The Power of Jesus

Introduction

Today we Conclude our series From the Cross, through the Tomb.

The first message was titled

“The Perseverance of Jesus” (From the Garden to the Cross)

Jesus Persevered in the Garden

Through the Unanswered Prayer He Prayed to His Father

Through the Unwilling Apostles who slept instead of Prayed

Jesus Persevered

Jesus Persevered Through the Gnashing

Through the Accusations, Rejection & Abuse of Others

Jesus Persevered

Jesus Persevered Unto Golgotha

Though the Way was Hard & the Cross Heavy

Jesus Persevered

Secondly, we looked (briefly) at “The Purpose of Jesus” by breaking down what Jesus said in Luk. 19:10 “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

“The Purpose of Jesus” (Luk. 19:10)

Our Position (lost)

His Passion (to seek)

His Power (to save)

Aren’t you glad He did seek? Aren’t you glad He could save?

Last Sunday morning we looked at one of His sayings upon the Cross in:

“The Prayer of Jesus” (Luk. 23:32-38)

The Cruelty He Endured

From the Scoffers, the Climbers, the Heartless & the Onlookers

The Compassion He Displayed

The Meaning & Method of Grace

The Cause for Which He Prayed

They Lacked Understanding & that He Loved Them

The Culmination of that Prayer

It made a difference - in a thief, a solider, you & I

“The Providence of Jesus” (Joh. 19:25-27)

The Role of Mary

The Responsibility of Jesus

The Readiness of John

“The Pardon of Jesus” (Luk. 23:39-43)

Came Despite His Works

Came Definitively

Came Due to His Conversion

“The Pain of Jesus” (Joh. 19:23; Mat. 27:45-46)

Physical Pain

Spiritual Pain

“The Proclamation & Presentation of Jesus” (Joh. 19:30; Luk. 23:46)

Proclamation - ‘It is Finished!’

Finished was the Pain, Power & Payment for Sin

Presentation - ‘Into thy hands I commend my Spirit’ He was presented ‘suitable of good’ unto the Father

Because of His Work, His Ways (The Way He lived) and His Witness

And after He had Suffered and Died upon the Cross, He uttered those last words, He gave up the Ghost.

The Bible tells us what happened thereafter: Joh. 19:38-42 “And after this Joseph of Arimathaea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, besought Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus: and Pilate gave him leave. He came therefore, and took the body of Jesus. And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound weight. Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden; and in the garden a new sepulchre, wherein was never man yet laid. There laid they Jesus therefore because of the Jews’ preparation day; for the sepulchre was nigh at hand.”

Three days pass, and that brings us to the Scripture we read when the women went to the tomb and found it empty.

Today to conclude our series, I want to speak to you on what the Resurrection of Jesus means in the message titled ‘The Power of Jesus’

Historically, people say they believe in the story of Jesus, but they stop short of the resurrection of Jesus. I guess it just seems too hard to believe - but might I remind you of the words of Jesus who said ‘with God ALL things are possible’(Mat. 19:26)

So in looking at the Power of Jesus, and what it means, we see first off that the Power of Jesus Wrought Victory

I. Wrought Victory

My God is Victorious!

Over the Punishment for Sin

The Justice of God requires punishment for sin

(Explain) The Bible tells us Psa. 89:14 “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: Mercy and truth shall go before thy face.”

It also says: Prov. 16:11 “A just weight and balance are the Lord’s: All the weights of the bag are his work.”

This is a very important concept to understand. The reason is, it answers a question that I hear so often ‘How can a loving God send people to Hell?’ Yes, our God is a loving God - more so than you or I ever could possibly know! But God is also a Just God - more so than you or I could ever possibly know.

The fact that God IS Love does not negate the fact that God IS Just. And Justice demands punishment for crimes committed.

The Bible tells us:

Rom. 6:23a “For the wages of sin is death...” that is the payment, the ‘what you get for’ sin = death.

Because we’re sinners - by nature and by practice - we are under the Judgment of God because God is Just. We will get what we deserve, and we deserve

The Mercy of God moved Him to Intervene

(Explain) The Bible tells us: Eph. 2:2-4 “Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,”

God’s Mercy is so great - God’s Love is so great that it moved Him to intervene on our behalf!

The Bible says: Rom. 5:6 “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

God’s desire is not for us to end up in Hell. His desire’s are good for us, because He loves us!

(Ill.) I think of my children. Oh how I love them! And I want the best for them, just like you do for your children! God looked down upon mankind - His Creation and He saw that His Justice required His Judgment, and that we were headed to Hell, but because of His Mercy, because of His great love toward us, He made a way to where His Justice would be satisfied and we could escape the Judgment of God - and that was by providing us a substitute!

The Grace of God provided a Substitute

(Explain) Jesus came to this earth to be that substitute

Jesus suffered the Judgment of God against sin on the Cross of Calvary

Jesus cried out on the Cross and said ‘It is Finished!’ - paying our sin debt in full

Three days later, Jesus raised to new life! The Bible says: Rom. 4:25 “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”

So when Jesus raised to new life, He wrought the Victory over our Punishment for Sin

Over the Panic of death

The Panic of Sins End

Death will come to every man till the LORD’s Return. But Christians, that’s not something for us to sorrow over, it’s something for us to rejoice in!

