Transformed by the Resurrection
Seeking Transformation • Sermon • Submitted
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· 62 viewsUltimately, it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead that transforms us. All that we have discussed throughout Lent has brought us to this point. The transformation of a person through the sanctifying power of the Spirit is what we are called to live into as disciples.
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1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. 5 And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.” 8 And they remembered his words, 9 and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, 11 but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12 But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.
Introduction
After the events of Friday afternoon, a group of women return to the tomb of Jesus to prepare his body for burial. According to Luke, Jesus had been laid in a borrowed tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Sanhedrin who supported Jesus. He had gone to Pilate after Jesus died and had his body wrapped in a linen cloth. But because it was so close to the beginning of the sabbath, they were not able to truly prepare Jesus’ body.
When someone died at the time of Jesus, a mixture of spices were placed on the body to prevent the smell of decay in the warm Judean air. After a year, the bones of the deceased were placed in a small stone box called an ossuary and laid in the tomb along with other family members who had passed. The women were getting ready to do what they had done so many other times before for other family members. They knew when they set out that early Sunday morning that they would find Jesus just as they had laid him wrapped in a linen cloth ready to be prepared so that in a year his bones could be placed in the ossuary.
The words that Jesus had told them repeatedly about his resurrection had been lost in the grief of their crucified rabbi. Their intentions were no different than if Jesus had never said anything about being raised from the dead. It wasn’t a lack of faith. It was that they had never experienced anyone not being in a tomb. But on the first Easter morning, God revealed his glory and provided for the women, the disciples, and all who trust in Jesus the radical transformative power that comes from the resurrection of Jesus.
Today, we are going to look at how Jesus’ resurrection has changed human history and provided for us the means by which salvation is given to those who believe in Christ.
1. Death has been defeated. (vs. 1-6)
1. Death has been defeated. (vs. 1-6)
As soon as they arrived, the women knew that something had happened. The stone was rolled away from the tomb. When they looked inside, Jesus’ body was no longer there. In that moment, two angels confirmed what they had seen with their own eyes but could not believe - Jesus had been raised from the dead. The question from the angels to the women is incredible, “Why do you search for the living among the dead?” How does one respond to such a question? The women could have said that he’s not alive. We watched him die and be put into the tomb. But they were so afraid that they bowed and put their faces on the ground. They were not going to say anything at this point.
The angels point to the obvious he is not here. But they add, “but has risen.” The words of the angels are shocking. How could Jesus be raised from the dead?
The gospels are all clear on this fact. When the women in each gospel went to the tomb, Jesus’ body is no where to be found. Various numbers of angels confirm the fact. But for the women and later the disciples, this makes no sense whatsoever. People just don’t get up and walk out of a tomb. However, what they witnessed and have passed on to us 2,000 years later is the fact that Jesus’ tomb is empty. He is not there. He is risen from the dead.
But why is this so important for us as Christians? There are many who claim to be followers of Jesus who cannot believe that Jesus really did walk out of the grave. They claim that the women and the disciples may have experienced a vision of Jesus because of their profound grief, but he was still in the tomb. But this makes no sense. Why would they do such a thing and even go to their deaths over a lie? The fact is that they wouldn’t. There was no vision of Jesus. Jesus was alive. Death was defeated.
Paul explains that Jesus’ resurrection is the cornerstone of the Christian faith. If we do not believe in the bodily resurrection of Jesus then we are most to be pitied and we are still dead in our sin. However, he says in 1 Corinthians 15:20-21
20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead.
Our theology of salvation is tied directly to Jesus’ resurrection. Before Jesus, we are dead in our sin. Death has the final word in our lives. Death entered into the world through the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden. God says to them in Genesis 3:19
19 By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
But now all of that has been reversed. Jesus took our penalty of death upon himself so that we could have eternal life if we trust in his name and believe that he has been raised from the dead.
2. Prophecy has been fulfilled. (vs. 7-8)
2. Prophecy has been fulfilled. (vs. 7-8)
Not only had Jesus told his disciples that he would be raised from the dead. It was something that had been foretold through scripture over the centuries.
When Paul was writing to the Corinthians, he pointed to what seems to be an ancient creed of the church to affirm that the scriptures had been fulfilled in Jesus’ resurrection:
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,
Later in Luke, Jesus is walking with the two disciples on their way to Emmaus and begins to tell them about him being raised from the dead.
27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
But a big question that some may ask is where in the Old Testament does Jesus fulfill the scriptures especially as it pertains to the resurrection?
2 After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him.
Jesus says of himself in Matthew 12:40
40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
Also in Luke 9:22
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.”
33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise.” 34 But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.
But now, they remembered his words. They knew that he was more than just a prophet or even the Messiah that they had come to expect. By his death and resurrection, Jesus had fulfilled the prophecy that had been told about him. They had not understood it before, but now they do. They get it. Jesus’ death just a few days earlier was not the work of hostile men. It was the work of God in bringing salvation to the world.
And now, they have to tell somebody!
3. The gospel is now proclaimed. (vs. 9-12)
3. The gospel is now proclaimed. (vs. 9-12)
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”