06AM April 16 Luke 24 25_27
April 16, 2006—Morning Worship
Easter Sunday
Can We Be Certain?
Biblical Answers to Bothersome Questions
Luke 24:25-27
Intro: Our text today will be found in Luke’s gospel, chapter 24. According to the Bible, this event takes place on the day of the resurrection. Jesus, disguising Himself, walks w/two of His disciples as they make their way to the village of Emmaus. He acts as if He is unaware of the events that have taken place over the past few days, & His disciples are telling Him the story of, 19 …Jesus of Nazareth, who was a Prophet mighty in deed & word before God & all the people, 20 & how the chief priests & …rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, & crucified Him. 21 But [His disciples] were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, today is the third day since these things happened. 22 …& [they said] certain women of our company, who arrived at the tomb early, astonished us. 23 When they did not find His body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said He was alive. 24 & certain of those who were w/us went to the tomb & found it just as the women had said; but Him they did not see."
Up until this point, Jesus has been virtually silent, just listening as His disciples recounted the story of His violent death, His unceremonious burial, & the mystery of the disappearance of His body. We find His reply to these things in…
Luke 24 25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, & slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things & to enter into His glory?" 27 & beginning at Moses & all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
- In this great Easter text, Jesus chided His disciples for being slow of heart to believe.
- He also explained the importance of His Resurrection & the OT witness about Himself.
- & w/all the books & films & documentaries out today that dispute the Biblical account, is it possible for us to be certain that these things actually took place?
- Can we be certain that Jesus really died & that He really rose from the dead?
- Can we be certain?
- These are bothersome questions to some, but today we want to see Biblical answers on which we can not only rest our faith, but also arm ourselves to defend our faith.
- & so, today we are only going to ask 2 questions.
- The 1st is…
1. How do we know the resurrection really happened?
- While the Bible is not primarily a history book, it is accurate in all of its references to history.
- & what we are discussing today is historical fact. & there are many historical reasons to back up our belief.
- So, we know the resurrection really happened…
A. B/c of the Stone. (Matthew 27:59-60; 28:2) 59 When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 & laid it in his new tomb which he had hewn out of the rock; & he rolled a large stone against the door of the tomb, & departed…28:2 & behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, & came & rolled back the stone from the door, & sat on it.
- Matthew’s account only mentions Joseph of Arimathea taking the body & preparing it for burial.
- Matthew only mentions Joseph as rolling a large stone to cover the opening of the tomb.
- John’s account also mentions Nicodemus as helping Joseph w/this work.
- & so the question down through the years has always been, “Could the stone have been moved by men?”
- The answer to that question is “YES” b/c men put the stone in place, therefore they could have moved it.
- However, the Bible gives us the actual account of the stone moving.
- This great earthquake was the means by which the angel opened the tomb.
Matthew 28 3 His countenance was like lightning, & his clothing as white as snow.
- The angel moved the stone w/the force of heaven & the power of God & drew attention to the fact that “something supernatural is happening here.”
- The reason for that was, so that no one could say that someone stole away the body of the Lord Jesus.
- & the Jewish leadership wanted to prevent that from happening as well, & so we know the resurrection really happened…
B. B/c of the Soldiers. (Matthew 27:62-66a) 62 On the next day, which followed the Day of Preparation, the chief priests & Pharisees gathered together to Pilate, 63 saying, "Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, After three days I will rise. 64 Therefore command that the tomb be made secure until the 3rd day, lest His disciples come by night & steal Him away, & say to the people, He has risen from the dead. So the last deception will be worse than the first." 65 Pilate said to them, "You have a guard; go your way, make it as secure as you know how." 66a So they went & made the tomb secure….
- They surrounded the tomb where Jesus was buried w/Roman soldiers.
- These were battle hardened soldiers. Soldiers, who had faced fear & death & stared it down w/the strength of their courage & the might of their weapons.
- The soldiers’ job was to guard the tomb & guard the tomb they did.
- No one could have gotten the body of Jesus out of the tomb w/o their knowing it.
- & yet, Matthew 28 4 says that …the guards shook for fear of [the angel], & became like dead men [after they saw him.]
- These big & brave soldiers, whose job it was upon pain of death to guard the tomb, were literally shaking in their sandals at the sight of this angel.
- The women who arrived later saw this same angel & had a conversation w/him.
- & so, you can imagine just how tough these women were – to talk w/an angel who had literally almost scared a group of battle hardened soldiers to death!
- The Jewish leadership was seeking to secure the tomb of their enemy. They did it w/soldiers.
- & yet we know the resurrection really happened…
C. B/c of the Seal. (Matthew 27:66) 66 So they went & made the tomb secure, sealing the stone & setting the guard.
- The stone was not only impossible to move w/o making any noise, but it was sealed w/the signet of Rome.
- A special wax was placed at the joint of the tomb & the stone that covered its entrance.
- The signet seal was then placed in the wax to indicate that it was officially sealed & anyone breaking that seal w/o authorization could be punished by death.
