The Risen Luke 24:1-7NKJB
Last Sunday I spoke on the subject- What’s In a Difficult Week? It was about Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. (After that though in your Bible you’ll find these subjects).
Betrayal and Arrest in Gethsemane.
Peter denies Jesus, and weeps bitterly.
Jesus mocked and beaten.
Jesus faces the Sanhedrin.
Jesus handed over to Pontius Pilate.
Jesus faces Herod.
Jesus taking the place of Barabbas.
The King on a cross.
Jesus dies on the cross.
Jesus buried in Joseph’s tomb.
Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’”
I want to tell you right off, that this same Jesus who rouse from the grave wants to live in you. He desires to quickened you, Jesus wants to bring you from death to life. Everything that He said in the gospel’s about rebuilding the temple in 3 days He accomplished, Everything He knew that was coming upon Him- did. Everything the prophets of old wrote about concerning His life, death and burial happened just as it was told throughout the O.T.
Again, Luke 24:6NKJB He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee,
Words with profound implications, telling of the first and only person in all of history who had conquered death. You see, These words conveyed an idea totally contrary to mankind’s belief in the absolute permanence and finality of death.
Yet the angel proclaimed that what was impossible for man, had been accomplished by God.
"He (Jesus) is not here; he has risen!"
So for 20 centuries, the world has wrestled over the truth of these seven powerful words:
The greatest attack on Christianity have been against the resurrection … and for good reason. Believers and Non-believers alike, understand that the resurrection is the cornerstone of Christianity.
If Jesus rose from the dead, then Christianity is true.
If He did not, then it is false. It is that simple.
The greatest proof of His resurrection is you. Do you know He saved you? If you answered yes, then you live with the realization that Jesus rouse, lives and is coming back again!
The angel said, Remember how He spake unto you when He was yet in Galilee, saying, “The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.”
This angel recalls to the women’s memory Jesus’ promise of the Resurrection.
In Matthew and Mark, the angel bids them to tell the disciples not to forget the appointed place of meeting in Galilee, referring to the Lord's words on the way from the "Last Supper" to Gethsemane (Matthew 26:32; Mark 45:28).
Jesus told them first handedly that this betrayal and crucifixion was going to occur!
Question: Have you considered Jesus?
1. Some consider Jesus, but will not recognize Him.
They never make that decision to follow Him. Mere knowledge won’t get you to heaven.
Acts 26:28KJB Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.
There has to be a change, a brokenness, a godly sorrow. There has to be repentance!
I’m sure most everybody has once been considered, but never recognized. P.H. (Very hurtful).
2. Other’s know scripture, but do not believe it.
They think and say things like-“I know smarter professors, and more educated men and women than my christian friends and they don’t believe.”
A burglar broke into a home and was looking around. He heard a soft voice say, "Jesus is watching you.” Thinking it was just his imagination, he continued his search. Again the voice said "Jesus is watching you.”
He turned his flashlight around and saw a parrot in a cage. He asked the parrot if he was the one talking and the parrot said, "yes." He asked the parrot what his name was and the parrot said, "Moses." The burglar asked, “What kind of people would name a parrot Moses?" The parrot said, “The same kind of people who would name their pit bull Jesus.”
Listen, “I believe and possess Jesus, but I don’t want to meet a pit bull named Jesus.”
Acts 17:22-25NLT So Paul, standing before the council, addressed them as follows: “Men of Athens, I notice that you are very religious in every way, 23 for as I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: ‘To an Unknown God.’ This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I’m telling you about.
24 “He is the God who made the world and everything in it. Since He is Lord of heaven and earth, He doesn’t live in man-made temples, 25 and human hands can’t serve His needs—for He has no needs. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and He satisfies every need.
If you will confess and believe this Jesus will satisfy your every need! P.H.
3. Finally, Other’s believed and were transformed.
John Stott is a best-selling author, a professor, and one of the leading theologians in the world today. “Perhaps the transformation of the disciples is the greatest evidence of all for the resurrection… When Jesus died, they were heartbroken, confused and frightened. But within less than two months they came out of hiding, full of joy, confidence and courage. What can account for this dramatic transformation? Only the resurrection, together with Pentecost which followed soon afterwards.”
The Roman nor Jewish leaders couldn’t disprove it.
They tried to, they desperately wanted to, but they couldn’t. They couldn’t produce the body, they couldn’t show that the body was stolen, they couldn’t say that He was in a different grave, they couldn’t explain why the highly-trained guards failed, and they couldn’t explain away the appearances. They had all the motivation and power in the world to squash this new religion, but they simply weren’t able to do it because they couldn’t disprove it.
The disciples were willing to die for their beliefs.
Do you realize the disciples had nothing to gain? They would be beaten, imprisoned, persecuted, and killed for their belief.
Now, I am aware that there have been plenty of people throughout history who have died for their faith, whether what they believed was true or not. We’ve seen this in recent days with terrorists and suicide bombers. This is true:
People will die for their faith if they believe it’s true.
But this is equally true: People will not die for their faith if they know it’s false.
Therefore, remember this statement, “Nobody knowingly dies for a lie.”
Listen to Peter’s words after he was saved and filled with God’s spirit. (Hear his heart plea)!
Acts 2:22-41NKJB People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. 23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. 24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip. 25 King David said this about him: ‘I see that the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. 26 No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts his praises! My body rests in hope. 27 For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave. 28 You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’ 29 “Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. 30 But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. 31 David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave. 32 “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. 33 Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. 34 For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand 35 until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.”’ 36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!” 37 Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” 38 Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 This promise is to you, to your children, and to those far away—all who have been called by the Lord our God.” 40 Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” 41 Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.
My final question for you is, “Will you be among the risen?”
Come to Jesus, He’s all you need!
Benediction.
He's all I need, He's all I need; Jesus is all I need. He's all I need, He's all I need; Jesus is all I need. He's good to me, He's good to me; Jesus is good to me. He's good to me, He's good to me; Jesus is good to me. He's life and peace, He's life and peace; Jesus is life and peace. He's life and peace, He's life and peace; Jesus is life and peace.
Words: Traditional and Ken Bible
Music: Traditional
© 1996 by LNWhymns.com. CCLI Song #2129156.
