Mary

This actually is central to all we hold dear as Christians, and something we need to focus on all year. However, it is good to have this celebration yearly to really focus, and know the Hope of the Resurrection!

I would like to start by reading an account of what took place early that Sunday morning. This is a compilation of the accounts found in the gospels.

Prompt read the consolidated gospel

Jesus is Risen, and has been seen by witnesses.

First, Mary Magdalene. Then, Peter. Then, the rest of the apostles. Two disciples on the road to Emmaus. At another time, by up to 500 witnesses at once, and later appeared to Stephen, and to Saul (also known as Paul).

Jesus is Risen, and we have the eyewitness accounts.

Today, there are many who do not believe that Jesus is risen from the dead.

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I would like to put forward that first, Jesus has risen.

Secondly, if He has risen, then that is something to which we should pay attention! This is huge! What does it mean for you and me?

Fact of Resurrection

Fact - Jesus really existed, Jesus died, Jesus was buried

Josephus - Jewish Historian 37-100 AD. Being a Jew, Josephus had no reason to do anything to support Christianity. In fact, Jews were trying to squash this whole teaching about Christ. In his history, Josephus references Jesus. Some debate whether what is found in his works is completely authentic, in that he calls Jesus the Christ, the Messiah (suspicious since he was a Jew), however most agree that he was acknowledging Jesus historically, and possibly copying a description from another account of Jesus.

Tacitus - Roman historian. Also not a Christian, acknowledged the death of Christ at Pilate’s hands.

But even without these two historians, we do have the eyewitness accounts of the gospels.

Jesus really did live.

Jesus really did die.

Jesus really was buried.

Jesus’ tomb was really empty on the third day!

Historically, the tomb was sealed by the Romans, and guarded. If someone came and broke the seal and stole the body, there would have been a fight. There would have been witnesses to point out what had happened. They would have tried those who were guilty and punished them. That did not happen.

As it were, they did spread that story, but in the coming months, we find not that the Jews argued that Jesus never rose. Rather, what we see them arguing is that the disciples are making them guilty for his death!

They never went after those who supposedly stole the body. They never went after the body. They just hoped it would blow over.

In we do find that there were some who opposed Paul because of His teaching of the resurrection. However, there was a dispute between them and others who opposed Paul. The difference was not whether Jesus rose from the dead. The difference was whether they believed in any resurrection and miracles or not. Again, there was no proof or witnesses brought forward in this formal trial to prove Jesus did not rise. It was just an argument of opinions as to whether there could be a resurrection.

If this were to be truly tried in court, what would be presented...

On the side of those who say Jesus did not rise… No body. No true witnesses.

On the side of Jesus rising from the dead… Many witnesses who saw Him alive.

Lawqa.com - One witness could be enough even without physical evidence. Three witnesses likely to all that is needed. We have many. Some would say we have 4. Actually, there are more. Why no more accounts?

1. No Facebook, or any other social media.

2. No selfies.

3. Writing materials not in everyone’s hands.

4. Not as many literate, even if they had writing materials.

However, they did socialize. Word spread by word of mouth. And that is what they did. And they didn’t just go to other places to spread rumors. They did it right where it happened, among people who would have known what happened. In Acts, we see them preaching, and saying, You know what happened… because people did know. When they heard the gospel and understood, there were thousands saved. Because they KNEW what had happened, and now they knew the significance of it.

Also of note: Those early witnsses… Could they have lied? Yes. But...

Again, they were sharing among those who knew. The fact that they kept going among those who knew the truth without being contradicted is telling. They were not lying!

Also, all twelve of the apostles were either put to death via tortuous means. Well, all but one, and that it because by another miracle, John was not harmed when put into boiling oil! They wanted to tortuously kill him, but it did not work!

Would they and the countless other Christians who have been put to death over the centuries really die for a lie? Maybe one. But all of them? Without coming out with the fact that they were lying? And do you think that if they would have said it was a lie, that it would not have been made known?

Jesus did rise from the dead. All of the evidence points to this fact.

There is No evidence otherwise.

