"See My Hands and Feet"

;

Here we are, it’s Sunday - Resurrection morning - a day of celebration - a day that represents new life.

But don’t forget, friend, that Easter begins in darkness. If you haven’t waded through Good Friday … if you haven’t had your heart broken at the foot of the cross; if you haven’t watched love die before your very eyes and sealed your hope in a tomb … then you can’t properly understand the glory of the Resurrection. You cannot understand Easter Sunday.

To help us understand Resurrection Sunday - and why it matters to you, we’re going to spend our time, this morning, in the Gospel of Luke.

to be exact. 1. Empty Tomb 2. Resurrected Jesus

READ:

1 AN EMPTY TOMB

The text tells us that our day begins, verse 1, “at early dawn ...”. - the transition time between night and day. The veil of black sky is somewhere in the process of releasing its grip on the earth - enough of the dawn has broken through to allow the women to walk - but no darkness has let go of the hearts of these devoted followers - lovers of Jesus - as they make the painful journey to his tomb.

In their arms, they are carrying the spices they so carefully measured and mixed - somewhere between the end of the Sabbath, at sundown last evening and the pre-dawn of this first day of the week.

They are led by Mary Magdalene, who leads them through the silhouetted shapes of the garden, to the tomb where their Jesus is encased. They will never, ever, forget the exact location - the Hope of their lives is buried here. But when they arrive - the stone that had sealed him into that grave … why, it’s been rolled aside. The grave mouth is wide open. The women step inside - no faith here, no expectations, simply shattered hopes and broken hearts investigating one more unexpected turn in life.

And now, to add insult to injury - they immediately see: there’s no body - no corpse to honor and preserve with their spices. Jesus isn’t here. As they puzzle about what to do now - where to go from here ...

Luke tells us, in v. 4, “While they were perplexed about this, BEHOLD, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.”

Shimmering radiance catches the eyes of the women, otherwise consumed in thought. “BEHOLD” - that’s the Biblical word used when something surprising breaks into the ordinary - The women are in the daybreak stillness of this otherwise silent garden … absorbed in their thoughts. They’re reeling … I mean, their world has been rocked. Jesus is dead … they’ve come here to say their last goodbyes to the One who loved like they had never known love could be - who spoke and taught with authority - gave hope ....

HE IS NOT here. And ... ‘BEHOLD’ - TWO MEN - seemingly out of nowhere. These are no ordinary men -radiant - they look as though they could consume them with a snap of the fingers. The women are ‘frightened’ - they drop to their knees, faces to the earth.

The men speak: v. 5, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? (6) He is not here ...”. In other words - your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. He ISN’T here - - Of course He’s not here. But why are you surprised?!

V. 6, “He is not here - but he has RISEN. REMEMBER how he told you, while he was still in Galilee .... v. 7 - That the Son of Man MUST be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day, rise.”

These angels are scolding the women … “The cross wasn’t a tragic turn of unforeseen bad luck … it was ALWAYS the plan. Jesus’ own plan! He told you - repeatedly He told you, ahead of time: FIRST, comes suffering … then crucifixion … and then, the third day - Resurrection. Why weren’t you ready for this?!”

That’s the Christian message, friend. Christ CAME to this earth … to die. We dealt with that, 2 days ago, on Good Friday. We are born into a broken world - that’s one thing I don’t need to spend any time persuading you of, in these days of Coronavirus. The world is broken because we are broken - the human race, created with the unspeakable dignity of being made in God’s image …

Turned our way - worse - we don’t seek God - not the true God, as He is in His holiness.

And so we suffer.

Our atheist friends jump on the suffering of this world and say, “ How can you believe in a Good , All-Powerful God - when there is suffering in this world?!”

Their solution to the problem of evil - chuck belief in God. And so you have those who agree with Carl Sagan,creator of the TV series, Cosmos, who famously declared : “The cosmos is all that is or was or ever will be.” This life is where your story starts and this is where it ends, because there is the physical universe - - - and nothing more … no God, no SOULS, NO HEAVEN and NO HELL .... No MIRACLES, no TRANSCENDENT MORALITY ....

.... just molecules in motion, following the patterns and forces of natural law. So, of course, any kind of resurrection is foolishness, if you’re looking at the world through atheist glasses.

Is that a satisfying answer for you?

Thomas Hobbes, an English philosopher in the 17th century, sums things up in that kind of world: “Nature is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.” Nature has only 1 commandment - not 10: “Eat or be eaten.”

I find it interesting that there are so many people who reject the idea of God - “I don’t need God to live. We don’t need God’s moral standards. But ever since this pandemic hit – they have been very concerned to make sure everyone does the right thing – by staying home and isolating – to protect the lives of the vulnerable.

“There are no atheists in the foxholes” … “There are no atheists during a time of Covid 19”.

