More Difficult Than Raising The Dead

does anybody in this room belief that okay, I kind of feel like I was the only one after I said that bunch of blank stares up here Can we start that again? The primary reason we celebrate Easter as I understand it is to celebrate the reality reality. The Jesus has been raised from the dead.

Okay. Thank you. I'm just getting my next question is are there Skeptics about the resurrection? Have you ever struggled with doubt? Is it hard to believe that someone was raised from the dead and never diet again?

Sure, that's how that's a lot to take. That's all it's hard to believe. We've never seen it. And there's some cases where it it's people have claimed that they have been dead. They've been on the maybe a hospital table and and they are dead by all medical standards and then next thing, you know, there's a pulse and they and they lived years longer are there's their stories of that fact, there's a movie out right now called breakthrough talks is a story of a young man named John Smith who died he was declared. I didn't see the movie. I'm just going to run in the story the best I can and He said he's alive today. I think he's my 18 right now 19 years old something like that.

But he's going to die one day. again So even in those cases where we've seen the last, you know death for a few minutes at least as far as the heart stopped and no pulse whatever those are minutes, but everybody dies so that the case for the resurrection is a challenging one because it's difficult to believe and we can be honest about saying that it's difficult to believe. What's a according to scripture? So we we see that Jesus died for our sins and he did so to offer forgiveness to us salvation to us to make us right with God where we were not right with God. That's what Jesus did that's what it what the scriptures tell us and he was raised from the dead on the third day. Never to die. Again. That's the Declaration of scripture those actual to take a look at the the statement there. What's more difficult than raising the Dead? So my question is a little deeper. Is it hard to believe that Jesus rose from the dead or to believe that Jesus forgives sins? That's what I want to look at today and explore and so we're going to run to turn it to Luke Chapter 5 the to look at that and the the first claim I want to make here in a few more interested in following along taking notes in the bulletin. If you open it up, there's a note section on the inside and I have three basic points in the first one is this only God forgives sins. To forgive sins is to cancel debt. That's what is someone you you incurred a debt when you wrong somebody else and when we when we wrong God's law we break his law we incurred debt against God we owe him something. But the forgive is the cancel that debt to release the person of the charges that they aren't that's forgiveness and only God forgives sins will talk about what that means as we look at this passage. So Luke Chapter 5. This is actually early in Jesus ministry within his first year of ministry. It tells us the story. On one of those days while he was teaching Pharisees and teachers of the law or sitting there who would come from every village of Galilee and Judea and also from Jerusalem and the Lord's power to heal was in him. So Jesus early in his ministry was known for healing people he would go around and and people would have these sicknesses in and ailments from birth even and blindness and he would heal them and they would not be able to walk where they couldn't before they would see where they were blind before they would have demons cast out of them and they would have their lives back these things were happening support power to heal was on him it was obvious and he was drawing a crowd people are interested in what he had to say and so in the process he drew a crowd of these other people to Pharisees and teachers of the law. It's just cover them real quick Pharisees were a religious / political group of that day of the about 2,000 years ago Judaism you had the Pharisees They were fairly conservative politically. They wanted less Roman government interference and they wanted to go manage rule themselves, but they were also somewhat liberal it religiously theologically cuz they accepted or oral tradition as well as the written law. Is there an interesting bunch and and a lot of people were part of that group and so they were present here in in this story. Are they did tend towards legalism a bit. In other words, they would lay a really heavy burden of religious practices. Like if you're up if you're a good Jew you're going to do XYZ and 5000 other. So that's what they would put on people expecting people to do. Then there's the scribes and teachers of the law will see the term describes a little bit later mostly scribes and teachers of our also Pharisees, but they were rabbis. They were teachers they would be the people that would transcribe the scripture from from the Old Law to the newer readings of it. So people could read and understand the law they would teach it. All of the scribes and Pharisees and scribes and teachers of the law were Pharisees, but they were very often the case. They're very well-studied men. These guys knew both Pharisees and scribes. They knew the scriptures. Well, we're talking Old Testament at this point before Jesus came, right? We didn't have Matthew Mark Luke John forward. We had all the Old Testament books. They had all the Old Testament story continues and verse 18 of Luke Chapter 5 just then. Some men came carrying on a stretcher a man who is paralyzed. They tried to bring him in and set him down before him him being Jesus. They wanted to bring this man to Jesus. But since I could not find a way to bring a man because of the crowd they went up on the roof and lowered him on the stretcher through the roof tiles into the middle of the crowd before Jesus. Can you imagine the situation? Do you measure mean the owner of the house sitting in the house and all of a sudden your roofs being opened up and it's going on here. I thought I was going to have someone look that I realize you're getting on our roof is kind of crazy. It's really Steep and not send those days. I know stays rooftops were part of the living space or off in stairs to get from the outside. This was not uncommon to get to the roof. It was a little one, to lower someone through the roof though. As Jesus. Is there probably teaching and an explaining some of the scripture you get some dust starts falling and hitting bigger chunks are falling in Dixie know there's an opening in the roof and it and it gets bigger and bigger and everyone just probably stunned in silence watching this going what in the world is half. What she's going to do about it and next thing, you know, a man is lowered on a stretcher in front of Jesus a man that was paralyzed. Put yourself in the shoes of the paralyzed guy for a minute. I didn't ask for this. At least I'm paralyzed say that he said anything. I'm just wondering what it would be like to be him. First 20 is fascinating. Here's what it says in this is speaking of Jesus seeing their face. He said friend. Your sins are forgiven.

