Jesus and the Resurrection
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
Good morning, Hope you all have had a good week!
Upward basketball got underway yesterday and what a blessing to see the children gather and play ball, what a blessing to love on them with the love of Jesus and to share the Word of God with them in their devotions.
It is a awesome privilege my friends that we have the opportunity to serve them families and their children, grandchildren.
Please join us and pray for these children and their families each day, eternity depends on it for them. This might be the only opportunity for some of them to hear the gospel, so it is crucial that we do our best.
Now this morning we return to theme concerning the theology of Jesus, Christology.
And we have looked at several topics over the last few weeks, the Pre incarnate Christ, Jesus being fully God and fully man, The salvation of Jesus last week and today we are going to examine the resurrection of Jesus.
The resurrection is Jesus is really important to us as the children of God because without the resurrection, we loose important issues related to eternity and the our bodily state after our death. The truth of Jesus resurrection ensures our resurrection as well.
So this morning I want to take us to , verse 38-42
38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from you.” 39 But he answered them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold, something greater than Solomon is here.
So here is a tremendous passage where by Jesus responds to those religious leaders who are questioning and asking Jesus from a sign. So Jesus responds to them that no sign will be given them except the sign of Jonah.
Jonah we know is that OT prophet whom the Lord calls to preach to the nation of Nineveh, but he ran from God. He hated the Ninevites and did not want to to carry the message of the Lord to them. And as they tried to flee, the Lord sent a storm to rock the ship, and finally after Jonah was thrown overboard, we know the Lord sent a whale to swallow Jonah.
Jonah, being buried in the belly of the whale, for three days and nights is a type of Christ, a picture of what is to come… Jonah would be cast out of the belly of the whale and Jesus would come out of the grave in 3 days as well.
So here in Matthew Jesus foretells of His upcoming death, burial and resurrection, getting the world ready for His victory!
So this morning lets take what Jesus says here, build off of it and move into our message.
So lets discover all we can about the resurrection of Jesus.
First off please understand that just as Jonah only experienced His journey in the belly of the whale one time, So Jesus would only die, be buried and rise from the dead for the sins of the world once.
1. Jonah is a Picture of Christ’s Resurrection.
1. Jonah is a Picture of Christ’s Resurrection.
As we look at the text of the Scriptures, we see that the religious leaders were asking Jesus for proof that he was one sent from God.
Mind you that they have seen miracles, but they are having trouble believing that Jesus is anything other than a fraud
But Jesus refuses to play their games, He doesn’t preform miracles like a sort of magician. In fact he calls their request evil, they had no faith, they are skeptical of Him, of the message he brings and the Father he represents.
You see the works Jesus has already exhibited in front of them speak for themselves. His works, his miracles, they authenticate the message He has brought to all.
But Jesus tells them there is one miracle you will see… the sign of Jonah.
40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Just as Jonah was in the belly of the whale for 3 days and 3 nights so Jesus is telling them they would witness the same thing from himself.
But we would contend that Jesus wasn’t in a whale and that is correct but we can say that Jonah was considered dead at that point, buried beneath the surface of the ocean. So Jesus we know would die, would be buried and would rise again on the third day.
Remember what I said earlier, Jonah is a type of Christ. Which means his life is a image of, a picture or representation of what is to come.. Jonah foretold of Jesus suffering hundreds of years before His coming into the world.
There are many such things in the scope of the Bible but for us today, you are called to be a represent Jesus. You are to be His witnesses to the lost world around us.
Secondly please know this sacrifice of Jesus teaches us that it is a one time action.
2. It Was a One Time Action...
2. It Was a One Time Action...
We know according to the Scriptures that Jesus died for the sins of the world that day. He laid down His life as an atonement for sin.
At the end of that day, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus came and quickly and prepared the body of Jesus for burial laying Him in a new tomb. , verses 39-42.
They did this before the end of that day Friday, which was 5:59pm in the Jewish world, So Jesus was buried before the end of the day, thus that is day one. From 6pm Friday evening until Saturday at 5:59p was day two and then from 6pm Saturday evening until Sunday constitutes day 3.
And Sunday morning Jesus arose from the dead… a one time Sacrifice… and since it is a once time death, He is thus only in the grave once and arose once.
Let me share to passages with you, : and I Cor 15:20
10 For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God.
And likewise
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
23 But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ.
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
So Jesus died once and for all for the sins of the world, being raised from the dead as the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
I love that word first fruits, Jesus is the one who rose from the dead and because of His resurrection, all those who are found in Him will rise as well on the great day of the Lord’s coming.
