The Resurrection of Christ and the Hope of God!
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Fun fact – my wife Angie is an amazing baker! Her secret? She is a strict recipe follower. She has on occasion forgotten how many cups of flour or sugar she’s put in the bowl. Or how much baking soda she has or has not added. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s a problem.
If she makes something without following the proper recipe, her amazing dessert becomes an epic disaster!
So it is with God and His plan for redemption.
While we certainly appreciate the sinless life of Jesus and His awful sacrifice on the cross, if it stopped there, it would have all been for nothing. For us, it would have been an epic disaster!
The resurrection is the life saving ingredient for our eternal hope!
17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins.
For the believer, these words are, arguably the most poignant words found in God’s holy Word.
But is this the truth? Is this the reality we face as believers in Christ?
Do we have a worthless faith?
Are we deluded into thinking some man, some two thousand years ago, died on a wooden tree - a Roman torture device – was buried in a borrowed tomb, and on the third day, raised again by the power of God, thus beating death and becoming the “first-fruits” of the resurrection.
Is this some bizarre fable?
Some story that has captivated and mislead millions over the centuries to follow a tyrannical, narcissistic God who is self-absorbed and desires our total allegiance?
Or…
It the death, burial and resurrection the greatest act of love this world could possibly ever see?
A love so great, so profound that it is expressed through THE ultimate sacrifice?
A demonstration of supernatural power beyond compare that thwarts death’s threat over those who are in Christ!
So, this comes down to two questions…
1. Is the resurrection of Jesus Christ true?
2. If so, what does it mean for you?
Friends, our world needs a little hope these days. With all that is going on in the last few years, it can feel like there is no point to anything. That we are living without hope.
Well, I stand before you this morning telling you definitively and without one shred of reservation…
HOPE IS NOT DEAD! HOPE IS ALIVE! And it is ALIVE because Christ is ALIVE!
HE HAS RISEN, HE HAS RISEN INDEED!
And because He has risen, you can have hope – an eternal hope that will get you though some of the most difficult challenges you will ever face.
Today I want to resurrect your hope!
Main Idea - “The Resurrection of Hope”
Two very important questions for you to grapple with today!
1. Is the resurrection of Jesus Christ true?
2. If so, what does it mean for you?
After the brutal and torturous death of Jesus, the disciples were without hope. They had failed to remember the clear, prophetic words of their teacher that death would not keep him…
22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”
This was not a one-time prediction, but He told them over and over in hopes to bolster their confidence and to help increase their flagging faith…
“The Son of Man will rise on the third day.”
So, was Jesus a charlatan?
Was he the God-man He claimed to be or was he just another trickster with a Messiah complex?
This morning, in my attempt to answer the first of the two questions I earlier posed (is the resurrection true?), I would like to walk you through a harmonized narrative of the story of the day Jesus was raised from the dead.
A day that changed history! A day that changed my eternal trajectory!
As you may know, there are four gospels in the New Testament. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Each gospel is written by either an Apostle or someone writing on behalf of an apostle – so they have apostolic weight or authority.
Each gospel has a different perspective. I like to suggest that each author paints a different portrait of Jesus.
Matthew paints a King
Mark paints a Servant
Luke paints a Man
John paints God very God.
Each gospel is beautiful and stands well on its own, but sometimes, in order to get a more full or complete picture, it is helpful to blend the accounts, to harmonize them so we can understand the historical narrative more clearly - so we can hear the complete story!
That is what I want to do for you this morning. Many liberal scholars have dismissed the resurrection of Christ because they say there are obvious contradictions from one gospel to another. I say that a superficial reading of the accounts could easily lead someone to such a conclusion.
But, we, as Christians are called to do more than a cursory reading of Scripture…
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.
This morning I want to tell you the whole, harmonized story of the day Jesus was raised from the dead. And I’ll do so by asking 15 questions to guide us through the story…
1. When did the Resurrection take place? The resurrection of Jesus took place on the first day of the week following the Sabbath. The day of Christ’s resurrection is described in the four Gospels as: “Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn.” (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1-2; Luke 24:1; John 20:1)
2. Who Were the First to Arrive on the Scene? The time of day when the women went to the tomb is described as: “Early, while it was still dark. (John 20:1; Luke 24:1; Mark 16:2; Matthew 28:1)”.
A group of women (6 or more) walk to the tomb where Jesus is buried, having plans to anoint His body with spices. Individuals in the group are Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, Salome, Joanna, and other women (Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1, Luke 24:10, John 20:1).