Every worldview is an attempt to best explain the universe we live in. So if you look around at this world and come to the conclusion: “This place is broken - - It’s BAD that there are viruses that terrorize the planet and make people fear for their lives ...” – don’t stop there. Go on and ask – ‘what reason do I have for judging this as a bad thing?’ Is this just nature doing its natural selection? Or are people created in the image of God and LOVED by Him?

God doesn’t give us merely an academic answer to the problem of brokenness … He gives us a PERSON. God doesn’t treat your suffering simply as a philosophical problem to be solved .... He doesn’t stand apart from you in the safety of heaven .... In the person of Jesus Christ, He joins you in your suffering .... not just so He can say, ‘I know how you feel … this is a rescue operation! He came to break you free from death and give you life!

And on Calvary’s tree - the work was accomplished. The penalty is paid. But if the story ended there - - what hope would there be that God actually did anything about your suffering.

Sure -you can see God’s Love from the cross - “I love you this much”. You can’t argue about a love that would die for you. But can you be sure that it accomplished its goal?

Back to our text: Suddenly the women start to remember Jesus words .... the promises, the teaching … it all starts coming back to them. They hurry back from the tomb, pound on the heavy door of the room where the disciples are huddled together in their grief. As soon as the door is opened - Mary Magdalene and her companions explode with all the news - every detail of what they have just seen and heard. It all comes out - empty tomb, angels, reminders of Jesus’ words.

There are so many evidences that the Bible’s Resurrection accounts are true and I’m not going to spend time arguing why you should believe them – there are many, many resources available and I hope you would research for yourself - but I just have to point out to you a couple of evidences that jump right out at us from these verses.

First - The fact that Luke and all the other Gospel writers have women as the first witnesses of the Resurrection. In the world of their day - a woman couldn’t even be a witness in a court of law. Her testimony carried no weight. Yet, it is just like God to do what He does here in the Gospels and take the dishonored and honor them … and the grace of being the first witnesses to Jesus being alive … is reserved for a group of women.

Second thing - is the response of the disciples. These are the 11 men who will be the pillars of the church moving forward - they will give their lives for this Jesus. And if you are writing the foundation documents about the pillars of a new movement - the human thing to do is to make those people to be heroes - leaders who inspire confidence by their courage and wisdom. But here they are - huddled inside a room - while the women are out honoring the Lord - and when they hear the news that Jesus is alive .... “v. 11, “… but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.”

“There go the women again – babbling foolishness!” That’s not the way you invent a new religion. You make the leaders heroes not forgetful chauvinists. But it is ABSOLUTELY the way God works, through rejects like me and you. On every level - the Gospel is GOOD NEWS for the broken … who will come to Jesus Christ with nothing to offer and simply trust … surrender to the crucified and risen Savior … and trust Him.

Jesus - crucified and Risen - Oh, the hope that brings. We all need to hear this. But there are some, right now, who especially need to hear this. You are living in heartbreak - you’ve lost a loved one and the wounds of grief never fully heal ...”.

Or you are living in fear, right now, of this virus that has spread around the world - you see the pictures of hospital patients, hooked up to ventilators - you are one of the compromised ones who have to be specially careful - or you’re worried about a loved one … There’s no cure … people are dying … and you’re worried - could this worldwide pandemic, bust through my door?

Or you’re just feeling the decay of your own body - - it’s not what it used to be. You’re on the downward trajectory of strength and you know where this road ends.

2 A RESURRECTED JESUS

If we stopped at v. 12 - Easter’s resurrection wouldn’t cause much of a stir at all. If you go out into the world and say, “I believe in the Resurrection” - there are a whole lot of people who would respond with a great, big yawn.

There are many, many people in our world who are SPIRITUAL. Not Christian, but spiritual. And if you talk about the resurrection of Jesus - if you talk about the resurrection as a metaphor for HOPE and NEWNESS OF LIFE and NEW BEGINNINGS … in other words, if you say, “This is Easter Sunday and I believe in the RESURRECTION -

But is it? And CAN we get along without it?

But there are many, many people in our world who are SPIRITUAL. Not Christian, but spiritual. And if you talk about the resurrection of Jesus - if you talk about the resurrection as a metaphor for HOPE and NEWNESS OF LIFE and NEW BEGINNINGS … in other words, if you say, “This is Easter Sunday and I believe in the RESURRECTION -

… you won’t get much opposition from the spiritual people around the world. They’ll applaud you. They don’t believe for a minute that, if there was a security camera focused on the mouth of Jesus tomb on Easter morning - that it would have picked up a real body getting up and leaving … they just believe that ‘something’ happened to the early Christians … they experienced Christ in a ‘new way’. They experienced: ‘resurrection’ -

Deepak Chopra is a spiritual guru to many in the western world these days. He was being interviewed on CNN. The interviewer asked him if there is life after death - His answer:

“Yes, but you have to understand WHO is surviving … your memories, your desire, your karma … the sum of these 3 things recycle (even plastic recycles) and the ultimate goal is being one with our ‘Source’ - not a person - but the generator of the universe.

