How The Resurrection Can Change Us

Purpose: To describe how Christ's resurrection changes the followers of Christ.

Aim: I want the listener to surrender fully to the resurrected Christ.

INTRODUCTION: Today I am going to share the message of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. What you are about to hear will transform your life. It will either energize you to love and follow Jesus Christ or it will harden your heart and you will leave here worse than when you came in. There is no middle ground.

Jesus made this clear. Luke 16:13 "No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. ..." (NAU)

Jesus is either our highest treasure, or we are treasuring something else. James 4:4 ... do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. (NAU)

We can see the importance of the death and resurrection of Jesus when we look at,

A Snapshot of Mark's Gospel

Mark 1-10 Mark 11-16

Subject Christ's Life Christ's Death

Theme Christ Serving Christ Suffering

Main Location Galilee Jerusalem

Time About 3 years About 1 week

As we look at Mark's account of the resurrection I want you to notice the effect it had those who learned about it.

►Vs. 1-8 I. Serving Christ Turns Into Shock

"They knew it would not be easy. They knew a huge stone had been rolled across the mouth of the tomb. They knew about the Roman seal and the guard of soldiers. But love leaps over mountains of difficulties to reach the object of its affection." [1]

► Vs.1-3 A. They were serving Christ "come and anoint Him"

These women had spent many months serving Jesus Christ whenever they had the opportunity. Even though Jesus was dead they still felt compelled to serve Him.

"Preparation for burial of the dead among the Jews usually consisted of washing the body (Acts 9:37) and then anointing it with aromatic ointments. Burial was normally on the day of death or the following day. The body was wrapped in cloth strips, with a separate cloth tied around the head. Spices were applied when the body was wrapped (Mark 16:1). Expensive spices were used to prepare Jesus' body for burial (John 19:39--42)." [2]

Many things could be said about these women, but there is no doubt that they were faithful servants of Jesus Christ. The Bible places a high importance on just being faithful.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (NAU)

If we really love the Lord then our greatest desire will be to serve Him. Psalm 31:23 O love the LORD, all you His godly ones! The LORD preserves the faithful .... (NAU)

Faithfulness is not only a good trait, it is required if we are going to please the Lord. 1 Corinthians 4:2 ... it is required of stewards that one be found trustworthy. (NAU)

Paul even tells us that we should primarily invest our lives in other believers who are faithful. 2 Timothy 2:2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. (NAU)

► Vs.4-8 B. They were shocked by Christ "trembling and astonishment had gripped them"

The fact that these women brought spices with them to the tomb showed that they did not expect Jesus to be alive.

The open grave was the first thing to shock them. Then the appearance of an angel shocked them, then the empty tomb shocked them.

We will never have the shocking experience of seeing the newly empty tomb of Christ, but we can still be shocked that this Jesus would die in our place and then raise Himself from the dead.

" 'My Savior's Love' was written by Charles H. Gabriel, the most popular and prolific gospel song writer of the 1910--20 decade, which was the height of the Billy Sunday/Homer Rodeheaver evangelistic crusades. This song first appeared in the hymnal titled Praises, published in 1905.

I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene, and wonder how He could love me, a sinner condemned, unclean.

He took my sins and my sorrows; He made them His very own; He bore the burden to Calv'ry and suffered and died alone.

When with the ransomed in glory His face I at last shall see, 'twill be my joy thru the ages to sing of His love for me.

Chorus: How marvelous! how wonderful! and my song shall ever be: How marvelous! how wonderful is my Savior's love for me!" [3]

►Vs.9-13 II. Sorrow For Christ Turns Into Unbelief