From The Grave HE Arose
John 20: 19-31
19Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you.
20And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the LORD.
21Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
22And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
23Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained.
24But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
25The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.
26And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.
27Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.
28And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God.
29Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.
30And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book:
31But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
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Last week we celebrated Easter Sunday! Many people have tried to discredit or change the Easter Sunday Celebration. Some say it is a Pagan Holiday or Celebration. Some say that it is just another commercial holiday that the stores and companies have commercialized for their benefit. I don’t know that what they say isn’t true but I believe that if you go back to the basis for the holiday that it is just like Christmas and there is a great reason for the holiday and the celebration.
First off it is, just like Christmas, in that it is a celebration of JESUS the SON OF GOD! At Christmas time we celebrate the birth of GOD’S only begotten SON, at Easter we celebrate the death and resurrection of GOD’S only begotten SON. And it is through these celebrations that we honor GOD and HIS great plan for our salvation.
At Christmas we celebrate the fact, I want to use that word again, FACT, not fiction, that JESUS was the SON of GOD and a Part of the HOLY TRINITY of FATHER, SON, and HOLY GHOST, and HE was born of a woman. This means that HE dwelled in her womb for nine months just as every other person, or child in the world has done. He was born through the labor pains of HIS mother, just like every other baby ever born. HE was flesh and blood just like all the other babies and HE was dependent upon HIS Mother to feed and cloth HIM just like all the other babies. HE grew up and learned many things just like everybody else in the world but there was and still is one major difference between HIM and all the rest of the world. HE was as the bible says Emmanuel or GOD with Us as it says in Matthew 1: 23
Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us
This then was the difference between JESUS and all other men anywhere that was born, HE and HE alone was GOD! And so at Christmas we celebrate the birth of GOD THE SON!
Just so at Easter we celebrate the death and resurrection of GOD THE SON!
We celebrate because just like every person ever born JESUS THE SON OF GOD died. Yes HE died a most painful and agonizing death on the cross but make no doubt of the fact, there’s that word I like again, FACT that JESUS died on the cross. Some religions and some people will try to tell you that HE did not die on that cross but I want to show you something look at Mark 15: 42-45
42And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath,
43Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
44And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling unto him the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead.
45And when he knew it of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph.
Now look at John 19: 31-35
31The Jews therefore, because it was the preparation, that the bodies should not remain upon the cross on the sabbath day, (for that sabbath day was an high day,) besought Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away.
32Then came the soldiers, and brake the legs of the first, and of the other which was crucified with him.
33But when they came to Jesus, and saw that he was dead already, they brake not his legs:
34But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water.
35And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true: and he knoweth that he saith true, that ye might believe.
The Romans were experts at killing, they had a vast empire and they won it through battle and killing. The soldiers that were given the job of crucifying people had done it many times and they were experts at their jobs. They knew when one was dead, because they knew how to kill and here in two different verses of the bible we have them testifying that JESUS was dead.
Since HE was dead He had to be buried just like all the people of HIS time and so HE was bound in linen cloths and placed in a tomb and not even the chief priests could deny that for they went to Pilate and asked that the tomb be sealed and guarded, and Pilate agreed. Look at Matthew 27: 62-66
62Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate,
63Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again.
64Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
65Pilate said unto them, Ye have a watch: go your way, make it as sure as ye can.
66So they went, and made the sepulchre sure, sealing the stone, and setting a watch.
So JESUS died just like all men must do because each and every one of us must face death sooner or later and just like JESUS we will die and be placed in a grave. The difference is just what I stated before JESUS was the ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD!! HE did die but HE and only HE could lay HIS Life down and Take it up again. And that is just what HE did! HE laid HIS life down as a payment for all the Sins of the world! PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE, ALL OF YOUR SINS, ALL OF MY SINS and ALL OF THE SINS OF THE WORLD!
But then HE took HIS life back up again and HE AROSE FROM THE GRAVE!
HE arose just like every man woman and child must do.
Now right away when I say this some are going to say “Everybody?”
And yes I am telling you everybody must rise again.
Everybody shall rise and be judged and those who are found to be in JESUS shall go into heaven as their reward, those who are not in JESUS shall be cast into the lake of fire!
But here I am getting ahead of myself. JESUS AROSE FROM THE GRAVE!
This is another fact! That’s right it is fact.
We have seen in today’s scripture verses that JESUS proved to Thomas, the one that we have labeled as “Doubting Thomas” that He was alive and that HE was not a spirit that HE was flesh and blood. HE could be touched, and felt; HE was not some figment of imagination but was real! Look at Acts 1; 1-3
1The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,
2Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:
Then look at 1 Corinthians 15: 1-8
1Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;
2By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain.
3For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures;
4And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
7After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
So the early Christians had witnesses who lived among them and could testify that they had seen JESUS alive and in the flesh after HIS death and burial! And as HE arose from the grave so must all eventually arise. The only ones who won’t see death and resurrection are those who are still alive in CHRIST when HE comes again.
So we have had witnesses in the early church who declared that they had seen JESUS after HIS death and burial but eventually those witnesses died out and all any of us had to go on was HIS word in the bible and the words of other CHRISTIANS who had met HIM. No the others have not met HIM in the flesh but they have met HIM in their hearts and souls.
Look at Revelations 3: 19-21
19As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
21To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Remember last week I mentioned a version of the bible called THE Message well I want you to hear how it states our last three verses.
19"The people I love, I call to account--prod and correct and guide so that they’ll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God!
20"Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I’ll come right in and sit down to supper with you. 21Conquerors will sit alongside me at the head table, just as I, having conquered, took the place of honor at the side of my Father. That’s my gift to the conquerors!
So HE stands and knocks and if we open the door HE will come in and dine with us. And when in the fullness of HIS time we come to be in Heaven with HIM then we will sit with HIM at the table of GOD!! Look at John 14: 1-3
1Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
The more I read The Message the plainer things become. I don’t mean to say that I want to change from using the King James Version because it has and always will be my favorite. But let’s face it we don’t talk that way and anything that can help make GOD’S word more meaningful and alive to you is a help listen to the same verses in The Message!
1"Don’t let this throw you. You trust God, don’t you? Trust me. 2There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home. If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get a room ready for you? 3And if I’m on my way to get your room ready, I’ll come back and get you so you can live where I live.
I like that! Don’t get me wrong I still like the fact that there are many mansions but look at that HE is preparing my room in HIS FATHERS HOUSE! My room! That is just like going home again. In my Mom and Dad’s house each of us had a spot. My brother and I shared a room and to this day it is still our room. And Now my BROTHER JESUS is preparing my room in OUR FATHERS HOUSE!! Could anything be more uplifting and glorious then to have a room IN GOD’S HOUSE!
Look at verses 26-29 of our text verses when taken from the Message.
26Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, "Peace to you."
27Then he focused his attention on Thomas. "Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe."
28Thomas said, "My Master! My God!"
29Jesus said, "So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing."
Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed, or Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing."
Which ever version helps you to understand that JESUS is the SON of GOD and that HE was born of a woman, lived live here on Earth just as we all must do, died just as we all must do and then AROSE FROM THE GRAVE just as we all will do and then accept HIM as our LORD and SAVIOR makes no difference. Just as long as you accept HIM and HIS word and WORKS for us! Only through HIM can we receive eternal life with HIM in Heaven!
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