He Is Risen

He is Risen!

Selective Scriptures

Introduction-

Today we celebrate the most important event in the life of a believer, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

What separates the tortured and abused Christ from others that have died for a cause is that Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead.

This is not a presumed act; it is a documented fact by over 500 people living during that time period, some that wished that it would not have been true.

There is another theory that was circulated during that time and according to scientist it was called the swoon theory.

They believed that Jesus never really died but at some point went un-conscience and was thrown into the borrowed tomb. They think that in the coolness of the tomb that Jesus miraculously regained consciousness and the disciples moved that mighty stone and took the body of Jesus out.

This also is a proven fallacy because of the tight security that the Romans put on the tomb of Jesus Christ. They could not afford to have Jesus body taken and prove that His prophecy would become true. They secured the tomb and sealed it with the seal of emperor. Fun Fact- The guard that pierced Jesus side at his death at the cross is a factor proving that Jesus of Nazareth was dead. By the guard piercing Jesus and water and blood coming out proved that before he left that cross that He was dead. From the extreme beating that Jesus took fluid builds up around the heart and around the lungs. Proven fact by Doctors today. The fluid buildup is called pleural effusion and it put Jesus in hypo polemic shock and when the guard pierced his side, it was conformation that he was dead.

I want to look at a number of Scriptures this morning, but here is our text.

Matthew 28:1-15

The tortured and abused Jesus, they buried him in a tomb and a guard was placed at the opening of the tomb and 3 days later our Jesus was not there.

3 days, Good Friday to Resurrection Sunday.

They did not need to break Jesus out, the angels of God needed to show the world that he was no longer there.

Remember last week

We talked about Jesus weeping at the gate of the city of Jerusalem. Why?

Because they did not get it.

Instead of seeing what Jesus did, they saw what he didn’t do.

They were too busy complaining how much God had forgotten them.

Ever watch a 3-D movie?

I think the last one that Becky and I saw was a Shriek movie with our grandkids. You have those glasses on and the movie seems to jump out at you. You watch without the glasses on and it is dull, boring. Why?

Because you are looking at the event through the wrong lenses.

The event of Jesus resurrection has to have meaning in our lives or we don’t look at it in the right way.

This event or image will come alive! Why? Because we become identified with Christ.

For a believer to grasp what Jesus did, they need to know and recognize that Jesus lived, died, and was resurrected.

The resurrection separates Jesus from all others. Buddha, Mohamed, Confucius, all died and in a grave.

They were never resurrected. They died and never came back to life.

Death is an absolute truth for each one of us. If the resurrected Christ does not return before we die, we will all one day die a physical death.

Hebrews 9:27-

“It is appointed to all men to die and after that the judgment.”

Ecclesiastes 7:2b-

“For death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.”

Death was the destiny of man, but it was not the destiny of Jesus Christ (repeat)

Because Jesus was God in the flesh, and God the Father resurrected His Son Jesus- death had to step aside for Him. (Amen.)

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you while he was still with you in Galilee. The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful man, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.”

Jesus is the only way that death had to step aside.

We have the resurrection power because we are identified with Christ.

No resurrection- No Salvation

No resurrection- No eternal life

No resurrection- No power over death.

No resurrection- No power to live a victorious life here and later.

1 Cor. 15:19-

“If we have hope in Christ only for this life, we are the most miserable people in the world.”

Without Jesus there is no hope for a meaningful life today or for eternity.