We experience ourselves as physical in the waking stage (this life) … and we progress - evolve, until we become FORMLESS BEINGS - ONE WITH ‘THE SOURCE’ in - the higher state of consciousness.” Your soul is your consciousness - “Your soul is a drop in the ocean … the whole ocean is also in the drop”.

If you think what he’s saying is that your body is something to be sloughed off like chains around a prisoner’s writs and ankles when he gets out of jail - then you understand him exactly right. There’s a ‘kind’ of resurrection here - as you go from life to life .... but there is ABSOLUTELY NO physical resurrection of YOU in Eastern religion - it’s not even wanted - it’s not the goal.

And if you’re like me, you want to politely interject - “But I’m me … in THIS body”.

It is becoming increasingly popular, even in Christian circles to say that a literal, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, isn’t really necessary. It’s become too hard to argue for in our enlightened, scientifically advanced society. AND - it’s not even necessary. People will tell you, “Christianity can get along just wine without the outmoded, pre-scientific idea of Jesus being PHYSICALLY resurrected from the dead. That’s OLD FASHIONED.

But is it? And CAN we get along without it?

So what does the Bible say about Jesus’ resurrection? Depak Chopra’s opinion - my desires - neither of them matter. What matters is what God says. And If you want to know what Jesus’ Resurrection says about that, take a look at our text. I want you to see a few things here, in vv. 36-48.

FIRST - SEE THE RESPONSE OF THE DISCIPLES.

Verse 36 ... The 11 disciples minus 1 - Thomas shows up later (Judas the betrayer is no more) … 10 are locked in a room. Evening has fallen again, and sheltered - protected from the darkness and the threats outside, they are closed in, lamps burning, trying to make sense of the morning’s empty tomb - the conversation two of them had on the road to Emmaus in the afternoon … the fact that Jesus showed up - scolded the two followers there for not knowing from Scripture that this is how it was ALWAYS going to turn out … then he broke bread and was gone …

And into this closed room - Jesus stands - and greets them, “Peace to you!”

Don’t miss how the disciples respond - v. 37 - not just surprised … but “startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit (a ghost)”. And every single one of us can identify with that response.

You’ve heard that something unbelievable has happened - - you can’t believe it. Then you see it with your own eyes - and you still can’t believe it.

SECOND - SEE THE REPLY OF THE RISEN CHRIST:

Look at v. 38, “And he said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?”

Isn’t this just like the angels with the women at the beginning of our text - and like Jesus’ conversation with the 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus - he scolds them for not expecting his resurrection to happen in the first place. “How could you think that death was going to have the last word?! Have you not been paying attention?!”

Does this look like the response of naive, pre-scientific people who believed in magic? They weren’t expecting to see a person rise from the dead after an execution in their day, any more than you or I would be expecting it in ours. I mean, they’re locked in a room! Jesus is right in front of their eyes and still they doubt!

THIRD - SEE THE EMPHASIS:

This is the first time the risen Jesus appears to the 11. So, what would you expect to be the first thing he would want to say to them?

v. 39, “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. TOUCH ME AND SEE. For a spirit does not have FLESH AND BONES AS YOU SEE THAT I HAVE.” Okay, first things first - ‘look at my hands and feet - see the wounds from the spikes. Verify that it’s really me...”. That makes sense.

But Jesus goes on. And just when you would expect him to start giving theological descriptions of how resurrection is a picture of new spiritual life (which it also is) .... Jesus keeps going on the physical proofs - that he is literally, physically alive with them - this glorified body is a REAL BODY:

Verse 39 goes on, “… Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” (40) And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. (41) And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?” (42) They gave him a piece of broiled fish, (43) and he took it and ate it before them.”

Does this sound like a metaphor?! Jesus couldn’t do anything more to prove that this is him - the same Jesus - Physically there .... NOT resuscitated like Lazarus - brought back to life, only to give into decay again and die again. This is a glorified body .... suddenly in their midst behind a closed door. He doesn’t need a door. He doesn’t need a window - - He’s just there.

But he’s no spirit.

FOURTH - SEE THE REMINDER

vv. 45-47 - “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures (46) and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead (47) and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.’.”

He opens the Bible and helps them to see the flow of Scripture - the promises of the OT - this is no surprise - - this was God’s plan all along. This is where the entire story of the Creator God - and His relationship with this world and particularly, with His people Israel .... this is where it has all been going all along.

The Resurrection of is the essential completion of Jesus’ death - it was the purpose of His death - He died IN ORDER TO RISE AGAIN.

SO WHAT?

The Physical resurrection of Jesus speaks a message about Who God is, about His commitment to His creation AND about His commitment to YOU - that will … CHANGE. YOUR. LIFE!

Don’t ever forget, friend - God isn’t embarrassed by His creation - He’s committed to RENEWING it … from the inside out. You may have thoroughly messed up your life … so many foolish choices, so much rebellion against God … and the voices are whispering into your ear - “You’re getting just what you deserve. Your physical decay … that’s payback for your sin.”

