4-16-06 Easter and Beyond

Last week we talked about the Triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. We talked about how Jesus did not come as a conquering King, instead He came to conquer Death.

During the time between Jesus coming into Jerusalem, being crucified on the cross and arising again on the first day of the week This was accomplished in what we now call Easter.

A lot of things happened in Jesus’ life:

He cleared the temple of those selling things in God’s House,

He had passover with His DISCIPLES and Instituted what we now call communion.

He was BETRAYED by one of His own (Judases).

He was falsely accused,

denied by Peter 3 times,

striped, whipped, and required to carry a cross to His own death sight.

There He was hung on that cross to die

between 2 criminals. One believed and one mocked.

He was buried in a borrowed tomb

and on the 3rd day He rose from the dead.

This was the Resurrection of Christ what we call Easter

Well lets start at this point with scripture. Matt 28: 1-8 1After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

Now the ground shook the stone rolled away from the grave opening,

the guards fell as dead

an angel of the Lord told the 2 Mary’s that Jesus had indeed risen as He said

and they should go and tell the others. WELL THEY DID.

Did you know that The resurrection of Jesus is one of the best attested events of history

.

That there were so many witnesses that even though Jesus’ enemies started a rumor that Christ’s body had been stolen and they still could not stop the news of the Resurrection from sweeping the nation, and then the world.

Although the Lord had foretold His resurrection, the disciples were still unprepared. They even found it hard to believe when the reports began to come in.

During the 40 days that Jesus met with the disciples after the Resurrection, many proofs were given. As Paul reports in:

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than 500 of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then He appeared to James, then to all the Apostles, and last of all He appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

A list of those who saw Jesus:

Three women at tomb	Luke 23:55–24:9
Peter, John see empty tomb	John 20:3–10
The women see Jesus	Matt. 28:9–10
Peter sees Jesus same day	Luke 24:34
Two on Emmaus road	Luke 24:13–31
The Apostles, Thomas absent	Luke 24:36–45
The Apostles, Thomas present	John 20:24–29
Seven at Lake Tiberius	John 21:1–23
Five hundred in Galilee	1 Cor. 15:6
James in Jerusalem	1 Cor. 15:7
Many at Ascension	Acts 1:3–12
Paul near Damascus	Acts 9:3–6
Stephen at stoning	Acts 7:55
Paul in the temple	Acts 22:17–19
John on Patmos	Rev. 1:10–19

I hope you never underestimate the importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The world believes that Jesus died, but the world does not believe that He arose from the dead. So what is the significance of the Resurrection?

It proves that Jesus is God’s Son.

It verifies the truth of Scripture.

It assures our own future resurrection. Because Jesus died and rose again, we shall one day be raised to be like Him

It is the basis for Christ’s heavenly priesthood

It is the proof of a future judgment.

It assures our future inheritance. Because Jesus Christ is alive, we have a glorious future.

In fact, the entire structure of the Christian faith rests on the foundation of the Resurrection. If we do away with His resurrection, we have no hope

It gives power for Christian living

Whenever God’s people gather on the Lord’s Day they bear witness that Jesus is alive and that the church has received spiritual blessings.

I believe that any sincere person who studies this evidence with an open heart will conclude that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is a historic fact and cannot be refuted.

It started with the 1st Easter and now goes beyond for you and me!

Therefore our hope must be in accepting what Jesus has done for us on the first Easter day many years ago and believing that He has arisen again that we also can have life eternal being risen with Him.

HOW WILL YOU CHOOSE? Pls pray with me.