THE MEANING OF JESUS’ RESURRECTION IN MY LIFE
Notes
Transcript
INTRO
INTRO
Today is the most important day for Christianity!
Today is the most important day for Christianity!
Today is the most important day for Christianity.
Jesus’ birth was a marvelous spectacle, with angels singing, trumpets sounding, pastors following a star, animals and a manger, wise men and wonderful things, but without His resurrection, it would be only one more beautiful tale;
Jesus’ ministry was apotheotic, with signs, miracles and wonders, but without His resurrection, He would only be remembered as the greatest prophet produced by the dusty roads of Galilee, as a great Rabi marked by his brilliant trajectory and leadership capacity; without His resurrection, His name would be just one more important character in the history of mankind;
Jesus’ death could be even celebrated today as an international holiday, but without His resurrection, the church wouldn’t exist, the Gospel wouldn’t be preached, and there would be no hope for the future, whatsoever;
JESUS’ RESURRECTION is the reason of our faith and of our preaching, and it was His victory over death that left the Devil without the keys of hell and without the promissory note that kept us as slaves of sin; it is the power of His resurrection that gives right to eternal life to all of those who believe and receive Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Think about it… the images and scenes we have after the resurrection of Jesus are “Hollywoodian”: Jesus being mistaken with the gardener, eating fish with His disciples, passing through doors without opening them, vanishing in front of the two disciples in the road to Emmaus, and finally being taken to Heaven in the midst of the clouds, that’s really impressive!
So, yes, today we can rejoice, because the Lord Jesus Christ is risen!!
Think about it… the images and scenes we have after the resurrection of Jesus are “Hollywoodian”: Jesus being mistaken with the gardener, eating fish with his disciples, passing through doors without opening them, vanishing in front of the disciples in the road to Emmaus, and finally being taken to Heaven in the midst of the clouds, that’s really impressive!
Resurrection has been discussed since the beginnings of human race: Canaanites, Hebrews, Egyptians, all of them believed in life after death; resurrection has always been a matter of high interest in many civilizations;
The Bible tells the stories of several people who were resurrected: the prophet Elijah resurrected the son of a widow in Zarephath, his successor, the prophet Elisha brought the son of the Shunammite woman back to life; and even Jesus Himself resurrected 3 people during His ministry: the son of a widow in Nain, the daughter of Jairus, and His good friend Lazarus; (and it is possible that He did even more but it was not registered);
Cananites, Hebrews, Egyptians, all believed in life after death
The Bible tells the stories of several people who were resurrected: the prophet Elisha brought the son of the Shunamite back to life, another prophet, Elijah, resurrected the son of a widow in Sarepta, even Jesus resurrected 3 people during His ministry: the son of the widow in Nain, the daughter of Jairus, and His friend Lazarus;
Nevertheless, there is a huge difference between all these resurrections and Jesus’ resurrection: the difference is that all these people are dead - they were resurrected, but died again, but Jesus is alive forever!!!
But after all, what is the meaning of the resurrection of Jesus Christ for me, particularly?
But after all, what is the meaning of the resurrection of Jesus Christ for me, particularly?
This is going to be our theme for today:
This is going to be our theme for today:
THE MEANING OF JESUS’ RESURRECTION IN MY LIFE
THE MEANING OF JESUS’ RESURRECTION IN MY LIFE
Before anything, we must understand that without Jesus’ resurrection, the whole fundament of the evangelical faith would be meaningless, the cornerstone of the church is Jesus, and it is His resurrection that validates our hope for eternity:
Before anything, we must understand that without Jesus’ resurrection, the whole fundament of the evangelical faith would be meaningless, the cornerstone of the church is Jesus, and it is His resurrection that validates our hope for eternity:
Before anything, we must understand that without Jesus’ resurrection, the whole fundament of the evangelical faith would be meaningless
Before anything, we must understand that without Jesus’ resurrection, the whole fundament of the evangelical faith would be meaningless
1 cor 15:32
32 If, in the manner of men, I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantage is it to me? If the dead do not rise, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”
Jesus Himself had announced His own resurrection several times, but it was an event of such relevance, and it happened so dramatically, that even His own disciples did not believe Him, at first.
