When Jesus changes everything, the resurrection brings belief!
Notes
Transcript
The emphasis in this section is on the unbelief of Christ’s own disciples when confronted with the fact of His resurrection. The disciples “mourned and wept” when they should have been rejoicing and praising God.
Last Sunday we left off at the point in History where Jesus had been tried, He was crucified and buried. Thankfully that is not the last chapter! Romans 4.25 tells us that Jesus was delivered for our offences and rose again for our justification! When we believe that truth, Jesus changes everything!
The resurrection of Jesus changed everything for those who believed. 1-13
The resurrection of Jesus changed everything for those who believed. 1-13
A. I finished the sermon on Chapter 15 by saying that the death and burial of Jesus was essential to the Christian faith. The wonderful thing is that the resurrection of Jesus is equally essential to the Christian faith.
Because He was raised, so will we be!
The Resurrection shows Christ not only took our sin on the Cross, but defeated it.
The Resurrections shows the Father was satisfied with All Christ did to pay for our sin.
B. The women went in disbelief.
When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.
And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.
On Sunday Morning - the first day of the week
To perfume the body.
The Greek language makes it clear that they were chattering all the way there about getting the stone rolled away from the entrance.
They may not have known that Pilot had assigned guards, as they did not [would not] visit the grave on the sabbath.
The stone was large and therefore hard for the women to roll by themselves.
Also impossible for a person who would have been weakened by a beating, and crushing and crucifixion, to role away from the inside. But Jesus changes everything.
The first visitors receive a few surprises.
The first visitors receive a few surprises.
The stone is already rolled away. 4
Guards are now gone and in hiding!
They can enter freely and there is no stench of death. 5
They encounter an angel.
Just like the Christmas narrative, an angel informs women first about what is happening.
Told to not be alarmed!
Told the truth.
Told to see.
Told to go & tell.
It was not enough to be spectators; they had to become ambassadors and carry the word to others. “Come and see! Go and tell!” is the resurrection responsibility
They fled the grave!
Mt 28.8 says their hearts were filled with “fear and great joy”!
Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus. 9
Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus. 9
The past is truly gone! Jesus did not first appear to the very virtuous woman who was His mother, but a woman who had been demon possessed!
Was she first because she needed extra comfort, or because she was sure to tell others, or out of assurance that her sins had no power any longer?
But those who should have remembered Jesus’ teaching and believed her “…Did not believe” 11
Jesus then appears to people on the road to Emmaus. 12-13
Jesus then appears to people on the road to Emmaus. 12-13
More in Luke 24
They learned from Jesus.
They showed Him hospitality.
They started to dine with Jesus.
They returned to Jerusalem and told the rest about Jesus!
“But they did not believe them” 13
2. Jesus changes the Disciples’ hard hearts and gave them their mission. 14-18
2. Jesus changes the Disciples’ hard hearts and gave them their mission. 14-18
Afterward…
Afterward…
“He rebuked” strong language because a drastic change of mind and heart are essential at this point!
Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.
They were not just rejecting the word of the people who did believe, they were rejecting faith in Jesus. They needed to come back to the place that they would again live like they believed.
The resurrection brings the same to our lives. There are times when we need to come back to the reality that, no matter what has happened, we are important by Jesus!
He commissions them.
He commissions them.
And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.
More found in
Jn 20.19-20
Gives a scope beyond what they can imagine.
We are still in that process today. There are many places in the world that still need the gospel, like Burma.
Gives information that will comfort them.
it is not necessary to perform miracles in order to serve the Lord (John 10:39–42).
The opening chapters of Hebrews teach us that signs were for the Jewish people, and wisdom (knowledge you can use) was for the rest of the world’s people.
3. Jesus changes location, but does not stop changing everything! 19-20
3. Jesus changes location, but does not stop changing everything! 19-20
Jesus returns to His rightful place at His Father’s side! 19
Jesus returns to His rightful place at His Father’s side! 19
He had completed everything needed to change the world.
He finished the work that brings us salvation.
He primed those who would start the church.
He came from the Father and returned there! Jn 16.28
Having been changed by Jesus, the disciples now take up the mission.
Having been changed by Jesus, the disciples now take up the mission.
After a waiting period, the church starts off on the Day of Pentecost with 3000 new converts. Acts 2
The Disciples did what Jesus had prepared them for and told them to do!
The Disciples did what Jesus had prepared them for and told them to do!
Jesus had changed these 11 so they could do what needed to be done.
Jesus still prepares us for our calling today.
The Gospel was to be preached to everyone everywhere (16) so they “went out and peached everywhere”!
The Gospel was to be preached to everyone everywhere (16) so they “went out and peached everywhere”!
The Lord Jesus continues to work.
The Lord Jesus continues to work.
How He continues to work.
How He continues to work.
He works in us (Heb. 13:20–21; Phil. 2:12–13), with us (v. 20), and for us (Rom. 8:28)
He works in us (enabling)(Heb. 13:20–21; Phil. 2:12–13),
with us ( Mark 16.20)
and for us (Rom. 8:28)
His current role
His current role
Heb. 4.14-16 says Jesus is now our High Priest.
1 Jn 2.1-2 describes Jesus’ role as our Advocate.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Jesus changes everything. In life, in His death, and because of His resurrection - Jesus changes everything.
We all need that! Many people of the world are still stuck in the “they did not believe” stage. Yet God works with us to be a part of seeing some come to the understanding of how Jesus changes everything!
Do we sometimes get caught up in conversations about upcoming difficulties only to find the Lord has already changed everything?
Are there things that fill our life with unbelief and hard hearts that should really be handed over to Jesus so He can build His church through us?
Are we working with Jesus (v20) and His plan to change everything?