Wait, what? I'm paralyzed.

My sins are forgiven.

It wasn't what the Pharisees and scribes use. Hope verse 21 tells us then the scribes and the Pharisees begin to think to themselves. Who is this man? Who speaks blasphemies who can forgive sins, but God Alone? Who can forgive sins but God alone and you know what? They're right.

Read this text when he reverse 22, but perceiving their thoughts.

Pause it for a second and you ever been able to perceive somebody else's thoughts?

Not well, yeah, that's what husbands. We think we know but we don't know what's wrong. We don't know why Jesus knew he perceived their thoughts until he answers their thoughts.

Jesus replied to them. Why are you thinking this in your hearts? And then he asked them are very powerful question, which is easier. To say your sins are forgiven. Order say get up and walk.

a great question paralyzed man is laying before and now he's the object of discussion and he's laying there still paralyzed. This teacher this man is curiosity. He has said your sins are forgiven. I know you just a puzzle that he's probably going through in the and then all this discussion now going around him and Jesus answering and asking this question your sins are forgiven, which is easier to say your sins are forgiven or get up and walk.

Let's say this way. It's easier to say one. But it'd be easier to prove the other. Right where we could say. Hey your sins are forgiven. What proof do you have? Can you prove that someone sins are forgiven or not forgiving feel differently?

In contrast if someone said to the paralyzed person get up and walk and immediately will know if that person is full of hot air or not, right?

On one hand, it's easier to say your sins are forgiven. But on the other hand, someone being healed of paralyzation is an amazing rack Euless thing and it's difficult to believe especially for our modern minds. But Jesus is actually implying that it's easier to tell the man to get up and walk. Then to tell him that his sins are forgiven. That's what Jesus is saying. Scribes and Pharisees Bible experts were indignant that Jesus spoke these words only God can forgive sins. They said right they were indignant that Jesus offered forgiveness of sins. Jesus wasn't coming from the perspective of of telling somebody that hey God has forgiven your sins. Like what like we could write we could go to each other and say I want you to know dude what Jesus has done is provide a forgiveness of our sins. You can be forgiven. So let's watch relaying the message that sins are forgiven, but it's not us forgiving sins. Jesus actually offered forgiveness of sins to this man. Not the message of it, but the offer of it directly to him, you know, what is a pasture lot of times people come to me looking for forgiveness of sins. I can't help them with that. I need to let me clarify that and say I can point them to the One That Forgives sins. But I have no special powers of Pastor to forgive somebody sins. That's forgot to do. This is a true statement only God forgives sins and Jesus here acts as if he has the authority to grant that forgiveness. Cuz he does. Jesus gave this man the greatest gift he could ever receive forgiveness.