3. What Happens Before the Women Arrive? Sometime prior to the women arriving at the tomb, an earthquake occurs. An angel of the Lord descends from heaven and rolls away the large stone from the door. The angel sits on the stone to prevent it from being rolled back in place, dominating any course of action the soldiers might consider. The angel has a face is like lightning and is clothed with clothing as white as snow. The angel’s appearance is so frightful that the guards shake and become unconscious (Matthew 28:2-4).
David Platt said the most hilarious verse in the Bible is Matthew 27:65 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.”
As the women approach the tomb, they discuss among themselves who will roll the stone away from the tomb entrance (Mark 16:3).
4. What do the Women Find? - Just before the women arrive at the tomb, the stone has been rolled away (Mark 16:4, Luke 24:2, John 20:1). The angel sitting on the stone has disappeared, the guards have regained consciousness and left, and the tomb site is deserted.
The women enter the tomb and see that Jesus’ body is missing (Luke 24:3).
5. What Does Mary Magdalene Do?
Mary Magdalene leaves the other women at the tomb and runs to get Peter and John (the disciple whom Jesus loved).
She tells them that Jesus’ body has been taken from the tomb (John 20:2. When John 20:2 and 20:18 are accepted as two separate events, harmony is easily achieved.)
Peter, John, and Mary Magdalene return to the tomb. John outruns Peter to reach the grave first but remains outside.
Peter arrives and immediately enters. They both verify that Jesus’ body is missing and see the linen clothes with the head covering lying by itself (John 20:3-9).
The visit to the tomb by Peter and John mentioned in John 20:3-9 is a completely separate event from the second solo visit by Peter mentioned in Luke 24:12.
6. What do Peter and John do? The disciples, Peter and John, leave the tomb and return to their homes (John 20:10). As typical men, they have completed their investigation, reached a conclusion, and see no need to linger.
7. What do the Women do? All the women remain behind at the tomb. Originally, the women had planned to anoint the body of Jesus with spices, a task requiring some time. Having no body to anoint, the grieving women stand outside the tomb and discuss the disappearance of Jesus’ body, being perplexed by its absence.
8. What Honor Is Mary Magdalene Given? A weeping Mary Magdalene walks to the tomb entrance, stoops down, and looks inside. She sees two angels dressed in white, one at the head and one at the foot where Jesus’ body had been. The angel asks “Woman, why are you weeping?” Mary replies, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him” (John 20:11-13).
The angels appear as men. At this point, Mary believes someone has stolen the body of Jesus.
Mary Magdalene must be separated from the other women. Mary Magdalene turns and walks away from the tomb. In the distance, she sees a male figure walking in the garden. Desperate to find where Jesus’ body has been taken, she walks toward the unknown man, believing him to be the gardener, and perhaps responsible for the missing corpse. She separates herself from the other women, leaving them at the tomb. Jesus sees Mary in the distance coming in His direction, perhaps looking behind bushes for the missing body. He loudly calls out, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Still not close enough to recognize Jesus, Mary calls in reply, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him.” After this short exchange, Mary resumes her search of the garden. As she draws closer, Jesus speaks her name in a normal tone of voice. At that point Mary recognizes Christ, turns directly toward Him and calls out, “Rabboni” (John 20:14-17).
Mary Magdalene was the first person to see Jesus following His resurrection (Mark 16:9).
9. Meanwhile, What About the Other Women? After Mary Magdalene leaves the tomb to search the garden, two angels appear to the remaining women standing outside the tomb entrance.
The women are frightened and bow their faces to the earth. The angels tell the women not to fear and announce that Jesus is risen (Matthew 28:5-7, Luke 24:4-8).
The women enter Jesus’ tomb and find a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side.
He shows them where the body had lain and again announces that Jesus is resurrected (Mark 16:5- 6). As pointed out by Matthew, the women enter the tomb at the angel’s invitation (Matthew 28:6).
The young man is one of the two angels previously observed by Mary (John 20:12). According to the women’s testimony, the angels outside the tomb had a powerful angelic appearance while those inside appeared as normal men clothed in white.
Angels command the women to tell the disciples that Jesus is resurrected. The women exit the tomb in fear and great joy, and run to tell the disciples. (Matthew 28:7-8, Mark 16:7-8).
As the women leave the tomb they are hailed by Jesus, who has been talking with Mary Magdalene in the garden.
