John #51 Resurrection Implication
That you may Believe and have Life #51
John 20:9
Well we can see the end coming. After a year’s worth of messages and covering nearly a year and a half of time, we are in our next to the last message in John. Barring something unexpected we will finish next week. This week and next we continue to look at the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, what it means and how it impacted those in the church and us today. Today’s message is entitled “Resurrection Implication”. Now the word implication can mean many things. Like being implicated in a crime. But let’s make sure we are on the same page as we begin today.
Implication – a logical relationship between two propositions in which if the first is true then the second is true
If Jesus rose from the dead, and he did, then, what does that mean? … For JESUS, For THIS life, and for the Life to COME
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ means that Jesus is no ordinary, There is something for ME in the dirty now and now, as well as the sweet by and by.
So, let’s just get right into it. Our Text is verse 9 of John 20. But let’s back up to verse 3 and run up to it.
READ 20:3-9
They didn’t understand from Scripture that Jesus HAD to rise from the dead.
He HAD to … Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:17-19 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 then those who have fallen aslieep in Christ are lost 10 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men
It is not enough to believe Jesus was a good teacher, a good example, even a sacrifice for many. If you do not believe he rose from the dead, Paul is saying our religious exercise is in vain. Why? Because he would be a liar and a fraud. And if he promised to rise and did not, then how do we know that the promise of forgiveness of sins is real? How do we know he came from the Father? How do we know anything?
What are the implications of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ?
1. For Jesus
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ speaks to his Authority
A. Authority
1. Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the 3rd day. Resurrection Sunday is the highest day in Christianity. Without the resurrection Jesus Christ has no authority to separate himself from so many other teachers.
a. Buddha was born, lived, taught, and died.
b. Mohammed was born, lived, taught, and died
c. Confucius was born, lived, taught, and died.
d. name every other teacher, religious leader and they all lived and all have or will die
3. But if Jesus IS who he says he is, the me MUST have power and authority over life and death.
4. In Mark 2, Jesus is teaching in a packed house and four men, bring their friend who has palsy and is unable to walk. They break open the roof and lower him to Jesus. Jesus sees the real need and says “your sins are forgiven. Then the grumbling begins. “how could he forgive sins, only God can forgive sins.” Now Jesus could have ignored their concerns and the doubts would have had life. But he said “you so you will know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins … take up your mat and go home.” Jesus healed the man to show that he had power to forgive.
5. the miracles of Jesus, john has taught us, were signs to show his authority and power to a unbelieving world. Jesus’ miracles were not random acts of kindness. They all had a purpose.
6. in John 11, Jesus got word of the sickness of Lazarus and he said “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake, I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe.” Jesus was going to use the death of lazarus and his subsequent resurrection to reveal himself to an unbelieving world.
7. What was he proving? “I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die.” Then he asks, “do you believe?” And Martha answers, “Yes Lord … I believe you are the Christ, the Son of God, who has come into the world.”
* Now to me personally, I find her answer interesting … because that’s not what Jesus asked. He asked if she believed that he was the Resurrection and the Life. Well … maybe she wasn’t there yet in her faith. But that changed in a little while, when Lazarus was resurrected.
8. Making the lame walk, the blind see, or the dead live would mean little if the one who did it was himself defeated by death.
9. He raised the man with palsy to show he had authority to forgive sins, not to show he had power over sickness. He resurrected Lazarus to show that he held power over deas as the Resurrection and the Life. But while he died for our sins to be a substitute for what Justice required for our sin. He rose on the 3rd day to show that he had authority not just on the earth, but in the heavenlies, not just for the here and now but for the life to come as well.
10. He had to be resurrected to show his authority but also to validate that he is the Messiah … that is that he IS the Promised One, the Anointed One of the Old Testament Prophesies. He was not just ANY being with authority and power. He was not just ANY messenger or angel of God. But he Is THE Angel of the Lord, The Christ, the Son of the Living God.
The Resurrection shows his Authority and his Authenticity
B. Authenticity
1. Is Jesus Christ who he claimed to be? He claimed to be sent from God, God’s Son. He claimed to be the One Anointed to set the captives free, give sight to the blind, bring life to dead places. But if it all ends at the cross … how do we know? How many others had come over the years who seemed to be messianic, who seemed to be sent from God?
2. Is there physical evidence? John and Peter ran to the tomb, they saw that huge stone rolled away. They saw his grave clothes left behind. They saw his head wrapping neatly folded to the side. They saw … but we don’t have those physical things to look at. But if Jesus was who he claimed to be … if we had something prophesying his deed and could match that up with his actions … then we would be able to Say, THIS IS the Promised One, the Christ, the Son of God. This IS the ONE we can believe In.
