I heard about a grandfather who wanted to see how much his four-year-old granddaughter knew about the Easter story. He put her on his lap and asked, “Julie, why do we celebrate Easter?” Without hesitating, she said, “Jesus was crucified. After He died, His body was put into a grave. They rolled a big stone in front of the opening. A bunch of soldiers guarded the tomb. On the third day, there was a big earthquake and the stone rolled away.”
Grandpa was pleased with how much his granddaughter knew about the Easter story but then she continued, “When the earthquake happened, the entire town came out by the grave. And if Jesus came out and saw His shadow, they knew there would be six more weeks of winter!” At least she had part of the story right.
Today is Resurrection Sunday. The most celebrated day of the year for the Christian faith. We have come to worship the Risen Savior.
Resurrection Sunday is about the impossible becoming a reality. It’s about death giving way to life. It’s about a savior who died and a Lord who lives for eternity. It’s the worst tragedy that took 3 days to morph into the greatest triumph.
The Resurrection is the supreme miracle of Christianity — it’s the very heart of our faith. Listen to Paul: 1 Corinthians 15:17-19 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.
So, if the tomb isn’t empty, Jesus has not been raised, Christianity collapses into mythology and billions of people have been deceived.
But, if it did happen, it authenticates everything Jesus said and did — and believers have the guarantee their sins are forgiven and they have the gift of eternal life.
**The Bible teaches that after the roman executioners crucified Jesus, His body was placed in a solid rock tomb. After His body was covered with about 75 pounds of spices, it was wrapped in strips of linen cloth. A very large stone, estimated to weigh about 2 tons, was then rolled in front of the entrance to the tomb.
And, a squad of Roman soldiers was assigned to secure and seal the tomb.
(The bible tells us) In spite of all these precautions – the stone, the soldiers, and the seal – THE TOMB WAS EMPTY THAT FIRST EASTER MORNING!
Matthew-Mark-Luke “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Christianity rises or falls on the empty tomb. And the empty tomb is part of my greater hope.
**Another aspect, in my hope as a whole, is that more than 515 eyewitnesses saw him on 12 different occasions over a 40 day period. Acts 1:3 “After His suffering, He showed Himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of 40 days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”
After His resurrection, He made an appearance to Mary in the cemetery. Later that day, He walked through a locked door and talked with his frightened followers huddled in Jerusalem. In the evening, he walked side by side with two men on the road to Emmaus.
Many people saw Him on more than one occasion, some alone, and some with large groups; sometimes at night and sometimes during the day. The apostle Paul, writing to a group of new Christians, laid it all out: 1 Corinthians 15:3-8 “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”
Over 500 different individuals were willing to testify that they had seen the resurrected Christ.
Peter preached his first sermon in Acts 2 at Pentecost. This is how he formulates his conclusion: Acts 2:32 “God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.”
Peter wanted his readers to know he saw Jesus, he talked with Jesus, and they even had a fish fry with Jesus on the beach one day. John 21.
**There’s one more compelling argument for the Resurrection.
Those who met and witnessed the Resurrected Jesus had their lives totally transformed. The Resurrection is validated by the changed lives of His followers. (empty tomb-witnesses.)
Something happened to radically reorient this original group of followers. After Jesus was put to death, the disciples scattered. The Bible tells us that they were gathered together in a locked room. They were filled with fear. Their leader had been executed. What would happen to them now?
John lets us in on the scene that would forever change their lives: John 20:19-22 On the evening of that first day of the week [Easter Sunday evening], when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. 21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.
Instead of confronting the disciples for not standing with Him in His time of need, Jesus appeared to them and said, “Peace be with you.” This overwhelming peace cut through their own guilt and feelings of failure. Their fear was replaced with joy. Peter was changed from a coward who had denied even knowing Jesus three times, to a man who became one of the absolute pillars of the early church.
These ordinary men were transformed from frightened wimps into the most effective missionary organization the world has ever seen.
What motivated them from this point forward to go and proclaim the message of the risen Christ everywhere they went?
It’s simple!! because they knew Jesus is alive!! Vs22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
Listen to how they died: • Matthew was killed in Ethiopia • Mark was dragged through the streets until he was dead.
- Peter, Simeon, Andrew, and Philip were crucified • James was beheaded
- Bartholomew was flayed alive • Thomas was pierced with lances
- James, son of Alphaeus, was thrown from the temple and stoned to death
- Jude was shot to death with arrows • Paul was beheaded
The only thing that could have possibly changed their lives so dramatically was the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and the infilling of the Holy Spirit?
Every one of these guys could have lived if they had said just one statement: “He is dead.” But they refused because they knew Jesus was alive!
Not only did the resurrected Jesus impact this group of individuals, His life-changing power has transformed people from every race and tribe and language and nationality in the world.
Jesus has changed my life. And, I know that He has changed many of your lives as well. His life-changing power is just as available today as it was to that group of frightened followers on Easter Sunday night.
BECAUSE HE LIVES: Jesus has dealt with my PAST, walks with me in the PRESENT and has secured my FUTURE!!
Jesus loved me more than life itself. He would rather die than be without me.
“The Greatest man in history, His name is Jesus.
Had no servants, yet they called Him Master. Had no degree, yet they called Him Teacher. Had no medicines, yet they called Him Healer. He won no military battles, yet He conquered the world. He committed no crime. Yet they crucified Him.
He was buried in a tomb, But death couldn’t hold him and on the third day He rose from the dead.. Jesus is alive, and He is the only reason for my hope!!
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