 1’ thick. How much would such a stone weigh? Depending on the type of stone used, it could weigh between 1-2 tons (2000-4000 pounds).[1] This is quite heavy, but two men could move it into place (; ). The more difficult task was removing the stone.
Generally speaking, the rolling stone was set inside a groove in front of the entrance, and secured from falling over by a stone wall that stood in front of tomb opening (the rolling stone was sandwiched between the tomb entrance and stone wall as the pictures below illustrate). Often, the groove was not level, but slightly sloped. To close the tomb, the stone would be rolled down the groove at a decline and come to rest in front of the entrance. To open the tomb, the stone would have to be rolled up the groove at an incline. - https://theosophical.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/the-size-of-the-stone-covering-jesus’-tomb-2/
Verse 2 - The Stone was moved. How big was the stone. No wounded/crucified man had the wherewithal to move such a weight.
Verse 3 - The body that was laid there was now gone (just as He said).
The stone was rolled away from the tomb. There was no logical reason from their perspective why this should be the case.
I don’t know about you, but if I were with these ladies and we came up to a tomb that was supposed to be closed and it, in fact was open, I would go in to investigate. Come on, you know you would too!
I don’t know about you, but if I were with these ladies and we came up to a tomb that was to be closed and it, in fact was open, I would go in to investigate. That’s what they did. They climbed into the tomb only to find it empty! How could this be? Did someone steal His body? That is a logical explanation for one with a heart of unbelief, but there is a better explanation. An explanation that is given in verse 4 and 5...
That’s what they did. They climbed into the tomb only to find it empty! How could this be? Did someone steal His body? That makes no sense...
Rev. Gary W. Jensen - Neither the Jewish nor the Roman leaders, who guarded the tomb () would have taken the body. Rather, both had every motive to produce the body publicly in order to humiliate the disciples and nip their movement in the bud. And since the scene in question was right at Jerusalem, it was completely within their power to locate the corpse should it still have existed. Yet to their dismay, no such body was ever produced. If the Jews had the body, they would have wheeled it in at the day of Pentecost when all Jerusalem was in an uproar because of Peter's sermon on the Resurrection of Christ. - https://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t012.html
Neither the Jewish nor the Roman leaders, who guarded the tomb () would have taken the body. Rather, both had every motive to produce the body publicly in order to humiliate the disciples and nip their movement in the bud. And since the scene in question was right at Jerusalem, it was completely within their power to locate the corpse should it still have existed. Yet to their dismay, no such body was ever produced. If the Jews had the body, they would have wheeled it in at the day of Pentecost when all Jerusalem was in an uproar because of Peter's sermon on the Resurrection of Christ. - https://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t012.html
Neither the Jewish nor the Roman leaders, who guarded the tomb () would have taken the body. Rather, both had every motive to produce the body publicly in order to humiliate the disciples and nip their movement in the bud. And since the scene in question was right at Jerusalem, it was completely within their power to locate the corpse should it still have existed. Yet to their dismay, no such body was ever produced. If the Jews had the body, they would have wheeled it in at the day of Pentecost when all Jerusalem was in an uproar because of Peter's sermon on the Resurrection of Christ. - https://christiananswers.net/q-eden/edn-t012.html
That is a logical explanation for one with a heart of unbelief, but there is a better explanation. An explanation that is given in verse 4 and 5...
That is a seemingly logical explanation for one with a heart of unbelief, but there is a better explanation. An explanation that is given in verse 4 and 5...
4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 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?
4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.
Verse 4 - This was a puzzling/confusing event for the ladies to experience. Why? Even though He told them on multiple occasions exactly what would happen, they were still slow to believe. The two men in "dazzling apparel" were angels of God. An Angel announced the birth of Jesus and two were there to announce the resurrection of Jesus. See .
Explain -
This was a puzzling/confusing event for the ladies to experience. Why? Even though He told them on multiple occasions exactly what would happen, they were still slow to believe. The two men in "dazzling apparel" were angels of God. Angels tend to show up throughout the Scriptures when God is about to do something amazing...
