The Resurrection: The Basis for Christianity
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Introduction
Introduction
Here’s a question for you, if Easter is such a big deal, why was it on April 1 last year, on April 20 this year, and on April 12 next year?
According the Bible, the Resurrection occurred around the same time as the Jewish Passover. The Passover was set around the first full moon after the vernal equinox. So the Christian Church debated and set the time for Easter, determining that Easter shall fall on the first Sunday following the first full moon following the spring equinox. The spring equinox is one of the two times in the year when the sun crosses the celestial equator and the length of day and night are approximately equal.
When the Council of Nicea meant Easter shall fall on the first Sunday following the first full moon following the spring equinox. The spring equinox is one of the two times in the year when the sun crosses the celestial equator and the length of day and night are approximately equal.
There is a 35 day period where Easter can occur (March 22 - April 25, inclusive): the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox may occur as little as two or as many as 37 days from the equinox.
There is a 35-day span where Easter can occur (March 22 - April 25, inclusive): the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox may occur as little as two or as many as 37 days from the equinox.
There is a 35-day span where Easter can occur (March 22 - April 25, inclusive): the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox may occur as little as two or as many as 37 days from the equinox.
But for the church, because the Resurrection was on the first day of the week, we celebrate the Resurrection every Sunday and not just when Easter comes.
The Resurrection is the greatest event in all of Christianity and, as the title implies, the absolute basis for all of Christianity!
The Bible teaches that Jesus is the Son of God and that He was crucified and died for the forgiveness sins, was placed in a borrowed tomb and on the third day, rose from the dead, and lives today!
No other religion has such claim. No other prophet said He would die and on the third day rise again. Buddha’s grave is in India. Mohammed’s grave is in Saudi Arabia. Both have bodies. However, the grave that archaeologists have pinpointed as being owned by a prominent Jewish leader named Joseph of Arimathea, which the Bible says Jesus was placed in, is empty.
This glorious morning, I was show you through scripture, that because of the Resurrection, we have an empty grave, an expression of gladness, and an everlasting gift. Notice what the Bible says in Matthew 28:1-10:
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 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.”
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Empty Grave
Empty Grave
No where in the in Bible do we have a description of the actual resurrection. But here, we have the news being given by an angel.
Imagine have been a witness to the most horrific injustice in the history of mankind. You have witnessed the brutal crucifixion of an innocent man. You have watched him die. You have seen him placed in a borrowed tomb. You feel like you need to help do a proper burial. So you go early in the morning to the tomb.
What an example we have for going to look for Jesus early in the morning.
O God, you are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
my soul thirsts for you,
my body longs for you,
in a dry and weary land
where there is no water.
Let us acknowledge the Lord;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.”
Hosea
These women were going early to express their love for Christ. They were at the cross; they attended the funeral. They cared for Christ not only to the grave but while He was in the grave. Can you imagine the emotion they felt? Place yourself back in their sandals.
When you get there to the grave, the 2000 pound stone that you saw seal the tomb, has been rolled away and there is this angel sitting on it. What kind of thoughts would go through your mind? What would you do?
Before you can speak or even ask a question, you hear the angel speak: “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.” And before you can react, you hear the absolute greatest truth ever proclaimed: “He is not here, He has risen, just as He said.”
All of the sudden, you remember what Jesus has said:
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.
They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” And the disciples were filled with grief.
Matthew 17
and will turn him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be raised to life!”
Matthew 20:19
You hear the angel say, “Come and see the place where he lay.” The proof is right in front of you! The tomb is empty!
But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
The other gospels tell of the details of the grave clothes laying there and the cloth that had been around Jesus’ head was folded up by itself, separate from the linen ().
Imagine the shock. You ask, “Is this true? Did He really rise again?” You hear the angel continue: “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.’”
The angel makes it more real because he is getting more specific. Jesus spoke of this in :
But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
The angel has played in integral role as a messenger. He shows that the word of Christ is fulfilled, that the grave is empty, and he directs the women to tell others.
The Bible says these “women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy.” There was the awe of the experience, but yet there was an expression of gladness.
An Expression of Gladness
An Expression of Gladness
Serve the Lord with fear
and rejoice with trembling.
It is so awesome to experience the truth of God’s message that just like the old spiritual, “sometimes it causes me to tremble!”
Isn’t that how it works? We learn more about the risen Savior and the fact that He is who He says He is, and as we get closer to Him through that knowledge, we are filled with joy! What a beautiful lesson to learn! In the midst of sorrow and great tragedy, gladness can be found!
