TOMB FOR SALE: USED ONLY 3 DAYS
Mt. 28:1-3; Lk. 24:36-47
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. A woman and her over-bearing husband went on vacation to Jerusalem. While they were there, the husband passed away.
2. The Jewish undertaker told the wife, "You can have him shipped home for $5000, or you can bury him here, in the Holy Land, for $150." The woman thought about it and told him she was going to ship her husband home for the funeral.
3. The undertaker asked, "Why would you spend $5000 to ship your husband home, when it would be wonderful to be buried here and you would spend only $150?"
4. The woman replied, "Long ago a man died here, was buried here, but three days later he rose from the dead. I just can't take that chance."
B. TEXT
After the Sabbath…Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. Mt. 28:1-3.
36 While they were still talking about this [appearances of Jesus], Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. 38 He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? 39 Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” 40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. 41 And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” 42 They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43 and he took it and ate it in their presence. 45 Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. 46 He told them, “This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. Lk. 24:36-43, 45-47.
C. THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH OF EASTER
1. Easter has burst into our world -- the world of space, time and matter, the world of real history, real people and real life -- but our minds and imaginations are too small to contain it.
2. The first Christians weren’t prepared for what actually happened. Nobody could have been. But this problem isn’t confined to the first century.
3. Ever since then, people have tried to squash the Easter message into conventional boxes that it just won’t fit in.
4. THE UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH ABOUT EASTER, ISN’T THAT IT DIDN’T HAPPEN, BUT THAT IT DID HAPPEN! IT’S AN UNCOMFORTABLE TRUTH FOR THE:
a. Medical World – body can’t come back after 3 days.
b. Scientists – want to discount it because it can’t be repeated.
c. Proponents of Religious Equality – don’t lift up one faith over other faiths.
d. Nominal Christians, who don’t want to face the Living God in judgment some day.
e. Atheists, who only recognize the material world.
That’s why the resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth caused shock waves that’ve rattled the world then and now.
D. ELIMINATING THE IMPOSSIBILITY
1. In the 1950’s, kids in schools asked questions about whether man would ever make it to the moon. But then on July 20, 1969, Neil Armstrong walked on the surface of the moon.
2. We don't ask that question any longer, because the demonstration eliminates the discussion. Jesus Christ demonstrated that there is life after death.
3. This morning we’re going to look at the “many convincing proofs” that Jesus gave us that He is alive. Let’s look first at the cross, then at the tomb.
I. JESUS DIDN’T SWOON ON THE CROSS
Muslims are taught that Jesus never really died on the cross, but just fainted; It’s called the "swoon theory." But as we look at what happened to Jesus, you’ll quickly see the fallacy of that position.
A. HOW WE KNOW HE DIED? 1.SCOURGING.
1. Pilate had Jesus beaten with a “cat-of nine-tails” with at least 39 lashes, if not more.
2. This was a whip that had jagged bones and balls of lead woven into it.
3. One witness to a Roman flogging prior to crucifixion wrote: "The sufferer’s veins were laid bare, and the very muscles and tendons and intestines of the victim were open to exposure."
4. Undoubtedly, Jesus was in serious to critical condition even before the crucifixion began. It’s no wonder He was unable to carry His own cross.
B. HOW WE KNOW HE DIED? 2. THE NAILS.
1. Then five-to-seven-inch spikes were driven through His wrists, crushing the median nerve. Experts say this would be like squeezing your funny bone with a pair of pliers.
2. After His wrists, then His feet were laid one on another, and a long spike driven through both feet. He was hoisted into the air to hang by the nails. It must have been excruciating!
3. Death during crucifixion is caused by suffocation. Only if Jesus pushed up on the nail through His feet could He breathe. He would have to turn His wrists over the square nails in them to do this. After a while of pushing up again and again, exhaustion sets in.
C. HOW WE KNOW HE DIED? 3.THE SPEAR.
1. The Romans broke the thieves’ shin bones t hurry their deaths.
2. But when they came to Jesus, they found that He was already dead. To confirm that, the soldier plunged a spear between His ribs, puncturing His heart.
3. Eyewitnesses saw a large amount of blood pour out of the spear thrust. Friends, nobody came down from a cross alive.
If a soldier let a prisoner live, his own life was forfeit.
4. The prestigious Journal of the American Medical Society concluded: "Clearly, the weight of historical and medical evidence indicates that Jesus was dead (even) before the wound to His side was inflicted. . . . Accordingly, interpretations based on the assumption that Jesus did not die on the cross appear to be at odds with modern medical knowledge."
5. Everybody at the scene of Jesus’ crucifixion were certain that He was dead: the Romans, the Jewish Rulers, and His disciples.
II. EVIDENCE FOR THE RESURRECTION
A. THE EMPTY TOMB
1. The Bible describes how the Jewish leaders made sure the body of Jesus was placed in the tomb, rolled the great stone across the entrance, sealed it, and had a Roman guard placed at the door.
