All Shook Up

INTRODUCTION

There is one event in history that is unparalleled in its effect upon this world, and that is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Without the resurrection, there would be no church and no salvation.

Nothing like this had ever happened before, and nothing has happened since to equal its magnitude. It was the resurrection of Jesus which transformed His disciples into fervent evangelists of the Gospel and brought dramatic and eternal changes into the lives of multitudes of people throughout the world.

Many observances of our day are in reference to the resurrection.

The fact that we hold services on Sunday is a testimony of the resurrection of Christ…The resurrection changed the day of worship from the Saturday Sabbath to the first day of the week, which according to recored is the day that Jesus rose from the grave.

Another example would be today, Easter. Easter is one of the greatest religious celebrations of the year, and we celebrate it all because of the resurrection.

In our text today, we see that Easter is not at all associated with a candy-addicted bunny and pastel-colored plastic eggs that he hides in shoes, drawers, and other odd places. Rather, Easter is associated solely with Jesus, who died and rose for our justification—that is, to make us right with God and to save us from all our sins and what those sins deserve.

The resurrection has shaken not only religions, cultures, and governments, but individuals, as one by one, believers are transformed through Christ's resurrection power.

Jesus was not just a man, but God in human flesh...When he overcome death, the world was shaken in many ways, and this morning, for just a little bit, I would like to dig into just a few ways the resurrection of Jesus shook things up!

THE RESURRECTION SHOOK THE WORLD PHYSICALLY

Matthew 28:2 AV

2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

Bishop Hacket said this, "The earthquake was a royal trumpet to proclaim this victory, the greatest that ever was obtained against an enemy. The deep murmur and hollow sound which came from beneath the earth gave notice, at one blast, to heaven and hell and to all Judea that the Son of God about that instant...did break the gates of brass, and smite the bars of death in sunder."

The earth here which had trembled in sorrow when Jesus died, leaped for joy at His resurrection...The earthquake emphasizes the power of the resurrection, and signaled the conquest of Christ over death and sin.

The angel descended from heaven and rolled away the stone, not to let Jesus out; oh no, He was already gone, but the angel rolled away the stone to let the women in.

The angel sat on the rock, which indicated the triumph over the completed work.

THE RESURRECTION SHOOK THE WORLD RELIGIOUSLY

Like the earthquake at the crucifixion, this earthquake accompanied a new dispensation. In studying the Bible, you will find that earthquakes went along with the beginning of new dispensations.

For example, an earthquake happened at the giving of the law on the mount to Moses in Exodus 19, and so, also here, the dispensation of grace was accompanied by an earthquake at the crucifixion and resurrection.

Think about at the crucifixion, an earthquake occurred that caused the veil in the temple to be rent from top to bottom. No more, was the need for the veil or the animal sacrifices because Jesus Christ was the perfect Lamb of God who died for the sins of the world. John said in:

John 1:29 AV

29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

Jesus' resurrection proved that His sacrifice was accepted by the Father, and the door was now open for anyone who believed in His Son to come to God.

Hebrews 9:12–14 AV

12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. 13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: 14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

THE RESURRECTION SHOOK THE WORLD PERSONALLY

The impact of the resurrection reaches beyond the physical realm, and beyond religious tradition, to touch the hearts of individual people.

How can we celebrate Easter and not be moved?

Many people want to come to church on Easter, sing some hymns, eat breakfast or lunch with family and friends, hunt for easter eggs with our children, and then move along with the same old tradition, and have our world unshaken by the resurrection...I believe this might be why Matthew reminds us that the whole earth shook on that first Easter morning.

Easter is an earthquake that shook the whole world. It got everyone's attention.

When that stone was rolled away, we got our first glimpse of a new world...A world where death doesn't have the last say, where injustice is made right, and innocent suffering is vindicated by the all-powerful God.