Now we know from the Scriptures that there were many who were brought back to life after dying, IN 2 Kings chapter 4 the son of the widow of Zarephath and the Shumanite woman. In Mark chapter 5 we have the raising of the daughter of Jairus and then later in John chapter 11, Jesus raises a dear friend Lazarus. These are not all that were raised but we know for certain they all died again.
Jesus died once and for all, for the sins of the world, was buried and rose again on the third day, never to die again because He rose eternal.
He arose on the third day defying death, hell and the grave…
says
9 We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
And since death no longer has dominion over Him we know that death has no power over us. Yes, as long as Jesus delays His coming death will come to our lives but as Paul said, to be absent from the body is to be present for the Lord.
Jesus will come again and raise our mortal bodies, reuniting the soul with a glorified, eternal body and those of us who remain will be caught up in the air and changed and then forever we will be with the Lord; I Thessalonians chapter 4.
And the end of that passage, Paul says encourage one another with these words.
Jesus death, burial and resurrection is a one time event that has eternal consequences. His death atoned for our sins and His resurrection ensures our resurrection from the dead.
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,
Listen
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?”
Do you believe this?
If not, you need to ask yourself why?
Jesus is coming again my friends....
Now let move to our next thought, the Bible tells us that after the resurrection, Jesus went and preached to the Spirits in prison.
3. He Preached to the Spirits in Prison...
3. He Preached to the Spirits in Prison...
One of the most unique aspects of Jesus resurrection is the fact that the Bible says that Jesus went and preached to the Spirits in Prison...
What does that mean?
Well there is a passage of Scripture we need to examine. Lets look at I Peter, chapter 3 verses 18-20.
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.
Looking at the text, Peter reminds those he is instructing that Christ suffered once and for all, for the sins of the world. The Bible says to bring us to God.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 20 because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water.
But in verse 19, we have this message that Jesus went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison. What does this mean?
Well there are two thoughts here, one is does God give a second chance to those who were doomed to destruction, those who had a chance to repent as Noah declared the Lord’s plans during that time before the flood.
Well we know that judgement is assigned to the disobedient, but when you take the scope of Peter’s writing and the references that Jude ties to it later one it would appear that Jesus ascended and preached to those disobedient spirits.
The word spirits here does not speak to human spirits but to those angels who were disobedient and in Genesis chapter 6. So Jesus proclaimed victory to those who are held captive awaiting their final disposition at judgment.
Now there is also judgement for others, humans who were disobedient to God as well. Those who perished and did not heed God’s warning to repent before the rain came upon the earth.
The lost and disobedient heard of Jesus victory over all things, those who thought they might escape God’s judgment will not… Yet all those who died in righteousness, they are saved , for instance Moses, Elijah.. and so many more who walked in righteousness before the Lord.
No one past, present or future will escape the judgment of the Lord.. That is why the message for us today is to be ready.
Now one last thought my friends....
4. He Left and He’s coming Again....
4. He Left and He’s coming Again....
One of my favorite thoughts about the resurrection is the truth that Jesus died, buried and rose again, ascended back to the Father in heaven and is coming again.
I love Acts chapter 1, for it is there that Luke allows us by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit to know the ascension of our Lord.
lets take a peak at Acts chapter 1, verse 9-11
9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. 10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Now I am not going to go into a great deal of detail because I want to share about his second coming next week. But we will hit the high lights right now.
Jesus was giving His disciples some final instructions and as He has finished, the Bible says He was taken up.
Jesus was lifted up into the air, and imagine this with me my friends, watching Him go higher and higher into the clouds… until they cannot see Jesus anymore.
But suddenly, two man in white apparel stood in their midst. Their apparel was as white as a bolt of lightening, it is bright and beautiful, their countenance was a reflection of God’s own presence..
And their message is wonderful… listen to verse 11
verse 11
11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
Can you see this., why are you standing here, He has already told you what you are to do and what you can expect in the moments, hours, days to come… they would receive power…
But util then just remember this same Jesus who went away will return in like manner.
Listen - Jesus left in the air and He is coming in the air once again..
That is why our attention should always be focus on the things above, heavenly things and our eyes on the heavens for he could return at any moment.
Also, Paul tells us in
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
I Thess 4:
Listen there is a day when the Lord is coming again and He will gather the church unto himself.
You see the one who died, was buried and rose again ensures our salvation for all who have called upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. His death takes our death and does away with it and His resurrection is the proof, the guarantee that we will rise as well.
Jesus is coming for His church and His church will enjoy a home going day like nothing we have ever seen or experienced before
And forever we will be with the Lord..
Praise the Lord
Do you know the Lord
Are you following the Lord
Are you rejoicing in your future home
Give him thanks today and follow where Jesus is leading you today.
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
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