Jesus Provides ... Mankind Sees Series

This was an Easter Sunday Message

It was delivered in two parts.

Title:- Jesus Provides ... Mankind Sees.

Messag-ette 1

We are not going to focus on one specific passage of the Bible today – rather we are going to put together a series of passages and historical events. What we want to do is ask ourselves the question, “Does the Resurrection of Jesus Change Us?”.

Matthew 28:1-4

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, there was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

Mark 16:1-5

Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

Matthew 28:5-8

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

John 20:2-10.

2 Mary came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

John 20:11-13

11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”

When you put it all together what do you have?

CONFUSION

Women have come to finish the burial process.

- hasty burial on Friday.

- Jesus was their close friend.

- the burial is the final good-bye.

expand in terms of having hole filled.

it was the end.

- they fully believe that he is gone.

Disciples are hiding somewhere.

- running race … John is much younger.

- yep! it is all empty.

- Peter is still not sure what is happening.

- John believes … but still not fully understanding He has risen

Mary outside the tomb crying.

- someone has stolen Him.

- not even the words of the angels help.

=> who first tell her that Jesus is risen.

=> who ask why is she crying

Main Point

A dead Jesus is a Jesus without hope.

Good moral teacher … but if He is dead, then no hope.

- others in history … Aesop

A willing sacrifice to inspire Jews … but if He is dead, then no hope.

- others in history … Acts 5:36-37

36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.