The Truth of the Resurrection
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Introduction
Introduction
<<PRAY & bless the children>> <<CW>>
Palm Sunday
<<PRAY & bless the children>> <<CW>>
We call the Sunday before Easter “Palm Sunday” because of the events that took place in Jerusalem on the Sunday before the first Easter. Jesus came into Jerusalem the week before the Passover, and He came in with a bang. This was not the first time He had made a commotion in the City during a great festival. All told, Jesus comes to Jerusalem five times during major feasts over three years, and every time, He proclaims the Gospel and provokes the Pharisees, the scribes, and the Sadducees. Each time, the opposition to Jesus mounts. And so does the anticipation. Around the time of the festivals, people in Jerusalem are asking, “Do you think he’ll show up?”
You are not alone in this room.
And God has a word for you today.
We call the Sunday before Easter “Palm Sunday” because of the events that took place in Jerusalem on the Sunday before the first Easter. Jesus came into Jerusalem the week before the Passover, and He came in with a bang. This was not the first time He had made a commotion in the City during a great festival. All told, Jesus comes to Jerusalem five times during major feasts over three years, and every time, He proclaims the Gospel and provokes the Pharisees, the scribes, and the Sadducees. Each time, the opposition to Jesus mounts. And so does the anticipation. Around the time of the festivals, people in Jerusalem are asking, “Do you think he’ll show up?”
In , Jesus travels to Bethany to the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, just two miles from Jerusalem. And there, he raises Lazarus from the grave. This seems to be the tipping point for the leaders.
john 11.47-48
47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.”
53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.
45 Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, 46 but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47 So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the council and said, “What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation.” 49 But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all. 50 Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. 53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.
53 So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.
john 11:45-
john 11.53
It was no secret that Jesus had enemies. They had tried to arrest him, tried to kill him. But every attempt had failed, and Jesus says it’s because “the hour had not come.”
In , Jesus tells the disciples
44 “Let these words sink into your ears: The Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.”
And
51 When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem.
And from that time, Jesus inexorably walks back towards the city.
22 He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem.
Coming first to Jericho, 16 miles from Jerusalem, and then back into Bethany again. The Passover was quickly approaching, and the people were looking for Jesus, asking one another, “What do you think? Will he come this time?”
And he traveled on, coming first to Jericho, 16 miles from Jerusalem, and then back into Bethany again. The Passover was quickly approaching again. And the people who had come up to Jerusalem to prepare for the Feast were looking for Jesus, asking one another, “What do you think? Will he come this time?”
The next day, the crowds in Jerusalem for the feast heard that Jesus was on his way. They cut palm branches to lay before Him as He came into town - a red carpet welcome. Jesus sent two disciples ahead of Him, who brought a donkey for Him to sit upon, and He rode into town to loud, rejoicing shouts of “Hosanna! Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!”
The next day, the crowds in Jerusalem for the feast heard that Jesus was on his way. They cut palm branches to lay before Him as He came into town - a red carpet welcome. Jesus sent two disciples ahead of Him, who brought a donkey for Him to sit upon, and He rode into town to loud, rejoicing shouts of “Hosanna! Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!”
The crowds were proclaiming that this was the Messiah, the promised one, and they were pointing to the raising of Lazarus as the indisputable proof.
It inflamed the anger of those who wanted Jesus dead.
And at just the right moment, in , Jesus turns to the disciples and says, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”
He knew the leaders had made plans. He knew what they were going to do. He knew the crowds who called him the King would turn around and call for him to be crucified.
He knew the leaders had made plans. He knew what they were going to do. He knew the crowds who called him the King would turn around and call for him to be crucified.
when the going got tough,
He knew that one of his own friends would sell him out. He knew that when the going got tough, they’d all leave him alone. And he knew that the Jews would condemn him and the Romans would crucify him. But he rode into Jerusalem anyway.
How did he do it? When every step took him further into the valley of the shadow of death? How did he keep his face set towards Jerusalem?
The answer to that question is the answer to our question today:
Q. How can I live in Resurrection hope today when death is still a reality?
And we’re going to look at our text in three sections.
had warned Him to get away from Jerusalem because Herod was trying to kill Him, too.
