Sermon: Gospel Facts that Shook the World
Scripture Lesson:1Corinthians 15:1-10
“Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place. I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church. But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.”
Introduction: This passage of Scripture in first Corinthians 15 consist of the facts Apostle Paul considered most critical to the Christian faith. The sinless Lamb of God died for our sins according to the Scriptures, he was buried and raised from the dead for our justification, and he lives forever. That’s the gospel in a nutshell. Those who heartily believe these facts and rely upon the Risen Christ for salvation are saved. Paul goes on to say that Jesus rose and showed himself alive to Peter and the other disciples. There were hundreds of eyewitnesses to this historical fact. Nothing in history was ever better attested. The witnesses had nothing to gain, and many of them lost their lives for maintaining their belief. After the world had experienced the miraculous birth of Jesus, being touched by His life and ministry, nothing could have prepared them for the events of the resurrection story.
We are accustomed to the ordinary, the common, the known, when things happen beyond our scope of knowledge, we are shaken. The world had experienced prophets, teachers, and preachers before, yet Jesus was something more. Hundredths of prophecies predicted his coming, wise men and seers looked for him, yet His surprising birth shook the world.
1.The birth of Jesus shook the world. Luke 1:35 “The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God.”
His birth caused quite a disturbance because of how He was conceived, and who was chosen to bear him. Who can wrap their mind around an immaculate conception? Who would believe royalty would be born to a peasant girl? Or a king would be born in a stable? Who would believe a star would point to his residence, an angelic chorus would sing his praise and shepherds would be the first to bow to him. The world shook at his birth and Herod feared his throne was in jeopardy. Herod was so shaken that he put out a contract on Jesus, he filled the streets of Bethlehem with the blood of male children under two years old. What a terrible and horrible season that must have been. Mary and her family were shaken, Joseph was shaken, and Herod was shaken. The birth of Jesus shook the world.
2.The Life and Ministry of Jesus Shook the World. John 3:2, Nicodemus came to Jesus, “The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.”
John 7:46-48, “The officers answered, Never man spake like this man. Then answered them the Pharisees, Are ye also deceived? Have any of the rulers or of the Pharisees believed on him?
John 12:19 “The Pharisees therefore said among themselves, “You see that you are accomplishing nothing. Look, the world has gone after Him!”
Nicodemus said, no man can do these kinds of miracles accept God be with him. The soldiers said, never a man spake like this man. And the religious leaders, the whole world is gone after him. Even Pontius Pilate could find no fault in him. His life was spotless and pure, his conduct was loving and kind. He called all men to himself, welcomed all, and forgave all. He was a friend to sinners. His life and ministry shook the world.
3.The Suffering and Death of Jesus shook the World. Apostle Paul said, “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said.”
It is hard to imagine that Jesus the Savior of the world, the only begotten Son of God, our redeemer, healer, and deliverer would suffer and then die. This single necessary act caused Christianity to be the subject of ridicule, rejection and reproached. How could anyone follow a suffering savior? How could a sinless God-man die for a sinful world. Islam regard the idea of atonement as foolishness. Ghandi said that his heart could not accept that there was anything atoning in Jesus’ death. The disciples of Jesus were totally unprepared for the events of Good Friday. Some believe that even Judas who betrayed Jesus was shocked by His death. Judas was expecting Jesus to perform some miracle and be delivered out of the hands of the Jews. But Jesus Died! Matthew 27:46-50,
“At about three o’clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. But the rest said, “Wait! Let’s see whether Elijah comes to save him.” Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit.”
Jesus died. Jesus who was well acquainted with death. Jarius’s daughter was raised, the widow of Nain’s son was raised, and Lazarus was raised after being dead four days, yet Jesus dies. Death seemed so final that the earth quaked, the sun refused to shine, the Father turned his head, the disciples wept in sorrow, the crowd ran in horror, all hell rejoiced, and the world shook to its core. The death of Jesus shook the world.
4.The Burial of Jesus shook the World. Apostle Paul goes on to say, “He was buried.” Matthew 27:57-60, “As evening approached, Joseph, a rich man from Arimathea who had become a follower of Jesus, went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. And Pilate issued an order to release it to him. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a long sheet of clean linen cloth. He placed it in his own new tomb, which had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a great stone across the entrance and left.”
There is nothing that speaks to the end like a grave. Somehow when you stand helpless at the grave site and watch a loved one placed in the tomb, everything screams It’s over! When Joseph took the body of Jesus, wrapped in fine linen and laid it in his new tomb, hearts shook. Then the sound of that great stone being rolled into place, was almost unbearable. Where we go from here? How do we go on? Go on to where? And do what? The world shook when Jesus was buried. The birth of Jesus shook the world, so did his life and ministry. His death and burial shook the world. Yet nothing shook the world like the resurrection of Jesus.
5. The Resurrection of Jesus shook the world. Apostle Paul goes on to say, “and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time…”
No one was prepared for what happened on the third morning. When the report came, as the women reported what the angels had said, “He is not here, he has risen as he said, come see the place where the Lord lay...”
The women were afraid and ran in terror, confused, and excited. The soldiers were left paralyzed by fear and unbelief. The tomb was empty! The grave clothes were empty. The stone was rolled away. And the religious leaders were trying to control the narrative. The disciples were in unbelief and shocked, went to the tomb to see. Is it true? How can it be? More shocking than his birth, life, and ministry, more shocking than his death and burial, the evidence is convincing.
The tomb is empty, the grave clothes are intact, the head wrap has been folded and the angels proclaimed He is alive! Rome did not have the last word. The religious leaders did not have the last words. In Galilee, we will see Him for ourselves. Acts 1:3 “During the forty days after he suffered and died, he appeared to the apostles from time to time, and he proved to them in many ways that he was actually alive. And he talked to them about the Kingdom of God.”
This fact still shakes the world today. We come together to celebrate the resurrection. His resurrection means the way of salvation is complete. The justice of God has been satisfied. Jesus is who he said he is and will come back just as he said. Hebrews 13:8, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
Revelation 1:18, “I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.”
He is greater than Moses, Abraham, Elijah and all the prophets of Old. He is more than a miracle worker; He had the power to lay his life down and take it up again. He alone is the living head of the Church and our soon coming king. He alone makes Christianity different from every other religion in the world. Buddha was great, Confucius was great. Hindu gurus a great. Shintoism and Islam are great, but Jesus is greater. He alone confessed, I am the way, the truth and the life, no man comes to the Father accept by me.
Many world leaders proclaimed special births, influential lives, worked sign and wonders, transform followers, and impacted the world. Many of them left profound teachings, and principles to live by. Many of their steps can be traced today, we can see their birthplace, their monuments, and their statues. Yet only one tomb is empty. Many claimed to be divine, God sent, but only one can make this claim, “He is not here, He is risen as He said, so see the place where the Lord lay.” Because he lives, we can live. Because he got up, we can get up.
John 14:1-6, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.” “No, we don’t know, Lord,” Thomas said. “We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
The resurrection of Jesus shakes the world because Jesus rose as he said, then His personhood can no longer be denied. He speaks with the authority of the Father. He will come again to judge the world. We all must give account to God. He alone offers the way of salvation. His call is simple, whosoever will let him come. Matthew 11:28-30, “Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Amen.