The women bow down, hold His feet, and worship Him. Jesus instructs the women to tell His brothers they will see Him again (Matthew 28:9-10).
10. What Happened To The Guards? Simultaneous with the women’s visit to the tomb and subsequent events, some of the guards assigned to secure the tomb enter the city (Matthew 28:11-15).
Since Pilate approved placing the guards at the tomb, they were no doubt Roman soldiers rather than Jewish temple police (Matthew 27:62-65).
Reporting back to Pilate raised several difficulties.
To admit incompetence by losing Jesus’ body, combined with an unbelievable story of a shining angel who rolled away the stone covering the tomb, was not a viable option. As Dr. Peter May says, “It could well have cost them their lives.”
Seeking a more sympathetic ear, the soldiers go to the chief priests and tell of their terrifying experience.
The chief priests consult with the elders and determine a course of action. They give the soldiers a large sum of money and promise to intervene with the governor if necessary, to protect them.
In turn the soldiers are instructed to say that Jesus’ body was stolen by His disciples at night while they slept.
FYI – Guess who believed in the resurrection before the disciples?
11. Who Did The Women Tell? Being afraid, the women do not speak to anyone on their return journey (Mark 16:8). Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome, Joanna, and other women in their group go straight to the apostles and tell of seeing angels and the risen Jesus (Mark 16:10, Luke 24:9-10, John 20:18). This is separate from the event described in John 20:2, which involves Mary Magdalene alone.
The women’s words are not believed (Mark 16:11, Luke 24:11). After all, Peter and John had earlier witnessed the empty tomb—not angels and the risen Lord. Rejection of the women’s testimony is plausible in view of the fact that in first century Jewish culture women were considered inferior witnesses, not as dependable as men.
12. Did Peter See the Resurrected Christ On Sunday? A second visit to the tomb by Peter is the easiest and most logical way to achieve harmony among the Gospel accounts. Peter, one of the apostles present, hears the women’s story.
Characteristically an action driven person, he runs back to the tomb for a second look by himself.
He reexamines the empty tomb and sees the linen clothes lying as originally observed (Luke 24:12).
As Simon Peter leaves the tomb, he encounters the risen Christ in the garden (Luke 24:34). In 1 Corinthians 15:5, the Apostle Paul says that Cephas (Peter) saw Jesus before the twelve.
We can logically conclude that Peter saw the resurrected Jesus during his solo trip to the tomb.
13. Who Else Saw Jesus? Later in the day, Jesus appears to Cleopas and another disciple as they walk to Emmaus, located about seven miles from Jerusalem (Mark 16:12-13, Luke 24:13-32).
The two disciples discuss the women’s report of an empty tomb, their encounter with angels, and verification of the empty tomb by Peter and John (Luke 24:23-24).
However, the two disciples have no knowledge of Peter’s second trip to the tomb. The two return to Jerusalem and report to the eleven. They discover that Simon Peter has seen the resurrected Jesus, presumably during his second trip to the tomb (Luke 24:33-35).
14. What About the Other Disciples? The eleven apostles and other disciples (Luke 24:33) gather together in a locked room on the resurrection night in fear of the Jews. As Cleopas and the other disciple tell their story, Jesus appears and shows them His hands and feet and side. Jesus then asks for food and eats to verify that He is flesh and bones (Luke 24:36-43, John 20:19-25). Thomas is absent when Jesus appears, perhaps having temporarily stepped out (John 20:24). But He did eventually see him eight days later…
15. Did Anyone Else See the Resurrected Jesus? Hear the testimony of the Apostle Paul…
1 Corinthians 15:3–11 (ESV) 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.
What you have just heard is the complete, harmonized story of the resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
God the Son showed Himself to His followers so they would be encouraged, emboldened and impassioned to further His mission, to establish His Kingdom that will have no end.
Soon the Holy Spirit will come to them. A potent combination: the Christ, raised from the dead coupled with a supernatural empowering by the Holy Spirit! They would turn from timidity and become bold witnesses for Jesus.
At first, they were fearful for their lives; soon they willingly would give their lives for a cause greater than themselves. A cause that would turn the world upside down - A cause we are engaged in even today - A cause to further His Kingdom. “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”
When I was first a Christian, I had the wrong idea that Jesus resurrected from the dead and quickly went off to heaven. Not according to the Scriptures…He was around for FORTY days after His miraculous resurrection. And, as we have seen from the text, he appeared to many. Why?
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.
There were not simply two or three witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus, but hundreds for forty days!