1 COR REVIEW
All of the distractions, temptations, and sorrows that derail us come back to the chief of all sins, the one that started it all - unbelief. Adam and Eve ate from the tree because they did not believe that God was good. They did not trust His plan. Our anxieties, our fears, our rebellions, our distractedness, our spiritual laziness
Q. How can I live in Resurrection hope when death is still a reality?
Proposition: The Resurrection gives hope to despairing, defeated, dying people
I. Look to the PROOF (Christ the firstfruits… vv20-22)
I. Look to the PROOF (Christ the firstfruits… vv20-22)
<<READ 20-22>>
Paul began the chapter by reminding us of the essence of the Good News about Jesus. Jesus Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, he was buried, he was raised the third day according to the Scriptures, and he was seen alive by a multitude of eyewitnesses. Mary, Peter, James, John, the twelve, 500 eyewitnesses at once, and even Paul on the road to Damascus - they all saw Jesus, the risen, physical, embodied Lord, and every one of the apostles carried that message into the world. That’s the Gospel that Paul brought to Corinth, that the Corinthians heard and believed.
But some of the Corinthians were saying that there’s no resurrection of the dead. In verses 12-19, Paul is showing them that if there’s no resurrection of the dead, then the resurrection of Jesus is thrown out, too. The Gospel says: Jesus was raised the third day according to the Scriptures. Well, the Old Testament Scriptures don’t just teach that the Messiah would suffer and be raised the third day. They also teach that at the end of the age, the dead will be raised. says
2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 And those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky above; and those who turn many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the firstfruits of that first resurrection - the bodily resurrection of believers to everlasting life in sky-bright glory.
Paul tells the Corinthians that if there’s no future resurrection of the dead, then there’s no resurrection for Jesus to be firstfruits of. In , Jesus even said “I AM the Resurrection and the Life. Whoever believes in me, even if he dies, yet shall he live.”
But if there’s no future resurrection, then Jesus wasn’t raised, which means death wins, and our sins are not forgiven, and our faith is futile and useless.
But the Gospel they believed proved otherwise. The Old Testament predicted it, the eyewitnesses proclaimed it. But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He convinced Peter the coward, James the mocker, Thomas the doubter, Paul the persecutor. Every one of them was changed by the proof of the Resurrection.
He is the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. The firstfruits were the first portion of the harvest, given by God as a proof of the harvest to come and presented to God to declare the whole harvest really belonged to him. The resurrected Jesus is God’s proof that you and I will be raised and He is the proof that everyone who belongs to Jesus belongs to God.
In verses 21-22, Paul uses an analogy to make this point. What happened to Adam happens to us. But if we are in Christ, what happened to Jesus will happen to us - we will be made alive.
He is the proof that your mortal body will one day put on immortality.
The Resurrection of Jesus is like that: He is the proof that your mortal body will one day put on immortality.
When you face the reality that in Adam all die, faced with your own mortality, or the mortality of your spouse, you face fear, and despair. Look to the proof that there is a glorious harvest ahead. When you see that stack of bills on the table with the name of your creditors, or the hospital, or the pharmacy, the resurrection is proof that your story does not end with famine, but with abundance.
Despair has a way of derailing our walk with Christ.
When you face the reality of your own mortality, or the mortality of your spouse, you face fear, and despair. Look to the proof that there is a glorious harvest ahead. When you see that bag of snakes on the table with the name of your creditors, or the hospital, or the pharmacy, I want you to remember that if Jesus has proven that He is going to raise you up at His Return, then no matter how bad things get right now, the story does not end with famine, but with abundance. Look to Jesus, the proof of your future resurrection.
It was the resurrection of Jesus that lifted the apostles out of despair and set them on fire to get the message of salvation to the nations. Without the resurrection, Paul says in verses 29-34, why would they put themselves in danger every day? Yet almost every one of them died a martyr’s death. James the son of Zebedee was killed with the sword, Peter and Andrew were both crucified, Paul was beheaded, almost all of them were imprisoned. To this day, throughout the world, Christians in other lands face imprisonment, false accusations, torture, forced labor, slavery, and death. How do they remain steadfast? How can they rejoice in all of it? They look to the proof, and so must we. We must look to Christ, the firstfruits, who set his face set to Jerusalem and kept going.
Students, the identity and safety that you find in your friends, or in your phone, or in your extra-curricular activities, are all exerting pressures on you to be a particular kind of person, and the North Shore ambition is pressing on you, too. But the resurrection of Jesus is an end to despair and a source of peace of mind. He is calling you to follow Him, and no matter what challenges you face, it’s worth it. It’s not in vain. There’s a future harvest for you.
Do you want to know why we should declare the Gospel of Jesus to our friends, our neighbors, our colleagues? Because Christ is the proof that they can share in the future resurrection, too.
