Have you ever been to an Easter Pageant? In the past, SouthEast Christian Church has attracted crowds of 80,000. I remember a small community of churches came together to put on a local Easter Pageant. The director searched hard to find the right persons and had auditions to be the best. The person to play the part of Jesus, was a big, rough and tough guy like Shaq O Neal. Everyone thought he was a very bad guy to be Jesus! So as the pageant was getting into the act where they were shouting to crucify him, and Jesus was coming down the aisle, a little old man, in the front pew, accidently spit on Jesus in the face. The little was scared to death wondering what is this man going to to do to him. Then Jesus looked straight into his eyes and said, LITTLE MAN... YOU JUST WAIT, . . CUZ . . . I'M GONNA TAKE CARE OF YOU. . . AFTER THE RESURRECTION!!!
YES!, that's exactly what Jesus did, after the resurrection, so many things happened! First and foremost, Jesus came back just like He said He would. The disciples lives were shattered because Jesus is now dead. So they go back to doing what they were doing before they met Jesus, "GONE FISHING!" Now Jesus renews everything that He had told them before, so no more miracles to be performed, no more parables about the Kingdom, no more preaching on repentance. Jesus came back to reassure them He's for real!
Secondly, Jesus came back after the resurrection, to let them know that He really suffered cruely and died on the cross. He was buried in a tomb where nobody could open for 3 days. When Jesus died, darkness came upon the whole earth, the world stopped. But disciples faith was dead too. They were depressed and left Jerusalem. They had a hope when Jesus was with them, but now they had nothing to move them.
Then "After the resurrection, Jesus came back!" the same Spirit that raised Jesus now enters their souls, and they are on fire for their Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Christ our Resurrection gave them a "Living faith serving a Risen Christ!" Jesus said "I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE!" The life is eternal life because of the resurrection.
Thirdly, "After the resurrection Jesus took care of us, by staying over 40 days making appearances to over 500 people at once, then one on one, to the doubters, and to the religious. We saw him eating and fishing and giving marching orders to His apostles. He promised us "Lo, I am with you always." He wants us to tell the whole world!
Fourthly, Jesus came back after the resurrection, to tell all believers in Him will be raised as well and we will be living with Him forever. Fifthly, we have the Bible not to explain the resurrection BUT the resurrection explains why we have the Bible! Sixthly, Our preaching has power because we have proof of the resurrection. "If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain. (I Corinthians 15:4)
CONCLUSION: The resurrection of Christ was the greatest event of all r! Without the resurrection there is no purpose in history itself. IT IS HISTORY! The resurrection explains why we have the Bible. The resurrection explains why we have the Church of Christ! Jesus LIVES and because He lives we can face tomorrow even today. ALL FEAR IS GONE. . . LIFE IS WORTH LIVING JUST BECAUSE HE LIVES! "Thanks be to God who gives us the victory, because JESUS LIVES!" Amen.
Presented By Larry L. Vollink retired chaplain/pastor, Cedar Springs, Mich. (616) 655-4129 lawrencev@comcast.net
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