Resurrection Day 2021

1 Peter 1:3–10 NKJV

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. 10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,

Sometimes we separate Christmas from The Resurrection. Today, we are going to take a look at what it might have been like if Jesus was born today. We are going to walk into the lives of everyone involved.

Brandon and Shiloh and Judah (Picture of Nazareth)

Brandon, what attracted you to Shiloh?

Shiloh, what attracted you to Brandon?

Brandon, let’s say you were sent on a military exercise and you were going to be gone for 3 or 4 months. How would you feel if Shiloh came to you and said Brandon, I am pregnant, and it is obvious you are not the father?

Shiloh says, Brandon, I have been faithful to you and the vows we made, this was an immaculate conception. This child is the Son of God. Brandon, will you believe her?

Matthew 1:20 NKJV

20 But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.

Shiloh - Jesus as a young child (Picture of Egypt)

Mark 6:3 NKJV

3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.

Shiloh, you are the youngest, but what if you were the oldest?

Who would you want to be the youngest?

I noticed the other night you were playing tag with your dad in the Youth room, what is your favorite thing to do with you dad?

What is your favorite thing to do with your mom?

Jesus was your age at one time. His step-dad, Joseph, was a carpenter. He worked with nails and a hammer. He built things. The greatest thing that Jesus will ever build is the bridge between God and us.

Luke 2:40 NKJV

40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

Elijah - Jesus in the temple (Picture of Jerusalem)

When the family went to Jerusalem for the Passover, Jesus went to the temple. He sat among the doctors and most educated and asked questions and answered questions.

Elijah, would it not be cool to be able to ask questions well beyond your age?

To be able to answer questions well beyond your age?

It would be like if we on a family trip to Chicago. We enjoyed the sites and when we came back home, your mom thinks you are in our car. Can you imagine how your mom would feel, if we have driven half a day, and you were not there? Come to find out, you went to the University of Chicago, and you are speaking with Erika Gebel Berg from the Argonne National Laboratory regarding anti-cancer light therapy. They are trying to find a way to use light and a photosensitizer to inhabit and then break down the cancer cells without damaging the healthy tissue. You ask questions which point them in the right direction.

Richie - Jesus in His ministry, death, and resurrection

He started His ministry in His 30’s. There are at least 36 miracles which were written down and some were condensed to an event. The scriptures do not list every single person, in some places it is just marked as “all were healed”. He had the shortest ministry of just roughly 3 years.

Richie is roughly the same age as Jesus when He was crucified. We watched the Passion of the Christ Friday and it beautiful in how it showed Jesus as having a human side. How tender He was towards His mother.

Richie, you are a year older. You are married and have 3 children. You work a full-time job. You and Beth have donated a lot of time towards getting the nursery done and we really appreciate it. Let us get to know you a little better.

What are your hobbies when you get time?

What are your hopes and dreams for your children?

Jesus had hopes and dreams also. He probably has a favorite color and a favorite food. Then the time came and He was betrayed and abandoned by His friends. He was beaten with a cat of 9 tails until He was unrecognizable.

Ritchie, if you needed something, there is not one person here who would not want to help you. We appreciate who you are and are blessed to have you and your family as part of the Northside family. We would not abandon you.

Jesus had 9 inch spikes nailed into His wrists and feet. No soldier could hold Him down, only His love for us and obedience to the Father. He is the king of glory and His crown was a twisted crown of thorns. He loved His earthly family as Ritchie loves his family. In the midst of torture and shame, He turned to John to tell him he was now responsible for His mother.

But Sunday is on the way. Sunday shines bright with redemption and restoration.

Conclusion

I could give you many scientific proofs and written accounts of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I could draw out the medical journal aspects of the crucifixion. I could recount the 500 witnesses. We could talk about the Roman soldiers who ran in fright and how the stone was picked up and moved away.

We are all believing Christians. We believe already in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. We do not need scientific evidence or some intellectual debate for our heart to rise in glory at the victory over the grave. This is what our faith hinges on.

1 Corinthians 15:14–15 NKJV

14 And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty. 15 Yes, and we are found false witnesses of God, because we have testified of God that He raised up Christ, whom He did not raise up—if in fact the dead do not rise.

We have been redeemed. Praise God. This is the perfect time to remember the sacrifice. The victory. The gift we do not deserve, but was purchased for us anyway. An empty grave. The captivity led captive.