The “After The Resurrection” Story
Scriptures: Mark 16:9-14, Luke 24:32, 44-45, I Cor. 15:1-8, 12-20
Jesus is still appearing to people today! His work is not done. Before we go into the heart of the message this morning, I want to read a poem from the book I am reading by Tom Doyle titled, “Dreams and Visions: Is Jesus Awakening the Muslim World.”
May the Lord Jesus guide you, O Muslims
And enlighten your hearts that you might love others
The forum does not revile the Master of the prophets
It is for the display of truth, and for you it was revealed
This is the truth that you do not know
What we say are the words of the Master of the prophets
We do not worship the cross, and we are not possessed
We worship the Lord Jesus, the Light of the worlds
We left Mohammed, and we do not follow in his path
We followed Jesus Christ, the Clear Truth
Truly, we love our homeland, and we are not traitors
We take pride that we are Saudi citizens
How could we betray our homeland, our dear people?
How could we, when for death – for Saudi Arabia – we stand ready?
The homeland of my grandfathers, their glories, and paths – for it I am writing
And we say, “We are proud, proud to be Saudis”
We chose our way, the way of the rightly guided
And every man is free to choose any religion
Be content to leave us to ourselves to be believers in Jesus
Let us live in grace before our time comes
There are tears on my cheek, and Oh! The heart is sad
To those who become Christians, how you are so cruel!
And the Messiah says, “Blessed are the persecuted”
And we for the sake of Christ all things bear
What is to you that we are infidels?
You do not enter our graves, as if with us buried
Enough – your swords do not concern me, not evil or disgrace
Your threats do not trouble me, and we are not afraid
And by God, I am unto death a Christian – in truth
I cry for what passed by, of a sad life
I was far from the Lord Jesus for many years
O history record! And bear witness, O witnesses!
We are Christians – in the path of Christ we walk on
Take from me this word, and note it well
You see, Jesus is my Lord, and He is the best of protectors
I advise you to pity yourself, to clap your hands in mourning
See your look of ugly hatred
Man is brother to man, O learned ones
Where is the humanity, the love, and where are you?
As to my last words, I pray to the Lord of the worlds
Jesus the Messiah, the Light of Clear Guidance
That He change beliefs, and set the scales of justice rightly
And that He spread love among you, O Muslims.
This poem was written by Fatima al-Mutairi in July 2008, a few days before her death at the age of twenty-six. Fatima grew up in a Muslim family in Saudi Arabia. From a child her chief desire was to know and live for God. She was a devout Muslim who practiced her faith meticulously. She dressed in the traditional black hijab and she fasted every Monday and Thursday. She refused to join her family in watching television or listening to secular music. As she was doing research for an essay contest sponsored by the Saudi government on “Islam between fanaticism and moderation” Fatima came across a Saudi who had converted to Christianity. He shared his faith with her and pointed out the errors of Muhammad. Fatima reacted violently to such claims. She burned with religious zeal. She went in search of answers in order to challenge his many claims but the more she searched the Islamic scriptures and religious material the more she was disappointed with the contradictions. She said “The shock I felt when I studied Islam was enough to drive me to atheism and away from any other religion…I became an atheist, I no longer believed in anything.” She found her religion to be a deception.
During this time she did discover that the Koran testified of Christ, His death and His resurrection. With a desire to know more about Christianity she returned to communicate with her Christian friend on the internet. She began to cry out to the one true God to guide her to the truth. Finally she found and read the Holy Gospels. She wept as she read. The Lord was speaking to her heart. She cried out, “But you are my God! It’s you I’m looking for since my childhood…Where are you Lord?” She later wrote, “I was searching the Bible for Jesus. When I started reading the Bible, Jesus attracted me. I saw a huge difference between what I knew about Mohammad and what I was reading about Jesus…While I was reading the Bible, I felt that God was very near, that there were no barriers between us and that I had no fears…What really attracted me to the Bible was Jesus’ story; in my view, this is the greatest story in human history.” In 2007 she arranged to travel to France where she was baptized in water as a Christian. Upon her return she continued as a secret Christian. In July 2008, several days before her death, she found herself in a heated argument with her parents and two brothers who now were beginning to suspect something was different about her. Her brother called her to repent. In her last communication she wrote, “Don’t worry as, the Lord is with me. He is my light and salvation so from whom do I fear?” After writing this and refusing to repent and rejoining Islam, her brother came into her room, dragged her to their backyard and tortured her before finally beating her to death.
I shared this story with you at the beginning of this message because throughout this message I want you to think about your walk with Christ. If you have ever attended any sporting event you know there are four primary participants. You have the players, the coaches, the referees and you have spectators. The players are the ones doing the work. The coaches prepare the players to do the work. The referees make sure the work is being done right. Finally the spectators are doing none of the work but are there to enjoy watching the work being done. I want you to know this morning that we can no longer be spectators. Our brothers and sisters in Christ who converted from Islam are being killed for Christ while we live our lives of convenience. I wanted you to hear her story so you can determine are you a player, coach or spectator as Jesus is the only true Referee who knows if things are being done right.
