What Does The Resurrection Prove (Easter Message)

What Does the Resurrection Prove (Easter Message)

Matt. 28.5-7

March 27, 2016 CFBC Chester, IL Dr. Mike Fogerson, Speaker

A Introduction:

1 On the first Easter morning, some of Jesus’ closest friends came to the garden tomb to finish preparing His body.

a Matthew 28:5-7 (NASB) 5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. 6 "He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying. 7 "Go quickly and tell His disciples that He has risen from the dead; and behold, He is going ahead of you into Galilee, there you will see Him; behold, I have told you."

b Perhaps the women of Matthew 28, in the garden were the first to hear about the resurrection because in Genesis 3, it was a woman in the garden who fell into sin first.

2 The angel told them, Do not be afraid.

a The angels know why the women are there . . . “looking for Jesus.” (To me, it’s reassuring to know that heaven knows when your seeking/looking for Jesus!)

b The ladies who came to the tomb on the first Easter morning we’re not really expecting to find it empty (even though Jesus had said He would rise again.)

Matthew 16:21 (NASB) 21 From that time Jesus began to show His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised up on the third day.

Matthew 17:22-23 (NASB) 22 And while they were gathering together in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men; 23 and they will kill Him, and He will be raised on the third day." And they were deeply grieved.

aa They were looking for the dead body of Jesus to be lying in the tomb. (v.5, “ . . . I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified.)

bb The PTSD soldiers had reason to be scared, but not the women who were looking for Jesus.

c Those who seek Jesus have no reason to be afraid, fear.

aa Romans 4:25 (NASB) 25 He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.

bb

B The Resurrection proves four things.

1 Proof of life after death

a Everyone (lost, saved; believer, unbeliever) believes in death, grave.

aa We pass funeral homes/cemeteries everyday proving the reality of death/dying.

bb While everyone believes in death-not everyone believes in life after death . . . or a world to come.

cc What an unbeliever need is one who has died and came back to tell them that there is life after death.

b Jesus did just that!

aa Numerous times He said He would die and come back.

bb John 14:3 (NASB) "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”

c The empty tomb, the kept promises, the resurrected body of Jesus, the testimony of over 500 eye witnesses to Jesus’ resurrection proves/assures to me that the grave isn’t the end of the road.

2 Proof that Jesus is the only Messiah, savior, redeemer.

a John 2.19;

Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

Matthew 12:39-40 (NASB)

39 But He answered and said to them, "An evil and adulterous generation craves for a sign; and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah the prophet; 40 for just as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS AND THREE NIGHTS IN THE BELLY OF THE SEA MONSTER, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

aa If Jesus had not rose again. . . then His claims of being Messiah, Savior, Redeemer are a scam.

bb How could He save/ransom us from the grave if He could overcome His own death?

b There can be no doubt of Jesus’ divinity in light of the empty tomb.

c Ours is a faith founded in fact, and the facts are hundreds who saw Jesus (over a 40-day period), disciples who ate with Him, Thomas who touched Him . . .Paul on the road to Damascus.

3 Proof that the payment for our sin has been paid-in-full.

a His resurrection is the proof of purchase—shows that the payment was received.

aa Ezek. 18.20, “The soul that sinneth it shall die . . .”

bb He hung in our place, on our cross, suffered our punishment, died our death . . . even though He had done nothing wrong . . . innocent/without sin.