God is committed to RENEWING His creation … And He’s committed to renewing YOU … from the inside out - Soul AND BODY. Yes, we still live in a fallen creation. Yes God’s people still get sick. Yes, it’s appointed to man once to die ...”

But Jesus’ Resurrection means - death isn’t the end for you, Christian. It’s always been God’s plan to renew the WHOLE YOU - Soul AND BODY.

I said on Good Friday that the God Who is Spirit, couldn’t pay the price for the sins I’ve committed in my body. So, God the Son took on your flesh, Christian, to earn your righteousness IN A BODY, to pay your debt of sin - IN A BODY ...

… and the flip side of God the Son taking on your human nature - is that He’s joined Himself to a body and He’s NEVER LETTING GO!

He lay down His life, took the body into the grave - but he didn’t leave it there - - He raised it up - and ate fish with it … He ascended into heaven with it … and He’s got plans for your body too … To raise it in glory like His, to clothe you with it on that great Resurrection Day - when He summons it out of the grave … and for you to enjoy eternity in it - in His presence - - UNHINDERED.

The Resurrection of Jesus - not just a blip on the timeline of history … it was the IN-BREAKING of the future, when the infinite God took to Himself the brokenness and sin of this world … and CRUSHED IT!

“Touch me and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

If Jesus didn’t literally rise and walk out of that Jerusalem tomb - what does that say about the importance God has placed on you?

The last word on the body that is your home - - would be decay. This body will grow weaker and weaker, as the years pass by and virus and disease attack. One day, there will be no strength left, with which to fight - your body will give out … your family will lay you in a tomb - and that will be IT for your body -

Those who believe in some kind of spiritual resurrection - some kind of conscious but ethereal - afterlife - - they’ll say, “Don’t worry - you’re going to be in a better place - you’ll reach some ‘higher state’ of consciousness - your mind won’t cease to exist’.”

But, if you will pardon me, my response to that is … “BIG DEAL! That’s NOT GOOD NEWS FOR ME!!”

“THIS is the body that I have lived in and loved in and been loved in … It’s in THIS body that I know others and AM KNOWN by others. It’s got it’s problems, sure - - - but .... I’ve kind of grown attached to it!”

And the physical resurrection of Jesus says -

“Decay and Death will NOT have the last word on your body .... God has BIGGER and BETTER things in store!”

“The body which was pierced is that which all eyes shall see, and no other.”

See your risen Savior now - in heaven, where says, “He always lives to make intercession for His people.” See there, God the Father and Son, side by side … in a glorified body - still with the nail prints - don’t forget the marks of the nails in hands and feet - as he shows his disciples - the only wounds that heaven will ever know … the overflow of God’s love for you.

Death does not define you, Christian - the literally, physically resurrected Jesus Christ who has purchased you for Himself - His resurrected LIFE defines you.

CONCLUSION

I was reading a book recently, entitled, “Embodied Hope”. The author is Kelly Kapic. In the book, he writes of a friend who wrote him a letter after talking about this very subject of the resurrection of Christ and what that means for us - - listen and see if you can identify.

“I am a congenital heart patient with several skeletal issues that necessitate that I ambulate on crutches every day of my life. From birth, my life has been significantly impacted by physical disability, and I have undergone a number of surgical operations to improve the use of my heart and legs; nevertheless, nothing in this world of modern medicine has been able to or will be able to fully heal my body and make it whole. I have never known a day that I did not bear a 6 inch scar on my chest that reminds me that I should not be alive, nor have I ever walked the length of a table without crutches or knelt on bended knee (something that my fused knees cannot do).

I have never knelt in prayer, and if the Lord should one day bring a woman into my life, I would have to sit down in order to ask her to be my bride.

Yet, these realities point to my greater need of being restored spiritually to fellowship with my heavenly Father, before whom I am hopelessly disabled by my sin apart from His work to redeem me through Christ.

I view my disabilities as reminders of my utter dependence upon Christ for salvation and life, and am sure that in eternity He will restore me to wholeness. By carrying me through the trials in my life, He has given me a longing for the coming new creation when He will restore me physically as I behold Him in restored communion UNHINDERED by my sin (which He will have eradicated forever).

The coming resurrection gives me hope that a day is coming when I will be made like Christ, and freed from the curse of sin.

Secondarily, I rejoice in the hope that He will give me the gift of a resurrected body free from the physical infirmities I have wrestled with my whole life. There will be a day when I will be able to bend my knee, and the first time that I do so will be at the feet of Jesus when I see Him face to face and bow before Him as His redeemed child.

On that day I will love and embrace Him with a resurrected heart made whole by His touch, and freed from the power of death forever. Oh, for that day to come!”

To help us understand Resurrection Sunday - and why it matters to you, we’re going to spend our time, this morning, in the Gospel of Luke. to be exact.

READ

AN EMPTY TOMB

The text tells us that our day begins, verse 1, “at early dawn ...”. - the transition time between night and day. The veil of black sky is somewhere in the process of releasing its grip on the earth - enough of the dawn has broken through to allow the women to walk - but no darkness has let go of the hearts of these devoted followers - lovers of Jesus - as they make the painful journey to his tomb.