Two Angels showed up to save Lot before Sodom was destroyed (Gen 19:1-22)
They showed up to Abraham and Sarah to let them know they were about to have a baby in their old age. (Gen 18:1-33)
They showed up to inform Samson’s parents about (Judges 13:2-22)
The Angel, Gabriel announced the birth of Jesus!
And here are two Angels to announce the resurrection of Jesus. The Resurrection is a big deal, folks!! See .
12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.
Look again at verse 5...
Verse 5 - From perplexed to frightened. The result? They fell to their faces. We see this reaction to Angels throughout the Scriptures because they are holy and righteous creatures. But they are only creatures and not deserving of worship. See .
5 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?
From perplexed to frightened. Listen, if and Angel showed up here right now in all of his glory, you and I would be terrified! In fact, they couldn’t even seem to look at them! They fell to their faces. We see this reaction to Angels throughout the Scriptures because they are holy and righteous creatures. But they are only creatures and not deserving of worship. See . The Apostle John learned that very quickly when he encountered and Angel in the book of Revelation.
They fell to their faces. We see this reaction to Angels throughout the Scriptures because they are holy and righteous creatures. But they are only creatures and not deserving of worship. See .
10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
The result? They fell to their faces. We see this reaction to Angels throughout the Scriptures because they are holy and righteous creatures. But they are only creatures and not deserving of worship. See .
The Angel’s question to these women was a powerful one. One so powerful that it challenged their thinking. “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”
5 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?
They must have been confused about what the Angels just said. After all, they were not looking for the living, they were looking for the dead - the dead Jesus! But He wasn’t dead! He was alive!
Luke 2
They should have known that Jesus would beat death. They should have known that the grave would not hold the Messiah based on His testimony alone...
21 From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.
They should have known that Jesus would beat death. They should have known that the grave would not hold the Messiah based on His testimony alone (; ; ). In fact, in the next verse the Angel reminds the ladies what Jesus said about Himself.
31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.
; ; ). In fact, in the next verse the Angel reminds the ladies what Jesus said about Himself.
31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” 34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? 37 For what can a man give in return for his soul? 38 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” 1 And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”
; ). In fact, in the next verse the Angel reminds the ladies what Jesus said about Himself.
22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.” 23 And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. 25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself? 26 For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and of the holy angels. 27 But I tell you truly, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God.”
22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
). In fact, in the next verse the Angel reminds the ladies what Jesus said about Himself.
Over and over Jesus told His disciples that He was going to die AND that He would rise again. And each time it was met with unbelief. And even on their walk to His grave that morning, they were not seeking the living among the dead, they were simply seeking the dead!
God had important news for these ladies. So important He dispatched two of His Holy Messengers to give them the glorious news.
When Alex was a little girl we had to be so careful about telling her what we were going to do on a particular day because if we changed our plans she would say, “But you said we were going to do such and such.” We couldn’t get away with anything around her! She never forgot and believed every word we said!
Illustrate -
The disciples - these ladies did not have that problem. They failed to believe what Jesus said about his own resurrection.
Apply - Folks, the resurrection of the Messiah should not have been a surprise to the disciples. Certainly the Old Testament Scriptures predicted it...
10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.
and Jesus spoke over and over about it. Yet they walked in unbelief.
What about you this morning? Are you walking in unbelief when it comes to the resurrection? Listen, if this whole Jesus thing is simply a figment of our imagination, they it is really no big deal. But, if Jesus is real. If His life was real..If His death was real and His resurrection was real, then we have been afford the best news ever!
Review -
Jesus Was Raised From the Dead, Just As He Said! - Do You Believe?
A Walk of Unbelief
2. A Run of Remembrance (vs. 6-9)
6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest.
Well, the Angels have some very important news. In fact we refer to it as the Good News! The Gospel! The Angels declare the most monumental news ever spoken! Jesus Christ is alive! He has risen, He has risen indeed! The Angels then remind them what the Lord told them in verse 7.