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
These women took off to share the good news that Jesus had risen. They were filled with joy. To hear that Christ was risen was a joyful event. It was good news!
When you and I have good news, we can’t wait to share with others that want to receive it! They have to leave the cemetery to go share it. They are told to go quickly and tell the disciples. The disciples are in bad shape. They are scattered, at least one is on record in having denied Christ 3 times, and they are I am sure, distraught. So the message is to go to them quickly so that the truth about the risen Christ could help them in their circumstances. Oh, that you and I would trust the risen Christ to help change our circumstances! Oh that you and I would look to the truth of scriptures instead worrying. Oh that we would not be dismayed about what the future holds and glory in Who holds our future!
These women took off to share the good news. They were told to go quickly. Anytime you have the good news of Jesus you should go tell it quickly!
I will hasten and not delay
to obey your commands.
Psalm
Remember delayed obedience is disobedience.
Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back later; I’ll give it tomorrow”—
when you now have it with you.
They were told to have the disciples to meet the risen Christ in Galilee. Most likely this was to protect them from the oncoming trouble as the news spread about the empty tomb. The angel declared after his instructions: “Now I have told you.” He did as he was told. He acted as he was required. We would do well to learn from that example!
For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.
What is God telling you to do on this Easter morning?
If you do as you are told, there will be great reward.
The expression of gladness is rewarded. Notice what happens as they obey and go:
They encounter the risen Christ. They are given an everlasting gift.
Everlasting Gift
Everlasting Gift
Even though they believed the news of the angel prior to seeing Jesus, there’s nothing like encountering Jesus.
Even though they believed the news of the angel prior to seeing Jesus, there’s nothing like
The Bible says in
Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.
Matthew 28
The Greek word used here for “greetings” is CHARIS. It means “hello, grace, joy and good health.” You can’t say it without a smile. Don’t you think Jesus gave a great big ole smile when He saw His friends? Oh my goodness. What rich scene that must have been! The women fall down to His feet, clasped them - which means they grabbed a hold of them in a way they weren’t going to let go. Incidentally, if they “clasped his feet” that means there was something to grab a hold of! They weren’t grabbing something ghostly, they grabbed a hold of something substantial! Somebody say amen!
So when they clasped His feet, they worshiped Him. Wouldn’t have you? You saw Him die. You saw Him buried. You thought He was dead and gone and now you see Him here and alive! You’d better believe you would worship!
How beautiful on the mountains
are the feet of those who bring good news,
who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings,
who proclaim salvation,
who say to Zion,
“Your God reigns!”
Isaiah 52:7
Notice what we can learn from this encounter with Jesus:
Jesus meets us as we go towards Him. The women were instructed to tell the disciples to go to Galilee to meet Jesus. On the way towards Him, Jesus met them. How true is that for us!
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.
I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
John
Matthew 11:28
Jesus is always nearer than we can imagine. These women had no idea that Jesus was that close to them. In our darkest times and in our brightest times, Jesus is with us.
Seek the Lord while he may be found;
call on him while he is near.
Jesus appreciates and loves our worship.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.
Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
“Let us go to his dwelling place;
let us worship at his footstool—
Last but certainly not least, notice the everlasting gift Jesus gives these women in verse 10:
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
Jesus calmed their fears. Jesus always calms our fears. I remember when I was a boy and a storm would come up, I would be afraid and my mother would tell me to think of my favorite story about Jesus. I would began to think of one of the many parables or words of comfort Jesus would say as recorded in Scripture. Every time the thought of Jesus calmed my fears. As an adult, every time I fear, I simply say “Jesus, Jesus.” There’s something about that name isn’t there?
Jesus also wished His best for them. “Go and tell, there they will see me.” Jesus absolute best for us is His presence. At the end of this chapter, we see Jesus telling His disciples to go and teach, baptizing, making disciples, and then we have His best, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end.”
Notice Jesus calls His disciples Brothers. This is an indication of restoring fellowship. No matter how far we go away, Jesus is willing to call us family.
Jesus also repeats the message of the angel: “Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee.” The messenger of God will never contradict the mission of God.
Because of the Resurrection, we can be assured of many things.:
Fear is conquered.
Death is defeated.
The access is made clear.
Oswald Chambers said, “Because of what the Son of Man went through, every human being has been provided with a way of access into the very presence of God.”
The stone wasn’t rolled back so Jesus could get out. It was rolled back so we could see in and hear the words:
“He is not here; He has risen just as He said.”