The only ones who did not believe and become Christians were those who either:

1. Denied miracles could happen and simply would not believe in spite of evidence.

2. Did not want to believe Jesus was the promised Messiah, the one who could save them from the penalty of their sins.

Jesus rose again. Fact. So, what will you do with that? Accept it, or just refuse? Ultimately, that is still up to you.

Significance of Resurrection

Jesus really lived. Jesus really died. Jesus was really buried. Jesus really rose.

Being true, that is significant! But how is that significant? What does that mean?

Jesus is God

Romans 1:4 NIV

and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.

, Jesus had said, that he had the power to lay down his life, and the power to take it up again. Shortly after this, He proclaimed that He and the Father are one. The Jews knew exactly what He was saying and picked up stones to stone him for claiming He was God. Ultimately, that is why they eventually did put Him to death on the cross. His resurrection shows that He was telling the truth when He said He would lay down His life, and take it up again.

Paul makes the point that his resurrection signifies that He is God!! Why? Doesn’t the Bible talk about others that Jesus raised from the dead? Are they God because they rose from the dead? No, they are not God. They were raised by Jesus.

However, while the Bible is clear that God the Father was active in Jesus rising from the dead, Jesus, being God, was just as active in His own resurrection. Jesus had said, ,

John 10:17–18 NIV

The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Jesus said that he had the power to lay down his life, and the power to take it up again. Shortly after this, He proclaimed that He and the Father are one. The Jews knew exactly what He was saying and picked up stones to stone him for claiming He was God. Ultimately, that is why they eventually did put Him to death on the cross. His resurrection shows that He was telling the truth when He said He would lay down His life, and take it up again.

Jesus rising from the dead really does signify that He is God.

Since He is God, what are you going to do with Him? Will you listen to Him? Will you listen to what He has for you?

Hope

Jesus rising from the dead signifies Hope. One of the things that plagues the people of this world, and I mean people of every language, every culture, is hopelessness.

Ephesians 2:12 NIV

remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.

Jesus rising from the dead signifies Hope. One of the things that plagues the people of this world, and I mean people of every language, every culture, is hopelessness.

EphesiansJesus rising from the dead signifies Hope. One of the things that plagues the people of this world, and I mean people of every language, every culture, is hopelessness.

When they consider life, they find hopelessness. That is why, “Let’s eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow we may die,” has resonated through the ages.

People consider life, and find it hopeless. Meaningless. Work. Why? So you can live a good life? And then what? You die? And, you may not have a good life even if you work, because people will come and take what you work for. Things will break. People will steal.

Love so you will be remembered. Really? How many of your relatives that have passed do you really remember? Spouses. Yes. Sons and daughters. Yes. Aunts and Uncles? Cousins? Maybe. Grandparents, Likely, though how often? Great-grandparents? Great-great grandparents? Are they really lovingly remembered? Not for long. Meaningless.

The more life is just an accident, and there is nothing after death spreads through out culture, hopelessness, meaninglessness, despair, depression, and suicide climb exponentially!

Or, we try to find meaning in fun. Or, we try to drown our thoughts with alcohol or drugs or sex. But, after the buzz wears off, we are back to hopelessness...

Jesus’ resurrection brings Hope! There is life after death! There is meaning in life now, because He wants to reward us for how we live today! And, He wants to be with us, today! He is not dead and gone as some memory. He is alive, and wants to reside in our hearts. Not be a memory carried in our hearts when we think of Him. He wants to dwell in our hearts, and be a part of our lives each and every day. He wants to show us the meaning and the hope through the ups and downs of this world.

It is because of Him dwelling in people that you have Fanny Crosby, blind and struggling through life, writing some of the most loved hymns of all time! All the way my savior guides me!

It is because of hope that in the worst of times, Horatio Spafford can pen, It is Well with My Soul after losing his children in an accident.

These people and countless others found hope in the midst of life today, and HOPE for eternal life after death because Jesus is alive! Jesus, God Himself, is alive and wanting to live in us to bring us Hope!

Hope in Life - God wants us!

Hope in Death - Death has lost its sting when there is a resurrection. Limitation to Grief!

Purpose - No longer live for ourselves

Peace - No more guilt, no more shame

No more living in fear

True Love

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