EASTER/Risen for my Past

· Welcome to all who are watching live on our website.

· Notes for sermon are on myfw.church

· Risen for my past, risen for my present, Risen for my future

· Series Question: There have been a lot of civilizations/empires/peoples. A lot of legends, myths and god’s.

· *None have had the tenacity of the so-called myths in the Bible, especially… that a man came, called Himself God, let himself be crucified, and after 3 days He rose from the dead and we still talk about it 2000 years later.

· Even people who have never heard it before embrace it…

· How can this one event from 2000 years ago keep going and people still believe in it.

· It is not just the turn the other cheek, love your enemies, forgive each other and pay your taxes…

· Anybody who hears about us out of context an outsider will have questions

· If you grow up in church/7 or 8 years old/ you start to realize what the Sunday school teacher is saying.

· There is this guy Jesus that everyone loves because he loves everyone and he died a long time ago and it’s not all your fault so... Don’t be sad because he rose from the dead and is now in heaven with his dad and the H.S. which is a person that nobody understands, and they are all watching you. All the time… / Does my mommy and daddy know about this? / Yes, and they can’t wait till you are washed in blood of Jesus just like they were. Here have some candy…

Today I want to hopefully put some context into what we believe so that you will know why it is so important that He has Risen for our Past.

Mark 16:1–10 NLT

Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside. When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.” The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened. Then they briefly reported all this to Peter and his companions. Afterward Jesus himself sent them out from east to west with the sacred and unfailing message of salvation that gives eternal life. Amen. After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened.

Mark 16:1–11 NLT

Saturday evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome went out and purchased burial spices so they could anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they went to the tomb. On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” But as they arrived, they looked up and saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled aside. When they entered the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a white robe sitting on the right side. The women were shocked, but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and tell his disciples, including Peter, that Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died.” The women fled from the tomb, trembling and bewildered, and they said nothing to anyone because they were too frightened. Then they briefly reported all this to Peter and his companions. Afterward Jesus himself sent them out from east to west with the sacred and unfailing message of salvation that gives eternal life. Amen. After Jesus rose from the dead early on Sunday morning, the first person who saw him was Mary Magdalene, the woman from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went to the disciples, who were grieving and weeping, and told them what had happened. But when she told them that Jesus was alive and she had seen him, they didn’t believe her.

When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 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.

Mark 16:1-

He is not here He is risen and no one would believe them unless the went to the tomb themselves and talked to the angel. Then they wouldn’t believe unless they saw Him. Thomas said he would have to touch Him. Now people hear the story of the resurrection and believe 2000 years later. Today I want to talk about the 3 E’s of the resurrection. The Event, The evidence, and the experience.

10 She went and told those who had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.

He is not here He is risen and no one would believe them unless the went to the tomb themselves and talked to the angel. Then they wouldn’t believe unless they saw Him. Thomas said he would have to touch Him. Now people hear the story of the resurrection and believe 2000 years later. Today I want to talk about the 3 E’s of the resurrection. The Event, The evidence, and the experience.

· Most debating atheist believe there is strong evidence that there was a Jesus that was crucified.

· It was something that was denied a long time but with all the eyewitness account and what we know about the Roman empire.

· The question we have is why. If we believe Jesus is God why did he have to die like this. It is embarrassing.

· Islam doesn’t believe Jesus is God just a prophet even, so they deny he died crucified.

· Koran 4:157 denies Jesus was crucified. They do not believe a prophet would die such a humiliating death.

· Humility is not in their nature. In fact Many Muslim theologians, because of all the evidence and eyewitnesses, say that Allah made someone look like Jesus and he was crucified.

· Have you ever heard someone say how do you reconcile the old testament God of Justice and wrath with the loving and forgiving Jesus of the New Testament?

· It can God either way/ Love passages O.T./ Judgement hell N.T.

· This becomes a question because Justice and mercy contradict each other. Think about it.

ILLUS: If a Judge gives you mercy, then Justice dies.

· God can’t have perfect Justice and mercy and forgiveness at the same time.

· Mercy defeats justice every time you can’t have both. What do we do? Throw out the part of God we don’t like?

· No, the God of the bible who is merciful and forgiving and loves you so much is merciful not at the expense of justice but through the justice of the crucifixion.

· When you think about a scary holy God we need to be realistic. That is what we deserve for what we have done to God and each other.

· You say not me I never did them. Let’s look at a bigger picture than just you. Maybe this wouldn’t be true in china or the Old Ussr but we are democracy and we say “that our government is of the people, by the people, for the people.

· We have voted in people who have not done the right thing many times. Our military has made some mistakes. Our foreign policy and domestic policy hasn’t always got it right. Just by living here you and I share some of that responsibility.

· I am not even getting into your personal sinful life.

We need the cross. It is where justice and mercy meet. Jesus lived the life I should have lived and died the death I should have died so I could have reconciliation and peace with God.

· They couldn’t believe that he rose because John and Mary and a host of others saw Jesus Die.

V11 Even his best friends wouldn’t believe, Thomas…

· The swoon theory though repudiated by experts comes back over and over again.

· Many try to use the bible to prove it.

Mark 15:44 NLT

Pilate couldn’t believe that Jesus was already dead, so he called for the Roman officer and asked if he had died yet.

Pilate was surprised to hear that he was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died.

· They leave out the next verse.

Mark 15:45 NLT

The officer confirmed that Jesus was dead, so Pilate told Joseph he could have the body.

When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph.

