Easter 2022

Two men—who have encountered Jesus on the road to Emmaus— have just reported to the 11 apostles that Jesus is risen.

Luke 24:36–49 ESV

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

We live in an age where almost daily, someone tries to scam us. We receive emails , Facebook messages, and phone calls promising us some large amount of money if we will just click a link or give out our bank account number or social security number.

These constant scams have made us quite skeptical of any type of good news or offer that comes our way.

So, even in this age of skepticism, what would you do if you happened to receive an official looking letter in the mail from some attorney, telling you that you had a long lost family member who passed away and left you a few million dollars in his will… you may be tempted to think that it is just a scam… but for a few million dollars, would you not at least look into it? You’d be crazy not to.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ, if true, is earth shattering…. Way more than receiving millions of dollars. And I would argue, that it is at least worth looking into.

○ Some of you in this room, may be skeptical when it comes to the resurrection of Jesus. And—fair enough—it’s like, when have you ever seen someone who has been dead for three days come back to life?

As absurd as the resurrection may seem, here is my plea to you: that you would at least consider that it really happened. Because, if it did—it changes everything.

○ Believers: I want us to meditate on the resurrection and again be reminded of the hope that we have because of it.

Main Point: The resurrection is rational and necessary.

I. The Resurrection is Rational

Luke 24:36 ESV

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!”

A) What is the Normal Way We Rationalize and Idea?

The world-renowned Clinical Psychologist — Jordan Peterson— argues that there are two ways in which we formulate thought—namely, by speaking and by writing.

I tend to agree with him: That’s why I believe everybody needs a therapist. A good therapist will listen to you as you speak. And often, in your speaking uninterrupted, you will actually solve a lot of your issues. It is a way to assess and rationalize ideas.

That is exactly what the disciples were doing in our text.

One of the definitions of the Greek word translated here as “talking” means to use words in order to declare one's mind and disclose one's thoughts”They were rationalizing what had been told to them.

There is this assumption that people in the ancient world, were gullible enough to believe such a thing as the resurrection, but this is actually a misconception. Most people in the Greco-Roman world believed that death extinguished life completely or that it led to some type of insubstantial existence apart from the material world.

Consider the response of the disciples when they heard the news of the resurrection:

Luke 24:36–43 ESV

As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, “Peace to you!” But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them.

The idea that people could rise from the dead was just as preposterous in the 1st century as it is today. That is why the disciples were so slow to believe in the Risen Christ.

So, if you are skeptical of the resurrection of Jesus, you are actually quite normal… because people don’t normally rise from the dead.

B) Why is it Rational to Believe in the Resurrection?

Some people would say, well you just that in order to believe in the resurrection that you have to have faith (and while there is some truth to that statement), there is actually a myriad of evidence that Jesus’ resurrection actually occured.

What evidence is there to support the claim of the resurrection?

i. Numerous eyewitness accounts

How do we know that any ancient historical event occurred? We know because of eye witness testimonies.

1 Corinthians 15:3–8 ESV

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.

There are 10 distinct appearances of the risen Christ recorded in Scriptures. These appearances happened from the morning of his resurrection to Jesus’ ascension forty days later, and they show a variety of times, locations, and people.

Were These Hallucinations, As Some Claim?

That is not a plausible explanation… hallucinations are subjective and would vary from person to person… but multitudes of individuals and groups saw the same thing… the risen Christ

One of these appearances happened to one group of over 500 people… 500 people at the same time don’t have the same hallucination.

Paul says in verse 6 (to these Corinthians) that many of these people (who saw the risen Christ) are still alive… the implication is… talk to them. Hear their stories.

If these were not hallucinations, what’s the only plausible explain? Christ really is risen.

ii. Some Claim the Disciples Stole Jesus’ Body and Made up the Story of the Resurrection

The disciples were—as the Gospel accounts attest to—quite cowardly at times.

Peter had just denied Jesus three times to save his own life.

And yet, in the book of Acts, we see this incredible transformation take place. Peter stands up in Acts 2 and preaches a dynamite sermon about Jesus being raised… He preached the first Easter Sermon.

Of course, there are those who say that the disciples, themselves, took the body (which, first, would have been nearly impossible considering the guarded tomb). They claim that the disciples fabricated the story to make themselves look better.

But, each of the disciples faced the test of torture, and they all—except for the apostle John— were ultimately martyred for their beliefs and teachings.

Paul Little points out that people will die for what they believe to be true (though it may actually be false). BUT, people don’t die for what they know is an outright lie.

Why would the the disciples be willing to die for their faith? They only plausible explanation is that they truly witnessed the risen Christ.

iii. The Apostle Paul

Before Paul encountered the risen Jesus, he was a persecutor of the church. He did not believe that Jesus was the Jewish Messiah, and he was zealous to protect the purity of the Jewish people. So, he greatly persecuted followers of Jesus.

Yet, Paul, become an apostle and one of the most devoted followers of Jesus. And he was willing to be beaten, imprisoned, and ultimately killed for the sake of Christ.

What is the only plausible explanation? It is that the resurrection is actually, true.

There is a great deal of other evidence that points to the reality of the resurrection. You can research the subject and come to your own conclusion.

Friends, it is rational to believe in the resurrection.

The late B.F. Wescott, a brilliant scholar and theologian said, “Indeed, taking all the evidence together, it is not too much to say there is no historic incident better or more variously supported than the resurrection of Christ.” (End Quote)

There are even atheist scholars, who admit how much evidence there is for the resurrection.