Luke
Verse 6 - The Angels declare the most monumental news ever spoken! Jesus Christ is alive! He has risen, He has risen indeed! The Angels then remind them what the Lord told them in verse 7.
Verse 7 - This is the Gospel. This is what Paul declares in
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
1 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,
The News is constant. All the major networks, newspapers and websites are given to telling us the latest and greatest juicy tidbits!
But, my friends, there is no greater news than what these Angels told these women some 2000 years ago! The message of the Gospel is this. God sent the God/man into this world to die in your place so you would not have to be separated from Him in Hell for eternity. He came to give you eternal life! And that eternal life is obtained by Believing that Jesus is the God/man He claims to be and that His sacrifice on the cross and resurrection from the dead is sufficient to save you.
You can be saved today! You can pray to God today and ask Him to forgive you of your sin! And He will do it! What are you waiting for?
You might think you are too bad for Him to save you?
No! Even the criminal that hung next to him on his own cross believed on Christ and Jesus said, “today you will be with me in paradise.” You can’t out sin God grace! He loves you more than you can possibly understand!
You might think you aren’t that bad and God will let you into heaven because you are a good person.
Well, entrance into heaven isn’t gained by good works. The key of good works will not unlock the door of heaven. If you could earn your way to heaven, there would have been no need for Christ to come in the first place.
5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
The ONLY way you will EVER get into heaven after you die is if you believe that JESUS is the only way into heaven.
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Christ willingly went to the cross for you to pay for your sins.
Someone has to pay for your sins and Christ did.
Think of sin as the breaking of the law. When you break the law and you are caught, you have to pay the price. If you are speeding in your car and a police officer pulls you over, he or she is obligated to give you a ticket, a punishment for you breaking the law. This is how a just society works.
The same is true in the spiritual realm. God has his Holy laws (the top 10) and when we break them we have to pay the price. Everyone has broken them over and over. Myself included!
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
And payment for breaking God’s law is death, eternal death or separation from God in Hell. This is really bad news!
But there is really good news! The same God that promises to punish lawbreakers is the same God who loves you and doesn’t want you to pay the price for your law breaking. So, He sent the sinless son of God to offer His life in the place of yours.
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
God the Father promises to accept what God the Son (Jesus) did on the cross as payment enough to cover all of your sins - past, present and future! That is absolutely astounding! His life for yours! And all you need to do is repent of your sin and accept the free gift of eternal life by FAITH!
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16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
"Christ was not mere victim of unjust men when He hung on the cross...It was the greatest sacrifice ever made; the purest act of love ever carried out; and ultimately an infinitely a higher act of divine justice than all the human injustice it represented." - John MacArthur
This is what the Angles meant when they said,
7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.”
Verse 8-9 - Well, the ladies then remembered what Jesus had told them and they rushed back to the apostles to give them this amazing news!
22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
It is so hard for us to conceive how they could so easily forget words, the predictions of Jesus. One would think these words would have made an indelible mark on the memory even if they thought He was crazy for making them. Yet they forgot! So interesting!
The way Luke writes this seems so subdued but you know they were bursting with joy at the prospect of their Lord being raised from the dead. In fact, Matthew captures more of this attitude in
8 So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
and . They rushed back to the disciples to tell them the glorious news.
8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
. They rushed back to the disciples to tell them the glorious news.
These women had been told by the Angels the most significant news ever to be spoken! Jesus had risen from the dead. Everything He had told them is true and now they are sprinting back to the Apostles to tell them the amazing news!
Explain -
A lady recently won the lottery and wanted to remain anonymous. I don’t blame her. But I wouldn’t be able to keep my mouth shut! I’d tell everybody and probably give half of it away before the week was over. It’s good that I don’t play the lottery, I suppose!
These ladies remembered the Words of Jesus and it motivated them to go and tell the apostles of this amazing things that has happened.
