Sermon Tone Analysis

It is Resurrection Sunday

It’s the Holiday that combines Rabbits, Eggs, and chocolate.

Today is Easter Sunday.

It is the day that we celebrate the resurrection of Christ.

And not just the resurrection, but we celebrate ( and it sounds weird to say) but we celebrate the death of Jesus as well.

Today is Easter Sunday.

It is the day that we celebrate the resurrection of Christ.

And not just the resurrection, but we celebrate ( and it sounds weird to say) but we celebrate the death of Jesus as well.

The account of the arrest, “trial”, scourging, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth can be read in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

We will start this morning by looking at Luke’s account.

Luke 24

Amen.

This morning we will look at three aspects of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

We will look at the Predictions of his resurrection, The Proof of his resurrection and the Purpose of his resurrection of Christ.

The Prediction

While Jesus was hangin on the cross, he uttered the words as recorded in Matthew

Matthew 27

Matthew 27:

Look at

Psalm 22:14-

Then look as the 53rd chapter of Isaiah.

There is not time to read the entire chapter.

Isaiah 53

Jesus spoke many times of his death and resurrection.

Proof of the Resurrection

Three ways people approach the resurrection.

Open minded going where the facts lead them.

Believing it happened and looking for confirmation.

No believing it, and looking to destroy the arguments that support it.

Jesus was telling His disciples he was going away and was comforting them.

Thomas said that they didn’t know where He was going and how would they know the way.

Truth.

I am 50.

That is true for me and for everyone else on the planet.

It is true for everyone that on April 21, 2019 Pastor T is 50 years old.

Why is that important?

The Bible doesn’t have to be the inspired word of God for Christianity to be true.

The story of the great flood of Noah’s time doesn’t have to be a real event for Christianity to be true.

The account of Jonah and the big fish could have been a parable and not a real account and Christianity still be true.

But if the resurrection of Jesus Christ didn’t happen, the Christianity is a lie.

Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic or a risen Lord.

As Paul put it;

It is true that Christ was resurrected?

That is the most important question every asked.

Because if it is not true, then we should be out riding Motorcycles and not in here.

But if it true, then for those of us that believe, we have a promise of eternal life.

and for those that don’t believe, they also have a promise.

One of eternal separation from God.

The Evidence

The New Testament writings are reliable.

They were written early.

Before 80 AD

William F. Albright, who in his day was the world's foremost biblical archaeologist, said: "We can already say emphatically that there is no longer any solid basis for dating any book of the New Testament after about A.D. 80.

The Gospels even earlier, prior to 70 AD

If people started writing today that John Lennon rose from the dead, there are plenty of people alive that would swear that it isn’t true.

If eye witnesses were named, we could find them and ask them and determine its validity.

2. Most of the disciples were beaten, arrested, and killed because they wouldn’t recant their statements about Jesus.

People will die for what they believe is the truth, but not for what they know is a lie.

Tradition has it that Peters wife was crucified because Peter wouldn’t recant and then he was crucified upside down at his request, because he said that he wasn’t worthy do die as Christ did.

Stephen was stoned to death.

3. The writers completely abandoned their way of life in an instant that can only be explained by Christ’s resurrection.

Paul was a successful, admired Jew that persecuted Christians and he gave it up for a life of persecution in an instant.

4. They contain embarrassing details about the disciples.

They fled like cowards when Jesus was arrested

Peter denied Christ x 3

Thomas didn’t believe

Paul has Stevens blood on his hands.

The Empty Tomb

Either Christ rose from the dead or these cowardice and confused disciples managed to sneak past trained Roman soldiers, move a stone covering the tomb without waking them and steal Christs body and hide it.

And then send women, who’s testimony couldn’t hold up in court to find the empty tomb

Or… He rose from the dead.

Christ’s appearance to witnesses.

Over 500.

The impact of Jesus Christ on the world.

The most influential person in World History wasn’t a King, a world leader, a Military General, Philosopher.

He was an itinerant Rabbi that taught orally, didn’t own any property and only was active in His ministry for 3 1/2 years.

Conclusions

Professor Thomas Arnold - Oxford

"I have been used for many years to study the histories of other times, and to examine and weigh the evidence of those who have written about them, and I know of no one fact in the history of mankind which is proved by better and fuller evidence of every sort, to the understanding of a fair inquirer, than the great sign which God hath given us that Christ died and rose again from the dead."

Simon Greenleaf- Founder of the Harvard School of Law

An atheist and set out to prove that the resurrection of Jesus was just a legend.

He applied the rules of legal evidence in his venture and concluded this:

“ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF LEGAL EVIDENCE USED IN COURTS OF LAW, THERE IS MORE EVIDENCE FOR THE HISTORICAL FACT OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST THAN FOR JUST ABOUT ANY OTHER EVENT IN HISTORY” (7).

The Purpose

God Loves You!

What do you do with Jesus?

Reject or Accept him.

It’s not about religion.

It’s not about your money.

It’s not about controlling you.

It’s about Jesus.

The Check for all your debt.

Each of us owe a debt for our sin.

A debt that we cannot pay.

If someone were to write you a check for everything that you owe.

You may say I believe it, but you haven’t put your faith in it until you endorse it and deposit it.

It won’t do you any good to carry it around and show it off one day a week, you have to put your faith into action.

Here is what Jesus said about our faith.

I like poker.

It is a battle of intellect, instinct and will.