He Is Risen
Notes
Transcript
Realizing the truth after the fact.....From ME to WE
Transition to James
He thought Jesus was out of His mind
21 But when His own people heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”
None of His brothers believed in Him
3 His brothers therefore said to Him, “Depart from here and go into Judea, that Your disciples also may see the works that You are doing. 4 For no one does anything in secret while he himself seeks to be known openly. If You do these things, show Yourself to the world.” 5 For even His brothers did not believe in Him.
John 7:3-
But then something changed…
As we catch up to James later in the story, we find that he was no longer a skeptic, he was now a leader in the church and in the ministry of the gospel of Christ.
9 and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that had been given to me, they gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.
Galatians 2:
He became a pillar of the church and someone that others looked up to and listened to.
13 And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men and brethren, listen to me: 14 Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.
Acts 15:13-
What happened that caused James’ extreme transformation? We can find it here:
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. 6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. 7 After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. 8 Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time.
1 Corinthians 15:3
It wasn’t until after Jesus had died and was risen that James began to believe. When Jesus made Himself known to James in a way that James could not deny, did he let go of what he thought he knew so that he could follow Jesus.
6 After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep.
That’s what it takes to follow Him. We have to let go of everything we think we know.
It was in that moment that James understood why Jesus did all that He did and suffered all that He had suffered. It was a lot!
It was in that moment that James understood why Jesus did all that He did and suffered all that He had suffered. It was a lot!
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Jesus had to become flesh, so that He could experience and suffer through everything that you and I experience and suffer through.
Jesus knew, but He did it anyway.
Our God is not distant and disconnected, He is with us and He is personal and He is connected to us in a way that no one or nothing else can ever or will ever be.
It was a gamble, I like sure things, but we are not!
Let’s take a quick look at everything that Jesus endured so that we would have the hope of salvation.
grieved
34 Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”
36 And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”
Mark 14:
betrayed
44 Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely.”
45 As soon as he had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, “Rabbi, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.
Mark 14:44-45
arrested
46 Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him.
abandoned by His friends
50 Then they all forsook Him and fled.
Mark 14:
put on trial
53 And they led Jesus away to the high priest; and with him were assembled all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes.
Mark
lied about
55 Now the chief priests and all the council sought testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. 56 For many bore false witness against Him, but their testimonies did not agree.
Mark 14:
condemned
64 You have heard the blasphemy! What do you think?”
And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death.
Mark 14:
beaten and abused
65 Then some began to spit on Him, and to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, and to say to Him, “Prophesy!” And the officers struck Him with the palms of their hands.
Mark 14:
denied by His friends
71 Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know this Man of whom you speak!”
Mark 14:6
exchanged
9 But Pilate answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 10 For he knew that the chief priests had handed Him over because of envy.
11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd, so that he should rather release Barabbas to them.
Mark 15:
sentenced to an undeserved death
12 Pilate answered and said to them again, “What then do you want me to do with Him whom you call the King of the Jews?”
13 So they cried out again, “Crucify Him!”
Mark 15:
scourged
15 So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.
16 Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. 17 And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, 18 and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. 20 And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.
Mark 15:15
crucified for all to see
24 And when they crucified Him, they divided His garments, casting lots for them to determine what every man should take.
25 Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.
mocked
29 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, 30 save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”
31 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. 32 Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.”
Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.
Mark 15:
25 Now it was the third hour, and they crucified Him.
forsaken by His Father
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”
Mark 15:
killed
37 And Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and breathed His last.
Mark 15:
buried in a borrowed tomb
46 Then he bought fine linen, took Him down, and wrapped Him in the linen. And he laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock, and rolled a stone against the door of the tomb.
Mark 15:
These are the things that Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, Messiah, Savior of the world left heaven to endure.
These are all things that we can all relate to:
grief, imprisoned, betrayed, abandoned, put on trial, lied about, condemned, abused, denied, exchanged, sentenced, beaten, mocked, forsaken.....we will all know what it will be to die.
He left his throne in heaven to die as a criminal on earth.
He left his throne in heaven to die as a criminal on earth.
It finally made sense to James as he stood with Jesus, and it caused him to completely turn away from who he thought he was.
grief, imprisoned, betrayed, abandoned, put on trial, lied about, condemned, abused, denied, exchanged, sentenced, beaten, mocked, forsaken.....we will all know what it will be to die.
It was a gamble, I like sure things, but we are not!
It finally made sense to James as he stood with Jesus, and it caused him to completely turn away from who he thought he was.
He was grieved, betrayed, arrested, abandoned, put on trial, lied about, condemned, beaten, abused, denied, exchanged, sentenced, scourged, crucified, mocked, forsaken, and ultimately gave up His life.
It finally made sense to James as he stood with Jesus, and it caused him to completely turn away from who he thought he was.
