Resurrection Series: “Redeemed”
Resurrected Disciples
Mark 16:7
A few years ago, an angry man rushed through the Rijks Museum in Amsterdam until he reached Rembrandt's famous painting "Nightwatch." Then he took out a knife and slashed it repeatedly before he could be stopped. A short time later, a distraught, hostile man slipped into St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome with a hammer and began to smash Michelangelo's beautiful sculpture The Pieta. Two cherished works of art were severely damaged. But what did officials do? Throw them out and forget about them? Absolutely not! Using the best experts, who worked with the utmost care and precision, they made every effort to restore the treasures. By His sovereign grace, God can bring good out of our failures, and even out of our sins. - Chuck Swindoll
There are 2 definitions for the English word “resurrection”:
1. To rise from the dead.
2. To revive something old or “long disused”
Obviously today is “Resurrection Sunday”, the day when we gather to celebrate the fact that we serve a “risen Savior” And we will do just that! But as a result of Jesus’ resurrection His disciples (followers) can be “Resurrected” as well. We know that we have the promise of resurrection to eternal life. We read about this in - 1 Corinthians 15:20 ¶But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21 for since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. 22 for as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.Today I want to talk about another way Christ followers can be “resurrected”
There are some synonyms for the word Resurrection that I would like to consider for a moment.
• Renovate
• Revitalize
• Restore
• Revive
It is common for “Resurrection Sunday” to be the Sunday when we have the highest attendance for the year. Today, all over the world churches are filled to capacity with:
Faithful Christians
Half hearted followers of Christ
Lost people
And many Christians who have fallen away and abandoned Jesus.
The heart of this message will focus on those who have abandoned their walk with Christ. A word that is commonly used to describe such a one is “Backslider” - Backslider - (sûg – soog) {H} - to go back, literally (to retreat) to turn away. - The Disciples of Christ had turned away and abandoned Jesus just a few days before His resurrection. Jesus was alive, out of the tomb and walking around. But His disciples were huddled together in fear and had no idea of His plan for them. Early that Sunday morning Jesus rose from the grave in GREAT VICTORY. And He had a specific message for His followers.There was an Angel stationed at the tomb with a message of victory, hope & restoration.
As Mary stood weeping at the tomb an Angel said to her - Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. but go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you. - (Mark 16:6-7) .........This message was actually a reminder of a promise Jesus made before He was crucified - Mark 14:27 and Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered. 28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee. - Do you see that?? Jesus knew they were going to fail Him. He knew that they were going to abandon Him and He had a plan for them EVEN BEFORE THEY FAILED!!
If you are here and you have failed, if you have abandoned Jesus and if you are described as backslidden, JESUS KNEW YOU WERE GOING TO FAIL! ...But He also has a plan for your restoration. Just as He sent that Angel with a message for His disciples that first “resurrection Sunday”, He has a message for you today! And it is a message of hope, victory and restoration! I would like to take some time today and preach on the subject “Resurrected Disciples”
The events of the day began with the great devotion of the women who followed Jesus. They were the last at the cross and the first at the tomb. - Look with me to v1And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him. 2 And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun. 3 And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre? 4 And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
These precious women came bringing spices. There plan was to anoint the body of Jesus as the custom was. It is apparent that they were expecting a dead body; not a risen Savior. On their way to the sepulchre they begin to question how they are going move the stone away. There was no need to worry… when they arrived the stone was rolled away
As they continued farther they were confronted by an Angel - Mark 16:5 And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted. 6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. 7 But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
The Angel attempted to calm their fears: “Christ was alive!” The Angel told the to “tell His disciples and Peter”. We know that Peter was a disciple, but here he is referred to specifically. All of Jesus disciples fled when He was arrested in the Garden.Somewhere along the way John came back because we see him at the foot of the cross. But Peter not only abandoned Jesus, He denied even knowing Him. Jesus (through the Angel) sent a specific message to Peter. If you have abandoned Him, He has a message for you as well. Let’s look to the text and see what that message is. It begins with the fact that:
I. JESUS HAS NOT ABANDONED YOU! - Mark 14:22-72
Jesus had spent much time preparing His followers for what was coming.
He prepared them for His crucifixion- Mark 14:22 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.23 And he took the cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it. 24 And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.
He told them that they would be scattered - Mark 14:27 and Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.
He said that even though they would abandon Him He had a plan for after the Resurrection - Mark 14:28 But after that I am risen, I will go before you into Galilee.
After Jesus explained these things, Peter proclaimed his commitment to Christ and that he would never leave him! Jesus revealed to Peter that “before the rooster crowed twice Peter would deny Him 3 times”Even still, Peter again professed “I will die before I deny you Lord!‘ In Matthew 26 we read that someone said to Peter, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.” Peter, “began to curse & swear saying …I don’t know the man!”. After this, “the rooster crowed”. When He heard it, Peter remembered Jesus’ words - “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” - After this sobering revelation “Peter went our and wept bitterly” - Peter was devastated! Jesus knew that Peter needed to know that Jesus still loved him. Peter needed to know that event though he broke his promise, Jesus would keep His.
