WHY WAS JESUS RAISED FROM THE DEAD
MATTHEW 28:1-8
THROUGHOUT HISTORY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO EXPLAIN THE MYSTERY AND MEANING OF THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST. HOW DOES IT HELP US AS WE STAND BEFORE GOD AS OUR RIGHTEOUS JUDGE?
AS WE SHALL SEE TODAY, THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST IS ESSENTIAL FOR SALVATION TO BE AVAILABLE TO HUMANITY. BY JESUS CHRIST’S DEATH AND RESURRECTION GOD HAS SOLVED HUMANITY’S SIN PROBLEM AND HAS CREATED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GUILTY HUMANITY TO STAND BEFORE HIM AND BE JUSTIFIED TO BE CALLED RIGHTEOUS.
TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LOOK AT SOME OF THE MANY REASONS JESUS WAS RAIED FROM THE DEAD AND HOW THEY AFFECT US. THE FIRST REASON IS HOW IT CHANGES OUR STANDING WITH GOD.
POINT ONE: JUSTIFICATION
JUSTIFICATION IS ONE OF THE MANY REASONS FOR THE SACRIFICE AND RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD.
JUSTIFICATION HAS BEEN MISUNDERSTOOD BY PEOPLE TO MEAN “JUST AS IF I’D NEVER SINNED.”, BUT THIS MEANING MISSES THE MARK BY A GREAT DEAL.
JUSTIFICATION IS A GRAQCIOUS ACT OF GOD, IN WHICH HE GRANTS SOMEONE A POSITION OF ACCEPTANCE IN HIS PRESENCE.
THE TERM COMES FROM THE ROMAN LAW COURT AND REFERS TO A JUDGES ACTION WHERE HE DECLARES A PERSON “NOT GUILTY, OR IS ACQUITTED.”
SPIRITUAL JUSTIFICATION TAKES THIS A STEP FURTHER, BY SAYING THAT WE ARE JUSTIFIED, NOT BECAUSE OF OUR INNOCENSE, BUT IN SPITE OF OUR GUILT. WE ARE JUSTIFIED BECAUSE OUR SENTENCE WAS PAID IN FULL, THROUGH THE SACRIFICE OF CHRIST ON THE CROSS.
LET ME USE AN ILLUSTRATION FROM FRIDAY NIGHT TO EXPLAIN.
USE ILLUSTRATION OF THE JUDGE AND THE NEWSPAPER EDITOR.
THE SCRIPTURE IS CLEAR THAT WE WILL ALL STAND BEFORE GOD AS JUDGE, AND WE WILL ALL HEAR THE WORDS “GUILTY AS CHARGED” WHEN IT COMES TO OUR SINFUL NATURE.
ROMANS 3:23: 23EVERYONE HAS SINNED. NO ONE MEASURES UP TO GOD’S GLORY.
WE WILL ALL FACE THE SAME PENALTY FOR OUR SIN NATURE.
ROMANS 6:23: 23WHEN YOU SIN, THE PAY YOU GET IS DEATH.
THOSE WHO HAVE ACCEPTED CHRIST AS SAVIOR AND LORD, WILL HAVE AN ADVOCATE WHEN WE FACE GOD.
1 JOHN 2:1-2: MY DEAR CHILDREN, I’M WRITING THIS TO YOU SO THAT YOU WILL NOT SIN. BUT SUPPOSE SOMEONE DOES SIN. THEN WE HAVE ONE WHO SPEAKS TO THE FATHER FOR US. HE STANDS UP FOR US. HE IS JESUS CHRIST, THE BLAMELESS ONE. 2HE GAVE HIS LIFE TO PAY FOR OUR SINS. BUT HE NOT ONLY PAID FOR OUR SINS. HE ALSO PAID FOR THE SINS OF THE WHOLE WORLD.
WHEN JESUS WENT TO THE CROSS GOD UNLEACHED THE FULL FURY OF HIS ANGER OVER OUR SIN, AND JESUS ACCEPTED IT ALL. THIS WAS THE BITTER CUP HE PRAYED ABOUT IN GETHSEMENE. THIS WAS THE SIN THAT COMPELLED GOD TO LOOK AWAY FROM HIS SON AS JESUS TOOK THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR OUR SIN ON HIMSELF AT THE CROSS. AT CALVARY HE MADE THE PAYMENT FOR OUR SIN. HE DID NOT ELIMINATE OUR GUILT, HE PAID IT TO THE FULL.