It was the resurrection of Jesus that lifted the apostles out of despair and set them on fire to get the message of salvation to the nations. Without the resurrection, Paul says in verses 29-34, why would they put themselves in danger every day? Yet almost every one of them died a martyr’s death. James the son of Zebedee was killed with the sword, Peter and Andrew were both crucified, Paul was beheaded, almost all of them were imprisoned. The early Christians were beaten, stoned, burned, disinherited, tortured, fed to lions, slaughtered in the arenas. It has been a peculiar abnormality in the Western world that Christians have been tolerated, but to this day, throughout the world, Christians in other lands face imprisonment, false accusations, torture, forfeiture of property, forced labor, slavery, and death. How do they remain steadfast? How can they rejoice in all of it? They look to the proof, and so must we. We must look to Christ, the firstfruits, who set his face to Jerusalem and kept going. Who “for the joy set before him” endured the cross, despising its shame. Who was raised the third day, and in whom we shall all be raised, too. Without Jesus, our struggles would be futile. Our future would be empty.
Students, without Jesus, you would face the pressures to conform to the culture and standard you see at school with no guarantee it would be worth it to live differently. Friend groups and cliques create an illusion of safety, that if you reflect the values of your friend group back to them, you’ll have a place to belong. But those friend groups are fragile. I remember when I was in high school, I quit band a few weeks before the start of senior year, and people I thought were my friends turned away from me like I was a traitor. I had no idea how fragile my friendships were. The identity and safety that you find in your friends, or in your phone, or in your extra-curricular activities, are all exerting pressures on you to be a particular kind of person, and the North Shore ambition is pressing on you, too. It’s no wonder that anxiety is at an all-time high among teenagers. But the resurrection of Jesus is an end to despair and a source of peace of mind. The life that Jesus is calling you to live is radically different. He is calling you to follow Him, to walk into your school as an ambassador of the Gospel, to love your neighbors, your teachers, your enemies, your friends, like He loves you. And to tell them about the Gospel. The resurrection of Jesus is the proof that no matter what challenge you face, it’s worth it. It’s not in vain. There’s a future harvest for you.
Look to the proof.
II. Trust in the PLAN (But each in its own order… vv23-24)
II. Trust in the PLAN (But each in its own order… vv23-24)
Now let’s look at verses 23-24. We can live in Resurrection hope today by trusting in the PLAN. <<READ 23-24>>
There is an order to the accomplishment of God’s purposes in the world.
When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the donkey on Palm Sunday, it wasn’t improvised. It was necessary, he said, for the Messiah to suffer in Jerusalem, to be buried, and to be raised the third day.
On the night of the Passover, when Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples and they then retired to the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed to the Father, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” On the cross, with his last breaths, he declared the accomplishment of the plan when he said, “It is finished,” and entrusted Himself to the Father by saying, “Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit.”
On the night of the Passover, when Jesus shared the Last Supper with His disciples and they then retired to the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed to the Father, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” On the cross, with his last breaths, he declared the accomplishment of the plan when he said, “It is finished,” and entrusted Himself to the Father by saying, “Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit.”
Throughout the Gospels, Jesus makes clear that He is on mission.
17 For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”
In the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed to the Father, “Not what I will, but your will be done.” On the cross, with his last breaths, he declared the accomplishment of the plan when he said, “It is finished,” and entrusted Himself to the Father by saying, “Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit.”
Jesus knew the plan, and He trusted it completely. Verses 23-24 of today’s text remind us that the plan is still unfolding.
The literal, bodily return of Jesus Christ is the next great event of history. If you or I should die today or anytime before he returns, and we belong to Christ by faith, we will join him in heaven and our bodies will sleep in the earth, but we will still long for his return, when we will be like him, raised imperishable, as we were always meant to be. We get another glimpse into the plan in :
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
acts 1.11
Verses 23-24
Verse 24 says “Then comes the end.”
When Jesus returns and those who belong to Him are raised, tells us that they will reign with Christ on the earth for a thousand years, in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies like . It’s only after that thousand years, what we call the Millennial Kingdom, that the final judgment occurs, Satan and all God’s enemies are cast into torment, and the Kingdom is delivered to God the Father. It is only then, when Heaven and Earth are one, that the rupture between God and man is completely, totally, finally, abolished forever.
But the plan says there’s more to do before that happens. The end will only come after the plan is complete. When Jesus returns and those who belong to Him are raised, tells us that they will reign with Christ on the earth for a thousand years, in fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies like . It’s only after that thousand years, what we call the Millennial Kingdom, that the final judgment occurs, Satan and all God’s enemies are cast into torment, and the Kingdom is delivered to God the Father. It is only then, when Heaven and Earth are one, that the rupture between God and man is completely, totally, finally, abolished forever.
How does trusting God’s plan help us live in resurrection hope today?