Back to the two questions we started with this morning.
1. Is the resurrection of Jesus Christ true?
2. If so, what does it mean for you?
Let’s answer the first question. The answer is YES! But it must be accepted on faith. Not a blind faith, but a faith in what a Historically reliable document has to say about Jesus rising from the dead.
We live in an age of skepticism, the denial of absolute truth as well as biblical illiteracy.
This combination is a recipe for perpetual unbelief.
Belief/Faith is a crucial and necessary component for the gift of eternal life.
28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
And how is such faith transmitted?
17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
It is crucial to understand the Bible you have on your lap (or in your smart phone) is not only the written word of God, but it is historically reliable.
I cannot make anyone believe. If I could, we would have a very big church.
In reality, it is not my job to convince you or make you believe. I want you to believe, but I can’t make you. But I can show you what the text of Scripture says. I can show you how the Bible communicates the truth.
All I ask of you today is to pray and ask God to reveal Himself to you through His Word and believe that it is true!
Faith is a necessary component to be rescued from your sin, establishing a relationship with God, through Christ and being eternally saved…
There is one more aspect I must share with you this morning. The other side of the “faith coin” is called repentance. Why do I mention this? Because if you do not repent, you cannot be saved and go to heaven when you die. Listen to the Scriptures on this…
God has a problem with you…
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
1 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins
God has an expectation of you…
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
19 Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,
And, by the way, when you do repent, there is a party in heaven for your repentance.
10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
It is faith in Jesus – Who He says He is and what He as done for you…
And It is repentance – change your thinking to agree with God…
Faith and repentance =eternal life in Christ.
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
God Demonstrated His Love for You!
Conclusion
So, there it is. We have journeyed through the narrative of that Glorious Day. The day Jesus was not resuscitated but RESURRECTED!
You have journeyed with me and have seen from the Holy Word of God the legitimacy of His Resurrection. The myriad of witnesses proving the veracity of the claims of the four gospel writers (when only two or three were necessary in a court of law).
And we understand theologically, the necessity of the Resurrection for our salvation. After all Paul says,
12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
I started this morning by asking you two questions. I have done my best to answer the first…
1. Is the resurrection of Jesus Christ true? Yes, yes, YES!! He is risen, He has risen indeed!
Simon Greenleaf (1783-1853), one of the principle founders of the Harvard Law School, originally set out to disprove the biblical testimony concerning the resurrection of Jesus Christ. He was certain that a careful examination of the internal witness of the Gospels would dispel all the myths at the heart of Christianity. But this legal scholar came to the conclusion that the witnesses were reliable, and that the resurrection did in fact happen.
His conclusions, in his own words:
“The foundation of our belief is a basis of fact--the fact of the birth, ministry, miracles, death, resurrection by the Evangelists as having actually occurred, within their own personal knowledge it was therefore impossible that they could have persisted in affirming the truths they have narrated, had not Jesus actually rose from the dead, and had they not known this fact as certainly as they knew any other fact.”
“A person who rejects Christ may choose to say that I do not accept it, he may not choose to say there is not enough evidence.”
Yes, He has risen!
2. If the resurrection is true, what does it mean for you?
My prayer is that your spiritual eyes will open to the reality that Jesus is alive and well and sitting at the right hand of the Father. That He loves you with an everlasting love and He stands ready to forgive you of every offense you have ever committed from the beginning of your life. He desires to transform your life, to use you to further His Kingdom and to give you eternal hope. He died on the cross to pay a sin debt you could never pay. He rose from the grave so you could have eternal life.
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” 27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”
But it all comes down to you. Do you believe this? Will you believe the One who did everything possible to rescue you from eternal death? Will you believe the one, the only one who has the authority and ability to give you life? Will you believe this today? Will you believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved?
This is where true and lasting hope is found. So many put their HOPE in such foolish things. Things, people, ideas that will never last. Things, people, ideas that will never deliver on what they promise. Jesus can, does, and will deliver on all that He has promised!
Why can I say this so confidently? Because God followed the RECIPE FOR YOUR REDEMPTION.
The Sinless Son of God not only died on the cross to satisfy God’s wrath against you, but He was buried (proving He was dead), and the most important ingredient? The resurrection! He beat death for Himself and for you!!
The resurrection is the lifesaving ingredient for your eternal hope! If you believe!
That why I can say that Easter is…
“The Resurrection of Hope”
For God so loved...
God so loved the world reprisal
Benediction