In their arms, they are carrying the spices that they so carefully measured and mixed - somewhere between the end of the Sabbath, at sundown last evening and the pre-dawn of this first day of the week.

They are led by Mary Magdalene, who leads them through the silhouetted shapes of the garden, to the tomb where their Jesus is encased. They will never, ever, forget the exact location - the Hope of their lives is buried here. But when they arrive - the stone that had sealed him into that grave … why, it’s been rolled aside. The grave mouth is wide open. The women step inside - no faith here, no expectations, simply shattered hopes and broken hearts investigating one more unexpected turn in life.

And now, to add insult to injury - they immediately see: there’s no body - no corpse to honor and preserve with their spices. Jesus isn’t here. As they puzzle about what to do now - where to go from here ...

Luke tells us, in v. 4, “While they were perplexed about this, BEHOLD, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel.”

Shimmering radiance catches the eyes of the women, otherwise consumed in thought. “BEHOLD” - that’s the Biblical word used when something surprising breaks into the ordinary - The women are in the daybreak stillness of this otherwise silent garden … absorbed in their thoughts. They’re reeling … I mean, their world has been rocked. Jesus is dead … they’ve come here to say their last goodbyes to the One who loved like they had never known love could be - who spoke and taught with authority - gave hope ....

And HE IS NOT here. And ... ‘BEHOLD’ - TWO MEN - seemingly out of nowhere. These are no ordinary men -radiant - they look as though they could consume them with a snap of the fingers. The women are ‘frightened’ - they drop to their knees, faces to the earth.

The men speak: v. 5, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? (6) He is not here ...”. In other words - your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you. He ISN’T here - - Of course He’s not here. But why are you surprised?!

V. 6, “He is not here - but he has RISEN. REMEMBER how he told you, while he was still in Galilee .... v. 7 - That the Son of Man MUST be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day, rise.”

These angels are scolding the women … “The cross wasn’t a tragic turn of unforeseen bad luck … it was ALWAYS the plan. Jesus’ own plan! He told you - repeatedly He told you, ahead of time: FIRST, comes suffering … then crucifixion … and then, the third day - Resurrection. Why weren’t you ready for this?!”

That’s the Christian message, friend. Christ CAME to this earth … to die. We dealt with that, 2 days ago, on Good Friday. We are born into a broken world - that’s one thing I don’t need to spend any time persuading you of, in these days of Coronavirus. The world is broken because we are broken - the human race, created with the unspeakable dignity of being made in God’s image …

Turned our way - worse - we don’t seek God - not the true God, as He is in His holiness.

And so we suffer.

There is a new book coming out this week, written by John Lennox, who is professor emeritus at Oxford University - the book is entitled, “Where is God in a Covid World?”

God doesn’t give us an academic answer … He gives us a PERSON. God doesn’t treat your suffering simply as a philosophical problem to be solved .... He doesn’t stand apart from you in the safety of heaven .... In the person of Jesus Christ, He joins you in your suffering .... not just so He can say, ‘I know how you feel … this is a rescue operation! He came to break you free from death and give you life!

And on Calvary’s tree - the work was accomplished. The penalty is paid. But if the story ended there - - what hope would there be that God actually did anything about your suffering.

Sure -you can see from the cross - “I love you this much”. You can’t argue with a love that would die for you. But can you be sure that it accomplished its goal?

Suddenly the women start to remember Jesus words .... they hurry back from the tomb, pound on the heavy door of the room where the disciples are huddled together in their grief. As soon as the door is opened - Mary Magdalene and her companions explode with all the news - every detail of what they have just seen and heard. It all comes out - empty tomb, angels, reminders of Jesus’ words.

There are so many evidences that the Bible’s Resurrection accounts are true and I’m not going to spend time arguing why you should believe them - but I just have to point out to you a couple of evidences that jump right out at us from these verses.

First - The fact that Luke and all the other Gospel writers have women as the first witnesses of the Resurrection. In the world of their day - a woman couldn’t even be a witness in a court of law. Her testimony carried no weight. Yet, it is just like God to do what He does here in the Gospels and take the dishonored and honor them … and the grace of being the first witnesses to Jesus being alive … is reserved for a group of women.

Second thing - is the response of the disciples. These are the 11 men who will be the pillars of the church moving forward - they will give their lives for this Jesus. And if you are writing the foundation documents about the pillars of a new movement - the human thing to do is to make those people to be heroes - leaders who inspire confidence by their courage and wisdom. But here they are - huddled inside a room - while the women are out honoring the Lord - and when they hear the news that Jesus is alive .... “v. 11, “… but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.”

That’s not the way you invent a new religion. You make the leaders heroes not forgetful chickens. But it is ABSOLUTELY the way God works, through rejects like me and you. On every level - the Gospel is GOOD NEWS for the broken … who will come to Jesus Christ with nothing to offer and simply trust … surrender to the crucified and risen Savior … and trust Him.