3. We are working through this so you can come to a solid place of faith. John uses 3 different words for “ seeing” in verses 5, 6, and 8. The first time when they get to the tomb from the outside means, “to glance at”, the second when they went inside, means “carefully observe” and the 3rd means “to perceive with intelligent comprehension” So they “saw and believed, but it says they didn’t understand.”
4. What does it mean to say they didn’t understand “from the scriptures”? We have gospels that carry Jesus’ claims to the coming death and Resurrection. But THEY header his words but they weren’t “scripture” for them. But John 2:22 says it wasn’t until AFTER he was raised from the grave that they connected the dots between what he SAID and DID and what the Scriptures had promised.
5. These disciples saw physical evidence … but when we see the connection of evidence with the promises brings POWER, Authority, and Authenticity
6. The record of the Old Testament served MORE than just a history of God’s people. It was a Pre-history to the coming of Christ. From the Law, to the Passover Lamb, to Jonah in the Fish, (not 1 or 2 days but 3) Adam, Abraham, Isaac, Moses, David, area all pre-types of Christ. Why do I preach and teach from the Old Testament? Because if it was good enough for the Apostles to proclaim the Gospel … it is good enough for me … Paule made it his Evangelistic process to use the Old Testament prophesy to explain who Jesus is.
7. In Acts 13, Paul is preached in Acts, in the Jewish Synagogue and he takes them to the Old Testament to see Jesus. He showed them GOOD NEWS verse 32, the promises God made concerning a Savior who would come from Abraham, through David’s line. Paul said, “what God promised our fathers, he has fulfilled for us, their children by raising Jesus.
8. he quotes Ps. 2:2 “you are my son, today I have become your father.” Paul continues, “the fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay is stated in these words (from Is. 55:3) “I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David” and then he quotes Ps 16:10 “you will not let your Holy One see decay” and Paul points out the obvious, that this was NOT speaking of David because HE Died and HIS body decayed, just like every man … But the Holy One from David’s lineage … Jesus … Paul says, “the one whom God raised from the dead, did not see decay.”
9. Paul is saying that the Resurrection of Jesus Christ Authenticates his claims, his position, his power, his personhood as the Messiah, the Promised One. John the Baptist asked Jesus “are you the One or should we expect another” Well, here is the answer, once and for all, He is Risen … He IS the ONE.
10. And so, Paul says, “through Jesus is forgiveness of sins … everyone who believes in justified in a way that the law could not provide.”
11. So then Paul quotes Habakkuk 1:5 and warns them not to “Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe even if someone told you.” What a sad thing to Look and Wonder, but Perish for failing to Believe.
12. Peter quoted the Old Testament when Preaching at Pentecost.
Psalm 16:8-11 (NIV)
8 I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, 10 because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. 11 You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
When David says, prophetically “you will not abandon me to the grave … let me see decay …” Peter like Paul recognizes that David’s body is still in the grave, she who is David talking about? Jesus
13. It is interesting to me that in these proclamations by the Apostles … many grew hostile at times over WHAT the resurrection meant about Jesus and for us, but NO ONE stood and questioned the veracity of the claim that Jesus Christ ROSE from the dead. Peter quoted Psalm 110:1
Psalm 110:1 (NIV)
The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
Isaiah 53:10 speaks of the Messiah being crushed, suffering, being a guilt offering, but it also says that God will “prolong his days” … how? a guilt offering was always completely dead … he prolonged his days through THE RESURRECTION
14. Jesus in Mt. 12:38-40 points to Jonah as a picture of his time in the grave
15. 1 Cor 15:20-23, Paul says that the God given feast of first fruits was a picture of the coming resurrection of Christ as a first fruit for the Harvest of the Godly Resurrection. Do you know when the feast of the first fruits took place? On the 1st day of the week after the Passover! WELL NOW … The Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Just as Jesus Rose on the Blessed day we call the “Lord’s Day”. IN Mt. 21 Matthew makes a connection with Psalm 118:17-24. Listen to that Psalm, with Resurrection Day in mind, sing for Joy at the Resurrection Authenticity, of Jesus Christ
Psalm 118:17-24 (NIV)
17 I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done. 18 The Lord has chastened me severely, but he has not given me over to death. 19 Open for me the gates of righteousness; I will enter and give thanks to the Lord. 20 This is the gate of the Lord through which the righteous may enter. 21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me; you have become my salvation. 22 The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; 23 the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
This is the Day (resurrection day) that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it! YES! Why? Because of the Authority and Authenticity given to our Lord
All of the scriptures point to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith.