2. They were determined to make sure the body of Jesus stayed in the tomb; so were the Romans. But God had a different idea!
3. JESUS’ RESURRECTION WAS UNSTOPPABLE!
a. The Roman guards couldn’t stop it;
b. “ Jewish Leaders “ “ “ ;
c. Pontius Pilate “ “ “ ;
d. Caesar & all his legions “ “ “ .
e. Not all the atheists, the evolutionists, the doubters, politicians, the scoffers, evil governments;
f. No power in the universe, nor heaven or hell could stop it, for His Resurrection was unstoppable!
4. TALLEYRAND’S STATEMENT
a. During the French Revolution, somebody said to Talleyrand, bishop of Autun: "The Christian religion–what is it? It would be easy to start a religion like that."
b. "Oh, yes," Talleyrand replied, "One would only have to get crucified and rise again the third day, move the stone weighing four tons, overcome the Roman guards, and then you’d just be getting started!”
B. THE EYEWITNESSES
1. Not only was Jesus’ tomb empty, but over a period of 40 days Jesus appeared alive 12 different times to more than 515 individuals (Acts 1: ; 1 Cor. 15:3-4).
2. He talked with people, He ate with them, He even invited one skeptic to put his finger in the nail holes in His hands and to put his hand in the spear wound in His side in order to verify that it was Him.
3. And that disciple, Thomas, became so convinced that he ended up proclaiming to his violent death in South India that Jesus had, indeed, been resurrected.
4. 515 people -- that’s a lot of witnesses. If in a Court of Law we called every eyewitness and cross-examined each for only 15 minutes -- around the clock, without a break -- how long would it take? From this morning thru Friday around lunch!
5. After listening for more than 128 straight hours, who could possibly walk away unconvinced? Lee Strobel, who covered scores of criminal trials as a legal affairs journalist, said he’d never seen a case with anywhere near as much eyewitness testimony as that!
6. 515 people saw Jesus alive! Talked with Him, ate with Him, shook His hands, received prayers from Him!
C. THE EFFECT ON HIS FOLLOWERS
1. Before Easter, they were dejected and despondent because they thought their leader was gone forever. Peter denied Christ three times. They fled and hid.
2. But after Easter, they boldly proclaimed ‘Jesus is alive.’ Suddenly, these once-cowardly men began fearlessly proclaiming --even to their deaths -- that Jesus had conquered the grave.
3. Even non-Christian historians have had to concede that something incredible had to have happened in the first century to so motivate the followers of Christ to turn the Roman world upside down, The ONLY EXPLANATION IS THE RESURRECTION!
4. Go to the tombs of the founders of the great world religions. Call the roll:
a. Mohammed … “Here!”
b. Moses … “Here!”
c. Buddha … “Here!”
d. Confucius … “Here!”
e. Jesus Christ … Jesus Christ …
5. No answer! Because he is not there. The tomb is empty!
Jesus is victorious over death, hell, and the grave!
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION
1. Have you ever heard of a man named Harry Houdini? Many of you have. He died in October of 1926. But his claim to fame was that he was a magician that specialized in spectacular escapes.
2. As a matter of fact, he was said to have laughed at locks, sneered at fetters. They said of Harry that he had the flexibility of an eel. He had the lives of a cat. They did all kinds of things to try to incarcerate him.
3. They would seal him in coffins. He would escape. They riveted him into a boiler. He escaped. They sowed him up in canvas bags. He escaped. They locked him in a milk can. He escaped. They sealed him in a beer barrel. He escaped. They put him in maximum-security prison. And old Harry somehow got out.
4. But then in October 1926, old man death laid his hands on Harry Houdini and put him in a grave and he is yet to escape. He’d told his wife, “If there is any way out, I will find it. I'll make contact with you on the anniversary of my death.”
5. For 10 years she kept a light burning over his portrait. At the end of 10 years she turned out the light. Death had Harry and he couldn't escape.
6. Death laid his hands on the Lord Jesus Christ also. He was placed in a rock-hewn tomb. A stone was laid over its opening. But on the third day, Jesus Christ rose.
7. And Jesus Christ is alive. He is not behind us in a tomb. He is before us on a throne.
B. THE CALL
1. EVERY RELIGIOUS LEADER IS IN HIS GRAVE RIGHT NOW: EXCEPT ONE, and that’s Jesus Christ. His tomb is empty because He had the power of God to overcome death, hell, and the grave!
2. Question: Who are you putting your trust in? Jesus said, "I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies" John 11:25.
3. One thing we haven’t talked about today is the “why” of Jesus’ death. You see, your wrongdoing has separated you from a perfect God, and out of His love for you Jesus chose to suffer the pain of the cross as your substitute, to pay the penalty that you deserved for your sin so that you could be reconciled with God.
4. When you confess your sins and ask Jesus to save you by His work on the Cross, you receive eternal life as a gift of grace.
5. Let’s stand for our closing prayer.
[Some thoughts by Dr. N. T. Wright & Adrian Rogers]
