Jesus' Words of Life
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Introduction
Introduction
Happy Easter
Personal Introduction
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Today we are going to finish our Series “The Final Words.” This is the 3rd installment of the series. We started by looking at the Lord’s prayer in John 17. Not our father who art in heaven, the one Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane hours before His crucifixion.
Last week we heard from Jesus as he was hanging on the Cross making intercession for those who were crucifying Him while He was paying the debt you and I could not pay for our Salvation.
This week we are going to see Jesus after the resurrection and with His disciples.
Easter Sunday is the day we recognize and celebrate the stone being rolled away from the Tomb and Jesus being resurrected from the dead.
After His resurrection though, he spent some time on Earth.
Let’s take a look at one of his interactions here in Luke 24
36 And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
37 But they were terrified and affrighted, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.
38 And he said unto them, Why are ye troubled? and why do thoughts arise in your hearts?
39 Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.
40 And when he had thus spoken, he shewed them his hands and his feet.
41 And while they yet believed not for joy, and wondered, he said unto them, Have ye here any meat?
42 And they gave him a piece of a broiled fish, and of an honeycomb.
43 And he took it, and did eat before them.
44 And he said unto them, These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.
Luke 24:36-45
Exegete:
We start our text today with the disciples gathered after the crucifixion and burial of Jesus in a room with the door closed.
The disciples had become frightened and huddled together after the Romans took Jesus away in the garden.
Now, 3 days later, they are in this room together. They have had a couple of people come and report they saw Jesus on the Emmaus road, that took place a few verses earlier. Now, they have their encounter with Christ.
Jesus appears in the room and has to declare himself friendly “Peace be to you.” I can imagine that if a person materialized in front of us in a room with a locked door we would be frightened asa well.
However, have you thought of the overwhelming emotions that hit the disciples in this moment. Remember, these men are flesh and blood like you and I.
The man they had put their faith in to be the Messiah, the Son of God, that was crucified 3 days prior is standing in front of them.
They carried his body, they rolled the stone in front of the tomb, they walked away crying and hugging each other.
Now their faith has become sight. The last thing they heard their savior say was “It is Finished” Now He stands before them.
“Why are you doubting? Look at my hands and feet.” I told you, tear down this temple and God will raise it again in 3 days.
They were amazed and in disbelief becuase of their joy. They were so excited to see Jesus, they were having a hard time piecing together what has happened.
Illustrate:
It reminds me of a story a read about once. This young boy named Gabriel was celebrating his 6th birthday. His mom had decorated and got him an awesome cake with his favorite character on it.
The boy was very excited about the cake. He wanted to blow the candles out and enjoy it thinking it was the highlight of the day.
As he sat at the head of the table with his cake in front of him, a friend poked Gabriels shoulder and said “What’s that?” as he pointed across the room to the corner where a VERY LARGE gift sat. Wrapped up with generic wrapping paper Gabriel hadn’t noticed it until now. He had been so focused on his cake.
He goes over to the gift wrapped in the corner and as he unwraps it, he doesn’t find a bicycle or any gifts boys typically gift on their birthdays. It was his father.
Gabriels’ dad had been in Iraq for 7 months and when he reallized his leave would coincide with his sons birthday, they hatched a plan to surprise him.
The disciples were so focused on Jesus just being there they didn’t realize what this meant. They didn’t see the truly BIG gift that was in front of them now.
Sure their friend, their mentor, and the man they believed to be the Messiah was back from the dead but what did that mean?
It meant that salvation was now available to all. No more sacrifices, no more law, the grace of God abounds through the nail scarred hands and feet of Jesus.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6:23
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Eph 2:8-9
Argue:
Some argue that there was no bodily resurrection from the grave.
Paul said to the church at Corinth
13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
1 Cor 15:13-16
If you do not believe that Jesus was raised from the dead than you cannot say you are a Christian. The foundation of our faith and salvation rests upon this truth.
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
Apply
We can be like the disciples were that day. We can get so focused on something good that we neglect what is great.