The soldiers shook, and it wasn't because the ground was shaking, they were shaking in their boots...The angel plopped himself down on that big rock, and the Bible says in verse 4 that these men became as dead men; meaning, they passed out. I suppose that I would too if I saw an angel descend from heaven with the countenance like lightning!

The angel told the women, “Fear not ye: He is not here: for he is risen...”

Think about this!

Nobody that was present on that first Easter morning went back the same way they came.

Easter has that kind of effect on people...

Does the resurrection shake you? If not, you might need to check your spiritual pulse...Maybe it's time to let God shake your world! Maybe it's time to allow God to roll the stone away from your cold and hardened heart to feel the love and power of Jesus Christ.

Easter touches something deep down inside of us. We encounter God's wonder - that feeling of surprise by something unexpected...It's what Mary Magdalene and the other Mary felt when they learned that Jesus had risen.

Verse 8 says they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy...

They were amazed! They went to the tomb to see the body of Christ, instead, they found an empty tomb...Jesus was alive! And that fact, while unexpected, was wonderful and exciting!

You cannot experience Easter without wonder...The trouble is that we don't feel wonder anymore; it's a rare thing, especially as we get older. A famous catch phrase of the culture we live in is "Been there, done that!" We are saturated with explanations, and experiences, but void of wonder.

When God touches you, you know it...You can't explain it...You experience it...You feel it...It goes right through you and you’ll be left in awe and wonder.

Have we forgotten the implications of Jesus rising from the dead?

Have we forgotten what the resurrection done for us?

We must never underestimate the importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The world believes that Jesus died, but the world does not believe that He arose from the dead.

What is the significance of the Resurrection?

It proves that Jesus is God’s Son. Jesus stated that He had authority to lay down His life and to take it up again (John 10:17–18).

It verifies the truth of Scripture. Both in the Old Testament and in the teaching of Jesus, His resurrection is clearly taught (see Pss. 16:10; 110:1). If Jesus had not come out of the tomb, then these Scriptures would not be true.

It assures our own future resurrection. Because Jesus died and rose again, we shall one day be raised to be like Him.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 AV

13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

Hey! The entire structure of the Christian faith rests on the foundation of the Resurrection. If we do away with His resurrection, we have no hope.

1 Corinthians 15:17 AV

17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.

It is the proof of a future judgment.

Acts 17:31 AV

31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.

It is the basis for Christ’s heavenly priesthood. Because He lives by the power of an endless life, He is able to save us “to the uttermost” (Heb. 7:23–28). He lives to intercede for us.

It gives power for Christian living. We cannot live for God by our own strength. It is only as His resurrection power works in and through us that we can do His will and glorify His name.

It assures our future inheritance. Because we have a living hope, we can experience hopeful living. A dead hope grows weaker and weaker before it eventually dies. But because Jesus Christ is alive, we have a glorious future.

CONCLUSION

In closing this morning, I want to share something with you that I read this past week:

Simon! Have you seen Him?! Yes I have, his face was bloody and He looked at me as the rooster crowed!

John! Have you seen Him?! Yes I have, they were lowering His cross, water and blood was still trickling from His side.

Mary! Have you seen Him?? Yes I have, he was wrapped for burial and a kind man was taking Him to his own grave.

Death! Have you seen Him?! Yes I have, He took my keys and stripped my authority!

Grave! Have you seen Him?! Yes I have, He rolled back my stone, walked out and hollered back behind Him to every Old Testament saint, “Y’all come on!”

Satan! Have you seen Him?! I don’t know what I saw! But early this morning, I felt a foot the size of Heaven stomp on my head and now His grave is empty!

Christian! Have you seen Him?! I sure have! He lives! He lives! He lives within my heart!!!

HE IS ALIVE!!! And He shook things up then and He's still shaking things up today!

Today would be a wonderful day to come before the Lord and renew your commitment to Him.

It would be a wonderful day to to thank Him and praise Him for His blessings in your life.

It would be a wonderful day to call on the risen Savior and trust Him for salvation, help, or any of the many other things we humans desperately need.