An Awesome Expression Of Grace - The Resurrection

An Awesome expression of GRACE

Talking about the Resurrection

By

Bishop Melvin L. Maughmer, Jr.

OPENING: - The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the foundation and the crowning proof of the Christian faith. It is not a denominational issue or a point for theological debate. It is exactly what it is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, there are some that teach that the resurrection is a unnecessary belief, and that we can be good Christians without faith in the resurrection of Jesus. I want to emphatically say that is a lie breathed in the pits of hell.

WATCH THIS: - Everything else that was said or done by Christ and the Apostles, no matter how great or marvelous, is secondary to the resurrection in importance. The raising of Lazarus, the feeding of the five thousand, the turning of water to wine, the walking on the water, the opening of blinded eye is secondary because

if the resurrection did not take place, then Christianity would be a false religion. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, then He would be no different than any other men who are also dead regardless of how great. All Jesus claims to absolute deity are placed on His promise to return from the dead. Since He did rise again not only are His claims validated, but so are His promises.

Since the resurrection in fact did take place, then Christ is God, and the Christian faith is absolute truth! When Jesus rose from the dead, he confirmed his identity as the Son of God, He confirmed His work of atonement, redemption, reconciliation, and salvation. He defeated death, hell, and the grave. Without the resurrection, the belief in God's saving grace through Jesus Christ is destroyed. The truth is you either believe Christ died for our sins and rose from the dead and ascended to heaven or you don’t. To deny Jesus’ victory over death, hell and the grave is to ultimately deny yourself a place in eternity bliss and to suffer in hells damnation forever.

Talking about the Resurrection.

PRAYER: -

SCRIPTURE: - The account of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ is in all four Gospels for it is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24 & John 20. Today I want to present something I have never done before when it comes to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I have preached on the Empty Tomb, the Rolled Away Stone, The grave clothes and the napkin and many other topics but today I want to deal with the Chronological Order of Events of the Resurrection and reveal the awesome expression of Grace.

The Chronological events of the Resurrection: - I want to purpose to you today how I see the events happened at Jesus Resurrection. I need to first start at Jesus death because there is something that happened at His death and will happen again at His resurrection. Matthew 27:51 says “And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent”. The earthquake at Jesus death showed that Jesus the creator of all truly is the Son of God. Matthew 27:54 says, “Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, Truly this was the Son of God”.

The Resurrection: - Matthew 28:2-4 says, “And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men”. There is a great earthquake, since there was an earthquake at His death it is just Super-Natural that there would be an earthquake at His resurrection. Then an angel appears and rolls away the stone, not to let Jesus out because He is already risen but to let witness in. The soldiers become as dead men afraid of the sight of the angel.

Then according to Matthew 28:1, Mark 16:1-4, Luke 24:1 & John 20:1 Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, Salome, Joanna, and other women come to the tomb leaving their homes while it was still dark to complete burial customs on behalf of Jesus. When they arrive, they notice the stone of the tomb has been rolled away. Fearing the have stolen Jesus body Mary Magdalene runs to Peter and John with the news of likely grave robbers John 20:2 says, “Then she runneth, and cometh to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple, whom Jesus loved, and saith unto them, They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre, and we know not where they have laid”.