Victory In Jesus Sermon V: The Final Battle Fought And Won Series

VICTORY IN JESUS: THE FINAL BATTLE FOUGHT AND WON

QUESTIONS ABOUT THE DEATH AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS YOU WERE AFRAID TO ASK

On June 18, 1815, a watchman stood in the tower of England’s Winchester Cathedral gazing anxiously out to sea. At last he saw what he was looking for – a ship sending a message to be relayed to the towns and villages in England.

The watchman strained to see the message, as all of England held its breath, waiting to know the outcome of the war between their military general, Wellington, and the French ruler Napoleon – that ruthless dictator who ruled all of Europe except England, but still posed a threat to England; and now, the final, decisive Battle was being fought at Waterloo to settle the question of England’s freedom once and for all.

The Englishman in the watchtower received the news he had been waiting for; he began to relay the news across the bay via flags to the English people anxiously awaiting the outcome. As the watchman began signaling, a heavy fog rolled in and only two words got through: “Wellington Defeated”. What everybody thought was bad news spread rapidly, causing gloom and sadness to come over the English people. However,

The watchman continued to send his message and, when the fog finally lifted, the full and complete message got through, “Wellington Defeated Napoleon”! What a reversal! Talk about turning a negative into a positive!

On Friday evening of the crucifixion of Jesus, the message received by the followers of Jesus was, “Jesus Defeated”; but on the third day, they learned the rest of the story - and it was startling: They had been wrong in thinking all was lost. Jesus had been right in telling them he would rise from the dead. The good news came through loud and clear: “Jesus Defeated Satan!”

Numerous times Jesus had told his disciples what would happen and why. The essence of what he explained to them comprises the gospel in a nutshell: He was the Messiah . . . He died for the sins of the world according to the Scriptures . . .

The sinner’s response to Jesus must be repentance toward God - for the remission of sins - and acceptance, by faith, of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

However, Q: Did Jesus really have to die for our sins?

Of necessity Jesus had to die! A battle for the souls of mankind had to be fought. Victory over Satan, sin, death and hell had to be won.

Evil could not be allowed to succeed in its attempt to undo God’s plan for God’s people. Good had to triumph over evil! Jesus had to win the battle! So,

Jesus, the Lamb “without spot or blemish”, obediently yet voluntarily fought the battle, not as the hero of a conquering army but, in humility, by taking upon himself, though he was innocent, the sins of the world - then becoming the sacrifice without spot or blemish required for the remission of sins. He “finished” the task!

Then what happened? As Peter said boldly to the Sanhedrin: “This same Jesus, whom you crucified, God raised from the dead!”

Jesus, the beloved Son with whom the Father was well pleased, won the victory - once and for all - over evil, sin, death and hell by rising from the dead!

The Victim became the Victor! To rise from the dead is to win!

And, folks, when you and I were “crucified with Christ”, we died to the reign of sin, we came alive to walk in newness of life!

Our Lord’s Resurrection provided all the evidence needed for establishing the authenticity of the Gospel which his disciples were commissioned to proclaim. However, they would face the question of the authenticity of the Resurrection. And, so do we: Q: Did Jesus really rise from the dead?

Folks, let me state it unequivocally: The Resurrection of Jesus is a fact. The evidence is circumstantial and physical, plus witness testimony.

The argument presented by “resurrection scripture” would stand up in any court of law – if ever adjudicated - due to an abundance of proof and an absence of disproof.

Multiple scriptures speak to the evidence.

Take for example Luke’s account: Luke 24:1-8 . . . 13-15 . . . 30-40 . . .

If you ever wondered about the fact of the Resurrection, wonder no more. Jesus really did rise from the dead. His disciples were “witnesses of these things”.

We also are witnesses because He commissioned us to “make disciples”.

There are the eyewitness testimonies of many individuals who were there when they crucified our Lord and then when He appeared to them after He rose from the dead – “the women” . . . Mary Magdalene . . . the two disciples on the Emmaus Road . . . the Eleven and all those gathered with them when they were together in one place.