- I imagine in their zeal to secure the tomb, the Jewish leadership might have placed several seals on the stone.
- & now, feeling that the possibility of someone stealing away the body of Jesus was impossible, the Jewish leadership retired to their homes in apparent victory.
- No one in their right mind would possibly try to take the body of Christ while the guards were there & under punishment of death from Rome.
- If they did, they would have suffered the same agonizing death of crucifixion that Jesus had suffered.
- & so we know that the resurrection really happened b/c the stone that covered the tomb couldn’t be moved b/c it was guarded by the soldiers & officially sealed to prevent anyone from tampering w/it.
- But we also know the resurrection really happened…
D. B/c of the Sepulcher. (Matthew 28:5-6) 5 But the angel answered & said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
- Another reason we know the resurrection really happened is b/c the tomb is empty!
- Now some people will tell you that the women were confused about in which tomb Jesus was buried.
- They’ll tell you that the women went to the wrong tomb & that’s why it was empty.
- But it would have been so easy to identify the right tomb – it’s the only one guarded by soldiers! It’s the only one anyone is afraid someone’s going to come out alive!
- There is not another religious faith anywhere that can take you to the empty tomb of its god.
- No other god ever died for the people who follow him.
- Only Jesus – God the Son was given in death to conquer death, hell & the grave for all who believe in Him!
- The angel said, He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come & see for yourself.
- Come & see the Lord of glory is alive, b/c He is not here among the dead; He’s alive!
- He kept His promise, After three days I will rise.
[We used to sing a song “Jesus is alive & well! Jesus is alive & well! Tell everyone you see, oh tell them for me, Jesus is alive & well!”]
- I’ve said before that when I get excited about something that God’s done or doing in me, all I can do is cry.
- But if I’d been there that day – I believe I might have been able to squeeze out a loud HALLELUJAH! GLORY TO GOD!
- I don’t know – I was not there – but I just believe those women had a glorious time out in the graveyard that day!
- The tomb was empty then & it’s still empty today! Jesus is alive & well!
- How do we know the resurrection really happened? Well another reason is…
E. B/c of the Shroud. (John 20:3-8) 3 Peter therefore went out, & the other disciple, & were going to the tomb. 4 So they both ran together, & the other disciple outran Peter & came to the tomb first. 5 & he, stooping down & looking in, saw the linen cloths lying there; yet he did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, & went into the tomb; & he saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 & the handkerchief that had been around His head, not lying w/the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who came to the tomb first, went in also; & he saw & believed.
- The so-called “Shroud of Turen” is not the cloth that wrapped the Lord’s body.
- John’s gospel clearly says it was linen cloths plural that wrapped the body of Jesus.
- Cultural customs of that day tell us that they wrapped the dead in strips of linen & added spices as they wrapped layer after layer around the body.
- It’s inconceivable that anyone who had gotten past the guards, broken the seal, moved the stone & taking the body, would have taken the time to unwrap it & leave the linen cloths behind.
- The very fact that they are there; that they were discovered in a condition that would indicate that the body of the Lord had just “passed through” them is strong evidence that the resurrection really happened.
- & in addition to that, the piece that wrapped His head was separate as it would be on the body.
- We know the resurrection really happened b/c of many evidences & proofs, one of which is…
F. B/c of the Scars. (John 20:26-28) 26 & after eight days His disciples were again inside, & Thomas w/them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, & stood in the midst, & said, "Peace to you!" 27 Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, & look at My hands; & reach your hand here, & put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." 28 & Thomas answered & said to Him, "My Lord & my God!"
- When Thomas 1st learned of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, he was skeptical – he doubted.
- But when Thomas was confronted w/the risen Savior, his whole attitude & outlook changed.
- & ladies & gentlemen, it’s the same w/everyone in the world.
- When we 1st hear about Jesus & all that He has done for us, we are skeptical, we doubt whether or not it could be true.
- But when we are personally confronted w/Jesus through the witness of the word of God or the witness of the Spirit of God or the witness of a child of God; our whole attitude & outlook changes.
- Even today, while Jesus is seated at the right hand of the throne of God, He still bears the scars for our sin.
- & those scars will be an eternal reminder of the price God was willing to pay to redeem His children!
- We know the resurrection really happened…
G. B/c of the Sightings. (1 Corinthians 15:3-8) 3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 & that He was buried, & that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 & that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
- As I reported this morning at the Sunrise Service, there are no less than 14 separate accounts of the risen Lord revealing Himself to His people.
- & down through the pages of time that number is unknowable to the human mind.
- God is still revealing Himself to people today & maybe even in this service right now, God is revealing Himself to your heart.
- As I said earlier, Jesus is alive & well!
- & that fact is reflected through His church. We know that the resurrection really happened…
H. B/c of the Survival of the Church. ()
- It would not be an exaggeration to say that 1,000’s have given their lives as martyrs for their faith in Jesus.
