Easter 2020

Welcome and announcements

This morning we are going to look at 5 truths about the resurrection of Christ. 5 ways that the resurrection effects our lives and even faith in general. In order to do this, we are going to first look at some appearances of Jesus after He rose from the dead.

“It is not easy to convey a sense of wonder, let alone resurrection wonder, to another. It’s the very nature of wonder to catch us off guard, to circumvent expectations and assumptions. Wonder can’t be packaged, and it can’t be worked up. It requires some sense of being there and some sense of engagement.”

― Eugene H. Peterson

• Recount the story up to this point:

Luke 24:13–35 ESV

That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

• Initial impressions of the story

So these two guys are on the way to Emmaus and they’re discussing the

events of the day. They are discussing what had just happened in

Jerusalem. They did not recognize Him. •

-They called Jesus a prophet. - Did they not understand the truth about Him yet? Obviously not.

This story is amazing

5 truths about the Resurrection

The Resurrection is Necessary

(Verses 17–27) concern (1) the ensuing conversation in which one

disciple, Cleopas, explains to the stranger about Jesus’ death at the hands of the Jewish leadership; (2) the women’s report concerning the empty tomb, which had been confirmed by others; and (3) the report of the angelic visit to the women.

At this point the stranger explains from the Scriptures the necessity of the Messiah’s death and resurrection.

-This would have been the O.T.

The Resurrection is Real

Witnesses - these guys see Him

Other appearances of Jesus

The crucifixion is a confirmed historical fact. There was a man

named Jesus who the Romans crucified.

Understand - we have eyewitness accounts of people in scripture

who laid their eyes on the risen Christ.

The Resurrection is Proof.

When the disciples recognize Jesus, His teachings are confirmed.

“If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that he said; if he didn't rise from the dead, then why worry about any of

what he said? The issue on which everything hangs is not whether or not you like his teaching but whether or not he rose from the dead.”

― Timothy J. Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

• The Resurrection Changes Everything

• Changed the world, a new religion • Changed the disciples direction in life • Even changed these Emmaus road dudes’ traveling plans • Brings life where there is death.

“Jesus didn’t come to make bad people good. He came to make dead people alive.”

This is what the power of the Gospel does. It takes us who were dead in our sins, slaves to our sin nature, incapable for saving ourselves from the wrath of a Holy God and through the death of Christ and his resurrection, sets us free from our sin, forgives us completely, makes us holy, set apart for service to God, and imputes to us the very righteousness of Christ.

• It promises new life here and life to come in eternity with Jesus. This is GOOD NEWS!

John 11:25 ESV

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live,

- Jesus is the resurrection. You aren’t going to have one without the other. He is the life. Jesus is our life.

The Resurrection Sends.

v. 49

The promise of the coming of the Holy Spirit.

OT promise about the Spirit’s coming - fulfilled at Pentecost when

the Spirit came to indwell the believers

All of those today who have trusted Christ have the indwelling of the

Holy Spirit.

• Convicting us of sin

• Guiding us

• Helping us understand the Word of God

• Helping us in Holy Living

• Compelling us to share this life-giving good news with a world of people who have NO hope without Jesus. There is no other way! There is no plan b. Jesus is the only way by which we can have peace with God, be adopted into the family of God, and experience glorious salvation from the wrath that we so richly deserve.

• The Resurrection, I believe, would also send us to share this Good News everywhere we go.

Matthew 28:17–20 ESV

And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Conclusion:

•The Resurrection is Necessary. • •The Resurrection is Real.

•The Resurrection Changes Everything. •

•The Resurrection is Proof. •The Resurrection Sends.

• Jesus is alive. • All other religious leaders are bones in a grave. • Jesus is sitting at the right hand of the Father and one day

He will return for His church.

•Response - It demands a response. Not to respond is to respond. What will you do with Jesus? What will Jesus do with you?

•Will you believe and trust your whole life and eternity to Him as your only hope before a holy God?

•Or will you walk out the door to another day in uncertaintly. Please don’t.

If you have questions or want to know more about Jesus, email me: [e-mail]

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