Jesus Himself had announced His own resurrection several times, but it was an event of such relevance, and it happened so dramatically, that even His own disciples did not believe Him, at first.
As His disciples today, believers in the Lord Jesus, there are several implications connected with the resurrection that we need to understand.
As His disciples today, believers in the Lord Jesus, there are several implications connected with the resurrection that we need to understand.
What then, is the meaning of Jesus’ being risen from the dead for my life?
What then, is the meaning of Jesus’ being risen from the dead for my life?
1. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS IS THE FINAL CONFIRMATION OF HIS DIVINITY
1. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS IS THE FINAL CONFIRMATION OF HIS DIVINITY
Jesus, being Divine and Omniscient in His nature, had already predicted His death and resurrection:
Jesus, being Divine and Omniscient in His nature, had already predicted His death and resurrection:
18 “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and to the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death, 19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”
matth 20:
19 and deliver Him to the Gentiles to mock and to scourge and to crucify. And the third day He will rise again.”
Today, we can visit the tombs of many religious, political and important figures throughout history. Their remains are there, we can touch them, we can even study their bones! You can visit the tombs of the Pharaohs, and they are still there, you can visit the tombs of kings, emperors and important leaders of the world history, and they are still there, you can visit the tombs of great warriors, politicians, religious leaders, and they are still there… but when you visit the place where Jesus of Nazareth was buried… He’s NOT there!
Today, we can visit the tombs of many religious, political and important figures throughout history. Their remains are there, we can touch them, we can even study their bones! You can visit the tombs of the Pharaohs, and they are still there, you can visit the tombs of kings, emperors and important leaders of the world history, and they are still there, you can visit the tombs of great warriors, politicians, religious leaders, and they are still there… but when you visit the place where Jesus of Nazareth was buried… He’s NOT there!
The only tomb that remains empty in the whole history of mankind is the tomb of Jesus!!
The only tomb that remains empty in the whole history of mankind is the tomb of Jesus!!
Why is that??
Why is that??
The reason is: only Jesus is the Son of the Almighty God!
The reason is: only Jesus is the Son of the Almighty God!
17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. 22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
eph
30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree.
Jesus’ resurrection ratifies His mission of Saviour, He came for that purpose, and after dying for our sins, He was resurrected by God Himself, because He was, He is, and He will always be God.
Jesus’ resurrection ratifies His mission of Saviour, He came for that purpose, and after dying for our sins, He was resurrected by God Himself, because He was, He is, and He will always be God.
2. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS DECRETES “THE DEATH OF DEATH”
2. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS DECRETES “THE DEATH OF DEATH”
We need to understand that Death is an entity, Death is a principality of the darkness that one day will be thrown in the lake of fire. Death is a spirit, it’s alive, and real!
We need to understand that Death is an entity, Death is a principality of the darkness that one day will be thrown in the lake of fire. Death is a spirit, it’s alive, and real!
15 Because you have said, “We have made a covenant with death, And with Sheol we are in agreement. When the overflowing scourge passes through, It will not come to us, For we have made lies our refuge, And under falsehood we have hidden ourselves.”
14 Then Death and Hades were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
In order to grant us freedom, Jesus HAD to conquer death, and because He conquered, we did as well!!
In order to grant us freedom, Jesus HAD to conquer death, and because He conquered, we did as well!!
55 “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
Jesus went to Hell in order to conquer Death
Jesus went to Hell in order to conquer Death
19 by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison,
William Shakespeare said: “eternity is that unknown country from which no traveler ever came back from”. Well, Shakespeare was wrong, one of them came back! Jesus is alive, and He conquered death!
18 I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.
William Shakespeare once said: “Eternity is that unknown country from which no traveler ever came back from”. Well, Shakespeare was wrong, one of them came back! Jesus is alive, and He conquered death!
William Shakespeare once said: “Eternity is that unknown country from which no traveler ever came back from”. Well, Shakespeare was wrong, one of them came back! Jesus is alive, and He conquered death!
3. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS NEEDS TO AFFECT DEEPLY MY VALUES
3. THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS NEEDS TO AFFECT DEEPLY MY VALUES
The resurrection has to produce PRACTICAL EFFECTS in my life!