There’s another part of the plan that bears directly on the here and now. When Jesus was talking about the period between His resurrection and the time of His return, he said this:
4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray. 5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray. 6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. 7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains. 9 “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. 10 And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.
mat 24.4-
Today, people come in the name of Jesus to lead others astray. We see the volatility of nations, perpetual war, persecutions against Christians. It no longer seems far-fetched to say that Christians will be hated by all nations.
And it is the global proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is our part to play. That’s the entire purpose of this period in history according to -9. Christian, if you want to know why you’re here on this earth, this is it. To bear witness to Jesus.
There were Christians even back in the first century who wondered why Jesus seemed to be taking so long to return, why we still faced death, and what they were supposed to do in the meantime. The apostle Peter responds to these things in , when he says,
There were Christians even back in the first century who wondered why Jesus seemed to be taking so long to return, why we still faced death, and what they were supposed to do in the meantime. The apostle Peter responds to these things in , when he says,
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Death may seem to be winning right now. The rulers and authorities and powers that govern this world may seem too great for us. Maybe the daily tasks of life seem too great. Folding the laundry has become a major victory. Maybe a day without a drink or a fight or a visit to a sexual website is a battle.
Death may seem to be winning right now. The rulers and authorities and powers that govern this world may seem too great for us. Maybe the daily tasks of life seem too great. Folding the laundry has become a major victory. Maybe a day without a drink or a fight or a visit to a sexual website is a battle.
Don’t give up hope. He will destroy every rule and every authority and power. His resurrection marks an end to defeat. Trust the plan. Entrust yourself to the Father, as Jesus did.
The resurrection of Jesus
The
But the resurrection of Jesus is an end to defeat.
In the meantime - fulfill the plan (Great Commission)
III. Walk in the PROMISE (The last enemy to be destroyed… vv25-28)
III. Walk in the PROMISE (The last enemy to be destroyed… vv25-28)
<<READ 25-28>>
Paul says that Jesus must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet, and there’s a reason given in verse 28 - so that God may be all in all.
He cannot be all in all unless He fulfills His word. And God promised in that the Messiah would one day destroy Satan and all his works. He promised in that He would destroy death forever. Verse 25 points to , ((FATHER TO MESSIAH))
1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
Verse 27 quotes
27 For “God has put all things in subjection under his feet.” But when it says, “all things are put in subjection,” it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him.
He promised in
6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet,
In order for God to be all in all, Jesus Christ must be victorious over every enemy.
The Father has given all things into Jesus’s hands according to and , and it is through the Father’s work of subjecting all things to the Son that the Son will destroy every rule and every authority and power.
When Christ returns, and He has fulfilled His charge as the conquering King on the throne of David, He will deliver the Kingdom to God the Father, and then the Son Himself will be subjected to him. The Father has given all things to the Son, and the Son will give all things to the Father. Even in victory, Jesus loves to serve. Paul has a way of lifting our eyes to see the wonder of our God. He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, one God, reigning forever.
42 And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 43 But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 44 and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Even in victory, the Son delights to serve.
14 And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
The King of kings and Lord of lords wipes away your tears. In a city, in the New Jerusalem, with trees, and rivers, and we shall see him face to glorious face.
The Corinthians hadn’t worked all this out. They thought that Jesus rose from the grave, but that they would just have a spiritual existence after they died. But think through this with me: If our whole Gospel is just going to heaven when you die, no resurrection, then death still gets your body forever.
The fulfillment of God’s promises require the destruction of every enemy, and the final one is death. His promises must be fulfilled, and that can only happen by resurrection. Your resurrection at the return of Christ. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil,
14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
So we see why at Jesus’ return, we will be raised as part of His defeat of every enemy. And at the end of the Millennium, first the devil and then death itself are thrown into the lake of fire, utterly defeated. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.
He must remain faithful to His own promises. And this means we can walk in those promises. Because His resurrection signals the end of death.
Conclusion: I will fear no evil, for you are with me (, , , , )
Conclusion: I will fear no evil, for you are with me (, , , , )
When Jesus set His face towards Jerusalem, He did so in order to keep His promises to you. The cross cast a long shadow across the valley between Jericho and Jerusalem, but He walked on. The palms and coats and cheers and his disciples’ promises, “Even though all forsake you, I’ll never leave you,” He knew what was coming. But He kept going.
2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
27 “Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.”
j
How did He do it? can help us see how He did it, and how we can live in resurrection hope today:
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
Are you weary today? Are you fainthearted today? Look to Jesus. Consider Him. Look to the proof of your future resurrection, trust in his plan, and walk in the promise:
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