1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:
Greetings.
He was no longer of himself, he was now of God through Jesus Christ.
It was because he finally realized who Jesus was and what He had done for him.
Jesus knew, but He did it anyway.
grief, imprisoned, betrayed, abandoned, put on trial, lied about, condemned, abused, denied, exchanged, sentenced, beaten, mocked, forsaken.....we will all know what it will be to die.
If that was the end of the story, it would be enough to convince you that there was once a man named Jesus who loved you so much that He gave life you.
It was a gamble, I like sure things, but we are not!
It wasn’t because of what Jesus had endured, but because of what Jesus had overcome.
But the story isn’t over, it was just the beginning!
The point is not just that Jesus suffered and dies for you, the power is made known in what happens next.
He sacrificed everything so that we MIGHT choose to be with Him!
1 Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.
It was a gamble, I like sure things, but we are not!
16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.
6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.
Mark 16:4-
Jesus didn’t stay dead, but He rose on the third day! He overcame sin and death and the grave, and He did it for me and He did it for you.
I think it was in that moment, as James looked upon his brother, alive, in the flesh, and victorious over death, that he was able to think back on everything that had happened up until this point in time, and see the big picture of it all, the truth of it all, the purpose of it all.
It finally made sense to James as he stood with Jesus, and it caused him to completely turn away from who he thought he was.
It finally made sense to James as he stood with Jesus, and it caused him to completely turn away from who he thought he was.
He was no longer of himself, he was now of God through Jesus Christ.
He sacrificed everything so that we MIGHT choose to be with Him!
He Is Risen
It was because he finally realized who Jesus was and what He had done for him.
He was no longer of himself, he was now of God through Jesus Christ.
1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:
Greetings.
It was a gamble, I like sure things, but we are not!
Mark
He Is Risen
He Is Risen
We’ve heard the story many times,
it may lose it’s impact on us,
many try to dress it up, but
it stands on it’s own, doesn’t need to be dressed up
the gospel of Jesus Christ has the power to change our lives
it brings us from death to life
from darkness to light
from old to new
from broken to healed
from hopeless to joyful
we simply need to see it!!!
The question then becomes:
Do you see it? Do you see it as James saw it? Does it make sense to you yet? Can you see what it means for you?
1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? 4 Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
5 For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, 6 knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Some of you are here today and you feel distant from God, and you’ve been distant for a long time. You’ve been disconnected from Him for so long that you now take your identity from being disconnected.
You have no fulfillment in your relationships, your job, your family.
You dwell on your failures and mistakes.
You look for a place to belong, but are unable to find it.
You need to know, before you leave here today, that you are a child of God, you belong to Him, He loves you more than anyone ever could, and He is waiting for you to come home.
At some point in your life you got lost.
It might have been in your childhood, when you thought God should have done something but didn’t.
It might have been in a time when you felt alone and wondered why God wasn’t there.
It might have been when you lost someone in your life and wondered why God would allow that to happen.
It might have been during a very difficult time in your life when you prayed and prayed and prayed, but nothing changed.
It might be because of the mistakes you have made and the thought that the distance between you God is too great.
Whatever the reason, there was a time in your life when you turned away from God or maybe felt that God turned away from you.
I want you to know, WE want you to know, GOD wants you to know there is more to life than what you are living, and it’s here now, waiting for you! It comes by the love that Jesus has for you.
Invitation
there is more to life than what you are living
Because in order to claim that love, in order to possess it, in order to live in it so that it can live in you, you’re going to have to take a risk.
it frees you from the chains of your sin
there is a love available to you so powerful that it:
it gives you new life
it gives you new identity
it transforms the way you live
it changes your relationships with others
it changes the way you see yourself
it not only gives you a purpose for life today, but
it gives you a hope for the future
This love comes from the God that created you and has known you from the very beginning, through Jesus Christ, through His work on the cross and His victory over the grave. But in order to claim that love, in order to possess it, in order to live in it so that it can live in you, you’re going to have to take a risk.
You have to let go of what you think you know and who you think you are, and surrender your life to Him. It’s not about religion, or routine, good deeds, or being a good person.
The words of a prayer don’t save you, the waters don’t save you! Salvation comes from what the prayer and the waters represent.
They represent life change brought about through genuine faith in Jesus. The type of faith in Christ that changes everything about how we see ourselves.
So we are no longer identified by our past, failures, mistakes, sin, fear,
But can come up out of that oppression and into a new life with Jesus Christ!
He Is Risen
So that we can rise!
Prayer
If you are wanting life change this morning, I invite you to come up to the front.
If you need prayer this morning, I invite you to come up to the front.
If you would like to be a part of this church family as we move forward with the gospel of Christ, I invite you to come up to the front.
This is your time to respond to what God is calling you to.