On Easter Sunday, I concluded the series on “Compromised Christianity” with a look at the Apostle Thomas’ reaction to hearing the news about Jesus appearing to the disciples who were in hiding for fear of the Jews. So much has been made of Thomas’ doubting that he is referred to as “Doubting Thomas.” But when we look at the Resurrection Story as a whole, we see that Thomas was not alone in his unbelief. This morning we’re going to see how the disciples’ reactions to Jesus’ death overshadowed what should have been the greatest day of rejoicing and affirmation for them. But it wasn’t. And sadly, even though Jesus rose 2,000 years ago, most of the Body of Christ are still behind closed doors, figuratively, because they are either unsure or outright don’t believe Jesus accomplished everything that He said He would by going to the grave and being raised again. So my message this morning is titled The ‘After the Resurrection’ Story.”
Our focus this morning will be Mark chapter 16 and in particular, verses 9 through 20. Because we have a lot of verses to cover this morning I’m going to do some summarizing to help move the message along. As you recall from the Resurrection story, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome had gone to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body. But Jesus had already risen. An angel told them to go and tell the disciples, and Peter, that Jesus was headed to Galilee. Let’s begin reading in Mark chapter 16 and verse 9.
“Now after He had risen early on the first day of the week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons. She went and reported to those who had been with Him, while they were mourning and weeping. When they heard that He was alive and had been seen by her, they refused to believe it.” (Vss. 9-11)
Let’s stop right here for just a moment. Remember Jesus had told the disciples that He would be crucified but would be raised on the third day. Even though the disciples heard what He said, the Bible tells us that they were in hiding, mourning and weeping because He had died. They were acting just like we do when a person dies because we know we will never see them again on this side. And, to make matters worse, they refused to believe what the angel had told Mary to tell them. Here’s my point: we are living in a time where there are far too many Christians who refuse to believe what the Bible says, not necessarily like the disciples who refused to believe, but because they do not have enough Bible in them to believe what it says. Let me give you an example.
When my father was just starting to teach me how to drive, he taught me the basic functions of the gas paddle and the brake paddle. As I was just starting out, I would look down to make sure I was pressing the right paddle – which drove my father crazy because I would take my eyes off the road. Imagine seeing a young teenager driving down the road looking to make sure they are pressing the right paddle. I also felt that I had to hold the steering wheel and constantly turn it to make sure that the car stayed in the middle of the lane. I was making these mistakes because I was just learning – I did not have enough driving experience under my belt. Well one day my father took me out on the road to practice. As we were going down one hill I was going faster than he was comfortable with – all you parents know what he was feeling. Anyway he tells me to put my feet on the brake which I did. However, the car still did not slow down to his satisfaction. So he tells me again in a louder voice, “Boy put your feet on the brake!” to which I replied with a little frustration in my voice, “My feet is on the brake!” Then my father tells me with a mixture of colorful words, “Then push down on it……” You see, even though I “knew” to put my feet on the brake, I was not fully confident on how hard to push it to make the car slow down without making it jerk. This all came with time, practice and additional learning. Well the same can be said of our confidence with the Word of God. It comes with study, practice and time. We study it, we put what we learn into practice and with time we become what the Word says we already are. The disciples had spent three years with Jesus but they were still in the learning mode. They did not have the confidence that they needed at the point of His death. Let’s continue.
“After that, He (Jesus) appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country. They went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either.” (Vss. 12-13)
These verses are referring to the two men, who were Jesus’ disciples (but not one of the chosen eleven Apostles), on their way to Jerusalem from Emmaus, which is found in Luke 24 verses 13 through 35. We’re not going to read the entire passage but I do want to bring out some points. Emmaus was about seven and a half miles from Jerusalem and so as they were walking they talked about everything that had happened. As they’re walking and having this discussion, Jesus joins them but they don’t know that it is Him. Jesus asks them what they’re talking about. Assuming Jesus was a stranger in town, one of them named Cleopas recounted everything that had happened. And they said “But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive.” (Luke 24:21-23) Then Jesus begins a teaching I would have loved to have heard. The Bible says He explained everything to them concerning Himself beginning with Moses and all the prophets in all the scriptures! I would have loved to have heard that teaching! They convince Jesus to join them for dinner and when he blessed the food immediately they knew who He was. And just as quickly, Jesus disappears. Now I want you to hear what they said. “They said one to another, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” (Luke 24:32)
I wanted to make sure you see what has happened. The two disciples, after their encounter with Jesus, found the other eleven Apostles and told them what had happened. Remember, on this seven and a half mile walk, Jesus opens to them the scriptures regarding Himself and He started with Moses and the prophets! Mark 16:13 says that even after the two told them all of this, the disciples didn’t believe them either. You have got to see this. The disciples who were refusing to believe, the ones who were in hiding weeping and mourning, the ones “not looking for Him on the third” day are the very ones who were closest to Him. They were His inner circle. They were the ones who got the most intimate time and teaching from Him. It wasn’t the disciples on the outer circle; it was the ones on the inner circle. I want you to understand something. There are going to be Christians who will never get to the point of truly believing and trusting Jesus – they will keep Him on the outer perimeter. They will always hold something back. They will always have a Plan B. They will always live in doubt. And it does not stop there; we are living in a time when some of us in these last days will only believe what fits within our current thinking – we are not willing to see anything different from what we believe currently. This is where the eleven apostles were. Jesus was dead and they were not open to hearing anything different.
