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.
cc When a prisoner serving a life sentence on death row dies . . . the moment he dies . . .he has done his time/served his sentence.
b Jesus’ dead body was evidence that a price was paid . . . His resurrected body is proof the payment was received.
IL. Pam pays several of our bills on-line (DirecTV, Electric bill for our camp, Credit Cards . . . they send an Email confirming they got the money.) Jesus’ resurrected body is heaven’s way of saying “We got payment!”)
c You & I are no longer under the wages of sin . . . Jesus has served our sentence for us.
aa Rom. 8.33, 34: “33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.”
bb When Satan says, “What about your sin, Mike?” - - -Jesus died putting it away and He arose assuring me that debt has been paid in full.”
cc The resurrection shows me that I am free & clear from the debt/death of sin.
4 Proof our own future resurrection
a We have been made “ONE” with Christ
aa 2 Corinthians 11:2 (HCSB) 2 For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy, because I have promised you in marriage to one husband—to present a pure virgin to Christ.
bb Upon our believing the Gospel, we become flesh of His flesh/ bone of His bone: God has made the saints one with Christ, and if Christ has risen all the saints must rise too.
b Ephesians 2:4-6 (KJV) 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
aa 1 Corinthians 15:12-19 (HCSB) 12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say, “There is no resurrection of the dead”? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our proclamation is without foundation, and so is your faith. 15 In addition, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified about God that He raised up Christ—whom He did not raise up if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, Christ has not been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Therefore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. 19 If we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anyone.
bb One of these days, at the appointed hour, . . . 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NASB) 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
c In just a moment, the risen Lord Jesus, will step out on the clouds and tell the graves what Moses told Pharaoh 3,500 years ago, “Let My People Go!”
aa No power on earth will be able to keep the body/remains of the redeemed!
bb My grave, the graves of my girls, family, every believer will be as empty as Jesus’ tomb.
C Invitation & Conclusion:
1 The Resurrection proves 4 things:
a There is life after death
b Jesus is the Messiah, Savior, Redeemer
c The Payment for Sin was accepted.
d That there will be future resurrection for me.
2 IL.
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