She's not just the victim of being paralyzed. He's a victim of being a sinner. He's a center. Center of someone who commits wrongdoing and it's in word or action or thought even just like every other human on this planet that we don't have to do this exercise. You can look at the person next to you to your right or to your left. It doesn't matter. You can look at them and say you're a sinner and you'd be right. No, don't do that. I don't think that's going to be healthy, but you could and you would be right. And I know that because I've tried this before I'm at created the special invention. It's a helmet that you can come up here with me and you can put this helmet on your head. I have it under here at secret, but it's real special technology. If you come up here, I'll put it on your head and it will display everything that you've done fought and said for the last 24 hours up here on screen for all to see who would be the first of all ends here.

Everything that you have said done or thought I got to stop using that illustration two people raising their hands. All right. When we're honest with ourselves, we realize that we broke in God's law for Sinners. And as a sinner this man was actually at war with God in a battle. He could never win. Just as you and I also centers are at war with God in a paddle will never win. Where in the Bible did determine who gets to be boss who gets to be God Of Our Lives? But the game is rigged, by the way, even if we win and get to be our own boss will will find actually later that it's just an illusion. And we're actually slaves to the enemy of God the one who hates God who hates you and me. We don't win. Maybe we gain this life and maybe we think that we have everything that we ever wanted, but we lose everything in the Life to Come. This paralyzed man was a sinner. They have friends who knew they needed to take him to the one who could heal. and forgive sins When Isis question who does have the authority to forgive sins? Cuz I think sometimes when we think about this we go way we forgive each other from time to time right when we meet only God forgives sins. So in terms of God's economy God's universe that he created he is truly the only one that actually is able to cancel a debt that's owed to him. And you see when we wrong God we break his law even if it's wrong somebody else if we commit a wrong to somebody else. It's a double sin. Not only do we wrong that person, but we've also wrong God by hurting his creation. So we actually have to answer to God and that person and in a sense that person so we can offer forgiveness to one another for our relationship sake but still we are dependent on the Forgiveness of God for eternity sake.

Did Jesus have the right to forgive this man sins? As the Son of God he did. Knowing that he was there to take this man's punishment that he rightfully deserved along with the whole world's punishment that we rightfully deserve knowing that. Yes. He had the right to forgive this man sins and not only that but he proves it he proves that he has the power to forgive sins by healing a man's physical situation. Let's read the rest of the story verse 24, but so that you may know that the son of man has Authority on Earth to forgive sins. He told the paralyzed man. I tell you get up take your stretcher and go home.

paralyzed man for a minute You just been told. Get up. Take a stretcher.

You want me to stand up Jesus? I'm paralyzed. Do you know what you're saying?

Get up take a stretch or go home.

Immediately, she's not me. I'd be thinking about it like this is for Real. He gets up immediately. He got up before them picked up what he been lying on went home complaining.

That's not what it says glorifying God. Of course. Can you imagine?

What's the greater thing here oil every verse 26 than everyone was astounded not just a man glorifying God. Everyone was astounded and they were giving glory to God and they were all filled with.

Then since we've seen incredible things today. They're probably still talk about in reference to the man getting up and walking but the impressive think the more impressive thing was the Forgiveness of the man sins. which is greater action one or action to action one is proven by action to action one is greater. The Forgiveness of sins is greater than the proof the healing of the man that was paralyzed. But there's something we need to understand. This is point number to the price of forgiveness. Is incredibly expensive.

Incredibly expensive the price of forgiveness. Why did it or what did it take for God to forgive our sins? What did it take? Why was it so hard? Why would Jesus forgive us? We're La Breakers?

We need his forgiveness. He loves us. Forgiveness is enforced by us.

But it is God's mercy and compassion. While upholding his own law. She forgot to remain just there also had to be a standard by which forgiveness was given. Listen to Colossians is the Apostle Paul man that gets the comes to Faith In Jesus a little bit later on from this time in history. Just a little bit later he writes and he sums up very succinctly what it takes for God to forgive sins. And here's what he writes in Colossians chapter 2 verse 13 and 14 start again 13 it says and when you are dead, Interest passes and in the uncircumcision of your flesh. He made you alive with him and forgave us all our trespasses. Did you catch that when you were dead? I got you were breeding you were walking around you were eating you were getting married. You were having kids you were growing old, but you were dead. In your trespasses want to trespass is basically just every single incident where we break God's law. So every single one that got the charge against this all of those trespasses. We were dead and walking in them. So we were dead people walking.