The resurrection has to produce PRACTICAL EFFECTS in my life!
It’s not enough only to know that 1. Jesus is God and that 2. through Him I conquered death, but I must to experience in my day to day life the power that His resurrection will produce in me.
It’s not enough only to know that 1. Jesus is God and that 2. through Him I conquered death, but I must to experience in my day to day life the power that His resurrection will produce in me.
In other words, I need to live knowing “Him, and the power of His resurrection”, as the apostle Paul explains:
In other words, I need to live knowing “Him, and the power of His resurrection”, as the apostle Paul explains:
7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
How did Paul understand the power of His resurrection? What’s implicit on these verses?
How did Paul understand the power of His resurrection? What’s implicit on these verses?
A. TO LOSE IS TO GAIN - My world values give place to eternal values;
B. I AM JUSTIFIED BY FAITH - My lifestyle has to reflect that of a forgiven person, justified by faith;
C. TO BE FOUND IN HIM - Because of the resurrection of the Body of Jesus, I am now a part of it, Jesus being the Head, and all of us, members of His body.
FINAL APPLICATIONS
FINAL APPLICATIONS
FINAL APPLICATIONS
FINAL APPLICATIONS
Jesus resurrection is not only the reason of our faith, but it is also the guarantee of our own resurrection, it is also the crown of glory for all of those who died believing in Him;
Jesus resurrection is not only the reason of our faith, but it is also the guarantee of our own resurrection, it is also the crown of glory for all of those who died believing in Him;
Life after death is something that touches our hearts deeply because God Himself has planted eternity in us, as we see in the Scriptures:
Life after death is something that touches our hearts deeply because God Himself has planted eternity in us, as we see in the Scriptures:
11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.
Resurrection is not a distant dream, it is a reality; for some, it means entering into eternal joy, for others, eternal condemnation:
Resurrection is not a distant dream, it is a reality; for some, it means entering into eternal joy, for others, eternal condemnation:
15 Tengo la misma esperanza en Dios que la que tienen estos hombres, la esperanza de que él resucitará tanto a los justos como a los injustos.
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.
Opposition to resurrection does not change its reality, the main proof of the resurrection is that many, hundreds, thousands of people already gave their own lives for this message, for this wonderful truth that makes us rejoice with eternity, in the presence of the One who made all possible, because of His own resurrection.
Opposition to resurrection does not change its reality, the main proof of the resurrection is that many, hundreds, thousands of people already gave their own lives for this message, for this wonderful truth that makes us rejoice with eternity, in the presence of the One who made all possible, because of His own resurrection.
For those who believe, however, there is something indescribable awaiting, as Scriptures say:
For those who believe, however, there is something indescribable awaiting, as Scriptures say:
18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
Illustration
Illustration
Illustration
Illustration
In 1889, in the distant Abyssinia – now called Ethiopia – Emperor Menelik II (1844-1913) heard about the invention of the electric chair and decided that this new method of execution should become part of his modernisation plan for his country. Immediately, he put in an order for three electric chairs from the American manufacturer. When the chairs arrived and were unpacked, the emperor was mortified to learn that they wouldn’t work – Abyssinia had no electricity. Determined that his investment would not be completely wasted, Emperor Menelik adopted one of the electric chairs for his imperial throne.
In a similar way, when they put Jesus at the cross the High Priest, the Jews and the Romans thought that the cross would be the most appropriated instrument of torture, and indeed it was a horrible way to die. But because of the resurrection, the cross today is the symbol of our salvation, and the place where our King conquered our eternal life! Through the cross and resurrection, we will reign with Christ forever!
We have a destiny, we will have a new body, not a spiritual one only, but a physical one, capable of enjoying all the blessings the Lord Jesus has for all who believe in Him. We will enjoy eternity because Jesus paid the price, and because He sealed our eternal destiny through His resurrection!
Let us rejoice, He’s alive!!
Let us rejoice, He’s alive!!
In 1889, the Emperor of Ethiopia found out about a new instrument of torture: the electric chair. He ordered one that was brought to Ethiopia. But he forgot one important detail: Ethiopia had no electric power to operate the electric chair! So, the emperor transformed the electric chair on a throne for himself
Let’s pray.