“The Living One” I Corinthians 15:1-11
Introduction
A Mohammedan and a Christian were discussing their religions and had agreed that both Mohamed and Christ were prophets. Where, then, lay the difference? The Christian illustrated it this way: “I came to a crossroads and I saw a dead man and a living man. Which one did I ask for directions?” The response came quickly, “The living one, of course.” “Why, then,” asked his friend, “do you send me to Mohamed who is dead, instead of Christ who is alive?” This is the basic difference between Christ and every other religious leader. All the others came into the world, lived, and died—but none of them lived again. The resurrection of Christ was the one event that persuaded His disciples once for all that He was the Christ, God’s Son.
These men had watched as Jesus challenged the conventional wisdom of the religious authority of their day. They had observed Jesus doing the impossible, feeding five thousand from five loaves of bred and two fishes. They had seen the presence of God descending as like a dove and heard the voice of God declaring that this was His Son in whom He was well pleased. Still they had misunderstood and did not fully understand who Jesus was and is.
It was not the unique teachings of Jesus, it was not even the many miracles that He performed in their presence, and it was not until the resurrection that Jesus disciples were transformed from a group of ordinary men into a group of men who were used of God to completely and radically transform the entire world!
Transition
In this Easter morning, let us discuss the Living One, Jesus Christ who though He was dead is alive and reins forever more. Easter is a time of celebration of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, an empty tomb, and a risen savior.
This morning I want to impress upon you by the weight of biblical and historical evidence that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is no metaphor for renewal or even an expression of earthly hope. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a sure foundation upon which we rightly build our entire life.
In a veritable buffet of choices with regard to religion, faith, or the lack thereof, Jesus stands unique, radically different, of such intrinsic value and worth that we dare not suggest, state, or imply that He is but one choice among many. He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God! He is the Living One!
In I Peter 3:15 the Apostle, inspired by the Holy Spirit, says, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (NIV)
In what follows this morning, I will offer up a reasoned defense of the resurrection of Jesus Christ. I will argue that one need not check their mind at the door in order to honestly and earnestly worship the God of all glory who revealed Himself in Jesus Christ. It is the evidence, not some sort of blind faith, which compels us to choose Christ and to participate in the life that He alone offers to humanity.
Exposition
In the modern culture there are many who attack the truth claims which are connected to the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the grounds that it is a legend, fabricated over the centuries either by Christians seeking to gain political power, prestige, or to simply make a name for themselves through the founding of what has become the largest religion in the world; claiming more than 2.1 billion.
This is an interesting notion and in light of the rise of so many modern cults it is easy to understand why some people would believe this to explain the existence and establishment of Christianity. From a purely modern perspective this is understandable. Modern Christianity boasts many wealthy churches and denominations. The Vatican in Rome is a mighty Bastian which declares the power and wealth of the Roman Church throughout much of Western history. Televangelists drive expensive cars and live in great homes.
But to rightly understand the rise of Christianity in history we do not rightly look at the present but the past. Does the so-called “legend theory” stand the test of antiquity, history, and reason? Did the Church arise at some time very much later than the time of Christ as the result of the story of Jesus being told, retold, revised, and embellished until the man Jesus was said to be the Son of God?
Is Christianity supported by evidence which supports its chief voice: the Bible? Well, let’s consider the evidence. There are more than 24,000 partial and complete manuscript copies of the New Testament. These manuscript copies are very ancient and they are available for inspection now. There are also some 86,000 quotations from the early church fathers and several thousand Lectionaries which were widely used. The New Testament has an overwhelming amount of evidence supporting its reliability.
If the Bible is overwhelmingly well document from antiquity then its message is more likely to be trustworthy. It is that simple. By archeological and historical scholarship standards the historical nature of the life of Christ is astoundingly secure. In order to be consistent in rejecting Christ Resurrection on the grounds that it is a fabricated story or a legend which evolved over many centuries of embellishment is to deny our very ability to trust anything of a historical nature!
And yet many will say “Fine, the Bible is accurate historically with regard to its major themes and accounts of local rulers and officials, places, and people, but what of the miracles of Christ? What of those elements which fly in the face of modern naturalism and science? How can a man who is dead for three days rise from the dead and further, what evidence do you have to support such a claim?”