Plural many times many trespasses the uncircumcision of flashes of like a reference to us living in our own passions our own sinful broken Passions. What does Jesus do it says he made us a live with him. That's miraculous powerful thing and was he do he forgave us? Every single incident of our La breaking of his law.

That's what it took. Jesus forgiving us but how did he forgive us? How did that go about Jesus making us alive with him what answers in verse 14 listen to this. He erased the certificate of debt number forgiveness is canceling debt erased the certificate of debt with its obligations soon. We have a debt we're supposed to pay it back. Is it was against us and opposed to us that debt was against us supposed to us. It was hurting us. It was making us dead. And what does it say Jesus did he's taken away by nailing it to a cross to the cross. The one who suffered and died on the cross for our sake Jesus Christ. He wiped out the debt of our sin and offered forgiveness.

How how does that mean? He took it away by being on the cross. You took Jesus the perfect Son of God going to the cross that he didn't deserve to take away the debt. We did deserve the punishment from the debt that we deserve. He knew from the beginning by the way, what was going to what it was going to take to forgive our sins. It means he knew we would sin and rebelled against him before he created us ever heard this First Peter chapter 1 verses 18 to 21 tells us this for you know that you are redeemed. Hey, that's another word for being purchased or bought back. So is referring to that debt that's erased by a payment. You were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from your father's not with perishable things like silver and gold out of an easy forgot to buy back with silver and gold but no he bought it back first 90, but with the precious blood of Christ. like that of an unblemished and spotless lamb And catch first 20 he was four known before the foundation of the world.

God knew he was going to send his son Jesus to pay the penalty of our sins before he even created one of us.

How hard is that? How did that to be?

The Continuous but was revealed in these last times for you Jesus now been revealed in this moment in history Frost history for them present for the previous people pass forward 21 tells us through him you believe in God Who raised him from the dead? And give him glory so that your Faith and Hope are in God. Peter tells us essentially that God proved his power to forgive sins by raising Jesus from the dead.

Was it easier to believe that Jesus forgive sins or to believe that Jesus rose from the dead literally coming back to life again never dying again? And that's our point three. It's right Jeep the resurrection of Jesus proves that God can and does forgive sins. To the resurrection of Jesus does it proves it Jesus rose from the grave? He rose from the dead. Do you know Jesus predicted it? He predicted it. After feeding 5000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish no Small Miracle small small fries. He'd asked his disciples ate one of the crowd say about me. They say that I am and they gave us their answers in NM Peter offers up when Jesus says, but who do you say that? I am Peter goes you are the Messiah the Son of God. When Jesus goes yeah, don't tell anybody. Cuz you know Peter can keep a secret. No one can write you tell him not to say something or go. Tell it to everybody but Luke 9:22 is it comes right after that moment that conversation and it says this it is necessary. Jesus is saying this it is necessary that the son of man suffer many things and be rejected by the elders Chief priests and scribes and beat. tilt but that's not it and be raised the third day. He told his disciples that he would rise again. They didn't get it. They couldn't even fathom fathom him dying much less rising from the grave. There's evidence all throughout the gospels Matthew Mark Luke John all cover the death in in the burial of Jesus. He actually died. He was physically put to death by all means and measures and he was in the grave almost three full days, and he was there through at least three partial days Friday Saturday and then part of Sunday. Okay, I guess you can't fake dead for 3 days.

After his death Chief priests in the Pharisees, they revealed that they understood Jesus message better than his disciples did. It looks know what they say Matthew 27 vs 62 to 60 for the next day which follow the preparation day. The chief priests in the Pharisees gather before Pilate and Pharisees Sadducees. They were the other religious political group. They were friendly with the Pharisees didn't like each other. They fought a lot and they're meant before Pilate Roman god that they don't like and they're like, hey, are we agreed? Can we get this way? You'll help from you pilot. And here's what they asked for 63. They said and served. We remember that while this deceiver was still alive. He said after three days, I'll rise again. They knew he met Resurrection. His disciples didn't get it. The chief reason Pharisees did hello. What they believe it, but they feared it.