For the Christian here this morning I have a question for you. How does your life reflect that you know the good news?
Do you live like you have forgotten the Words of Jesus? Or do you live your life exuding the reality of the resurrection?
I honestly struggle with apathy about the resurrection more than I do running to tell others what I remember about Jesus!
Christian, we must repent of this! We have a glorious privilege to regularly remember and run to other sharing with them the amazing news that they can have the guarantee of a right relationship with God and eternal life!
And so I say to the unbelievers here this morning. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved!”
Review - Jesus Was Raised From the Dead, Just As He Said! - Do You Believe?
A Walk of Unbelief
2. A Run of Remembrance
Review -
1.
2.
3. A Story of Utter Nonsense (vs. 10-12)
10 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, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 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.
10 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, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 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.
Explain -
-=13
So they ran to the apostles to tell them this amazing news that was corroborated by heavenly messengers. Surely these men would listen to these women?
But as you can tell from the text, this was not the case. The apostles’s astonishing response was they didn't believe! These Twelve men, who were personally called by Jesus Himself to learn from Him, their Messiah, the One who promised them that He would rise again from the dead, they didn’t believe the women’s testimony!!!
They thought it to be an idle tale!
λῆρος, ου m: speech which is complete and utter nonsense—‘nonsense, humbug, pure nonsense.’ ἐφάνησαν ἐνώπιον αὐτῶν ὡσεὶ λῆρος τὰ ῥήματα ταῦτα ‘it seemed to them that these words were pure nonsense’ .
The women reported this information to the apostles and their astonishing response is the apostles didn't believe! They thought it to be an idle tale! The NIV translates this phrase "But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense." Can you believe that it was the apostles who didn't believe that Jesus was raised from the dead! Jesus proclaimed over and over this would happen. It did happen just as He said, and they still did not believe!
Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 431.
The NIV translates this phrase "But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense." Can you believe that it was the apostles who didn't believe that Jesus was raised from the dead! Jesus proclaimed over and over this would happen. It did happen just as He said, and they still did not believe!
The NIV translates this phrase "But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense." Can you believe that it was the apostles who didn't believe that Jesus was raised from the dead! If anyone should have expected this, one would think it would be them.
Well, there were two that had enough curiosity to at least go and check out their story.
Luke mentions Peter his account...
12 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.
Verse 12 - However, there was one (in this text) and two in the Gospel of John (20:3-6) that at least run to the tomb to check things out. I do not think they ran in total faith, however, they ran in skepticism to see if these things were so. Peter saw the proof of an empty tomb yet still struggled to believe. John's gospel says in verse 9, "for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead."
Verse 12 - Luke mentions Peter there was one (in this text) and two in the Gospel of John (20:3-6) that at least run to the tomb to check things out. I do not think they ran in total faith, however, they ran in skepticism to see if these things were so. Peter saw the proof of an empty tomb yet still struggled to believe. John's gospel says in verse 9, "for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead."
John mentions that he too went to the tomb...
Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 431.
3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,
3 So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. 4 Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there,
that at least run to the tomb to check things out. I do not think they ran in total faith, however, they ran in skepticism to see if these things were so. Peter saw the proof of an empty tomb yet still struggled to believe. John's gospel says in verse 9, "for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead."
Verse 12 - Luke mentions Peter there was one (in this text) and two in the Gospel of John (20:3-6) that at least run to the tomb to check things out. I do not think they ran in total faith, however, they ran in skepticism to see if these things were so. Peter saw the proof of an empty tomb yet still struggled to believe. John's gospel says in verse 9, "for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead."
Verse 12 - However, there was one (in this text) and two in the Gospel of John (20:3-6) that at least run to the tomb to check things out. I do not think they ran in total faith, however, they ran in skepticism to see if these things were so. Peter saw the proof of an empty tomb yet still struggled to believe. John's gospel says in verse 9, "for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead."
that at least run to the tomb to check things out. I do not think they ran in total faith, however, they ran in skepticism to see if these things were so. Peter saw the proof of an empty tomb yet still struggled to believe. John's gospel says in verse 9, "for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that He must rise from the dead."