Jesus - crucified and Risen - Oh, the hope that brings. We all need to hear this. But there are some, right now, who especially need to hear this. You are living in heartbreak - you’ve lost a loved one and the wounds of grief never fully heal ...”.

Or you are living in fear, right now, of this virus that has spread around the world - you see the pictures of hospital patients, hooked up to ventilators - you are one of the compromised ones who have to be specially careful - or you’re worried about a loved one … There’s no cure … people are dying … and you’re worried - could this worldwide pandemic, bust through my door?

Or you’re just feeling the decay of your own body - - it’s not what it used to be. You’re on the downward trajectory of strength and you know where this road ends.

A RESURRECTED JESUS

READ:

If we stopped at v. 12 - Easter’s resurrection wouldn’t cause much of a stir at all. If you go out into the unbelieving world and say, “I believe in the Resurrection” - there are a whole lot of people who would respond with a great, big yawn.

Sure:”Christian thinking is Resurrection thinking. It's about rebirth or reawakening in many forms, about spiritual and moral transformation. And this is the really good news of Easter.

It is becoming increasingly popular, even in Christian circles to say that a literal, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, isn’t really necessary. It’s become too hard to argue for in our enlightened, scientifically advanced society. AND - it’s not even necessary. People will tell you, “Christianity can get along just wine without the outmoded, pre-scientific idea of Jesus being PHYSICALLY resurrected from the dead. That’s OLD FASHIONED.

But is it? And CAN we get along without it?

MATERIALISTS would still reject your view that there is anything spiritual reality at all. People like Carl Sagan,popular scientist, you may know him for his book and TV series, Cosmos. He famously declared : “The cosmos is all that is or was or ever will be.” This life is where your story starts and this is where it ends, because there is the physical universe - - - and nothing more … no God, no SOULS, NO HEAVEN and NO HELL .... No MIRACLES, no TRANSCENDENT MORALITY .... We call them materialists, because they believe in matter. Period. If you can’t study it in a test-tube - then it doesn’t matter.

MATERIALISTS - like Carl Sagan: “The cosmos is all there is or was or ever will be.” This life is where your story starts and this is where it ends, because there is the physical universe - - - and nothing more … no God, no SOULS, NO HEAVEN and NO HELL .... No MIRACLES, no TRANSCENDENT MORALITY ....

.... just molecules in motion, following the patterns and forces of natural law. So any kind of resurrection is foolishness, if you’re looking at the world through materialist glasses.

And many think: “Well, that makes sense to me - we live in a physical world. I experience the world around me through my senses - through touch and taste, sight and smell and what I hear. I can live in a world of only material.”

But is that really enough for you? Thomas Hobbes, an English philosopher in the 17th century, sums up materialism: “Nature is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.” Nature has only 1 commandment - not 10: “Eat or be eaten.”

Do you find it interesting that there are so many people who reject the idea of God - “I don’t need God to live. We don’t need God’s moral standards.

Every worldview is an attempt to best explain the universe we live in. So if you look around at this world and come to the conclusion: “This place is broken - - there shouldn’t be viruses that terrorize the planet and make people fear for their lives ...

Well, even though the voice of materialists is pretty loud these days, they sound louder than their numbers. There actually aren’t that many of them.

It is becoming increasingly popular, even in Christian circles to say that a literal, physical resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, isn’t really necessary. It’s become too hard to argue for in our enlightened, scientifically advanced society. AND - it’s not even necessary. People will tell you, “Christianity can get along just wine without the outmoded, pre-scientific idea of Jesus being PHYSICALLY resurrected from the dead. That’s OLD FASHIONED.

But there are many, many people who are SPIRITUAL in our world. Not Christian, but spiritual. And if you talk about the resurrection of Jesus - if you talk about the resurrection as a metaphor for HOPE and NEWNESS OF LIFE and NEW BEGINNINGS … in other words, if you say, “This is Easter Sunday and I believe in the RESURRECTION -

But is it? And CAN we get along without it?

… you won’t get much opposition from the spiritual people around the world. They’ll applaud you.

Deepak Chopra is a very famous spiritual guru to many in the western world these days. He was being interviewed on CNN. The interviewer asked him if there is life after death - His answer:

“Yes, but you have to understand WHO is surviving … your memories, your desire, your karma … the sum of these 3 things recycle (even plastic recycles) and the ultimate goal is being one with our ‘Source’ - not a person - but the generator of the universe.

We experience ourselves as physical in the waking stage (this life) … and we progress - evolve, until we become FORMLESS BEINGS - ONE WITH ‘THE SOURCE’ in - the higher state of consciousness.” Your soul is your consciousness - “Your soul is a drop in the ocean … the whole ocean is also in the drop”.

