God Emancipates

Over the past several weeks we have looked at God creating, God relating with Man, Sin separating man from God, Man trying to save themselves and failing, God coming to earth in the form of a man , Jesus revealing himself as the son of God, & Jesus death on the cross.

Today we are going to look at how He didn’t stay dead for long! He is risen.

The resurrection of Jesus is what sets Christianity apart from every other religion known to man, our God did not stay dead.

He is alive

Tonight we are going to look at two proof text that prove the resurrection of Jesus.

1st the Biblical accounts

2nd an external account by the Roman Jewish Historian Josephus.

2nd an external account by the Roman Jewish Historian Josephus.

Biblical Account

Matthew 28:1–10 KJV 1900

1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre. 2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow: 4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men. 5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. 8 And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word. 9 And as they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, All hail. And they came and held him by the feet, and worshipped him. 10 Then said Jesus unto them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

According to the Bible, Jesus didn’t stay dead for long.

The cool thing about this is that Jesus didn’t resurrect and then peace out .

He stuck around for 40 to visit his followers and preach, according to at least 500 people saw the resurrected Jesus.

1 Corinthians 15:3–6 KJV 1900

3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.

reiterates that Jesus did in fact resurrect from the dead.

He showed them infallible proofs that He was alive and well.

Acts 1:1–3 KJV 1900

1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: 3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

He showed them infallible proofs that He was alive and well.

Historical Account

Now lets look at the account of Josephus.

Josephus was a Jewish born Roman historian.

He worked for the Roman government

His job was to document the facts about history.

Keep in mind Josephus was not a Christian

He wrote the account of the Jews in 93

The Works of Josephus: New Updated Edition Chapter 3: Sedition of the Jews against Pontius Pilate; Concerning Christ, and What Befell Paulina and the Jews at Home

Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works—a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ; (64) and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day

The Works of Josephus: New Updated Edition Chapter 3: Sedition of the Jews against Pontius Pilate; Concerning Christ, and What Befell Paulina and the Jews at Home

3. (63) Now, there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works—a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure. He drew over to him both many of the Jews, and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ; (64) and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.

This non Christian man describes Jesus as the Christ that rose from the dead on the 3rd days.

Thats pretty awesome that we can look at documents outside of the Bible to confirm the truth contained in it.

Why Does This Even Matter?

So why does this even matter?

This is incredible news for you and me, because of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus we are given the free gift of salvation.

The death burial and resurrection are a picture of what happens in your life at salvation.

We can know be in the family of God

1 Peter 1:3–5 KJV 1900

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

The death burial and resurrection are a picture of what happens in your life at salvation.

The old sinful man or woman is dead and you have been resurrected as a new man in Christ.

Why does the death, burial, & resurrection of Jesus matter? (because we are able to be children of God, without a resurrected Jesus we are still dead in our sins)

Did you know that Jesus was spoken of outside of the Bible? How does this effect your faith? (It should strengthen and encourage you, reassuring you of the truth contained in the Bible)

Do you