Paul cried out in 1Cor. 15:55-57 “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

There’s so many advantages to being a Christian, but one of them is the fact that death is nothing for us to fear!

May I say, I am blessed. I am blessed beyond measure. I have a family that loves me, I have a calling of God upon my life, I’ve got a purpose and reason to live. I have a roof over head, shoes on my feet - I’m blessed! But may I also say, that it just gets better from here! When I do leave this world, I’m going to a better one. One with no sickness, suffering or death! One where I’m in the presence of the Creator of the Universe!

Jesus wrought Victory over the Panic of Death

Over the Physical World

Jesus made a statement when Satan tempted Him in Mat. 4:1-4 “Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Jesus

Over the People who Mocked (Naysayers)

Just three day’s earlier, while Jesus hung on the Cross we see this: Mat. 27:41-43 “Likewise also the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders, said, He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.” Luk. 23:35 “And the people stood beholding. And the rulers also with them derided him, saying, He saved others; let him save himself, if he be Christ, the chosen of God.”

One thing is for certain: Those that mocked Jesus on the Cross - they ain’t laughing now.

They either either stopped when they heard the news, or they stopped when they left this earth and stood before Him.

They realized that the Lamb who they mocked, who willingly gave His life so that they may live, was only a Lamb at Passover. Because at some point in their lives, they realized that Jesus was Victorious!

You see, people can mock Jesus now, they can make fun of Him or deride Him, but one day they will come to the same understanding - Jesus is LORD over ALL!

He Wrought Victory of the People who Mock

Over the ‘Powers that Be’

The Pharisees tried to keep Him there

Mat. 27:62-64 “Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.”

The Pharisees - after the crucifixion, after He was laid in the tomb tried there best to keep Him there.

Pilate tried to keep Him there

Pilate’s response to them: Mat. 27:65 “Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.”

Pilate tried to keep Him there

Satan Himself couldn’t keep Him there

Jesus is greater than the Pharisees

Jesus is greater than Pilate

Jesus is greater than Satan

Jesus truly is the King of Kings and the LORD of Lords - He has earned that Title & has Lived Up to that title, because He wrought the Victory over Death, Hell & the Grave!

Jesus Wrought the Victory

The Power of Jesus over Death Wrought the Victory. Lastly, the Power of Jesus - Raising from the Grave Brought Validation

II. Brought Validation

It Validated His Person

Jesus three days earlier stood before the high priest: and the Bible records this exchange: Mar. 14:61b-62 “...Again the high priest asked him, and said unto him, Art thou the Christ, the Son of the Blessed? And Jesus said, I am: and ye shall see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.”

Those heathens in their self-righteousness - even when they heard the truth, they went about to crucify Him

Jesus speaking to a woman at the well: Joh. 4:25-26 “The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.”

This woman, many know the story, but Jesus didn’t puff her up and get her feeling good about herself - He told her the truth, and she responded!

Jesus spoke unto His disciples: Mat. 16:15-17 “He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.”

Peter said He was the Christ, and Jesus said ‘You got it!’

Jesus said:

Joh. 6:35b “...I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.”

Joh. 10:9 “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

Joh. 10:11 “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”

Joh. 14:6b “...I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Joh. 15:5 “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.”

Joh. 8:12b “...I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

When Jesus Rose from the grave, it validated who He claimed to be! It proved that He wasn’t a liar or a charlatan, but He was everything He said He was!

We can trust that if we partake of that bread, we’ll never hunger

We can trust that if we go through that door, we’ll be saved

We can trust the good shepherd to lead the way

We can trust that the ONLY way to the Father is through Jesus!

We can trust that if we follow Jesus He’ll light our path

We can trust that if we abide in Him, we’ll bring forth fruit!

Jesus proved Himself to be what He said He was by raising from the dead

It Validated His Promises

The Promise of Eternal Life (Tit. 1:1-2; Joh. 3:16)

Tit. 1:1-2 “Paul, a servant of God, and an apostle of Jesus Christ, according to the faith of God’s elect, and the acknowledging of the truth which is after godliness; In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”

Jesus said: Joh. 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The Promise of Acceptance (Joh. 6:37)

Joh. 6:37 “All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.”

The Promise to Bear our Burdens (Mat. 11:28-30)

Mat. 11:28-30 “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

The Promise to Provide (Mat. 6:25-33)

Mat. 6:25-33 (Turn & read)

The Promise of Rewards (Mar. 10:29-31)

Mar. 10:29-31 “And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel’s, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life. But many that are first shall be last; and the last first.”

The Promise of Our Future (Joh. 14:1-3)

Joh. 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

The Promise of His Presence (Mat. 28:19-20)

Mat. 28:19-20 “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

All of these promises (and then some) were validated - PROVED TO BE TRUE - by Jesus having AUTHORITY over death!

Jesus PROVED who He said He was & Jesus PROVED that what He said is true!

Now here’s the question: Will you place your faith in Jesus? Will you claim the promises of God?

He said that He’d accept you - and He will

He said He’s save you - and He will

He said He’d provide for you - and He will

He said He’d prepare a place for you - and He will

So what will you do with it?

Conclusion

If you’re lost today & have never accepted that free gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ, will you today?

Christian, are living defeated? Know ye not the promises of God?