What of the account of the Apostle Paul who was a persecutor of Christians until after meeting the risen Christ on the way to Damascus to further persecute Christians? What of the Apostle Peter who after having denied Christ three times on the eve of Jesus Crucifixion became a virulent preacher of the resurrection of Christ? What would compel these two men to change their lives and perspective of Christ so dramatically?
Only a literally resurrected Jesus may account we’ve already suggested, even established, that the biblical record represents believable history. The biblical manuscripts are the best accounted for ancient documents in existence. The Gospels contain incredibly accurate and detailed information which has been verified by modern archeology.
If the Apostle Paul had not seen a risen Jesus on the road to Damascus and if Peter had likewise not encountered a resurrected Jesus it is not unbelievable that these two men, along with the other disciples, could have conspired to spread the rumor that indeed He had risen. Perhaps all of these men were money hungry and sought to establish their own religion to gain great wealth.
But if this was the case why did they record and pass on the words of Jesus in Luke 18:22 where Jesus says, “When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” (NIV) If they wanted to get rich by taking many offerings and keeping the money for themselves then why would they espouse a teaching of Christ which spoke of giving your money to the poor and not to them?
Perhaps it is possible to simply assume that these men were megalomaniacs.
Certainly in this world it is not that difficult to find a group of men who would want to gain great acclamation, applause, and attention for themselves. When we look at the modern edifices of the Vatican, the great cathedrals of England, or the many wealthy and famous mega church Pastors in America it is not difficult to imagine such a motivation as accolades and influence for these men.
But is that what professing a resurrected Christ earned them; applause and power? Acts 12:2 records that King Herod had James put to death “with the sword,” which is likely a reference to beheading. The most commonly accepted church tradition in regards to the death of the Apostle Peter was crucified upside-down on an x-shaped cross, in Rome, in fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy in John 21:18.
Tradition says that Matthew suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, killed by a sword wound. John faced martyrdom when he was boiled in a huge basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution in Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered from death. John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison island of Patmos. He wrote his prophetic book of Revelation on Patmos. The apostle John was later freed and returned to what is now modern-day Turkey. He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully.
James, the brother of Jesus, the leader of the church in Jerusalem, was thrown from the southeast pinnacle of the Temple which was over a hundred feet down, when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a club. This was the same pinnacle Satan had shown Jesus during the temptation.
Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed in present-day Turkey and was martyred for his preaching in Armenia, being flayed to death by a whip. Andrew was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers, they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: “I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.” He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he died.
The apostle Thomas was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church there. Matthias, the apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded. The apostle Paul was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero in Rome in A.D. 67.
(These are taken from www.gotquestions.org, a trusted resource endorsed by Dr. Norman Giesler. There are traditions regarding the other apostles as well, but none with any reliable historical or traditional support.)
Power and prestige? Influence and wealth? The men who proclaimed Christ risen, the savior resurrected and the power of an empty tomb, they all were sent to early graves themselves for declaring such an unsavory message to a world lost in its sins. These men suffered for the cause of the resurrection of Christ. They did not gain anything in this life, but oh the crown of glory they received in the next!
If these men had gained by promoted the resurrection of Christ it would be easy, for me at least, to believe that perhaps their message was not true, but the simple fact is that you do not die for a dead man. Sure it may be possible to find one insane person willing to die for something he knows to be a lie, but will you find even two men willing to die for something they know to be a lie; the same lie?
I would argue vehemently that it is not possible to find even one man who will die for something he knows to be a lie, and it is not even fathomable to find a dozen disciples, hundreds of early converts, thousands of first centuries martyrs, tens of thousands of second century persecuted Christians willing to die for al lie!
The disciples proclaimed Jesus raised and they proved the level of their belief in this historical fact in their willingness to die for that truth claim. They had nothing to gain and everything to lose. They lost everything, even their lives, and gained absolutely nothing in this life for their assertion that though Jesus had died, He yet lives!
Paul, the persecutor of the Early Church, became its biggest proponent. Peter, the one who denied Christ, became the great evangelist. The other disciples considered it great gain to lay down their lives for the truth that there is an empty tomb where Jesus once lay. What did they hold in common? They had encountered the risen Lord!