· 1. Jesus was flogged. 39 lashes / cat of nine tails / the loss of blood

· 2. Agony of Cross. Nailed to the cross (found a wrist bone with nail in it) / suffocate /

· 3. The spear in His side. A Roman trained Roman soldier Knew how to finish the job.

· The body was Given to Joseph of Arimathea to be buried because His disciples ran away.

· He was part of the religious leaders of that time.

· The religious leaders had the place guarded.

· Many eye witnesses, Mary Magdalen, the apostles, His disciples, and over 500 from Paul in 1 Corinthians which is interesting because any of those there could have discredited him.

· Josephus was a 1st century Jewish historian who talked about John the Baptist, Jesus and his brother James. cf. Antiquities 20.200

· It all comes down to believing that the new testament has actual accounts of eyewitnesses.

· One researcher calls the evidence of the New Testament. “An embarrassment of riches.” The New Testament has been preserved in more manuscripts than any other ancient work of literature, with over 5,800 complete or fragmented Greek manuscripts catalogued, 10,000 Latin manuscripts and 9,300 manuscripts in various other ancient languages including Syriac, Slavic, Gothic, Ethiopic, Coptic and Armenian.

· There is a letter to the church at Corinth in the name of Clement of Rome in 95 quotes from 10 of the 27 books of the New Testament, and a letter to the church at Philippi in the name of Polycarp in 120 quotes from 16 books. Jesus died in 33 a.d. so these were 62 years after resurrection.

· Gospel of John is the last gospel written no one disputes that and was originally thought to be written in 200 a.d.

· We found a fragment of john dated around 90 ad That fragment is a copy of a copy.

· If the fragment is 90 a.d. the original would have to be earlier. Matthew mark and Luke were written before, they would have to be before 90. Jesus died in 33ad so they are 47 years after the resurrection.

· None of the gospels mention the destruction of Jerusalem. 70 a.d. 70 -33 is 37 years after resurrection.

· Wait we are not done yet. We know acts was the sequel to Luke what was it about? It was about Paul and his life his whippings and beatings his stoning Steven his conversion his ship wrecks but it does not record one thing. Paul’s death. Which we know was in 64 a.d. 31 years after the resurrection.

· Peter and James were both killed between 60 and 65 but no mention of the church leaders is odd. If acts was written before a.d. 60 then Luke must have been written in the 50’s 19 years after resurrection.

· Luke we know was written after mark so mark had to be written in the 40’s the latest being 7 years after the resurrection.

· We continue to find more earlier manuscripts. All archeologist who are studying not just the middle east but Rome in antiquity the first book they look is the bible because it is so accurate.

· Great book called Jesus and the eyewitnesses Richard Bauckham

We have this booklet in the back for you today. The case for Easter that will go over most of the evidence we have talked about today.

· People today are experiencing what it means to believe in the resurrection and it is growing.

· There are more Christians in Africa then there are people in the U.S. and that will be true of China in the next couple of years if not now.

· The gospel, Jesus died was buried and rose, is still changing lives today.

· Let me tell you a story that Jesus told.

ILLUS: Prodigal Son

Luke 15:20 NLT

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.

Luke 15:20–24 NLT

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’ “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

Luke 15

“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. 21 His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. 22 “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. 23 And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, 24 for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.

· This is a story about what we call salvation.

1. His father was watching for Him

2. He admitted he was wrong

3. His father wasn’t interested in another servant he wanted His son back

4. He was restored completely. Ring and Robe represents that the son was family again with all rights and the inheritance that was squandered had been re vested in him.

5. He was dead but now has life.

· A dead person cannot feel unless he is brought to life. If you are dead in your sins you cannot understand the experience of the resurrection.

· We look at things pretty black and white.

· Do I owe? How do I pay my debt.

· Even when we doe things wrong we respond by Paying my debt to society.

· What God di for us on the cross is not a zero sum game. Where you are trying to get back to zero.

· Christ death on the cross was to pay your sin debt but His resurrection was to place a ring on your finger and a robe around your shoulders.

· His resurrection gives you the right to be called the son or daughter of God. With full rights and inheritance of Jesus

Romans 8:17a NLT

And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory..

Summary: You can experience that resurrection here today by choosing to place your faith in Jesus Christ. He is risen! [wait] He rose for our past to restore you to who He says you are. His son or daughter with all rights and inheritance. HE didn’t come to condemn us.

John 3:16–17 NLT

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

This is why we tell our Kids that Jesus loves them. That he died a long time ago to pay their penalty for sin. That through the blood he shed for us on that cross as a sacrifice we can have New life in Him. This is where Mercy and justice meet at the cross.

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.

This is why we tell our Kids that Jesus loves them. That he died a long time ago to pay their penalty for sin. That through the blood he shed for us on that cross as a sacrifice we can have New life in Him. This is where Mercy and justice meet at the cross.

Is it time for you to turn around and admit you are wrong and come home?

EASTER/Risen for my Past

Risen for My Past

INTRO: Welcome to our resurrection day celebration

A. We are glad you are here.

B. First message in our series called Risen

C. People think Christians are strange.

I. The Event

A. Crucifixion

B. Why was this the Plan

C. The reason for this plan.

II. The Evidence

A. The medical evidence

B. The missing Body Evidence

C. The Eyewitness evidence

III. The Experience

A. This is the main reason we are here today.

B. Why does it change lives? What do we mean by Risen for your past.

C. A few things I want to point out.

D. The debt culture we live in.