This was an Easter Sunday Message
It was delivered in two parts.
Title:- Jesus Provides ... Mankind Sees.
Messag-ette 1
We are not going to focus on one specific passage of the Bible today – rather we are going to put together a series of passages and historical events. What we want to do is ask ourselves the question, “Does the Resurrection of Jesus Change Us?”.
Matthew 28:1-4
After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, there was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.
Mark 16:1-5
Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
Matthew 28:5-8
5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”
8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
John 20:2-10.
2 Mary came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) 10 Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.
John 20:11-13
11 Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.
13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”
“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
When you put it all together what do you have?
CONFUSION
Women have come to finish the burial process.
- hasty burial on Friday.
- Jesus was their close friend.
- the burial is the final good-bye.
expand in terms of having hole filled.
it was the end.
- they fully believe that he is gone.
Disciples are hiding somewhere.
- running race … John is much younger.
- yep! it is all empty.
- Peter is still not sure what is happening.
- John believes … but still not fully understanding He has risen
Mary outside the tomb crying.
- someone has stolen Him.
- not even the words of the angels help.
=> who first tell her that Jesus is risen.
=> who ask why is she crying
Main Point
A dead Jesus is a Jesus without hope.
Good moral teacher … but if He is dead, then no hope.
- others in history … Aesop
A willing sacrifice to inspire Jews … but if He is dead, then no hope.
- others in history … Acts 5:36-37
36 Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37 After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
A great historical figure … but if He is dead, then no hope.
- other religion leaders
But when we believe He is still dead … ultimately we have confusion and hopelessness.
Prayer
Messag-ette 2
Does the Resurrection of Christ Change us?
1 Corinthians 15:12-19
12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
Does the Resurrection of Christ Change us?
Well we definitely see the disciples move from confusion to commitment.
Example:-
Peter preaching first sermon – expand no more fear.
Even more telling.
History of those who were martyred.
Peter
He was crucified upside down on an xshaped cross because he told his tormentors that he felt unworthy to die in the same way that Jesus Christ had died.
James Son of Zebedee
Became a strong leader of the church and was ultimately beheaded in Jerusalem.
Bartholomew
Was a missionary in present day Turkey. He was flayed to death – slowly cut up.
You might say – Yes but people die for causes all the time.
The 9-11 bombers believed something and died for that belief. But they die for a belief that has been handed down from someone else. There is a big difference in dying for something that you believe having received from others … and dying for something that you believe because you witnessed the events that establish the belief.
It would be like me dying for my faith in Christ’s resurrection. All that this would prove is that I truly did believe that Christ rose from the grave … but it doesn’t help prove that Jesus actually did rise from the grave. I believe the resurrection is true, but I did not see it. I was not a first-hand witness.
But the disciples did see. Peter. James. Bartholomew. Thomas.
They are not dying on the basis of half-truths, or fabrications, or lies, or a heightened spiritual awareness.
They die because they have witnessed this wonderful event.
The resurrection changed them.
It’s the same resurrection that changes us.
Expand – giving hope to the confused.
As we celebrate another Easter may the confusion of life be taken away.
And in its place may the resurrection stand.
Despite what it might feel like some times.
Our faith is not useless.
Because we serve a resurrected Saviour.
Prayer