- It would not be an exaggeration to say that millions have suffered persecution for their faith.
- & yet the church still survives!
- Stephen, was the 1st; all the apostles & others through church history have given themselves for the glory of God & their faith in Jesus.
- Just in the state of NC there are 1.2 million Southern Baptists.
- & if everyone of that number were committed to the cause of Christ, think of the possibilities of reaching – not only this country – but every other country in the world!
- The church survives today b/c of the power of God at work in His people!
- IOW you are certain proof of the resurrection of Jesus Christ as He works through you!
- We also know the resurrection really happened…
I. B/c of the Sunday worship. ()
- The early Church immediately began to meet on Sundays to worship to commemorate the resurrection.
- If it never happened – there’d be nothing to commemorate, nothing to celebrate, no reason to carry on a charade.
- But having said all that…
2. Why is the resurrection important today?
- What difference does it really make to us today?
- The resurrection is important b/c…
A. The Resurrection is about our Past. (saved from sins)
- We are no longer under the bondage of sin! We are freed from the past!
- We are not under condemnation! We are redeemed! We are children of God!
- The devil can no longer conger up images of our sinful past & hold them against us!
- The Bible says that “If God be for us who can be against us”!
- No matter how bad you may have been, God in Christ has paid the sin debt for all those who would believe.
John 3 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
[It was Martin Luther King Jr. who used the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty! I’m free at last!”]
- & ladies & gentlemen, if you are in Christ, you are free at last from your past through the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ!
- The resurrection is important today b/c…
B. The Resurrection is about our Present. (saved to serve Him)
- You’ve not been saved to sit – you’ve been saved to serve!
- You’ve not been saved to receive – you’ve been saved to give!
- You’ve not been saved to escape this world – you’ve been saved to evangelize this world!
- You have a testimony if Jesus Christ has saved you from sin!
- Get up! Get out! Get going! Get trained! Get mobilized! Get inspired! Get used of God for His glory!
- Make a difference! Have an impact! Don’t just sit there – magnify the Lord through your life!
- If Jesus Christ has saved you – you are different!
- & if you are different – you are to be different! Don’t be conformed to this world but be transformed!
- Serve God for His glory & get out there & let your light shine!
- The resurrection is important b/c it’s about our past & our present &…
C. The Resurrection is about our Future. (saved to be w/Him forever)
- If you have ever come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as your Lord & Savior, one day, when you die, you’re going home to be w/Him!
- & throughout all eternity, world w/o end, you will be w/the One who died for you!
- What joy! Peace! A sense of fulfillment! A glorious experience!
- Bowing in the presence of God Himself!
- Never to experience heartache or pain or sorrow or strife or sickness or death anymore!
[Charles Fuller once announced that he would be speaking the following Sunday on “Heaven.” During the week he received a letter from a very ill old man, which read in part:
“Next Sunday you are to talk about Heaven. I’m interested in that land, b/c I’ve held clear title to a bit of it for over 55 years. I did not buy it. It was given to me w/o money or w/o price. But the Donor purchased it for me at tremendous sacrifice. I’m not holding it for speculation since the title is not transferable. It’s not a vacant lot.
For more than ½ a century I’ve been sending materials out of which the greatest Architect & Builder of the Universe has been building a home for me, which will never need to be remodeled nor repaired b/c it will suit me perfectly, individually & will never grow old.
Termites can never undermine its foundations for they rest on the Rock of Ages. Fire cannot destroy it. Floods cannot wash it away. No locks nor bolts will ever be placed upon its doors, for no vicious person can ever enter that land…my home is almost competed & almost ready for me to abide in peace eternally, w/o fear of rejection.
I cannot reach my home in that City of Gold w/o passing through the dark valley of shadows. But I’m not afraid b/c the best Friend I ever had went through the same valley long, long ago & drove away all its gloom. He has stuck by me through thick & thin & I hold His promise in printed form never to leave me or forsake me.
I hope to hear your sermon on Heaven next Sunday from my home in California, but I have no assurance I’ll be able to do so. My ticket to Heaven has no date of departure – no return coupon – & no permit for baggage. I’m all ready to go & I may not be here while you are talking next Sunday evening, but I’ll meet you there some day.”]
Conclusion: I wonder; do you look forward to your day of dying w/such assurance, peace & joy? Have you considered inviting Jesus, the Savior, into your life to take control? Are you ready to go should this be your final day?
Invitation: There is so much evidence that the resurrection really happened & one of the strongest is that the Creator of all things, who cannot lie, says that it did!
If you’ve never known the peace & joy of the free pardon of sin, would you come today in repentance of your sin & place your faith in the only One who can save eternally you? If God is speaking to you about the destiny of your eternal soul, would you come today?
Or maybe you just need to come & thank God that you are free from your burden of sin. Maybe you just need to come & ask Him to give you the strength & wisdom to that light that shines so the rest of the world may see Jesus in you. Would you come today?
Hymn 330 Amazing Grace! How Sweet the Sound