The Resurrection and the Gospel

The Resurrection

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Today we’re going to talk about resurrection, from the perspective that it is an absolute critical point to witness, to preach, to teach others about. It is the central doctrine of Christian belief, that a man, born of God, was sent to this planet about 2000 yrs ago. This man was killed, and on the third day, came back to life. We often say in that we should believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and we shall be saved. That sounds easy enough - but - what about Jesus should be we believe in? says that the demons believe in God too…

So lets focus on the resurrection of Jesus Christ - what does it represent?

It proves the authority of Christ and King of the Cosmos - what we see, and what we don’t see - therefore - believe in the Lord Jesus Christ -

It is an incredible claim - if it is true - Christians are awesome - if it is false - we are pathetic - we are believing a lie.

Jesus’ followers get to rise from the dead - just like He did. This is the great hope for all followers of Jesus.

Let’s talk about the reality of His Resurrection - how real was it? How tangible? Was it just a rumor?

Witnesses

The New American Commentary: Matthew 2. Resurrection! (28:1–20)

Matthew’s key focus in vv. 1–10 (and on into vv. 11–15) centers on the witnesses to the resurrection—the angels, the soldiers, the women, and, more indirectly, the religious leaders

The New American Commentary: Matthew 2. Resurrection! (28:1–20)

Matthew’s key focus in vv. 1–10 (and on into vv. 11–15) centers on the witnesses to the resurrection—the angels, the soldiers, the women, and, more indirectly, the religious leaders

And we see this ourselves - we also see what they witnessed:

Verse 4: The guards shake with fear, and faint (become like dead men). These Guards were put here by the Roman governor to prevent the disciples from stealing Jesus’ dead body, and claiming that He had risen from the dead. They ended up witnessing the actual Resurrection.

Verse 6: The Angel tells the women that Jesus had left the grave - physically - “He is not here”

Verse 7: We see Jesus covering time and distance “ Gone ahead of you to Galilee” - This was about a distance of about 200km - like from here to Eldoret

Verse 9: The women grabbed his feet

Verse 12: Witnesses were paid off - to change the story - even the chief priests believed enough to pay

19 You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous.

20 Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the LORD your God is giving you.

Verse 15: They Spread False Information

Verse 17: The disciples saw Him

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Dt 16:18–20.

Our Response

Jesus Christ has been given all authority by His Father. In heaven and on earth. (Verse 18) So, because of this, Go and made disciples (apprentices or followers) of all nations:

Baptizing them in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you

Remind everyone of the power of Christ to save, and renew, even beyond death. The followers of Jesus will rise from the dead - they will receive new bodies that cannot be affected by death, pain, sorrow or tears.

Murray Harris, a new Testament Professor, wrote this about Resurrection:

Themelios: Volume 1, No. 2, Spring 1976 4. Immortality (as Defined above) Is Not a Present Possession of All Men as Though It Were Some Anthropological Property but Is a Future Acquisition of Christians

it represents the culmination of an inward transformation which began at conversion and continues until the believer’s death or Christ’s advent.

The job that you do is hard, the people you often work with, from what I’ve heard, you face death often. Remind them to follow Jesus. Teach them to follow Jesus. When they mourn, to mourn with hope - Let’s read

Justice

18 “You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. 20 Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you.