The late Anthony Flew, a well-known and respected atheistic philosopher, stated that: “The evidence for the resurrection is better, than for claimed miracles in any other religion. It’s outstandingly different in quality and quantity from the evidence offered for the occurrence of most other supposedly miraculous events.”

Suffice to say, that there is overwhelming evidence for the resurrection. Yes, you need a level of faith to believe… but, it is not blind faith. It is rational to believe in the resurrection.

II. The Necessity of the Resurrection

Luke 24:44–47 (ESV)

Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

The Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms constituted the three divisions of the OT in Jesus’ day.

A) Jesus Was Telling His Disciples that the Resurrection a Necessary Part of God’s Redemptive Plan

God’s plan to redeem humankind is a major theme throughout the Bible. It starts in Genesis 3 and is revealed throughout the Bible—culminating in the last chapter of Revelation—the last book of the Bible.

Because of sin, every human being is separated from a Holy God.

Unless our sin-debt is paid, we are all destined for the wrath of God and eternal punishment.

In the last moments of His life, Jesus cried out “it is finished.” This is an accounting term that means “paid in full.”

Jesus was speaking of our “sin debt.” He encountered the death due to us. He absorbed the wrath of God that was destined to us. Consequently, we are offered—through Him—forgiveness of our sins.

How do we know that Jesus actually paid our sin debt? How do we know that we can really have forgiveness.

It is because of what we celebrate at Easter: the resurrection was God’s stamp of approval.

The Resurrection is a necessary part of God’s redemptive plan.

B) The Resurrection is Necessary for Hope in this Life

Luke 24:49 ESV

And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

The Holy Spirit is the agent of change and transformation in our lives.

After the disciples received the Spirit, they were radically changed.

Some of you are trying on your own to be good… to change.

Maybe you meditate and read self-help books.

While those things may be helpful to change some of your habits—they don’t transform you.

2 Corinthians 5:17 says that we are new creations in Christ

Romans 6:4 ESV

We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

This “newness of life” is the testimony—not only of multitudes of people in the Scripture—but numerous individuals throughout history.

BTW: This is another piece of evidence that points to the truthfulness of the resurrection.

A dead Messiah can’t change your life.

Illustration About the Swimming Rats

Years ago researchers performed an experiment to see how hope influences those who endure hardships.

Two sets of laboratory rats were placed in separate tubs of water.

Researchers left one set of the rats in the water with no reprieve, and they all drowned within the hour.

The second set of rats were taken out of the tank periodically and then returned.

Those rats swam for over 24 hours!

Why? Not because they suddenly had hope. If they could just stay afloat a bit longer someone would rescue them.

Jordan Peterson got it right when he said: “Life is suffering.” The Resurrection gives us the motivation to keep swimming.

C) The Resurrection is Necessary for Hope in this Life to Come

1 Corinthians 15:17–19 ESV

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

If we have hope in this life only—why serve God at all? Ultimately, nothing matters. We are here today and gone tomorrow.

Paul says, if Christians only have hope in this life… we are most to be pitied.

Tim Keller ( one of my favorite authors and pastors)—wrote an article for Christianity today, in which he argued for the future hope that Christians Have.

Other Religions offer a hope for life after death, but they believe that we will only exist “spiritually” in some heavenly place (and that hope is not grounded in any historical fact)

The secular world tell its members that both individuals and world history will end in oblivion.

Christianity: differs from both:

Romans 8:18–23 ESV

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Christianity doesn’t just offer the prospect of a wholly spiritual future in heaven.

The resurrection of Jesus was a downpayment, guarantying a future, bodily resurrection of Christians and a renewed earth. It will be a world of perfect justice and peace where every tear will be wiped from our eyes—and all the world’s brokenness will be mended. And Real Followers of Jesus will live forever on that renewed earth, and we shall forever be with the Lord.

The ancient Greek philosopher—Epicurus—believed that death was not to be feared, because at death, humans simply cease to exist. There is not pain and no joy—just nothingness.

Out of this doctrine, arose a popular grave inscription in the ancient world, one that some humanists still use today:

I was not

I became

I am not

I care not.

What a bleak way to live.

Friends, Christ gives us a true hope for what happens after death.

Christian hope is not a pie in the sky hope. It arises—not from wishful thinking, but from historical fact. The resurrection serves as an undeniable proof of that hope.

Closing

Parade Magazine told the story of Eugene Land, the self-made millionaire who changed the lives of a sixth grade school class in East Harlem.

The school leadership asked Mr. Lang to speak to a class of 59 sixth-graders.

What could he say to inspire these students, most of whom—statistically— would become dropouts.

When he looked at the faces of the mostly black and Puerto Rican children, he decided to scrap his prepared presentation, and he did something remarkable:

“Stay in school,” he admonished them. If you do, I will help pay the college tuition for every one of you.”

At that moment, the students lives were changed.

For the first time they had hope.

Nearly 90% of that class went on to graduate high school.

Friends, the resurrection gives us hope in this life and the life to come.

How is that hope appropriated to us? (It is not for everyone)

Luke 24:46–47 ESV

and said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

Forgiveness of sins is absolutely necessary to receive the life that Jesus offers.

For those who claim “to believe” in the resurrection: Have you truly repented? Have you turned from your sin and turned fully to Christ? Or are you still sitting on the throne of your whole life?

If you are skeptical about the resurrection don’t you see that it is at least worth investigating?