When Gabriel at that cake that day, it was gone. The happiness that came from the cake left him and if all he was focused on was the cake ,he would have to find something else to bring him happiness.
However, when that cake was gone, his dad was still there. His dad never changed from being his dad.
Believers and non-believers can get so distracted with the good gifts of God: a church family, a job, a stable home life, good health, and all these other things and when they are gone or change in a negative way we can run from God instead of remaining faithful Because the big gift of God isn’t anything physical...
It’s an eternal relationship with our Heavenly Father only found by having faith in the death, burial, and bodily resurrection of Christ!
I. Jesus’ Purpose is your Present
I. Jesus’ Purpose is your Present
Jesus said
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6
It doesn’t mater what church you belong to, what denomination, or if you attend church every week. Your relationship with God is by faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. His purpose was to die for your sins and be resurrected. He accomplished that. Paving the way for your salvation by trusting in Him.
After proving His bodily resurrection to them He goes on to say
45 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,
46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
Luke 24:45-46
Exegete:
Now he explains to them from the scriptures what has taken place. There are prophecies from Isaiah and Hosea of the Old Testament that spoke of Jesus’ death burial and resurrection that Jesus helped them understand. I also believe He clarified His own prophecies where He said You will destroy this temple but in 3 days it shall be rebuilt.
He teaches this to them and then tells them what needs to be done.
If you are a Christian you have heard these things over and over and they seem normal. If you come to church every easter you hear about the resurrection of Jesus and it’s not really “new” to you.
Put yourself in these disciples shoes for a moment…They were men that had grown up under a religious system where the “resurrection” wasn’t fully understood, forgiveness was through sacrifices, and was only for those who converted to Judaism.
Now Jesus is telling them “See, I’m the Messiah who has been raised from the dead, go and tell everyone about me so that they can have salvation freely by faith in me.”
This was shocking to them.
Illustrate
We get shocking news from time to time. Especially with all there is availabel on the internet.
Let me ask you a question…Have you seen those memes or posts on social media that say “I was today years old when I learned that…?”
Here are a few of those I found interesting
“I was today years old when I found out California has a larger populaiton than Canada”
“I was today years old when I found out the sides of juice boxes are for kids to hold it so they don’t squeeze out the juice”
“I was today years old when I learned that stressed is desserts spelled backwards.”
“I was today years old when I learned that the game Tag stands for Touch and Go”
“I was today years old when I realzied the tab on a soda can can be turned to hold a straw.”
While these breaking news articles may not effect you too much, they do change how you think about things.
Let’s take this to a grander scale.
Your entire worldview is being changed. Your way of thinking about God, your way of life is being challenged by the resurrected Jesus in front of you.
How do you respond?
The disciples world was literally being turned upside down and they had to make a choice…Would they believe and follow Jesus or not...
Argue
Some of you may be here today and have lived your entire life, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60+ years believing your salvation and your relationship with God was becuase of a church or becuse of a religious system.
I can’t imagine how you feel when presented with truth from scripture that challenges your worldview.
When you have lived and been told that God’s grace only comes to you through teh church, or through a religious act.
What’s even worse is for those of you that have bene hurt by the church, or by the people of God and it has caused you to live away from the Lord.
People like a mother Iheard about last week.
I was told a story last week about a young mother from 1963. She had married a man, they had a child, and then the husband ran off.
The abandoned wife got an anulment. She was apart of a false religion that old her grace was dispensed through the taking of communion.
This same false religion told her that in order to recieve communion, she would need to give the church $10,000.
What they told her is your salvation isn’t free, your forgiveness costs $10,000.
Apply
You and the Disciples face the same question today...
Will you believe waht you have been told your wholle llife or will you decide in your own heart that Jesus is the savior?
Will you decide to choose to beleive the Word of Man that have abused people for years or will you choose to believe the Words of God?
Salvation is free to all who will believe on Jesus. Not becuase I said so. Not becuase it is written in our churches statement of faith. But becuase the Bible says so.