For HIM, the Resurrection is Authority and Authenticity.
On that foundation, what about you and me? Two things, quickly, for this life and for the life to come.
2. For This Life
A. Forgiveness
1. It is interesting that in verse 8, it said “they saw and believed” but verse 9 says “ they didn’t understand” ….
a. Well let me say first that I am so glad John said “to as many as believed he gave them the right to become the children of God” and Paul said in Acts 13, “the one who believe is justified”
And he taught us in Romans 10:9,10, and 13 that if we call out to God with a believing, confession we are saved.
b. You know I don’t understand electricity but that doesn’t keep me from believing in it and flipping the switch to have light.
c. I don’t understand how a car works but that doesn’t keep me from believing and taking a ride.
d. I don’t understand flight but I believe in it and get on a place to faraway places.
e. so, I don’t have to understand what God has done for me in order to gratefully believe and experience the new life of Christ.
f. However the more I believe and experience, the more I come to understand. The more I understand the more I can experience of the fullness of what God has for me in THIS life.
2. The very purpose of the miracles, resurrection included, was our benefit, so we would believe and experience the glory of God. John 11:40-42. Jesus is praying and says “ this is for the benefit of the people here that they may believe” he said “if you believed you would see the glory of God”
B. Power
1. Do you believe, do you understand that Jesus can do anything you need? Really? Do you believe? Is there anything you Don’t believe he can do for you? I didn’t say he always WILL because He is God and we are Not. That means he is on the throne and we are not, so sometimes he says “NO” He is the Vine, we are the Branches. He gives the branches what is within his purposes and nature. A branch can ask the Vine for Apples all day but if the Vine, is a grapevine, he is going to give grapes. The branch can ask the vine for grapes in the winter but the vine is going to say “they are not in season”
2. But the resurrection of Jesus Christ should remove all doubt from us about anything we think he cannot do! “Oh but Pastor … that is just for Jesus. That power 1 Peter 3:18 say he was ‘ quickened by the Spirit’ “ That’s not for me is it?”
I’m glad you asked …
Ephesians 1:18-20 (NIV)
18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,
3. That Power is FOR us … the same power that raised Christ from the dead, and seated him in the Heavenlies.
Those of us who believe … have been indwelt by the Holy Spirit and his power, that caused Rigor Mortis to be reversed … that caused cells to be reanimated … organs to begin working … it is FOR US …
Listen WE can resuscitate a body, sometimes that has been dead a few minutes. But we are talking days. You wouldn’t be able to do that with a power plant full of electricity or a hurricane full of wind power. And that very same power is FOR US. Paul also says in Eph 2 that we not only have been made spiritually alive with Christ but also we have been seated with Christ in heavenly realms.
Seated means a finished aspect
Seated indicates an authority aspect
4. Because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ we have everything we need for life and godliness. Stop saying “I can’t” and say “I can” it is not that we can’t but we don’t. We don’t choose to, or we don’t understand to, or we don’t know better; but it is NOT because we can’t. The Resurrection says We CAN.
5. make a list … what are the things, spiritually, emotionally, physically, ministerially, that you say you can’t, won’t, or don’t do? Is there something in your life that you say “I really want to or should stop doing if I could”? Is there something in your life that you say “I really should or would do this if I could”? It might be a habit you want to break. It might be a step of faith.
6. I would call you today to run down to the empty tomb with me.
a. Take a glance at it from the threshold. Notice hmmm Jesus isn’t in there. There are some strips of cloth left behind
b. Step on inside, take a closer, careful observation. See that he just passed right through them. The head dressing is neatly folded and off to one side.
c. Jesus is Risen, now let that sink in to your mind and comprehend it.
7. If Jesus is risen, if Jesus is ascended to the Father, if this is by the Power of God the Holy Spirit, and I have him living in me. Then this not just good news for Jesus, this doesn’t just mean Jesus has authority and authenticity, this is Good News for ME for Right NOW Today!
8. This means if I believe, I can have eternal life. But it also means if I can begin to understand the implications, I can live in the Power of the Holy Spirit because I am indentified WITH Christ. I am Crucified WITH Christ, I am Resurrected to Life, WITH Christ, and I am seated in places of Authority With Christ …
So if it is TRUE for him, it is True for Me!
Hallelujah!