If you think what he’s saying is that your body is something to be sloughed off like chains around a prisoner’s writs and ankles when he gets out of jail - then you understand him exactly right. There’s a ‘kind’ of resurrection here - as you go from life to life .... but there is ABSOLUTELY NO physical resurrection in Eastern religion - it’s not even wanted - it’s not the goal.

And if you’re like me, you want to politely interject - “But I’m me … in THIS body. It may not be much - but it’s all I’ve known”.

So what does the Bible say about Jesus’ resurrection? Depak Chopra’s opinion - my desires - neither of them matter. What matters is what God says. And If you want to know what Jesus’ Resurrection says about that, take a look at our text. I want you to see a few things here, in vv. 36-48.

.... just molecules in motion, following the patterns and forces of natural law.

And many think: “Well, that makes sense to me - we live in a physical world. I can live with that.”

But is that enough for you? Thomas Hobbes sums up materialism: “Nature is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short.” Nature has only 1 commandment - not 10: “Eat or be eaten.”

So if you look around at this world and come to the conclusion: “This place is broken - - there shouldn’t be viruses that terrorize the planet and make people fear for their lives ...

If you want to know what Jesus’ Resurrection says about that, take a look at our text. I want you to see a few things here, in vv. 36-48.

T

FIRST - SEE THE RESPONSE OF THE DISCIPLES.

Verse 36 ...

The 11 disciples minus 1 - Thomas shows up later (Judas the betrayer is no more) … 10 are locked in a room. Evening has fallen again, and sheltered - protected from the darkness and the threats outside, they are closed in, lamps burning, trying to make sense of the morning’s empty tomb - the conversation two of them had on the road to Emmaus in the afternoon … the fact that Jesus showed up - scolded the two followers there for not knowing from Scripture that this is how it was ALWAYS going to turn out … then he broke bread and was gone …

And into this closed room - Jesus stands - and greets them, “Peace to you!”

Don’t miss how the disciples respond - v. 37 - not just surprised … but ‘startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit (a ghost)”. And every single one of us can identify with that response.

You’ve heard that something unbelievable has happened - - you can’t believe it. Then you see it with your own eyes - and you still can’t believe it.

SECOND - SEE THE REPLY OF THE RISEN CHRIST:

Look at v. 38, “And he said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?”

Isn’t this just like the angels with the women at the beginning of our text - and like Jesus’ conversation with the 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus - he scolds them for not expecting his resurrection to happen in the first place. “How could you think that death was going to have the last word?! Have you not been paying attention?!”

Does this look like the response of naive, pre-scientific people who believed in magic? They weren’t expecting to see a person rise from the dead after an execution in their day, any more than you or I would be expecting it in ours. I mean, they’re locked in a room! Jesus is right in front of their eyes and still they doubt!

THIRD - SEE THE EMPHASIS:

Look at v. 38, “And he said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?”

THIRD - SEE THE EMPHASIS:

This is the first time the risen Jesus appears to the 11. So, what would you expect to be the first thing he would want to say to them?

v. 39, “See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. TOUCH ME AND SEE. For a spirit does not have FLESH AND BONES AS YOU SEE THAT I HAVE.” Okay, first things first - ‘look at my hands and feet - see the wounds from the spikes. Verify that it’s really me...”. That makes sense.

This is the first time the risen Jesus appears to the 11. So, what would you expect to be the first thing he would want to say to them?

But Jesus goes on. And just when you would expect him to start giving theological descriptions of how resurrection is a picture of new spiritual life (which it also is) .... Jesus keeps going on the physical proofs - that he is literally, physically alive with them - this glorified body is a REAL BODY:

Verse 39 goes on, “… Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” (40) And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. (41) And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?” (42) They gave him a piece of broiled fish, (43) and he took it and ate it before them.”

Does this sound like a metaphor?! Jesus couldn’t do anything more to prove that this is him - the same Jesus - Physically there .... NOT resuscitated like Lazarus - brought back to life, only to give into decay again and die again. This is a glorified body .... suddenly in their midst behind a closed door. He doesn’t need a door. He doesn’t need a window - - He’s just there.

But he’s no spirit.

FOURTH - SEE THE REMINDER

vv. 45-47 - “Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures (46) and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead ...’.”

He opens the Bible and helps them to see the flow of Scripture - the promises of the OT - this is no surprise - - this was God’s plan all along. This is where the entire story of the Creator God - and His relationship with this world and particularly, with His people Israel .... this is where it has all been going all along.

The Resurrection of is the essential completion of Jesus’ death - it was the purpose of His death - He died IN ORDER TO RISE AGAIN.

SO WHAT?

The Physical resurrection of Jesus speaks a message about Who God is, about His commitment to His creation AND about His commitment to YOU - that will … CHANGE. YOUR. LIFE!

Don’t ever forget, friend - God isn’t embarrassed by His creation - He’s committed to RENEWING it … from the inside out. You may have thoroughly messed up your life … so many foolish choices, so much rebellion against God … and the voices are whispering into your ear - “You’re getting just what you deserve. Your physical decay … that’s payback for your sin.”