64 tells us so give the orders that the tune be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come steal him until the people. He's been raised from the dead and the last deception will be worse than the first that's what that was their Theory. They posted guards. There were Roman soldiers there at the Tomb in front of the stone that was rolled in. Like there's no other way out the stone actually had to get moved away for Jesus to come out. I mean, I guess he didn't have to come through but whatever they've this Stone did get rolled away. Matthew's account tells us there was a massive earthquake that the guards were terrified knees quaking they passed out in fear. That's what happened to this all bright light pass out. So when they wake up they go and instead of reporting to their superiors first, they went to the chief priests in the Pharisees and they said oh here's what happened bright light earthquake. We passed out body gone. Sorry. I mean I'm paraphrasing but that's what they said.

And you know what the chief priests and Pharisees did. They're like don't tell anybody that.

Here's what you're going to do. You're going to lie and and tell him that you know, this disciples overpowered you and they stole the body. Oh, no, you were sleeping. That's what you were sleeping. And Jesus body was stolen while you were sleeping. That's what you're going to tell him. Oh by the way will pay you a lot of money. So you'll tell that lie. Okay. That's what that's what went down. They gave him a lot of money to tell lies. They were sleeping and Jesus body was stolen but if they were sleeping, how did they know the body was stolen? I'll just cuz it's not there. Does does that discredit the resurrection? What wait a second wait a second. Roman soldiers whose job it was to do their job failed to do their job. They even lied to their superiors.

To follow what the chief priests and Pharisees told him to do. Okay, that's not in their best interest. 4 Roman soldier that could mean You had a good Roman soldier. You ain't worth anything bro by right? I mean this was either death or I'm losing status big time. This is not what they would want to do. But this is the lie that they told.

If anything's there skin to skin in the game for them was actually tell the truth to say we were overpowered by this blinding light in this earthquake. We are terrified that would have been better than saying. Yeah. We were sleeping on the job. my bad

Listen women came to the tomb on Sunday morning to anoint his body with spices like this is what a burial tradition you would bring spices so that it didn't stink too bad and there's a way of honoring Jesus today expected.

His disciples he's women that were in his his following then they went and told Jesus followers is it close disciples that the tomb was empty and they got a report that Jesus action was alive and they didn't believe it either one a day do it ran to the tomb. To see if what they were saying like me I know and they ran ahead to see if it was true. They found the tomb empty to it wasn't until Jesus revealed himself to them that they actually begin to believe he was risen.

If the resurrection were a hoax by his disciples, it sure is convincing. You know. They didn't believe it in the first place and now they're sold on it so sold on it that many of them offered their lives. In his name they die. They were put to death declaring. Jesus has risen from the grave and the offers forgiveness of sins. Put your trust in him many of them were put to death for that very message that's commitment to a lie, if it truly were a lie.

But it wasn't a lie. Jesus later revealed himself to more than his disciples. He actually a crowd of at least 500 people or 500 overtime according to the Apostle Paul in 1st Corinthians 15. Point of this is that the resurrection demonstrates God's life-giving power. And if God can raise the dead never to die again, he can forgive sins. He proved he proved he could forgive sins by raising Jesus from the grave.

I just cover this quickly Genesis 1:1 tells us in the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth. God spoke and things came into existence Genesis 2:7 tells about how he created man Out of the Dust game life has been the Lord God formed the Man Out of the Dust from the ground. He made a heap, you know, how to Dustin He breathed the breath of life into his nostrils and Man became a living being. The Man became a living being

But we can't do that way. We don't have our we don't even own our own piles of dust and he created that too. He has this life giving power. Why are we afraid that death is going to be the end if he has the power to make dust come alive. Don't you think his power to make us come alive? after death physical death is not the end for us. For the God who has life-giving power as an ability. amazing

raising from someone from the dead isn't that difficult? For him or someone giving power just a natural ability on the side. No big deal. He can forgive sins. He can raise you from the dead. But the same God forgiving people who have wronged him despised him not had any interest in him to be hard. Putting his son on a cross that had to be hard.

