The Convincing Proof of the Resurrected Christ
The passion for Christ • Sermon • Submitted
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Acts 1:1-3
Acts 1:1-3
1 The first account I composed, Theophilus, about all that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when He was taken up to heaven, after He had by the Holy Spirit given orders to the apostles whom He had chosen. 3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.
Here we find that Luke wrote an account about “all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up to heaven”
Here in this short verse we find what Jesus did after He resurrected from the Dead....
What did Jesus do after His Resurrection?
Jesus Christ appeared to various groups and individuals on several occasions after his death, prior to his ascension into heaven.
So, we’re going to be jumping from verses to verses for us to see a bigger picture of the evidence presented on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Luke said that Jesus...
I. Presented Himself alive by many convincing proofs
I. Presented Himself alive by many convincing proofs
3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.
Proof
Greek: tekmeriois
It refers to proof by factual evidence that helps to establish the truth.
Luke asserted that Jesus Christ's resurrection was beyond dispute.
"The fact of the resurrection was to be the solid foundation of the apostles' faith and the chief ingredient of their early message."
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 1
Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances to His disciples established beyond a doubt that He was physically alive, not merely present as a ghost or spiritual being.
What are the convincing proofs?
Jesus Appears to Two Believers on the Road to Emmaus
Jesus Appears to Two Believers on the Road to Emmaus
15 While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. 16 But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him.
Jesus approached them and walk with them but They have not recognized Jesus (v.15-16)
27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
Jesus explained to them the prophecy of Scriptures (v.27)
29 But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. 30 When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight.
Since it was night time already, they asked the traveling stranger to stay with them for that evening. Lo and behold, this stranger took the bread, blessed it, and then it him them! They now recognized that the traveling stranger was Jesus! But, Jesus vanished from their eyes… (v29-31).
32 They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” 33 And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them,
They were encouraged and returned to Jerusalem to tell other followers of Jesus (v.32-33)
Lesson: Tell other people about the truth of the Resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus Appears to the Apostles Including Thomas
Jesus Appears to the Apostles Including Thomas
19 So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
For fear of the Jews the disciples were hiding. In a room where they are meeting, Jesus came and appeared in their midst.
Jesus showed his pierced hands and side. He He fulfilled what he said that in 3 days he would rise again.
I want us to take notice and observe the resurrected body of Jesus...
It was different from his pre-crucifixion body
It was different from his pre-crucifixion body
12 After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country.
19 So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
It was a body of flesh and blood
It was a body of flesh and blood
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25 So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
26 After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
27 Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.”
28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!”
29 Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
8 days later, Jesus appeared again to the disciples in a close room, and John gives emphasis on Thomas, who doubted the resurrection...
Thomas saw the pierced hands and side of Jesus...
and that was a turning point for him to believe in the Risen Christ! To declare in his mouth that Jesus is Lord and God of his life!
Are you a “to see is to believe person like Thomas?”
Listen to what Jesus said, Blessed are those who did not see, and yet believed!”
Remember, it requires FAITH to believe.
Our faith is not based on assumption but from factual evidence!
Jesus appears to more than 500 people at one time, to James, and to Paul
Jesus appears to more than 500 people at one time, to James, and to Paul
6 After that He appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time, most of whom remain until now, but some have fallen asleep; 7 then He appeared to James, then to all the apostles;
Appearing to them over a period of 40 days
Appearing to them over a period of 40 days
Why 40 days?
We exactly do not know but if we look at the OT…we can make a connection regarding the 40 days..
“God had instructed Moses for 40 days on Mt. Sinai in preparation for Israel's mission in the world. Now Jesus instructed the Apostles for 40 days in preparation for the church's mission in the world”
III. Teaching the Kingdom of God
III. Teaching the Kingdom of God
3 To these He also presented Himself alive after His suffering, by many convincing proofs, appearing to them over a period of forty days and speaking of the things concerning the kingdom of God.
The propagation of the Kingdom of God should be a priority for every believer
Faithlife Study Bible Chapter 1
Jesus is the king and proclaims a kingdom that fulfills the OT promises, yet in a way unexpected by His contemporaries. His kingdom is not political or geographic
Jesus wants His followers to proclaim and represent God’s Kingdom to the world
18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Jesus is the King of Kings who has the authority over the world and all that is in it!
Authority over life and death
Authority over sin and Satan
Authority over your life!
8 but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.”
Jesus the King is commanding his loyal soldiers and ambassadors to march on, to proclaim the good news, to conquer the strongholds of the enemy....
He command, we follow!
His command must be our priority!
His mission is our mission!
His apostles were to carry on and continue what he began, and to do and teach the same things. Christ set them in, and then left them to go on, but sent his Spirit to empower them both to do and teach. It is a comfort to those who are endeavouring to carry on the work of the gospel that Christ himself began it.
What is GCCC’s Vision and Mission?
Proper Response
Proper Response
Just as Jesus provide convincing proof of his Resurrection, believers must also prove the reality of our faith:
1. Prove the reality of your faith by bearing fruit
8 “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 9 “Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
The bearing of fruit will happen when one remains / continue/ endure in the love of Christ.
Productive disciples earn and develop fruit. Producing fruit is then seen as the positive reward for devoted followers of Jesus (Heb 12:11)
Producing fruit is used as picture for “results”...
The Fruit of the Spirit is the results of the Spirit’s working in the lives of believers
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
2. The Church must prove the reality of our faith by making disciples by way of baptism and teaching of God’s Word.
19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
The Passion for Christ
The Passion for Christ
The death of Jesus shows to us the Passion of Christ for the Father and for his People. The Resurrection of Jesus should stir the believers to uphold the same passion for Christ and His glory.