Resurrected Disciples Series

Resurrection Series: “Redeemed”

Resurrected Disciples

Mark 16:7

A few years ago, an angry man rushed through the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam until he reached Rembrandt's famous painting "Nightwatch." Then he took out a knife and slashed it repeatedly before he could be stopped. A short time later, a distraught, hostile man slipped into St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome with a hammer and began to smash Michelangelo's beautiful sculpture The Pieta. Two cherished works of art were severely damaged. But what did officials do? Throw them out and forget about them? Absolutely not! Using the best experts, who worked with the utmost care and precision, they made every effort to restore the treasures. By His sovereign grace, God can bring good out of our failures, and even out of our sins. - Chuck Swindoll

There are 2 definitions for the English word “resurrection”:

1. To rise from the dead.

2. To revive something old or “long disused”

Obviously today is “Resurrection Sunday”, the day when we gather to celebrate the fact that we serve a “risen Savior” And we will do just that! But as a result of Jesus’ resurrection His disciples (followers) can be “Resurrected” as well. We know that we have the promise of resurrection to eternal life. We read about this in - 1 Corinthians 15:20 ¶But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 for since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.Today I want to talk about another way Christ followers can be “resurrected”

There are some synonyms for the word Resurrection that I would like to consider for a moment.

• Renovate

• Revitalize

• Restore

• Revive

It is common for “Resurrection Sunday” to be the Sunday when we have the highest attendance for the year. Today, all over the world churches are filled to capacity with:

Faithful Christians

Half hearted followers of Christ

Lost people

And many Christians who have fallen away and abandoned Jesus.

The heart of this message will focus on those who have abandoned their walk with Christ. A word that is commonly used to describe such a one is “Backslider” - Backslider - (sûg – soog) {H} - to go back, literally (to retreat) to turn away. - The Disciples of Christ had turned away and abandoned Jesus just a few days before His resurrection. Jesus was alive, out of the tomb and walking around. But His disciples were huddled together in fear and had no idea of His plan for them. Early that Sunday morning Jesus rose from the grave in GREAT VICTORY. And He had a specific message for His followers.There was an Angel stationed at the tomb with a message of victory, hope & restoration.

As Mary stood weeping at the tomb an Angel said to her - Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. but go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. - (Mark 16:6-7) .........This message was actually a reminder of a promise Jesus made before He was crucified - Mark 14:27 and Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. 28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. - Do you see that?? Jesus knew they were going to fail Him. He knew that they were going to abandon Him and He had a plan for them EVEN BEFORE THEY FAILED!!

If you are here and you have failed, if you have abandoned Jesus and if you are described as backslidden, JESUS KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO FAIL! ...But He also has a plan for your restoration. Just as He sent that Angel with a message for His disciples that first “resurrection Sunday”, He has a message for you today! And it is a message of hope, victory and restoration! I would like to take some time today and preach on the subject “Resurrected Disciples”

The events of the day began with the great devotion of the women who followed Jesus. They were the last at the cross and the first at the tomb. - Look with me to v1And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.