Resurrection Sunday

Strips of Linen

The message of the Resurrection is something that is core to our beliefs as Christians. If there is no resurrection, then there is no hope of life after death. If there is no resurrection, then there is no heaven or in fact, no need for heaven.

The Sadducees were a religious group and political party during Jesus’ ministry on earth. They didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead. To them it was a foolish thought.

In Mark 12:18-27 we have the story of the Sadducees trying to trick Jesus. It says this,

Mark 12:18–27 NIV

Then the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. “Teacher,” they said, “Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies and leaves a wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. At the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married to her?” Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”

Our faith hinges on the Resurrection. It is the

Crux of our Faith

The Apostle Paul stressed how essential the resurrection is for our salvation. In fact, this is what he said in,

1 Corinthians 15:12–20 NIV

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Each of the four gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John share an account of Jesus’ resurrection. One might say that it could be easy to fabricate a story that Christ had been raised from the dead.

Fake News

Here’s an example of a story that was circulated around the time of the resurrection:

Matthew 28:11–15 NIV

While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.

The Greatest Proof

This is what I think the greatest proof of Jesus resurrection is: The disciples were willing to die for their faith.

Let’s look at the disciples reaction to Jesus’ arrest and verdict.

Disciples’ reaction

In both Matthew and Mark, it says that everyone deserted Jesus. Mark 14:50

Mark 14:50 NIV

Then everyone deserted him and fled.

Luke speaks of Peter following at a distance. John speaks of Peter and another disciple following Jesus.

Peter

Peter denied Jesus three times. Peter was in the inner circle. It was Peter who said Matthew 16:18

Matthew 16:16 NKJV

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

It was Peter who wept bitterly when he heard the rooster crow.

Judas Iscariot

It was Judas Iscariot that betrayed Jesus into the hands of sinners. He sold Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. It was Judas Iscariot that once he realized what he had done, once he realized that Jesus had been sentenced to death, returned the silver and went and hanged himself in the Potter’s field.

What about the others?

We know that John was at the cross, but what about the rest? We’ve talked about three, but there were twelve.

It was Simon of Cyrene that was forced to carry the cross. It was Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus that took Jesus to the tomb, but what about the twelve?

What about Andrew, Peter’s brother?

James son of Zebedee?

Philip and Bartholomew?

Thomas the Twin? We know Thomas wouldn’t believe unless he saw Jesus hands and side, and put his fingers in and touch.

What about Matthew the tax collector?

James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus?

Where was Simon the Zealot?

The only answer that I have was that they were hiding for fear of the Jewish religious leaders. Their Lord had been crucified, so now what?

This is what John wrote about the disciples before they had seen the Lord.

John 20:19–20 NIV

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Let’s back it up to Resurrection morning

Resurrection Morning

John 20:1–10 NIV

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!” So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Each story of the resurrection is told with just a little different slant, but in each case it was women that went to the tomb first. They didn’t go to see the Risen Lord, but they wanted to care for, to anoint, and to grieve for Jesus.

In Mark’s account,

Mark 16:3 NIV

and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”

Matthew speaks of an earthquake, some speak of angels, but each of the gospels speak of an empty tomb.

Luke 24:4–8 NIV

While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” Then they remembered his words.

He is not Here! He has Risen!

Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; He has risen!

Strips of Linen

Mary Magdalene sees that the stone has been rolled away, so she runs back to tell Peter. Peter, the one who had denied that he knew Jesus, had to see.

He starts running! Well, the disciple whom Jesus loved couldn’t just stand there as Peter was headed for the tomb. He, too, started to run. Well, John was a better long distance runner than Peter, maybe he had a better trainer, or maybe he was a little younger, maybe his strides were longer,. but he catches up and passes Peter on the way to the tomb. Could you imagine Peter…Peter, as John passes him? If it is anything like Josh and Caleb, I could tell you what Peter’s reaction might have been, but Peter keeps plugging away until he gets to the tomb.

Sure enough the stone had been rolled away. The disciple whom Jesus loved stooped down and looked into the tomb and saw the strips of linen lying there.

Then comes Peter just trucking along and he goes right into the tomb and sees the strips of linen as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head.

Do you know what they didn’t see? Or should I say who they didn’t see? THE LORD!

He is not here! He has Risen!

If Jesus was still in the tomb, there would have been no Christianity? There would be no gospel! There would be no power in the cross! There would be no power in the shed blood of Jesus Christ!

1 Corinthians 15:20 NIV

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

The disciples saw and believed! They saw where the nails were driven into his wrists. They saw where the spear was driven into His side. He ate broiled fish to show them that He was alive.

John 20:19–22 NIV

On the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.

Never the same

After the had seen the Risen Lord, these men were never the same. He had promised that they would be empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:8 NIV

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

This came as they waited. Ten days after Jesus was taken into Heaven, the Holy Spirit came. This same Spirit is still here today. This same Spirit still changes lives today. He still convicts people of sin. He still draws people to Jesus. He still fills and empowers us to witness His glory.

Many of them not only lived for Christ, they also died for Him. SO...

What did they do?

Mark 16:19–20 NIV

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it.

What does the Resurrection mean for you and me today?

We can be saved

Romans 10:13 NIV

for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

If Jesus was still in a tomb, we would have no salvation.

We have access into His presence

Hebrews 4:15–16 NIV

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

We can be filled with the Holy Spirit

Acts 1:5 NIV

For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

If Jesus was still dead, there would be no hope of His promise.

We can go

Matthew 28:19–20 NIV

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

We can expect God to work

Mark 16:15–18 NIV

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”

Conclusion

Peter and John saw linen strips lying where Jesus body was laid, but He was not there, He is Risen!

If you have never given your life to Jesus, His death pays the penalty for your sin. His resurrection is the guarantee. There would be no way to know that you could be saved if God the Father had not raised Jesus from the dead. Hr wants to know you.

Revelation 3:20 NIV

Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

This speaks of relationship. It speaks of friendship. Whether you have already given your life to Christ or not, He is calling you to a deeper relationship. Drink deep of His love.

Once we have come to faith, we must seek His power and go and tell others. We must go and make disciples, followers of Christ like we are.

Today I urge you to

Matthew 5:16 NKJV

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Amen!