The Bible is not just one book The bible is a collection of 66 books written over 1500 years by 27 different authors from different backgrounds.
21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
2 Peter 1:21
And that Bible says the present you recieve from Jesus is free, it’s by faith, and it’s for all who willl choose to believe.
II. Your Present is a gift of Faith
II. Your Present is a gift of Faith
It’s not a gift that is recieved any other way.
You say “Pastor my dad, my granddad, my priest…they all told me this...”
I’m sorry. I’m sorry anyone told you anything that wasn’t in the Bible.
Paul wrote about that you know. The apostle Paul that wrote the majority of the New Testament Letters wrote
8 But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.
9 As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.
10 For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
Gal 1:8-10
He said if anyone come and rpeach something other than Christ Curcified, buried, and risen again, let him be cursed.
Why do I preach against other religions that say things contrary to scripture…Because the Bible tells me to
Jesus has proven his resurrection, he has changed the worldview of the disciples, and then he gives them their purpose.
47 And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.
48 And ye are witnesses of these things.
49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.
Luke 24:47-49
Exegete
Repentanceand remission of sins...
Ok, repentence means turning from waht you believe and beliving something else.
Remission of sins comes from repenting of believing in anything except jesus for your salvation.
This is the great commission in LUke.
The greaet ccommission is often referred to in
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 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.
Matthew 28:19-20
He told them their purpose in life was to go and tell others about the resurrected Messiah after they receive the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit will come upon them at the day of Pentacost in about 50 days from this moment.
Notice his instructions though. He diddn’t tell them go to church .He didn’t tell them to give. He didn’t tell themt oonly come around once or twice around to collectively worship.
He said His name will be proclaimed to all nations beginning at Jerusalem.
The great commission is for everyone that trust in Jesus not just the disciples.
Does that mean we should all be pastors and missionaries? no.
What it does mean is that we should live our lives in such a way that God is glorified through it.
Paul wrote
27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Phil 1:27
The resurrection of Jesus is about so much more than coming to church once or twice a year.
it’s about more than coming to church every week.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ actually Has NOTHING to do, with your outward works...
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is about your heart.
And when you break down the walls you have built around your heart that prevent you from believing in Jesus as your Savior, He does a great work in you that results in life change.
Illustrate
If I put on a white coat and start talking like a doctor does that make me a doctor?
If I put on a police badge and start issuing citations does that make me a policeman?
If I go to church, do good things, give money, and say prayers, does that make me a Christian?
You are not a christian because of your behavior. You are not saved by your behavior. Your standing before God is not about your behavior.
You are a Christian because you believee in Jesus. You are saved because of your faith in His death burial and resurrection, you stan before God unblemished not because you gave, attended, or prayed, but becuase of your faith in the finished work of the cross.
Apply
If you are here today you hve a cohice to make. Will I keep trusting in wahtever religious system is out there that my family has followed for years, that i discovered lat week, or whatever your situation may be OR am I going to trust in Jesus?
III. What you do with your faith is your choice
III. What you do with your faith is your choice
The resurrection we celebrate today is not one we doubt it i one we have faith in because of the witness of those that seen Jesus after His death.
It is based on the 500 or more who saw Him for 40 days on earth after His resurrection. It is based on the amazing things God has done in the lives of indidicuals, in the world as a whole, and in and through the people that believe on Him.
Faith in Christ provides a hope that your salvation isn’t about you. It isn’t about your faults, it isn’t about your successes. Your salvation is in Jesus and dependent upon what he did on the cross for you.
Some will same “I dont want to change who I am to be a Christian.”
That’s the greeat thing about Jesus…He doesn’t change who you are, He loves you as you are and will lead you and grow yu into who you were made to be.
He will be there for you as you face difficult situations in life. He will never leave you nor forsake you. He desires to have a relationship with you that is personal and intimate…not one that is based on a church or a religious system. Not one that comes through other men.
Time of Response
Time of Response