HOW WONDERFUL IT WILL BE TO SEE THE GATES OF HEAVEN OPEN AND HEAR THE WORDS OF GOD “ENTER INTO THE JOY OF THE LORD” YOUR DEBT HAS BEEN PAID. YOU ARE RIGHTEOUS IN MY EYES BECAUSE OF JESUS.”
BY JESUS’ DEATH AND RESURRECTION GOD SOLVED HUMANITY’S SIN PROBLEM AND MADE POSSIBLE THE FORGIVENESS OF GUILTY SINNERS, OF WHICH WE ALL STAND CONVICTED, AND THEIR RETURN TO THE HEAVENLY FATHER’S HOME IN HARMONY AND HAPPINESS.
LET US NOW CONSDIER SOME OTHER ASPECTS OF THE RESURRECTION.
POINT TWO: CHRIST WAS RAISED FORM THE DEAD TO THROW LIGHT ON THE MYSTERY OF HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS.
WHILE THE DEATH OF CHRIST IS THE CONTROLLING THEME OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, ONE WOULD SEARCH IN VAIN FOR A CONCISE STATEMENT CONCERNING ITS MEANING OR SIGNIFICANCE.
OUR LORD’S DISCIPLES HAD GREAT DIFFICULTY TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE MYSTERY OF HIS TRAGIC DEATH. IT WOULD BE FAIR TO SAY THAT MANY OF US TODAY WOULD FEEL THE SAME WAY.
THE FACT THAT ONLY DISMAS, THE THIEF ON THE CROSS WHO MADE A CONFESSION OF FAITH AND ASKED FOR SALVATION, HAD THE SLIGHTEST INKLING OF THE KINGDOM TO COME AND JESUS’ RESURRECTION.
IT WAS ONLY WELL AFTER THE RESURRECTION THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO COMPREHEND THE LORD’S TEACHINGS ON HOW IT WAS WRITTEN THAT HE MUST SUFFER AND DIE FOR PEOPLE’S SINS.
LUKE 24:45-47:
45THEN HE OPENED THEIR MINDS SO THEY COULD UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES. 46HE TOLD THEM, “THIS IS WHAT IS WRITTEN. THE CHRIST WILL SUFFER. HE WILL RISE FROM THE DEAD ON THE THIRD DAY. 47HIS FOLLOWERS WILL PREACH IN HIS NAME. THEY WILL TELL OTHERS TO TURN AWAY FROM THEIR SINS AND BE FORGIVEN. PEOPLE FROM EVERY NATION WILL HEAR IT, BEGINNING AT JERUSALEM.
THE DISCIPLES DID NOT TAKE IN THE MESSIANIC AND SALVATION PARTS OF THE GOSPELS UNTIL AFTER EASTER. THEY HAD SEEN ENOUGH AND COMPREHENDED ENOUGH TO STAY WITH JESUS DURING HIS LIFE, BUT THE REAL PLOT LINE OF SCRIPTURE WOULD NOT COME CLEAR TO THEM UNTIL AFTER EASTER.
IT WOULD BE ON THE DAY OF THE RESURRECTION THOUGH THAT THE MEANING OF HIS DEATH WOULD BE MADE CLEAR TO MARY AND MARTHA.
THEY WERE COMING TO THE TOMB HOPING TO COMPLETE THE BURIAL PROCESS FOR JESUS. THEY WOULD TRY TO GET THE GUARD TO HELP THEM MOVE THE STONE TO GO IN.
INSTEAD, THE WOMEN BECAME THE FIRST WITNESSES OF THE RESURRECTION. THIS FACT IS IMPORTANT AS IT GOES TO THE CREDIBILITY OF THE EVENT. THE CULTURE OF THE TIME DID NOT READILY ACCEPT A WOMAN’S TESTIMONY AS LEGALLY BINDING. WERE THE STORY FABRICATED, TO GET MORE PEOPLE TO BELIEVE IT, THEY WOULD HAVE USED MALE WITNESSES.
AS THE WOMEN DRAW NEAR THE TOMB THEIR HEARTS ARE HEAVY WITH SADNESS BECAUSE OF THE EVENTS SURROUNDING JESUS’ DEATH. THEY FULLY EXPECT TO FIND HIS BODY TO COMPLETE THE BURIAL PREPARATIONS.
THEY GET TO THE TOMB AND THIS HEAVINESS CHANGES TO ANXIOUSNESS WHEN THEY SEE THE OPENED TOMB. WHERE WAS JESUS’ BODY? WHERE WERE THE GUARDS AND WHO TOOK HIS BODY? THEY WERE NOT THINKING RESURRECTION AT THIS TIME BUT THAT HIS BODY HAD BEEN STOLEN.
