Sermon Tone Analysis

*Place: Pencoed AOG.

Date: Sunday am 10th August 2008.*

*Text: Matthew 27:50-28:15.

Theme: The Resurrection morning of Christ.*

*Introduction:                          Reading: Matthew 27:50-28:15.*

After 6 hours on the cross Jesus cried aloud, *“It is finished!”*

And then He died.

Is this the end of the ONE who was in the beginning?

Jesus the Alpha and Omega!

Will Christianity die out in this death?

Will man continue to slip down the pathway of sin to hell without hope?

I am happy to remind you morning that although almost everyone thought it was all over, including His disciples, more so the Devil, Jesus shouted triumphantly, *“Over my dead body!”* as He conquered death, hell, and the grave, and rose again just as He promised!

This was just the beginning for Jesus and all who would follow Him and be saved!

He was about to make all things new.

FIVE times Jesus specially told the disciples that He would rise again /(/*Matthew 16:21, 17:9, 22-23, 20:18-19, 26:32).

*He even told the disciples where to meet Him after His resurrection.

But they have forgotten, and are living like they have no hope.

What a picture it must have been:

1.

The Rock of Ages sealed behind an aged rock.

2.

The Light of the world is now shut up in darkness.

3.

The One who came to give life is now dead, but not for long!

I do not care for a crucifix because my Jesus is no longer on that cross, I serve a living Saviour!

The “Gospel” means “good news” and it would not be good news if He had only /died/ for us, and not risen again.

*FOUR REASONS FOR CHRIST RESURRECTION:*

* *

*1ST POINT:* *His resurrection was the single sign of His deity.*

Jesus claimed to be God, but this was the day He proved it.

Many have made the claim, but never have any of them beaten death!

Doing miracles was not enough, others in the Bible worked miracles, which was a sign that they were /OF/ God, but only the resurrection could prove that He WAS God!

Even the antichrist will be able to work miracles, but once he is sent to hell he will never arise again, but not Jesus, because you cannot keep the God man down!

Many wanted a sign from Jesus to prove that He was God.

He said the only sign you will get is Jonah’s sign, THREE days and nights in the belly of the earth, and then out I will come out!* *

*“A**/nd/** declared /to be/ the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead” Romans 1:4.

*

* *

*2nd POINT:* *His resurrection verifies the truth of Scripture.*

The Bible falls apart if He remained dead.

But since Jesus arose, we have proof that the Bible is true.

The Old Testament made a number of predictions about the Messiah someday coming and conquering death.

The odds were against that, no one had beaten death before, until now!

 

*3RD POINT:* *His resurrection secures our future resurrection.*

*“**A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me.

Because I live, you will live also” John 14:19.*

*“But now Christ is risen from the dead, /and/ has become the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep” 1 Corinthians 15:20.*

We have hope in death.

Because Jesus conquered death for us we also can cheat death!

The resurrection completes the gospel!

*4TH POINT: His resurrection starts His ministry of High Priest.*

Christ is our Mediator, our Intercessor.

*Hebrews 4:14 * \\ *“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast /our/ profession.”*

We can now go to the Father without the help of a human priest, like in Old Testament times.

Note *verse 51*: *“**Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split” Matthew 27:51.

*Tradition states that TWO teams of horses could not have torn that veil in the temple.

But God can do anything!

There is no need to confess to a man, for we come to God direct!* “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” Hebrews 4:16.*

* *

*THREE PROOFS OF JESUS RESURRECTION:*

* *

You do not have to put your brain on the shelf to believe in Jesus’ resurrection.

Our faith is not blind faith.

We have got good reasons to believe in it.

There are unquestionable proofs that would hold up in any court of law.

* *

* *

* *

*1ST POINT: The remarkable change in the life of the disciples.*

One minute they are cowering behind closed doors.

The next they are declaring His resurrection, walking in victory, and all of them were willing to lay down their lives for it!

One day Peter is denying Him, saying, I do not know Him, a few days later He is proclaiming He is truly the Son God!

And he is preaching to thousands who are getting saved.

What happened to Peter?

He saw the risen Saviour!

One moment Thomas is doubting and saying I will not believe unless I see Him.

The next minute he is believing, and why?

Because Jesus walked in and showed him the nail holes in His hands! 

  

*2ND POINT: The testimony of more than 500 eyewitnesses.*

*1 Corinthians 15:6 **“After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.”*

And other extra-Biblical historical sources affirm this to be fact.

Non-believers do not even challenge this one.

It is a well documented fact.

One or two witnesses can make or break a case during a trial.

*3RD POINT: The power in the Name of Jesus to transform lives.*

* *

For 2,000 years the name of Jesus has not just reformed alcoholics, but transformed them.

Purified prostitutes ~/ made liars tell the truth ~/ turned haters into lovers ~/ turned wife beaters into gentle men ~/ made whoremongers faithful ~/ cleaned up cursing mouths ~/ and saved souls from hell!

 

*CONCLUSION: JESUS IS ALIVE TODAY!*