He Did It! He Actually Did It!

Sermon by Donald R. Hart – Antioch Christian Church, Pittsburg, Missouri – April 8, 2007

(All quoted Scriptures are from the NIV unless otherwise noted)

HE DID IT! HE ACTUALLY DID IT!

(HE AROSE)

Text: Luke 24:1-8; 45-49

INTRODUCTION

We hear the phrase “He did it!” from a couple of different scenarios. As children, if something went wrong or got broken, we would try to pass the blame onto someone else with, “he (or she) did it”. Of course, the other person was pointing their finger at us as being the culprit.

Another situation in which we might use the phrase is when we may be observing some difficult or seemingly impossible fete and the person accomplishes it. It is then with amazement that we might exclaim, “He did it! He actually did it!”

During the life of Christ there were many such moments when we could exclaim with amazement, “He did it!” There is a long list of miracles to which those standing nearby no doubt uttered those words. If you do a word study on the word “amazed” you will be amazed at how many times it is used in reference to something Jesus said or did.

We are told “the crowds were amazed at his teaching” (Matthew 7:28). Even when he was in his own hometown and although he was not readily accepted we still read these words in Matthew 13:54 – “…and they were amazed. ‘Where did this man get his wisdom and these miraculous powers?’ they asked.”

After healing the demon-possessed man who couldn’t talk we read, “The crowd was amazed and said, ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.’” (Matthew 9:33)

In Matthew 15:31 we read this:

“The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.”

Mark 1:27 says this:

“The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, ‘What is this? A new teaching — and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.’”

You will remember the story of the man who was let down through the roof by his four friends. After his healing we read in Mark 2:12:

“He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, ‘We have never seen anything like this!’”

On several occasions we are told of his disciples being amazed. One such time was after he had stilled the storm while they were in the boat and we read in Matthew 8:27:

“The men were amazed and asked, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!’”

You will recall the incident during the last week in the life of Jesus when he had cursed the unfruitful fig tree and the disciple’s response when they saw its withered condition. The incident is recorded in Matthew 21:20

“When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. ‘How did the fig tree wither so quickly?’ they asked.”

Even the enemies of Jesus were at times amazed. On several occasions they tried to entrap Jesus and one such incident was in regard to paying taxes to Rome. Notice Matthew 22:21-22:

“Then he said to them, ‘Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.’

When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.”

At the trial of Jesus we find that even Pilate was amazed.

“But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.”

(Mark 15:5)

Now we come to the theme of our day – the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. He had plainly told his disciples what was going to happen when they came to Jerusalem, but somehow they just didn’t get it. In Luke 18:31-33 we read,

31 Jesus took the Twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32 He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. 33 On the third day he will rise again."

After the resurrection had taken place, it was “then they remembered his words” as our text said in Luke 24:8. The message is plain and simple, “He did it! He actually did it!” And that had to be the most exciting news they would ever receive. What he had said he would do, he did!

And on this day when we celebrate his resurrection, the fact that he did it is still the most exciting news we can ever share. People of other religions can go visit the tombs of their deceased leaders; we can only point people to an empty cave.