THEY FOUND THE TOMB OPENED. AN ANGEL WAS SITTING ON THE ROCK, A ROCK SO HEAVY THAT IT WOULD HAVE TAKEN SEVERAL MEN TO ROLL AWAY. THE PRESENCE OF ONLY ONE ANGEL, AND HIM SITTING ON TOP OF THE ROCK SYMBOLIZES THAT MAN’S BARRIERS POSE NO CHALLENGE TO GOD’S WILL.
THE ANGEL ALSO HAD A SPECIFIC MISSION. HE TOLD THE WOMEN “DO NOT BE AFRAID.” THE GREEK CONSTRUCTION OF THE STATEMENT IMPLIES THAT THE ANGEL WAS GIVING A COMMAND TO STOP SOMETHING THAT WAS ALREADY BEING DONE. THE WOMEN HERE WERE TO STOP BEING AFRAID. JESUS’ BODY WASN’T TAKEN. HE AROSE! HE WAS ALIVE AGAIN!
THE ANGEL SPOKE CONFIDENT WORDS OF HOPE WHEN HE SAID “HE IS NOT HERE; HE HAS RISEN, JUST LIKE HE SAID.”
WE MUST BE CAREFUL HOW WE APPROACH TALKING ABOUT JESUS DEATH AND RESURRECTION. IT WILL NOT DO FOR US TO SAY THAT JESUS DIDN’T DIE. WE MUST AS PAUL DID PREACH JESUS’ DEATH AS ESSENTIAL TO THE GOSPEL.
1 CORINTHIANS 2:2: I MADE UP MY MIND TO PAY ATTENTION TO ONLY ONE THING WHILE I WAS WITH YOU. THAT ONE THING WAS JESUS CHRIST AND HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS.
NOR CAN WE FORGET THAT THE RESURRECTION IS THE OTHER ESSENTIAL PART OF THE GOSPEL.
2 TIMOTHY 2:8: REMEMBER JESUS CHRIST. HE CAME FROM DAVID’S FAMILY LINE. HE WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD. THAT IS MY GOOD NEWS.
WE SEE NOW WHY THE STONE WAS ROLLED AWAY. ROCKS NOR DOORS, NOR ANYTHING PHYSICAL WOULD POSE A PROBLEM FOR THE RISEN CHRIST. THE STONE WAS ROLLED AWAY TO LET FOLLOWERS IN, NOT TO LET JESUS OUT, FOR IN FACT HE WAS GONE BEFORE THE STONE WAS EVER MOVED.
AS ONE PERSON WROTE:
“JESUS NOW COULD LIMIT HIMSELF TO THE CONDITIONS OF THIS PHYSICAL EXISTENCE, WALKING WITH MEN, PREPARING A MEAL AND EATING WITH THEM, BUT HE COULD ALSO TRANSCEND THE LIMITS OF THE NATURAL ORDER, BY APPEARING AND DISAPPEARING, PASSING THROUGH CLOSED DOORS, AND ROCK BARRIERS, ASCENDING BEYOND THE CLOUDS.”
ANOTHER WROTE:
“THIS IS THE BEST CLUE WE HAVE TO THE NATURE OF THE RESURRECTION BODY IN THE LIFE TO COME: IF WE ARE TO BE LIKE HIM, AS HE SAYS, WE WILL HAVE A TRANSFORMED BODY WHICH CAN BOTH EXPERIENCE THE KIND OF REALITY WE KNOW NOW, AND GO BEYOND IT.”
POINT TWO: JESUS WAS RAISED THAT HE MIGHT BE WITH HIS APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES.
JESUS PROMISED HIS DISCIPLES THAT HE WOULD ACCOMPANY THEM AS THEY PROCLAIMED THE GOOD NEWS OF HIS LOVE. HE MAKES THAT SAME PROMISE TO US TODAY.
MATTHEW 18:20: WHERE TWO OR THREE PEOPLE MEET TOGETHER IN MY NAME, I AM THERE WITH THEM.”
HE PROMISED THE DISCIPLES THAT HE WOULD NOT LEAVE THEM COMFORTLESS.
JOHN 14:18, 25-27:
18“I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU LIKE CHILDREN WHO DON’T HAVE PARENTS. I WILL COME TO YOU. 25“I HAVE SPOKEN ALL THESE THINGS WHILE I AM STILL WITH YOU. 26BUT THE FATHER WILL SEND THE FRIEND IN MY NAME TO HELP YOU. THE FRIEND IS THE HOLY SPIRIT. HE WILL TEACH YOU ALL THINGS. HE WILL REMIND YOU OF EVERYTHING I HAVE SAID TO YOU. 27“I LEAVE MY PEACE WITH YOU. I GIVE MY PEACE TO YOU. I DO NOT GIVE IT TO YOU AS THE WORLD DOES. DO NOT LET YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED. AND DO NOT BE AFRAID.