God is committed to RENEWING His creation … And He’s committed to renewing YOU … from the inside out - Soul AND BODY. Yes, we still live in a fallen creation. Yes God’s people still get sick. Yes, it’s appointed to man once to die ...”

..........................

But Jesus’ Resurrection means - death isn’t the end for you, Christian. It’s always been God’s plan to renew the WHOLE YOU - Soul AND BODY.

I said on Good Friday that the God Who is Spirit, couldn’t pay the price for the sins I’ve committed in my body. So, God the Son took on your flesh, Christian, to earn your righteousness IN A BODY, to pay your debt of sin - IN A BODY ...

Resurrection of Jesus - not just a spot

… and the flip side of God the Son taking on your human nature - is that He’s joined Himself to a body and He’s NEVER LETTING GO!

He lay down His life, took the body into the grave - but he didn’t leave it there - - He raised it up - and ate fish with it … He ascended into heaven with it … and He’s got plans for your body too … To raise it in glory like His, to clothe you with it on that great Resurrection Day - when He summons it out of the grave … and for you to enjoy eternity in it - in His presence - - UNHINDERED.

The Resurrection of Jesus - not just a blip on the timeline of history … it was the IN-BREAKING of the future, when the infinite God took to Himself the brokenness and sin of this world … and CRUSHED IT!

“Touch me and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

If Jesus didn’t literally rise and walk out of that Jerusalem tomb - what does that say about the importance God has placed on you?

SO WHAT?

The Physical resurrection of Jesus speaks a message about Who God is, about His commitment to His creation AND about His commitment to YOU - that will … CHANGE. YOUR. LIFE!

If Jesus didn’t literally rise and walk out of that Jerusalem tomb - what does that say about the importance God has placed on you?

The last word on the body that is your home - - would be decay. This body will grow weaker and weaker, as the years pass by and virus and disease attack. One day, there will be no strength left, with which to fight - your body will give out … your family will lay you in a tomb - and that will be IT for your body -

Those who believe in some kind of spiritual resurrection - some kind of conscious but ethereal - afterlife - - they’ll say, “Don’t worry - you’re going to be in a better place - you’ll reach some ‘higher state’ of consciousness - your mind won’t cease to exist’.”

But, if you will pardon me, my response to that is … “BIG DEAL!”

“THIS is the body that I have lived in and loved in and been loved in … It’s in THIS body that I know others and AM KNOWN by others. It’s got it’s problems, sure - - - but .... I’ve kind of grown attached to it!”

And the physical resurrection of Jesus says -

“Decay and Death will NOT have the last word on your body .... God has BIGGER and BETTER things in store!”

“The body which was pierced is that which all eyes shall see, and no other.”

See your risen Savior now - in heaven, where says, “He always lives to make intercession for His people.” See there, God the Father and Son, side by side … in a glorified body - still with the nail prints - don’t forget the marks of the nails in hands and feet - as he shows his disciples - the only wounds that heaven will ever know … the overflow of God’s love for you.

Death does not define you, Christian - the literally, physically resurrected Jesus Christ who has purchased you for Himself - His resurrected LIFE defines you.

CONCLUSION

Kelly Kapic’s book, “Embodied Hope”, he writes of a friend who wrote him a letter after talking about this very subject of the resurrection of Christ and what that means for us - -

“I am a congenital heart patient with several skeletal issues that necessitate that I ambulate on crutches every day of my life. From birth, my life has been significantly impacted by physical disability, and I have undergone a number of surgical operations to improve the use of my heart and legs; nevertheless, nothing in this world of modern medicine has been able to or will be able to fully heal my body and make it whole. I have never known a day that I did not bear a 6 inch scar on my chest that reminds me that I should not be alive, nor have I ever walked the length of a table without cruches or knelt on bended knee (something that my fused knees cannot do).

I have never knelt in prayer, and if the Lord should one day bring a woman into my life, I would have to sit down in order to ask her to be my bride.

Yet, these realities point to my greater need of being restored spiritually to fellowship with my heavenly Father, before whom I am hopelessly disabled by my sin apart from His work to redeem me through Christ.

I view my disabilities as reminders of my utter dependence upon Christ for salvation and life, adn am sure that in eternity He will restore me to wholeness. By carrying me through the trials in my life, He has given me a longing for the coming new creation when He will restore me physically as I behold Him in restored communion UNHINDERED by my sin (which He will have eradicated forever).

The coming resurrection gives me hope that a day is coming when I will be made like Christ, and freed from the curse of sin.

Secondarily, I rejoice in the hope that He will give me the gift of a resurrected body free from the physical infirmities I have wrestled with my whole life. There will be a day when I will be able to bend my knee, and the first time that I do so will be at the feet of Jesus when I see Him face to face and bow before Him as His redeemed child.

On that day I will love and embrace Him with a resurrected heart made whole by His touch, and freed from the power of death forever. Oh, for that day to come!”

"See My Hands and Feet"

|See My Hands and Feet

See My Hands and Feet

;