But had to be deliberate.

Knowing that God knew in advance that would come in the plan already being in place to provide salvation through the death and resurrection of his son. This is the character of God. He's merciful. This is the character of God. He is just And law breaking had to be dealt with in a just manner. So he sent his perfect son Jesus to live suffer and get murdered unjustly on across and be buried. Maybe today you just need to be reminded why we celebrate this holiday called Easter. Jesus rose from the dead. Yes. And that's awesome. by his resurrection Which is even more important that it proved that he truly does forgive our sins.

How many I want to challenge you to renew your commitment to be a Jesus follower to be consistent as a Jesus follower? And remember that you've been forgiven of all your wrongdoing live in his forgiveness.

Stop allowing a particular sin to put us in bondage again. When you do keep getting back up and reminding yourself preaching to yourself the message that God has forgiven you and it's that sin. No longer has power over you and maybe get help from your fellow brothers and sisters, but but stop embracing sin.

wrongdoing attitudes And friends, I want you to know you can experience complete forgiveness today. Not just today, but I need that you're alive forgiveness from God is the truest and fullest and most complete form of forgiveness. You'll ever receive.

He provides the righteousness and the Perfection that you and I could not provide for ourselves. He chooses to remember our sins no more.

He provides a spirit to live in us and Securus until that day that we enter eternity. I'm standing his presence. And he lets us enter his eternity in heaven and Glory. He promises an eternity in that glorious place in a glorious condition with the greatest company imaginable. I know I'm not talking about me. I'm talking about Jesus. Okay. It's a lot of great company. It's a gift to be received. You don't have to earn it or buy it. You can't if you want forgiveness you come to him on his terms. And you can come to him today and receive his forgiveness. You can begin a life as a child of God. It will change your identity. You be a Christ follower now a Jesus follower now. And as a Jesus follower you begin to learn to trust him with every aspect of your life and you learn to make decisions based on his laws his ways his leadership in every area of your life. God deserves more than Sundays. He gets every area. I'm right where you are. You can say a prayer you can talk to God. You can admit your sand and and ask his forgiveness. Don't try to pretend that you don't have any. It's a simple as ABC. That's why I admit that's a admit your sin B is believe believe and tell God that you believe Jesus died for you and rose again and see if I choose to be a Jesus follower from this day forward. If you do that, you'll receive the Forgiveness that he offers would you do that right now? I want to close in prayer and I want to I want to start out the prayer was just a simple prayer of confession to God and saying those ABC's and and if you want to repeat those words in your own heart and mind after me and make that commitment to Christ today. I want encourage you to do that from right where you're at. And I want to close with that prayer and just pray that all of us would. Would renew that walk with the Risen living Jesus today. So we pray with me. Father we we come to you. Thank you for this incredible news that your son didn't stay in the grave that Jesus rose from the dead.

Thank you. That's what that means is that you proved that you can and do forgive our sins. Or we didn't deserve your attention your love and your mercy now you offer it incredibly freely.

So what if there's anyone here that would pray the prayer I pray to her right now that we would have met are sent to you with network centers. Or we have failed you in so many ways we have rebelled against you. We've been unpleasant in our actions. We believed that you loved us and provided forgiveness through Jesus your son who you raised from the dead.

I believe that and we choose now to confess you are Lord choosing to believe that. Choosing to be a Christ follower. We want to follow you for life. Sore I pray that if there's anyone here that would say that prayer that you would encourage their hearts and help them to know and receive that forgiveness and fullness today. And Lord for everyone else that that is experienced that moment already that that you would be renewed Lord. In the freshness of the life you give maybe walk with your spirit. And Lord for those are still unsure. I pray you would continue to reveal yourself to them. I pray that they would see authenticity from those who say they follow you. from us Lord The trailer that you would be honored we thank you for this day. And pray in Jesus name. Amen.

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