“Smoke and Mirrors or an Empty Tomb”
I Corinthians 15
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is either smoke and mirrors or a Historical Fact – the Tomb is empty.
People have various viewpoints concerning the person of Jesus Christ. Many are set in their ways and refuse to objectively examine the historic evidence of Jesus.
#Two boys were playing basketball in Kentucky when one of the boys was attacked by a rabid Rottweiler. Thinking quickly, the other boy ripped a board off the nearby fence, wedged it down the dog’s collar and twisted it as hard as he could. The dog’s neck was broken before he could bite the other boy.
A Lexington Herald Leader reported saw the incident take place and he rushed over to interview the boy. “Young Wildcat fan saves friend from vicious animal,” he wrote in his notebook. “But I’m not a wildcat fan.” The young boy responded.
“Sorry” the reporter replied, “We’re in Kentucky and I just assumed that you were a Wildcat fan.” The reporter starts writing again, “Cardinal fan rescues friend from terrible attack.” The boy looked at the pad and said, “I’m not a Louisville fan either.”
The reporter looked at him and asked, “I assumed that everyone in the state of Kentucky was either for the Wildcats or the Cardinals. What team do you root for?” “I am a Tennessee Volunteer fan.” The boy said,
The reporter turned to a new sheet in his notebook and wrote: “Little redneck hoodlum kills faithful family pet.”
Everyone looks at Easter with different views. I Corinthians 15, Paul is writing to the church in Corinth. Some in the church doubted the resurrection of Jesus and others rejected the fact. Many in the congregation in Corinth were gentiles with a Greek heritage.
Greek philosophers taught that the body of a person was evil. The thought that Jesus rose from the dead in bodily form was more than they could believe. The Greeks were looking forward to living in the spirit separated from the body.
The Apostle Paul gives clear teachings about the bodily resurrection of Jesus. Paul assured the people in Corinth that a day was coming when God would give them a spiritual body that would never die.
Two groups of people: 1st group – convinced that Jesus rose form the dead and are committed to honoring Jesus in their lives.
2nd Group – have had bad experiences in church. They are seeking God but haven’t come to a point of making a personal commitment to Jesus Christ.
1. Smoke and Mirrors
What if group two is right? What if the Christian life is smoke and mirrors. James 1:22-24 talks about a person who looks in a mirror and goes away and forgets what he/she looks like. James 4:13-15 James talks about a person’s life being like a vapor of smoke, here for a while and then it vanishes. If Jesus did not rise from the grave then your life is like smoke and mirrors.
If Jesus did not rise from the dead then your Christian faith is like taking a placebo. The pill is a dummy and has no medical value.
If Jesus has not risen from the dead then you are to be pitied. I Corinthians 15:12-19.
If Jesus has not risen form the dead then your faith is a fake.
If Jesus has not risen from the dead then you are still in your sins.
If Jesus has not risen form the dead then you have false hope. The fact of eternal life is a sham. I Cor. 15:32b.
2. Empty Tomb – Historic Fact – Jesus has risen form the grave.
I Corinthians 15:20 The tomb is empty. Jesus is alive. The Gospel that was preached in the early church is still true today: I Corinthians 15:1-8.
While driving to church on Easter Sunday two years ago, Peggy Key in Portage, Michigan told her children the Easter story. "This is the day we celebrate Jesus coming back to life," She explained. Right away, her 3-year-old son, Kevin, piped up from the back seat, "Will He be in church today?"
Your faith is more than smoke and mirrors. Your faith has substance. You’re put your trust in one who lives. When you pray, Jesus hears. When you worship it bring joy to the heart of God. You have placed your trust in the living Lord, Jesus Christ.
Because Jesus lives your sins are forgiven.
You have hope. I Corinthians 15:58
# Old Hans
ILL. In Henry Garrity’s book, "Portraits of Perseverance," Carl was a very rich man who owned a great estate. One of his favorite pastimes was riding horseback through his valley, looking at everything he owned & congratulating himself on his great wealth.
One day, as Carl was riding along, he came up over a hill & in the distance saw one of his tenant farmers, an old man named Hans. It was lunch time, & Hans had set a little table under a shade tree & was getting ready to eat. But before he ate, he bowed his head & folded his hands in prayer to thank God for his food.
Carl watched the old man as he prayed. Then he looked at his meal. It was only a slice of coarse bread & a piece of cheese. With a sneer Carl said, "If that’s all I had to eat, I wouldn’t even bother to pray." Hans replied humbly, "It’s enough, & I’m thankful that God has provided it."
Taken aback by the old man’s answer, Carl turned his horse & prepared to ride away. But before he could leave, old Hans said, "Wait a minute. I need to tell you something. I had a dream last night. In my dream I saw a beautiful scene, & then I heard a voice saying, `Tonight the richest man in the valley will die. Tonight the richest man in the valley will die."
"Poppycock!" said Carl as he rode off toward home. But as he was riding, the words of old Hans haunted him, "Tonight the richest man in the valley will die." Up to then he had felt quite well, but now he was beginning to experience pains in his chest. He wondered, "Could it possibly be true? Am I going to die tonight?"
When he reached home he called his doctor & told him of old Han’s dream & of the pains that he had been feeling. The doctor said, "Well, it doesn’t sound like anything you ought to be concerned about, but just to put your mind at ease, I’ll come over & examine you."
So the doctor did. After the examination was over he said, "Carl, you’re as strong as a horse. There’s no way you’re going to die tonight." Carl said, "Well, I feel mighty foolish that I paid any attention to the old man’s dream about the richest man in the valley dying tonight. But I just wanted to be certain."
So, reassured, Carl went to bed. The next morning there was a knock on his door, & the messenger said, "Carl, old Hans died last night." Truly, the richest man in the valley died last night.
SUM. Paul wrote, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?" "Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through Jesus Christ, our Lord." You see, the resurrection makes the difference.
CONCL. Before, things seemed so important. But now they have become pretty insignificant. Before, time was so limited. But now there is all eternity. Before, life was filled with despair. But now it has purpose & direction & meaning. Before, death was the end. But now it is the beginning.
You can have the assurance that when you die you have the assurance the risen Christ will give you a new spiritual body that will last for ever. I Corinthians 15:42-55
#Billy Graham
In January 2000, leaders of Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon. Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson’s disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, "We don’t expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you." So he agreed.
After wonderful things were said about him, Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, "I’m reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century. Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of each passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn’t find his ticket, so he reached in his other pocket. It wasn’t there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn’t find it. Then he looked in the seat by him. He couldn’t find it. The conductor said, ’Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I’m sure you bought a ticket. Don’t worry about it.’ Einstein nodded appreciatively.
"The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket. The conductor rushed back and said, ’Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don’t worry. I know who you are. No problem. You don’t need a ticket. I’m sure you bought one.’ Einstein looked at him and said, ’Young man, I too know who I am. What I don’t know is where I’m going.’"
Billy Graham continued, "See the suit I’m wearing? It’s a brand new suit. My wife, my children, and my grandchildren are telling me I’ve gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion. You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I’ll be buried. But when you hear I’m dead, I don’t want you to immediately remember the suit I’m wearing. I want you to remember this: I not only know who I am, I also know where I’m going."
Jesus Christ is risen from the dead you can trust your lives to Him.
Chorus:
Because He Lives #213 Verse 1 and repeat chorus
