The Reality Of The Resurrection

The Reality Of The Resurrection

Text: Mark 16:1-8

Intro: Today we celebrate what is commonly called Easter. The word “Easter” is used but once in all of the Scriptures (Acts 12:4). The Greek word from which it is transliterated is “Pascha,” which means, “Passover.”(1) It was during the Passover week that Christ was crucified.

Often in today’s society, the celebration of Easter means little more than Peter Cottontail and Easter baskets full of colorful eggs. I’ve always had a problem with that concept. For one thing, no one has ever explained to me the obvious anomaly of rabbits laying eggs once a year at Easter. I’m also very surprised that our scientists haven’t done some in-depth research to discover the reason for this quirk of nature.

Seriously, I know that the practice of hunting colored eggs, and eating chocolate Easter bunnies is all about tradition, and fun for the kids. But the truth is that Easter has nothing to do with bunny rabbits and brightly colored eggs. It is a celebration of the resurrection of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Resurrection is a very important doctrine to the Church of Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul said, “And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins” (1 Cor. 15:17). In essence, Paul has said that if the resurrection of Christ is nothing but a hoax and a lie, then we are still lost in our sins; and everything we believe in and hope for with reference to salvation is absolutely meaningless.

Although no amount of proofs would ever satisfy those who refuse to believe, there is much scriptural evidence of the Resurrection. This evidence gives comfort and assurance to the Christian however. With these thoughts in mind, I want to examine some of the evidence of the Resurrection of our Lord.

Theme: We see evidence of the Resurrection in…

I. THE EMPTY TOMB

A. Notice The Announcement Of The Angel.

1. The angel at the tomb declared the resurrection to be a fact.

Matt. 28:1 “In the end of the Sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulcher.

2 And, behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

…………………………………………………….

5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.”

NOTE: [1] Be careful to understand that the angel of the Lord did not roll away the stone to let Jesus out of the tomb, but to let men see that He was not there.

[2] Folks, the angel said, “He is not here: for he is risen.” It doesn’t take a scholar to understand that statement, only faith.

The Tomb Is Empty

Little Philip, born with Down Syndrome, attended a third-grade Sunday School class with several eight-year-old boys and girls. Typical of that age, the children did not readily accept Philip with his differences, according to an article in Leadership Magazine. But because of a creative teacher, they began to care about Philip and accept him as part of the group, though not fully.

The Sunday after Easter the teacher brought L’eggs pantyhose containers, the kind that looks like large eggs. Each receiving one, the children were told to go outside on that lovely Spring day, find some symbol for new life, and put it in the egg-like container. Back in the classroom, they would share their new-life symbols, opening the containers one by one, in surprise fashion.

After running about the church property in wild confusion, the students returned to the classroom and placed the containers on the table. Surrounded by the children, the teacher began to open them one by one. After each one, whether a flower, butterfly, or leaf, the class would ooh and ahh.

Then one was opened, revealing nothing inside. The children exclaimed, “That’s stupid. That’s not fair. Somebody didn’t do their assignment.”

Philip spoke up, “That’s mine.”

“Philip, you don’t ever do things right!” the student retorted. “There’s nothing there!”

“I did so do it,” Philip insisted. “I did do it. It’s empty. The tomb was empty!”

Silence followed. From then on Philip became a full member of the class. He died not long afterward from an infection most normal children would have shrugged off. At the funeral this class of eight-year-olds marched up to the altar not with flowers, but with their Sunday School teacher, each to lay on it an empty pantyhose egg.(2)

2. The angel reminded the women that Jesus’ prediction of His resurrection had been fulfilled.