Reason For Our Hope
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Reason For Our Hope
Reason For Our Hope
Mark 15:25-37
Mark 15:25-37
Mark 16.1-7
Mark 16.1-7
Introduction:
No morning of the year brings the feeling of hope and encouragement to the heart like Resurrection morning. And, none would question that we need hope in the midst of the challenges of life!
Quote – Psychologist John Clever, “The main emotion of the adult American who had all the advantages of wealth, education, and culture is disappointment.”
Yet when Jesus arose from the grave, “He planted the only durable rumor of hope amid the widespread despair of a hopeless world.”
Swindoll’s Ultimate Book of Illustrations & Quotes Resurrection
The resurrection is God’s “Amen!” to Christ’s statement, “It is finished.”
—S. Lewis Johnson
Now, I am aware that many question the validity of the resurrection.
I. The Power of the Cross
I. The Power of the Cross
And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And the superscription of his accusation was written over, THE KING OF THE JEWS. And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.
Note – When we consider the scene of the Cross, we may not at first see the display of God’s power.
Note – Jesus was not powerless. He laid Himself down voluntarily.
14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. 15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. 17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. 18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.
A. The Power of Redemption
A. The Power of Redemption
Definition of redemption – “To recover from captivity by ransom.”
1. All men are in captivity to sin.
1. All men are in captivity to sin.
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Ill – After thousands of years, western civilization has advanced to where we bolt our doors and windows at night while jungle natives sleep in open huts.
2. Only Christ can redeem us.
2. Only Christ can redeem us.
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Note – The shedding of the blood gives the remission of sin.
5. Forgiveness; pardon; that is, the giving up of the punishment due to a crime; as the remission of sins. Matt. 26. Heb. 9.
B. The Power of Forgiveness
B. The Power of Forgiveness
1. All men are under the penalty of sin.
1. All men are under the penalty of sin.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
2. Only Christ can forgive us.
2. Only Christ can forgive us.
a. His heart of forgiveness before the Cross.
a. His heart of forgiveness before the Cross.
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; And with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned every one to his own way; And the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Note – “Wounded” – means “to pierce through.”
b. His heart of forgiveness from the Cross.
b. His heart of forgiveness from the Cross.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
c. His heart of forgiveness
c. His heart of forgiveness
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
Note-forgiveness begins in the heart. Forgiveness is not given because the object is worth it, forgiveness is given because as Christian’s we value being right with God more than we value holding a grudge!
A Sunday school teacher had just concluded her lesson and wanted to make sure she had made her point. She said, “Can anyone tell me what you must do before you can obtain forgiveness of sin?” There was a short pause and then, from the back of the room, a small boy spoke up. “Sin,” he said.
C. The power of victorious living
C. The power of victorious living
6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he that is dead is freed from sin.
11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Note – As Christians we must constantly remember that our victory was made available on the Cross.
There is Power at the Cross Of Jesus Christ!!!
II. The Proof of the Resurrection
II. The Proof of the Resurrection
Mark 16:1-7
Note – He showed Himself alive by many infallible proofs – over 15 post resurrection appearances.
Note – He showed Himself alive by many infallible proofs – over 15 post resurrection appearances.
A. The Resurrection Proves the Deity of Christ-Jesus Christ is God!!
A. The Resurrection Proves the Deity of Christ-Jesus Christ is God!!
Note – Had He not kept this promise then He would have invalidated all the other promises.
My Favorite Illustrations Reasons for Not Visiting the Empty Tomb
After Mary Magdalene left the tomb (John 20:17–18) there is no evidence that any believer ever returned to it. Furthermore, there is no Gospel evidence that any of the enemies of Jesus ever visited the tomb. His enemies did not go because they were afraid it was empty. Jesus’ friends did not return to the tomb because they knew it was empty!
30 I and my Father are one.
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?
28 Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am he, and that I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things.
Ill – Sometimes we do not seem to understand the doctrinal distinctiveness of the Christian faith.
We are saved by a Risen Saviour!!!
We are serving a Risen Saviour!!!
Jesus Christ is God in the Flesh!!!!
B. The Resurrection Proves the Word of God
B. The Resurrection Proves the Word of God
Note – The Word of God has prophesied the resurrected Christ.
10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God, 2 (Which he had promised afore by his prophets in the holy scriptures,) 3 Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; 4 And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:
1 Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. 7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. 8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
The Power of the Cross
To redeem, to forgive, to provide victory in this life!
The Proof of the Resurrection
Proves the Deity of Christ
Proves the Word of God to be absolutely true
III. The Promises of the Saviour
III. The Promises of the Saviour
Jesus Christ kept all of the promises by His birth, His life, His death, and His Resurrection. Since He has kept all of those promises then we can rely on Him keeping His other promises!!
Jesus Christ kept all of the promises by His birth, His life, His death, and His Resurrection. Since He has kept all of those promises then we can rely on Him keeping His other promises!!
A. The Promise of His Second Coming
A. The Promise of His Second Coming
Encyclopedia of 7700 Illustrations 5457 Repeated Promises of Coming
Both the Old and New Testaments are filled with promises of the Second Coming of Christ. There are 1,845 references to it in the Old Testament, and a total of seventeen Old Testament books give it prominence.
Of the 260 chapters in the entire New Testament, there are 318 references to the Second Coming, or one out of 30 verses. Twenty-three of the 27 New Testament books refer to this great event. The four missing books include three which are single-chapter letters written to individual persons on a particular subject, and the fourth is Galatians which does imply Christ’s coming again.
For every prophecy on the First Coming of Christ, there are 8 on Christ’s Second Coming.
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
9 And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. 10 And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; 11 Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.
AMG Bible Illustrations Be Ready
Be Ready
The Lord wants us to live all the time as if today would be our last. I believe it was John Wesley who was asked at one time, “What would you do if you knew that tonight you would die?” That great preacher of years gone by said, “I would do exactly what I have scheduled to do.” Could you say that?
B. The Promise of Eternal Life
B. The Promise of Eternal Life
36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
C. The Promise of a Second Chance – verse 7
C. The Promise of a Second Chance – verse 7
7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
Ill – Some today need to come to Christ as Saviour. Others need to return to Him as your Lord.
Note – Peter would often turn to the way of self-promotion and preservation.
Ill – Little boy and his sister were riding a rocking horse, and the brother said, “If one of us would get off this rocking horse there would be more room for me.”
37 Peter said unto him, Lord, why cannot I follow thee now? I will lay down my life for thy sake. 38 Jesus answered him, Wilt thou lay down thy life for my sake? Verily, verily, I say unto thee, The cock shall not crow, till thou hast denied me thrice.
66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there cometh one of the maids of the high priest: 67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked upon him, and said, And thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth. 68 But he denied, saying, I know not, neither understand I what thou sayest. And he went out into the porch; and the cock crew.
Note – Peter had denied Christ. Now Christ is seeking Peter out to offer forgiveness!!
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Have you experienced the power of the Cross and the empty tomb?
You can know the joy of sins forgiven and a home in Heaven if you trust Christ today.
You can know the joy of renewed fellowship if you return to Christ today.
24 Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day. 25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
It would be better to have never been born, than to die without Christ.!
I am saved by a Risen Saviour! Am I living and serving as if He were still dead?
IS THERE EVIDENCE IN MY LIFE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS ALIVE?
IS THERE EVIDENCE IN MY LIFE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS ALIVE?