The Risen Lord

Introduction

Christ’s Death

Luke 23:44–46 ESV

44 It was now about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour, 45 while the sun’s light failed. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46 Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” And having said this he breathed his last.

“Our new Constitution is now established, and has an appearance that promises permanency; but in this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”

— Benjamin Franklin, in a letter to Jean-Baptiste Le Roy, 1789

Death seems certain—definite—final!

When Jesus died, His follows were grief-stricken, confused, and fearful.

Death is like a wall that cannot be overcome. And Christ’s death, hopes, plans, and dreams seem to crash into that wall.

But the death of Christ was not wall—it was in actuality of opening. God demonstrated this spiritual reality by causing the curtain that separated the the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place, to be torn in two.

Christ’s Resurrection

Luke 24:1–6 ESV

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,

Receiving the Grace of God

Romans 10:8–9 ESV

8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.