Now verse 14 is the verse that most preachers don’t talk about in regards to Jesus’ resurrection. “Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen.” Do you see what’s happening here? Jesus appears to the eleven apostles and chews them out because they didn’t believe the reports from His “other followers” that He had risen from the dead. And I know He was not happy with the apostles for dismissing the account of the two disciples from Emmaus. But I want you to see the heart of Jesus. Even though He was disappointed with the apostles, He used this as an opportunity to build their faith. Turn to the book of Luke and let’s read Luke 24:44-45.
“Now He said to them, ‘These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.”
Jesus goes on to explain why He had to suffer and be raised from the dead. He told them that this had to happen so that repentance and the remission of sins could be available to anyone who believed. You see, Jesus knew their hearts. He knew that they loved Him. He knew that they were having a difficult time wrapping their minds around everything that had happened. Jesus has not changed. He understands that there will be times when we will struggle, when we will question, and when we will doubt. But as long as we love Him, as long we continue to seek Him, He will help us to understand the scriptures.
Before I close turn to First Corinthians 15. In this chapter, the Apostle Paul is addressing a false doctrine that has been circulating in the Corinthian church – that Jesus had not been raised from the dead. In the first eight verses, Paul reminds them of his teachings about Jesus’ resurrection and how he was seen by Cephas. Paul also says that more than 500 hundred of the brethren saw Jesus at the same time and many were alive who could confirm this. And he also mentions James, Jesus’ brother, as seeing the risen Savior. And in the verses we’re going to read, Paul shows the Corinthian believers what this false teaching means to them.
“Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:12-17)
Do you see how important it is for us to know and believe that Jesus has risen from the dead? Do you see now why Jesus was so upset with the apostles? His resurrection meant they no longer had to live in sin! His resurrection meant they would have eternal life! His resurrection, ladies and gentlemen, means we are no longer in sin – we no longer have a nature that is dead and going to hell. His resurrection, ladies and gentlemen, means we now have eternal life! Now, let’s read how Paul ends his argument.
“Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.” (Vs. 18) If Christ has not been raised from the dead, then everyone who has died believing in Christ are going to hell. That’s what the word “perish” means. “If we have hope in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.” (Vs. 19) Paul says if we have staked our eternal life on a man who did not rise from the dead, then we are the ones that people will look at and shake their heads and say “I told you so. Now you’re going to hell.” How many people are staking their eternal life on men who did not rise from the dead? Everyone believing in someone other than Jesus!
But praise God! Paul doesn’t stop at verse 19. We’re going to finish with verses 20 through 22. “But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep. For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” (Vss. 20-22) When Jesus was crucified on the cross and died, the hopes and dreams of the apostles died with Him. They had not grasped the promise of the “resurrection life” that Jesus had promised to them. Mary Magdalene told them Jesus was alive. They didn’t believe her. The two disciples from Emmaus told them about the teaching that Jesus did as they walked toward Jerusalem. They didn’t believe them. It wasn’t until Jesus appeared to them that they believed. Many Christians have responded to Jesus’ resurrections just like the apostles. Why? Most Christians are so focused on the Cross. What do I mean by that? They see Jesus dying for their sins – and He did. But Jesus’ death is not what saves us. Do you hear me? Jesus’ death doesn’t save us. His getting up is what saves us! And so my message to you this morning is simply this: if how you respond to Jesus’ promises is similar to how the apostles responded, then today you have an opportunity make a change. You can respond to Jesus with faith, certainty and complete confidence that what He has said is true and that what He has promised He will do. Faith, ladies and gentlemen, removes doubt one piece at a time.
I shared Fatima’s story with you at the beginning because I want to pose some questions for our consideration now at the end. While Jesus continues His work, are we helping Him? Do we love Him enough that we would face certain death to be identified with Him? Do we love Him enough that we are willing to take a stand for what His Word says, even in the face of ridicule and family and friends turning their backs on you? Be careful how you answer this question because as the world turns I truly believe a line is being drawn in the sand and each of us will need to decide which side we are going to stand on.
May God bless and keep you is my prayer.Until next time, “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
(If you are ever in the Kansas City, KS area, please come and worship with us at New Light Christian Fellowship, 15 N. 14th Street, Kansas City, KS 66102. Our service Sunday worship starts at 9 a.m. and Thursday night Bible study at 7 p.m. Also, for use of our social media, you can find us at newlightchristianfellowship on FB. To get our live stream services, please make sure you “like” and turn on notifications for our page so you can be notified when we are live streaming. We also have a church website and New Light Christian Fellowship YouTube channel for more of our content. We are developing more social media streams so please stand by and we will notify you once those channels are up and running. We look forward to you worshipping with us. May God bless and keep you.)
