The Resurrection - part 3
The Resurrection
Mt 28:1-6 Part 3 of 3 3/23/08 a.m.
In this series of messages on the Resurrection we are looking at 3 areas;
First – the purpose of the Resurrection
Second - the privilege of the Resurrection
Third – the proof of the Resurrection
The proof of the Resurrection
Mt 28:1-6 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.
5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
The proof of the Resurrection
Many things can have an impact on a persons’ life,
tragedy, good fortune, kindness, cruelty, ignorance, knowledge, ability, inability, time, culture, society, family, friends, enemies, peace, war, abundance, poverty, life, death, religion, law, government, and etc. and can change a persons’ life dramatically.
But none of these things change the very nature and character of a person.
They may change or alter certain aspects of a person’s life but not the very being of the person themselves.
Only the saving grace of God can change the very nature and character of a person and that is the strongest evidence of the resurrection of Christ.
Let me explain;
Tragedy – good fortune - can have a tremendous impact on ones’ life but can’t tell us the purpose of life
Kindness, cruelty, can make us cry tears of joy or cry out in rage, but they can not reveal to us how to deal with life victoriously
Knowledge, Ignorance – can sometimes promote or hold us back us in our thinking but it can not teach us to think correctly
Ability, inability - can sometimes help us or hinder us in our goals but it can not tell which goals to reach for
Time – can give us many things but it can not give us life eternal
Culture, society – can tell us what is popular but can not reveal what is pure.
Enemies – can show us hatred and cruelty, but can not reveal the source of evil
Peace, war – can accomplish many things but they can not clear the conscience.
Abundance, poverty – can bring us leisure or hardship but neither can bring us joy or contentment
Law, government can steer us from wrong but they can not pronounce us justified
Family, friends – can show us love but can not reveal the essence of love itself
Life – can change ones outlook but can not change the outcome - acceptability
Death, - will change a person’s body but death can not change their destination
Religion – can give us a set of beliefs but it can not change who and what we are
The evidence for the resurrection of Jesus Christ can be found in these things.
Because only in the resurrected Christ can we know these things, no one else can answer or enable us to these things.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ reveals the purpose of life
1 Co 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ reveals how to deal with life victoriously
Php 4:13 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ teaches us to think correctly
Ro 12:2 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ reveals which goals to reach for
Mt 6:19-21 19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ provides to us life eternal
Ro 8:11 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ reveals what is pure
Jas 3:17 7 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure,
1 Co 1:30 30 …. Christ Jesus, … became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—
The resurrection of Jesus Christ reveals the source of evil
Jn 10:7-11 7 Then Jesus said to them again,….. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers,….. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the means to clear the conscience.
Col 2:13-14 13 And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the 9handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ brings us joy & contentment
1 Pe 1:8 … believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
The resurrection of Jesus Christ can pronounce us justified
Ac 13:39 39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified from all things from which you could not be justified by the law of Moses.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ reveals the essence of love itself
1 Jn 4:8-10 8 …. God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ changes the outcome of life
Ro 6:23 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the 8gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ changes our destination
1 Co 15:14 14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.
Jn 5:28-29 28 …. for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear His voice 29 and come forth— those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ can change who and what we are
2 Co 5:17 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
Col 3:10 the new man .. is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him,
The most sensational evidence found in history for the validity of Christ’s resurrection is the changed lives of the apostles.
Faith in Christ's resurrection came not from the empty tomb,
The report of the empty tomb sounded like foolish talk;
Lk 24:11 11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not
believe them.
Faith in Christ's resurrection came from Christ making himself known to His followers
He appeared after His resurrection to;
Mary Magdalene. Mr 16:9; Joh 20:18. The women. Mt 28:9.
Simon Peter. Lu 24:34. Two disciples. Lu 24:13-31.
Apostles, except Thomas. Joh 20:19,24. Apostles, Thomas being present. Joh 20:26.
Apostles at the sea of Tiberias. Joh 21:1. Apostles in Galilee. Mt 28:16,17.
About five hundred brethren. 1Co 15:6. James. 1Co 15:7.
All the Apostles. Lu 24:51; Ac 1:9; 1Co 15:7. Paul. 1Co 15:8. [1]
Faith in Christ's resurrection came thru a touch
Jn 20:24-28 24 Now Thomas, called the Twin, one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
So he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
26 And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” 27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
Faith in Christ's resurrection came thru peace
Jn 20:19-22 19 Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Faith in Christ's resurrection came thru revelation
Lk 24:30-31 30 Now it came to pass, as He sat at the table with them, that He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished from their sight.
Faith in Christ's resurrection came thru conversation.
Jn 21:3-7 3 Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.”
They said to him, “We are going with you also.” They went out and immediately got into the boat, and that night they caught nothing. 4 But when the morning had now come, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. 5 Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”
They answered Him, “No.”
6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.
7 Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.
We have many witnesses of the same kind today;
We have; People that have been touched by the resurrected Christ
Broken heart healed, health restored, relationship restored
People that have received the peace of the resurrected Christ
A clear conscience, removal of guilt, hope in your situation
People that know the resurrected Christ
Wisdom, knowledge, understanding
People that have experienced the resurrected Christ
Protection, provision, guidance, the testimony of another
The proof of the resurrection of Christ is found both in history and in the changed lives of people living today.
Do you know the touch of the resurrected Christ?
Do you know the peace of the resurrected Christ?
Do you know the resurrected Christ thru revelation of simple acts?
Have you experienced the resurrected Christ thru the miracle of salvation?
My prayer is that everyone, everywhere would know the resurrected Christ as savor, Bro. Paul
----
9 certificate of debt with its
8 free gift
[1]Torrey, R. (1995, c1897). The new topical text book : A scriptural text book for the use of ministers, teachers, and all Christian workers. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos research Systems, Inc.