28, April 2002
Dakota Community Church
Who Wants To Know?
7 Questions of Christ After the Resurrection
Introduction:
One month has passed since Easter Sunday, this week I was thinking about the events that followed the resurrection.
I discovered that Jesus asked seven Questions and that they apply to us today!
Here’s what Cambridge scholar N.T Wright has to say about the subject:
“Why did Christianity arise, and why did it take the shape it did? The early Christians themselves reply: We exist because of Jesus’ resurrection…. There is no evidence for a form of early Christianity in which the resurrection was not a central belief. Nor was this belief, as it were, bolted on to Christianity at the edge. It was the central driving force, informing the whole movement.”
The 7 Questions:
1. Why are you weeping?
John 20:11-16
11 But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb. 12And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. 13Then they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?"
She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him."
14Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?"
Have you ever been guilty of crying when you should be taking action?
Dog on the nail
If God is for us who can succeed against us?
2. Whom are you seeking?
Often the weeping problem has a root in a seeking problem.
2 Chronicles 12:13-14
13 King Rehoboam established himself firmly in Jerusalem and continued as king. He was forty-one years old when he became king, and he reigned seventeen years in Jerusalem, the city the LORD had chosen out of all the tribes of Israel in which to put his Name. His mother’s name was Naamah; she was an Ammonite.
14 He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the LORD
Where are you going for the answers to life’s problems?
What do you look to for peace, joy, to pull out of a depression?
Learning the daily secret.
3. What are you talking about?
Luke 24:12-16
12 That same day, two of the disciples were going to the town called Emmaus. It was about two hours walk from Jerusalem.
13 They were talking together about all the things that had happened.
14 While they were talking and asking each other questions, Jesus himself came and walked with them.
15 But even though they saw him, they did not know who he was.
16 Jesus asked them, `What is this that you are talking about as you walk along looking so sad?’
Words have power!
Ill.
– A Cranky Sunday School teacher in an attempt to get the students thinking about what it means to be a christian asks her class, "why would someone call me a Christian?"
A shy student finaly responds, "Because they don’t know you?"
Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Is your mouth speaking of a heart at peace in God’s provision?
4. Isn’t the answer clear in the scriptures?
Luke 24:25-27
25Then Jesus said to them, "You are such foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. 26Wasn’t it clearly predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his time of glory?" 27Then Jesus quoted passages from the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining what all the Scriptures said about himself.
2 Timothy 3:14-17
14But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
5. Do you have any meat?
John 21:3-5
3 Simon Peter said to them,” I’m going fishing”. They said to him,” we’ll go with you”. They went forth, and entered into a ship immediately; and that night they caught nothing.
4 But when the morning was now come, Jesus stood on the shore: but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.
5 Then Jesus said to them, Children, have you any meat? They answered him, No.
Peter said I’m going to handle things my way!
John 4:31-34
31In the meantime His disciples urged Him, saying, "Rabbi, eat."
32But He said to them, "I have food to eat of which you do not know."
33Therefore the disciples said to one another, "Has anyone brought Him anything to eat?"
34Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work
6. Do you love me?
John 21:16
16Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
Peter points out the obvious fact that Jesus knows – God asks us questions he knows the answers to when we aren’t getting it.
Adam where are you? Cain where is your brother? Do you love Me?
7. If I want him to remain, what is that to you?
John 21:18-24
18Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"
20Peter turned and saw that the disciple whom Jesus loved was following them. (This was the one who had leaned back against Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is going to betray you?") 21When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"
22Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me." 23Because of this, the rumor spread among the brothers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die; he only said, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?"
24This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
The speck in your eye and the board in mine!