If you have forsaken Jesus, you know it! If you are truly His, the Holy Spirit has already revealed your sin to you. The enemy wants you to feel worthless and for you to be consumed with guilt & shame. He wants you to believe that you are unforgivable. Some of you are right where the Devil would have you to be....You feel that you have gone to far...You feel that you have done too much to be forgiven...You feel that because you left Jesus that He has thrown you away! Friend, YOU ARE NOT FORSAKEN!! You left Jesus, JESUS NEVER LEFT YOU! - Hebrews 13:5 … for he has said, I will never leave you, nor forsake you.
In fact He is calling you to repent and make things right. He desires for you to return to Him today so that YOU CAN BE RESTORED!! Peter had forsaken His master. Jesus knew the sorrow and sadness in Peter’s heart as “he wept bitterly”.He knew that Peter needed to be restored. And we will find that Peter was a “Resurrected Disciple” Jesus brought this downhearted disciple back to life! There was another message that Peter needed to hear:
II. JESUS DESIRES TO RESTORE YOU! - Mark 14:54 And Peter followed him afar off, even into the palace of the high priest: and he sat with the servants, and warmed himself at the fire.
In this verse we see that Peter followed Jesus from a distance (v54). He had associated himself with the enemies of the Lord. He warmed himself by the devil’s fire so to speak. Ultimately he denied his Lord three times. Peter didn't want to be identified with Jesus. Peter was in the courtyard and a servant girls of the high priest said, “You were one of those with Jesus of Nazareth.” Peter denied it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Off in the distance Peter “hears a rooster crow”. The servant girl began to tell others “This man is definitely one of them!”. Peter “denied Christ once more”. Then the others came and said “You must be one of them, because you are a Galilean.” - Peter, “began to curse & swear saying …I don’t know the man!”. And then the “second rooster crowed” and Peter realized what He had done.
Have you ever been where Peter was at that point?Have you ever blatantly sinned against God and the Holy Spirit revealed that sin to you.... When this happens it will rock your world. If you are saved, you know exactly how this feels. The believer cannot sin successfully… When we sin we will be confronted and chastised of that sin! - Hebrews 12:6 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. 7 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?
If you are living a life of sin and feel no conviction …YOU ARE NOT ONE OF HIS!!! YOU NEED TO GET SAVED TODAY! But there are some who ARE saved who have sinned and you feel conviction unto repentance but you are stubborn and refuse to turn back to God. Friend, you are living on dangerous ground! If you know that you need to make things right with the Lord, there is an example of what to do in Peter’s life. After the rooster crowed Peter went out and “Wept Bitterly”
Let’s take a moment and look at these words in the original language.
Wept – (klah'-yo) {G} - to wail aloud.
Bitterly – (pikrōs - pik-roce') - violently
Literally Peter went out and wailed violently! He was heartbroken! He was devastated! He was in ANGUISH over his sin! Peter was truly repentant of his sin! The message that Jesus had for Peter was a message of forgiveness. In fact Jesus had told Peter that he would fail and then be restored. - Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren. 33 And he said unto him, Lord, I am ready to go with thee, both into prison, and to death. 34 And he said, I tell thee, Peter, the cock shall not crow this day, before that thou shalt thrice deny that thou knowest me.
How awesome it that! Before Peter even sinned Jesus knew it. Even more awesome is the fact that Jesus said “I have prayed for you Peter”. Backslidden friend, Jesus cares about you just as much as He did Simon Peter. Even before you turned away from Christ he knew it would happen? Jesus sent word especially for Peter even after he had denied Him in the most difficult hour! I don’t know what you have done but if you have truly been saved you can be restored today! It may be hard for you to grasp but Jesus desires to forgive you! And He will today if you will only return to Him! You have the opportunity to be a “Resurrected Disciple”
Jesus has a message for you today and it is this: “He Has Not Abandoned You”, He Desires To Restore You”
III. JESUS HAS A PLAN FOR YOU! - Luke 22:31 And the Lord said, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat: 32 But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, (restored) strengthen thy brethren.
Peter failed in a big way. He failed at a crucial time. He not only abandoned Jesus …he denied even knowing Him. Jesus knew this would happen but Jesus had a plan for Simon Peter. Jesus didn’t just see who Peter was, He saw who he could be. And Jesus had great plans for this “resurrected disciple”. He would use Peter in mighty ways throughout the rest of his life.
This disciple who failed so miserably would become the Apostle who:
Would become the leader of the Apostles.
He would Perform miracles
He preached the powerful sermon at Pentecost.
He set the world on fire for the cause of Christ.
He was arrested, Persecuted and eventually crucified for the cause of Christ.
There are many other things that could be said about Simon Peter.
But friend, IF YOU ARE TRULY SAVED… Jesus has a plan for you. If you have failed Him. If you have walked away. There is potential for God to use you to accomplish great things for the Kingdom. But there are some things that you must grasp today:
i. Jesus Has Not Abandoned You
ii. Jesus Desires To Restore You
iii. Jesus Has A Plan For You
But before you can experience this, you must arrive at the place where Peter was when “he went out and wept bitterly”. You must realize your sins and repent of them! When you do you can be a “resurrected disciple”,. Maybe you are here and you have never accepted Jesus as your Savoir. Friend, you are destined for a devil’s Hell. I have good news …you don’t have to go! Jesus is risen! He has made a way of escape!Redemption is possible today!
