Many Convincing Proofs

Title: “Many Convincing Proofs”

Easter Sunday – 2021 - Luke 24

Subject: what does the resurrection of Jesus mean for us?

Complement: we have a mission to tell the good news!

Big Idea: “ The Resurrection Accelerates The Mission”

Introduction...

*As the son of a carpenter – Jesus knew the power of a nail and a hammer… he likely struck his thumb more than a few times as he worked in the carpenter shop with his father, Joseph.

My dad was also a carpenter – hammers and nails were part of the fabric of our family … as a kid I was taught how to strike a nail… and I learned quickly that given the power of a hammer striking a nail it was not something you wanted to get in the way of…

The NT refers to the events of Good Friday frequently, using words such as...

• Cross – 48 times

• Crucified - 38 times

• Blood - 85 times

• Raised - 71

• Death - 145 times

• Dead 157 times...(15 x in Romans)

• Died 68 times

With today being resurrection Sunday – Good Friday is now behind us - sort of. Yes, while we focus today on the resurrection the cross remains forever at the center and core of the gospel.

(Context) in chapter 24 of Luke – the final chapter of his gospel, Luke brings us into the 40-day period following Jesus’ resurrection with a number of dramatic scenes...he moves through them quickly, masterfully painting a compelling picture of the risen Jesus who moves with purpose – a purpose that I hope you will come to discover for yourself.

t.s. Let’s look at the chapter – scene by scene...

SCENE 1/Move #1 – Angels At The Empty Tomb; V. 1-12 (Exhibit 1)

24:1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5 In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6 He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7 ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ” 8 Then they remembered his words.

There was a Roman guard posted at the tomb...

Remember that it was a guarded tomb with a large stone and a seal.... (guarded because the Pharisees remembered his promise to rise from the dead)

We read of this in Matthew...

Matt 27:62 ... the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.63 “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

65 “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

Jesus not only overcame death...but also a large stone... sealed with a roman seal and guarded by roman soldiers.

How’s that for making a statement about which kingdom is more powerful!

We must point out that the Father sent reinforcements in the form of a couple of impressive angels... they gleamed like lighting itself.

And we discover that at first light on Sunday morning a group of at least 6 women – are hurrying to the tomb with spices. On their minds was the tragic death of Jesus...they intend to pay their respects – much like our habit of visiting the bereaved at a funeral home.

But instead of encountering a tomb and a corpse they are met by these 2 angels.

“Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here! He is risen! Remember how he told you (while in Galilee)” ... “ the son of Man must be delivered to sinners...crucified... on the third day be raised.”

“And They remembered his words”...these women were part of the inner circle of Jesus!)

In other words... Jesus death wasn't a victory for his enemies... it was a vindication of the authority and sovereignty of God... Jesus was not murdered or martyred... he gave himself to the cross to pay the penalty of our sins.