JESUS KEPT HIS PROMISE ON THE DAY OF PENTECOST WHEN THE HOLY SPIRIT CAME TO DWELL IN AND THROUGH HIS CHURCH UNTIL HIS VICTORIOUS RETURN.
POINT THREE: CHRIST ROSE FROM THE DEAD TO DELIVER HIS DISCIPLES FROM THE FEAR OF DEATH.
THERE IS A QUESTION ASKED IN THE BOOK OF JOB:
JOB 14:14: 14IF A MAN DIES, WILL HE LIVE AGAIN?
JESUS ANSWERED THAT QUESTION WITH HIS RESURRECTION. HE DIED AND ROSE AGAIN, SO TOO WILL ALL THOSE WHO TRUST AND FOLLOW HIM.
JESUS CAME TO DELIVER US FROM THE FEAR OF DEATH.
HEBREWS 2:14-15:
14THOSE CHILDREN HAVE BODIES MADE OUT OF FLESH AND BLOOD. SO JESUS BECAME HUMAN LIKE THEM IN ORDER TO DIE FOR THEM. BY DOING THAT, HE COULD DESTROY THE ONE WHO RULES OVER THE KINGDOM OF DEATH. I’M TALKING ABOUT THE DEVIL. 15JESUS COULD SET PEOPLE FREE WHO WERE AFRAID OF DEATH. ALL THEIR LIVES THEY WERE HELD AS SLAVES BY THAT FEAR.
IN HIS RESURRECTION HE DEMONSTRATED HIS POWER OVER DEATH AND PROVED THE REALITY OF IMMORTALITY.
2 TIMOTHY 1:9-10:
9GOD HAS SAVED US. HE HAS CHOSEN US TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE. IT WASN’T BECAUSE OF ANYTHING WE HAVE DONE. IT WAS BECAUSE OF HIS OWN PURPOSE AND GRACE. THROUGH CHRIST JESUS, GOD GAVE US THAT GRACE EVEN BEFORE TIME BEGAN. 10IT HAS NOW BEEN MADE KNOWN THROUGH THE COMING OF OUR SAVIOR, CHRIST JESUS. HE HAS DESTROYED DEATH. BECAUSE OF THE GOOD NEWS, HE HAS BROUGHT LIFE OUT INTO THE LIGHT. THAT LIFE NEVER DIES.
CONCLUSION:
THE CROSS AND THE RESURRECTION ARE NOT JUST CENTRAL PIECES TO OUR THEOLOGY; THEY ARE ALSO CENTRAL TO THE WAY WE PROCESS THINGS AS PERSONAL AS THE DEATH OF LOVED ONES OR OUR OWN AGING. THEY ARE FOUNDATION PIECES OF A CHRISTIAN WORLDVIEW.
THE RESURRECTION DEMONSTRATES CHRIST’S VINDICATION BY GOD, WHO REESTABLISHES HIM IN HEAVEN AS LORD OF THE COSMOS. IT IS THE MOST SPECTACULAR OF ALL THE BIBLICAL MIRACLES AND FROM A HUMAN PERSPECTIVE THE MOST INCREDIBLE OF CHRISTIANITY’S CLAIMS.
WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESURRECTION:
1. IT PROVES THAT JESUS IS GOD’S SON (JOHN 10:17-18)
2. IT VERIFIES THE TRUTH OF SSCRIPTURE
3. IT ASSURES US OF OUR FUTURE RESURRECTION (1 THESS. 4:13-18)
4. IT IS THE PROOF OF A FUTURE JUDGMENT (ACTS 17:31)
5. IT IS THE BASIS FOR CHRIST’S HEAVENLY PRIESTHOOD (HEBREWS 7:23-28)
6. IT GIVES POWER FOR CHRISTIAN LIVING (ROMANS 6:4)
7. IT ASSURES OUR FUTURE INHERITANCE (1 PETER 1:3-5)
THE EVIDENCE OF THE CHRISTIAN WRITINGS, ALL OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, AND THE WITNESS OF CHRISTIANS THROUGH THE CENTURIES MAKE THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO BELIEF IN THE RESURRECTION OF CHRIST. THE FINAL AND DECISIVE STEP COMES WHEN YOU TRULY MEET THE RISEN CHRIST IN YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE AND CRY OUT LIKE THE DISCIPLES OF OLD, “MY LORD, AND MY GOD!”