I really need to move quickly, on to finish but the Resurrection has implications for Jesus and for This life, but finally for Us it has implications for the …
3. Life to Come
Because of the crucifixion and Resurrection, in the life to come, a rush of sound will emanate from Heaven’s residents saying “worthy is the lamb, who was slain, to receive power, and wealth, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and praise!” For Eternity he will receive power, wealth, wisdom, strength, honor, glory, and praise.
But what about Us?
A. Resurrection
1. In a sentence, because he is resurrected, we will be resurrected as well. I will experience the resurrection from the dead. I only have ONE appointment with death.
2. we will be Resurrected from the Dead
B. Accepted
First Fruits
1. He is the first fruits of the resurrection. The first fruit is NOT the harvest, it is only the beginning of the harvest. Jesus’ resurrection is not the harvest of resurrection, it is the beginning of the resurrection.
2. Remember I mentioned the Feast of First Fruits that began on the 1st day of the week after Passover. The priest would offer a barley wave offering. He would wave a Sheaf of Barley from the first fruit harvested. And as God would then accept the WHOLE Harvest. So … since Jesus was accepted as our first fruit offering in the Resurrection, So the Father has already accepted ALL the Harvest of those who would or still will yet believe … even those who have yet to be harvested … isn’t that great news?
C. Like Him
1. Another thing is the thing presented is exactly like the Harvest. When the priest waved the first fruit offering, The Priest wouldn’t wave an Oak Branch, or a Palm frond, or anything else to God … NO the Priest waved a Barley Sheaf before the Lord because it was what the Whole Harvest would be.
2. Do you follow me? So also is it with the first Fruit of the Harvest of Resurrection. As Jesus Is Now as a Resurrected one, so One Day, we shall be also. We will be like him. Not GOD, but we shall be like his Resurrected Body, The same, yet dramatically gloriously different! Able to eat yet not necessary, recognizable but different, able to appear and then be gone, not bound by space and obstacles … no pain, no fear … oh how glorious
1 Corinthians 15:49 (NIV)
49 And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.
Philippians 3:20-21 (NIV)
20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.
1 John 3:1-3 (NIV)
1 How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure.
Oh People because of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, I CAN Truly live in Power, I CAN Truly have faith in what will be In A Little While
Oh don’t make too much of me now, or of what you see in the mirror, you just keep looking at Jesus in Hope and Faith, because One Day … that is how I will be
Don’t see yourself as sinful but as Holy and Blameless, the Righteousness of Christ.
See yourself clothed in White seated on thrones in Heavenly Places.
Don’t see Failure, see Fulfillment of Promises
Henry Morris wrote
The Bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead is the crowning proof of Christianity. If the resurrection did not take place, then Christianity is a false religion. If it DID take place, then Christ is God and the Christian faith is absolute truth.
John Stott said
It is fitting that a supernatural person should enter and leave the world in a supernatural way. His birth was natural, but his conception was supernatural. His death was natural, but his resurrection was supernatural.
Oh people, my conception, and birth may have been natural, and if the Lord doesn’t come, my death will be natural, OH but the Supernatural is coming, I WILL be a superman, in the likeness of the resurrected body of Christ …!
The Canoe-Shaped Coffin
Herman Melville’s great classic, Moby Dick, is packed with biblical themes and allusions. there is a character aboard ship named Queequeg, who was beloved by the crew. When he was seized by a serious fever, the illness left him worried about his future. He calls the ship’s carpenter, and requested a coffin be made for him in the shape of a canoe. The carpenter took Queequeg’s measurements, finished it.
Little more is said of the strange coffin, as the book progresses, and the story returns to Captain Ahab the great whale, Moby Dick.
In the novel’s dramatic climax, Captain Ahab finds Moby Dick, but the whale overcomes the captain, smashing the boat to pieces, killing Ahab and tossing the crew into the sea to be eaten alive by sharks.
Ishmael, the storyteller, finds himself floundering in the water, being sucked into the vortex of the sinking ship, circling in a fatal eddy, prey for the sharks. Suddenly a “black bubble” bursts from the water, liberated from the depths by its own buoyancy. It shoots up with great force and lands near Ishmael. It is the canoe-shaped coffin. Climbing into it, Ishmael floats for a day and night until he is rescued by a passing ship.
Because of the Resurrection, our coffins are nothing more than canoes bearing us across the Jordan River to fairer worlds on high.[1]
For a little while, for a little while … Press on To the End
For a little while for a little while … Broken Hearts will mend
But in a little while, in a little while Oh in a Little While
My Saviors face I’ll see, I’ll finally be Free
Won’t you go with me
In a little while
[1]Morgan, R. J. (2000). Nelson's complete book of stories, illustrations, and quotes (electronic ed.) (251). Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers.