Gospel Era: Jesus Death and Resurrection

Why Listen?

How people in our life can say something and it changes the trajectory of everything we do after the fact. Either the person says something so significant, the person is so significant or a combination of both. Think about these quotes:

“we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender” - Winston Churchill, 1940

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.” I believe this government cannot endure, permanently half slave and half free. I do not expect the Union to be dissolved — I do not expect the house to fall — but I do expect it will cease to be divided. It will become all one thing or all the other.” - Abraham Lincoln 1858, House Divided Speech

“So let us wage a glorious struggle against illiteracy, poverty and terrorism, let us pick up our books and our pens, they are the most powerful weapons. One child, one teacher, one book and one pen can change the world. Education is the only solution.” - Malala Yousafzai, 2013

We are all influenced by words, they hurt us, motivate us, inspire us, break us down, and lift us up but it is words that change what we are thinking and influence what we decide to do.

We are about to read the conversation that took place between the disciples and Jesus after he died and rose again. He appears to His disciples in flesh and bones and is about to speak words that will change how Christians live forevermore. He is about to speak words that will interrupt the lives of everyone who hears these words.

Scripture Reading: Luke 24:36-49

Luke 24:36-39 “As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.”

Luke 24:40-43 “And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.”

Luke 24:44-46 “Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead,”

Luke 24:47-49 “and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

We have just read from the inspired, inerrant, and authoritative Word of God and stand in agreement with the apostle Paul when he writes to Timothy that the Word of God is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction, and training in righteousness so that we all may be complete and equipped for every good work.

What’s the Big Idea?

John Piper put it well when he said:

“Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't.” - John Piper

Jesus Disciples couldn’t believe what they were seeing because of their amazement

Think about a time when you couldn’t believe what you were seeing because you were in so much shock and amazement.

Jesus resurrection wasn’t a ghost or supernatural being. It was Jesus, in flesh and bone, you could touch Him and feel He was real. He even ate with them proving His resurrection was physical.

Think of a funny way to show what would happen if you gave food to a ghost.

Jesus fulfilled the prophecy written in Joel 2:28-32 “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit. “And I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes. And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.”

Jesus gives the Disciples a mission. They are to spread the message that Jesus is alive, is the fulfillment of prophesy, and is who paid the penalty for our sin. They are to start in Jerusalem and then go to all the nations. However, Jesus tells them to wait until they are clothed with the Holy Spirit.

Motorcycle gear, I can go riding with no gear at all but if I crash I will most likely die. However, if I clothe myself with gear that is designed for what I am supposed to be doing then if I crash I will most likely walk away learning an important lesson.

The Big Idea is that we are to clothe ourselves in the Holy Spirit so that we are ready to witness to the world that Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin and is ready to offer us forgiveness.

So What?

Have you ever imagined what disciples felt like. Imagine hanging out with your buddies in a room and then Jesus appears. Imagine how you’d feel. If it was me I’d be nervous, confused, shocked, excited. I’m not sure I’d speak or even have words in my mind. I would be so thrown off guard that Jesus would also have to ask me if I had anything for Him to eat. Once the amazement and shock had passed, I’d be ready to cling onto every single word that was spoken. I would grab a notebook and began recording everything so I didn’t miss what He came back from the grave to tell me. I’d scribble everything down quickly that He fulfilled the prophecy that Moses wrote about and that the Psalmist sang about and that the Prophets predicted. I would sit there writing and boom my mind would have been opened to the fact that everything I had previously thought was wrong and now I really understand the Scriptures and the mission. I would make sure that I knew what was supposed to be shared with everyone starting in Jerusalem, that the Christ had suffered, was crucified and had died. On the third day the Christ, Jesus, the Messiah rose again and conquered death. Repentance and the forgiveness of sins is available to everyone through Him. I can’t imagine how I’d feel when Jesus told me to wait to share this with everyone because first He is going to clothe us in the Holy Spirit. Can you imagine the anticipation you would feel waiting for the Holy Spirit? I wonder what it would have been like the first time sitting in the upper room, chatting about all they are going to get to do and then BOOM, it happened. The spirit came upon them and the mission is about to begin.

1. How would you feel seeing Jesus come back and visit you?

2. What would your response be to Him speaking and sharing final words with you?

3. What would be your next step after having heard all of this?

What’s Jesus Say?

John 15:1–17 (ESV)

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you. These things I command you, so that you will love one another.