Explain -
3 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.
It is easy for us to look down our nose in judgment against the disciples because they didn’t believe the words of Jesus. But we shouldn’t. They had just witnessed the brutal killing of their Rabbi! He was beaten beyond recognition and then crucified. Because they were associated with Him their lives were in danger. They were hiding in the upper room not sure what to do or what was next! I think I would have been right there with them! And the thought of Jesus being raised from the dead, after all they had been through, was utter nonsense!
But it wasn’t! It was the Gospel truth!
3 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.
Lee Strobel put it like this…
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most provable fact in all of history! There is more evidence that Christ rose from the grave than any other fact in history. Today followers of the Islamic faith can visit the tomb of their leader Mohammed. Today followers of the Buddhist religion can go to the grave of their founder, Buddha. You can visit the graves of past presidents and historical figures, you can visit the graves of past loved ones, but you cannot visit the burial place of the greatest man that ever lived, Jesus Christ, because he rose from the dead and lives even today.
Apply -
Lee Strobel put it like this…
“If we were holding a trial to determine the facts
concerning the resurrection, and if we were to call to the witness stand every witness who personally encountered the resurrected Jesus and we cross-examined them for only 15 minutes, and if we went around the clock without a break…we would be listening to first-hand testimony for more than 128 hours…that’s over 5 days worth of testimony…who could possibly walk away unconvinced?”
The stories…they are too close. The written history is too strong to deny what they saw and what they experienced.
One psychologist even said “over 500 people having the same hallucination would be more of a miracle than resurrection itself!” - https://www.sermoncentral.com/illustrations/sermon-illustration-greg-buchner-quotes-apologeticsjesus-20305?+ref=TextIllustrationSerps
One psychologist even said “over 500 people having the same hallucination would be more of a
miracle than resurrection itself!”
Review - Jesus Was Raised From the Dead, Just As He Said! - Do You Believe?
A Walk of Unbelief
1.
2. A Run of Remembrance
2.
3.
3. A Story of Utter Nonsense
Conclusion
Application of sermon - Jesus rose from the dead, just as He said He Would. 500 people witnesses Jesus walking and talking among them for 40 days after the resurrection. The whole of the New Testament (a historical, exceptionally reliable document) attests and proclaims that this is fact.
So what? Big Deal! Who cares that Jesus was raised from the dead? What is the big deal about this anyway?
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
In a very short period of time the disciples did come to believe that Jesus had been raised from the dead and it because the single most galvanizing truth behind their faith in Christ. All the disciples, except for John, were martyred for their belief in Christ and His resurrection.
3 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.
Charles W. Colson served as Special Counsel to President Richard Nixon from 1969 to 1973.“I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.”
Chuck Colson Quote -“I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.”
“I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.”
“I know the resurrection is a fact, and Watergate proved it to me. How? Because 12 men testified they had seen Jesus raised from the dead, then they proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never once denying it. Every one was beaten, tortured, stoned and put in prison. They would not have endured that if it weren't true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most powerful men in the world-and they couldn't keep a lie for three weeks. You're telling me 12 apostles could keep a lie for 40 years? Absolutely impossible.”
Concluding thought
― Charles W. Colson
Concluding thought - The Title of this sermon is “He Has Risen! So What?” So what? Ladies and gentlemen, if you do not believe that Jesus was raised from the dead you have no hope of entering eternal life. His resurrection is that important. So, Do you believe?
Invitation
Connection Group Questions
What are you rejoicing in?
What are you challenged by?
What have you learned about God from this passage?
What do we learn about Jesus from this passage?
What have you learned about mankind from this passage?
What will I do this week based on this passage?
With whom will you share what you learned this week?
1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 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? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 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, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 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.
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.
Risen (vs. 1-5) -
Remember (vs 6-9) -
Believe? (10-12) -
Connection Group Questions