Conclusion
I suppose there is no one here who has not thought more or less, about Christ. You have heard about Him, and read about Him, and heard men preach about Him. For eighteen hundred years, men have been talking about Him, and thinking about Him; and some have their minds made up about who He is, and doubtless some have not. And although all these years have rolled away, this question comes up, addressed to each of us, today, “What think ye of Christ?”
I do not know why it should not be thought a proper question for one man to put to another. If I were to ask you what you think of any of your prominent men, you would already have your mind made up about him. If I were to ask you what you think of our President you would speak right out, and tell me your opinion in a minute. If I were to ask about your governor, you would tell me freely what you had for or against him. And why should not people make up their minds about the Lord Jesus Christ, and take their stand for or against Him? If you think well of Him, why not speak well of Him, and range yourselves on His side? And if you think ill of Him, and believe Him to be an impostor, and that He did not die to save
the world, why not lift up your voice, and say you are against Him? It would be a happy day for Christianity if men would just take sides — if we could know positively who was really for Him, and who was against Him.
It is of very little importance what the world thinks of anyone else. All the great ones, all the noble people of this world must soon be gone. Yes; it matters little comparatively what we think of them. Their lives can only interest a few; but every living soul on the face of the earth is concerned with this Man. The question for the world is, “What think ye of Christ?” I do not ask you what you think of the Episcopal Church, or of the Presbyterians, or the Baptists, or the Roman Catholics; I do not ask you what you think of this minister or that, of this doctrine or that; but I want to ask you what you think of the living person of Christ?
I should like to ask, Was He really the Son of God — the great God-man? Did He leave heaven and come down to this world for a purpose? Was it really to seek and to save? I should like to begin with the manger, and follow Him up through the thirty-three years He was here upon earth. I should ask you what you think of His coming into this world, and being born in a manger when it might have been a palace; why He left the grandeur and the glory of heaven, and the royal retinue of angels; why He passed by palaces and crowns and dominion, and came down here alone? I should like to ask what you think of Him as a teacher? He spake as never man spake. I should like to take Him up as a preacher.
I should like to bring you to that mountain side, that we might listen to the words as they fall from His gentle lips. Talk about the preachers of the present day! I would rather a thousand times be five minutes at the feet of Christ, than listen a lifetime to all the wise men in the world. He used just to hang truth upon anything. Yonder is a sower, a fox, a bird, and He just gathers the truth round them, so that you cannot see a fox, a sower, or a bird, without thinking what Jesus said. Yonder is a lily of the valley, you cannot see it without thinking of His words, “They toil not, neither do they spin.”
He makes the little sparrow chirping in the air preach to us. How fresh those wonderful sermons are, how they live today! How we love to tell them to our children, how the children love to hear! “Tell me a story about Jesus,” how often we hear it; how the little ones love His sermons! No storybook
in the world will ever interest them like the stories that He told. And yet how profound He was; how He puzzled the wise men; how the scribes and the Pharisees could never fathom Him! Oh, do you not think He was a wonderful preacher?
I should like to ask you what you think of Him as a physician. A man would soon have a reputation as a doctor if he could cure as Christ did. No case was ever brought to Him but what He was a match for. He had but to speak the word, and disease fled before Him. Here comes a man covered with leprosy. “Lord, if Thou wilt Thou canst make me clean,” he cries. “I will,” says the Great Physician, and in an instant the leprosy is gone. The world has hospitals for incurable diseases; but there were no incurable diseases with Him.
Now see Him in the little home at Bethany, binding up the wounded hearts of Martha and Mary, and tell me what you think of Him as a comforter. He is a husband to the widow and a father to the fatherless. The weary may find a resting place upon that breast, and the friendless may reckon Him their friend. He never varies, He never fails, He never dies. His sympathy is ever fresh. His love is ever free. O widow and orphans, O Sorrowing and mourning, will you not thank God for Christ the comforter? (Conclusion, D.L. Moody “What Think Ye Of Christ)
Wile I can not know for sure what you think of Christ, I can tell you what I think. He is the Living One! The Son of the Living God who died for sin, was laid in a tomb, and rose again on the third day. He is alive today and available to pardon form sin and fill us with life eternal and hope and strength and the grace that we need for the life we now live.
Be reminded this day, that we worship the Living One who is alive indeed; who is alive in us! Amen.
