1. Misplaced Body
Sixty-four-year-old Herzlinde Eissler had been admitted to a hospital in Austria with stomach pains. Several days later she left the hospital and was shocked when she discovered why her family had not visited her during her stay.
The hospital had made a mistake and told her family that she had died. Her son Leopold said, "I could not believe it when she walked in through the front door and the whole family was all sitting around dressed in black and planning the funeral. At least it explains why we could not find the body when we wanted to pay our last respects."
The disciples couldn't find the body of Jesus either. But it wasn't because of a mix-up, it was because He has risen from the dead! (www.ananova.com)
2. The Resurrection of Jesus is mysterious and moving. It has a powerful impact on people.
3. John 20.11-18
I. The Triumph of Resurrection
I like what Chuck Swindoll wrote many years ago in His book, "Seasons of Life." He wrote: Comic caveman B.C. leans on a boulder. The rock is inscribed, "Trivia Test."
And B.C. is administering the exam to one of his deadpan prehistoric buddies.
He says, "Here's one from the Bible. What were the last words uttered by Lot's wife?" Without a moment's hesitation his skin-clad friend replied, "Forget your fanatical beliefs, I'm going to take one last look!"
Swindoll wrote: "She may not have said it, but that's what she was thinking or worse." And we know what happened to Mrs. Lot when she took that one last look. Genesis 19:24 She became a pillar of salt. SHE WAS NO MORE IN THE FLESH!
Swindoll said, "The bottom line of Mrs. Lot's philosophy could have been etched on her salt-block gravestone: THERE'S NO NEED TO TAKE GOD SERIOUSLY."
Swindoll wrote, "I know of no philosophy more popular today." And it's that thinking and doing that gets people into trouble in life and even more so, in trouble with God!
A. The Resurrection Demonstrated Christ's Authority
1. Greatest Teacher -- Matthew 7.28-29
2. The Greatest Leader -- Matthew 28.28-30
3. A key reason we follow
B. The Resurrection Demonstrated Christ's Power Over Death
1. Death is Our Greatest (Feared) Enemy ?" -- 1 Corinthians 15.54-55 (cf. Isaiah 25.8)
"Death is swallowed up in victory." 55 "O death, where is thy victory? O death, where is thy sting
2. Resurrection is Our Greatest Hope (Job 14.14 -- Live again? -- YES!)
C. The Resurrection Demonstrated Christ's Power Over Defiance
1. Jewish Leadership
2. Roman Abuses
3. Ultimate Adversary
a. Tempted with shortcuts
b. Threatened with Death
c. Defeated -- Genesis 3.15
II. The Transformation of Resurrection
A. Change in Early Disciples -- Mark 9.30-32
30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. And he did not want anyone to know, 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise."32 But they did not understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
1. From Fearful to Faithful (Martyrdom)
a. He HAD to be resurrected -- Psalm 16.10
b. No understanding -- John 20.9
2. From Regretful to Rejoicing -- Mark 16.1-3
When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?
a. Journey to finish what they had started -- anoint body
b. The Tomb Was "empty" -- John 20.8-11
1) Picture of Divine Presence -- 2 Angels and Ark of Covenant
* 10 Commands -- Incarnate Word -- John 1.14
* Aaron's Rod -- Branch -- Zechariah 3.8; 6.12
* Manna -- Bread from Heaven -- John 6.51
2) Gardener
* First Adam -- Gardener (Genesis 2.15)
* Jesus -- second Adam (Romans 5.12-21; 1 Corinthians 15.45) -- mistaken for Gardener
B. Change in Our Direction -- Romans 6.1-4
1. Sinners to Saints
a. We have a tendency to ignore and excuse our sins -- to make grace abound
b. When we catch the vision of the resurrection we make effort to live without sin -- like Jesus
A man filling out a job application blank came to the question, "Have you ever been arrested?" His answer was "No." The next question asked, "Why?" He said, "Never got caught."
c. We have been freed from sin (Passover); We have died to sin; we have been made alive in Jesus
d. C. S. Lewis: "If conversion to Christianity makes no improvement in a man's outward actions - if he continues to be just as snobbish or spiteful or envious or ambitious as he was before - then I think we must suspect that his 'conversion' was largely imaginary."
2. Self-Absorbed to Christ-like (Raised to New Life)
1. The Power of Jesus
Several years ago, Brian Welch was leader of a popular heavy-metal band named Korn.
During his career with Korn, the group sold over 25 million records worldwide.
Welch said: "I was able to test-drive this world. I got the fame and money. I tried all the drugs, the women and all that stuff."
But there was something missing.
He found that he'd become enslaved.
He thought for a while that it was the drugs that enslaved him, but he said that he had tried to get off drugs for years but found only temporary relief.
But eventually he did find the cure for the emptiness and frustration of his life. In his book "Save Me From Myself: How I Found God, Quit Korn, Kicked Drugs And Lived To Tell About It", Welch stated that after having all the fame and money and attention "when Christ touched me, none of that stuff compared."
Once he'd been enslaved - now he was free.
And now he wanted to change his life and make God His master.
2. Let Jesus touch and impact our lives
3. He lives so we can live now and forever (John 10.10)
