Easter Zombies?

Easter Zombies?

I know I’m weird, but what I’m going to talk to you about today, the apostles were seized and thrown in jail for! (Acts 4:3) What is this horrible dastardly message I’m about to talk to you today about that got the apostles in trouble and even thrown in jail? … [dramatic pause] … THE RESURRECTION!!!!

[dramatic music: Da Da Duuuuuhhhhh!] Eek! On Resurrection Sunday no less! I hope no one hauls me off today, but I suppose it could still happen!!!

People don’t believe in the Resurrection but they believe in Zombies?

OK, speaking of weird, there are so many TV shows and movies these days that have Zombies in them! Hollywood and Viewers alike are seriously fascinated by Zombies! So many Zombie shows! Now today I want to be clear, I’m not talking about zombies, I’m talking about the resurrection! Oddly, some people REALLY believe that Zombies could happen but then at the same time they deny that the resurrection is real! But, if you doubt the resurrection is real, I don’t want you to be sad you see. Did you catch what I did there? Sadducee? I want you to know the truth that there will be a resurrection and I want you to be a part of it!

The Living Living - Christ’s Return and the Resurrection

No, I’m not talking about the living dead, but the living living! We as Christians have a hope that tho we die, yet shall we live. Because we know Jesus as our Savior, that we will be resurrected on the last day and live to reign with Christ on the Earth for 1000 years and also live with Him in heaven. That’s not really being a zombie, but it’s coming back to life to live again. Some think that heaven is all there is, but actually, we will be right back here on Earth for a while.

Resurrection in the OT

Of course the resurrection was not a new thing, it was spoken of in the OT! There are a few verses where we see examples of the resurrection in the OT also!

Elijah resurrects the woman’s son. 1 Kings 17:17–24 (did Elijah or God resurrect the woman’s son? God did.)

Job spoke of the bodily resurrection. Job 19:25–27

Psalms speak of the resurrection. Psalm 16:8–11, Psalm 49:13–15, Psalm 71:20

Isaiah spoke of the resurrection. Isaiah 26:19–20, Isaiah 53:10–11

Ezekiel famously spoke of the dry bones coming to life! Ezekiel 37:7–10

Of course you have to sing the song!!!!

Others spoke of the resurrection. Daniel 12:2–3, Hosea 6:1–2, Jonah 1:17–2:2, 6–7, 10

NT too - Lazarus

But of course, the NT spoke of the resurrection too:

The story of Lazarus is one of the famous ones! Martha knew of the final resurrection from the OT, but Jesus showed another resurrection!

John 11:25,26

23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:

26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?

And of course Jesus raised Lazarus! Jesus is the resurrection and the life!

The Cross, Resurrection and many Resurrections!

Did you know that others were brought back to life when Jesus died and came back?

Matthew 27:50-53

50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

On Easter Sunday, Jesus resurrected and the disciples and over 500 people saw him - not just a few! Jesus is your proof, the first fruits of the resurrection! Not only that we see Jesus resurrected others also! I’m not sure of the mechanics of that verse but somewhere either at His death or at His resurrection, many holy people who had died came to life also. Can you imagine how that must have been for the families of those who had loved ones come back? Wouldn’t you love to see your loved ones again? I know I sure would! It must have been fantastic! Wonderful, and amazing! Can you imagine the conversations going on in the city at that time? Resurrections!?!?!?! Can you believe in the resurrection now?

Resurrection Opposition

In the NT Jesus, Paul, Peter, and John and likely others actually had run-ins with people called Sadducees who believed that there was no resurrection. Why was this so controversial? Because some people just plain didn’t believe in it! (Acts 17:31,32)