The Battle of Waterloo was the decisive battle that would determine the direction of the war for England. The awaited news of who was victorious in this battle between generals Wellington of England and Napoleon of France would be signaled across the English Channel. London awaited and the message came.
Wellington defeated……
Then fog rolled in and the hearts of London sank. This would mean the end of England. But the fog lifted, and the complete message came.
Wellington defeated Napoleon!
The incomplete message communicated just the opposite of the situation. Because they did not have the rest of the message their hearts sank instead of the rejoicing that would come with the complete message.
The story of Jesus’ disciples went the same way after his death on the cross. They were defeated because they did not have the complete message.
Jesus died and was buried……….
But they did not have the rest of the message.
Jesus died, was buried and ROSE AGAIN!
It is not Christ defeated, but it is Christ defeated death. Everything changes with the resurrection added to the story of Jesus. That is why Paul said,
And if Christ weren’t raised, then all you’re doing is wandering about in the dark, as lost as ever. It’s even worse for those who died hoping in Christ and resurrection, because they’re already in their graves. If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for a few short years, we’re a pretty sorry lot. But the truth is that Christ has been raised up, the first in a long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemeteries. (1 Corinthians 15:19-20, MSG)
Early Sunday morning after Jesus was crucified a group of heavy-hearted women made their way to the grave. They went to the tomb that was sealed with a very large stone.
When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. (Mark 16:1-8)
On Friday after Jesus was crucified, Joseph of Arimathea, accompanied by Nicodemus asked Pilate for permission to take the body of Jesus. Pilate summoned a centurion to confirm that Jesus was really dead.
Joseph and Nicodemus wrapped Jesus in a linen cloth, brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes they wrapped Jesus body with strips of linen, according to the Jewish custom.
After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. 39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. 40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. (John 19:38-40)
They rolled a large stone to cover the tomb. Mary Magdaline and Mary the mother of James were sitting watching as Jesus was placed in the tomb.
On Saturday, the sabbath day, the Passover, Jesus followers, the women, those who prepared his body for burial rested, but Jesus’ enemies were still hard at work. On Saturday the Pharisees gathered again before Pilate. They wanted the tomb sealed and guarded.
The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63 and said, “Sir, we remember how that impostor said, while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise.’ 64 Therefore order the tomb to be made secure until the third day, lest his disciples go and steal him away and tell the people, ‘He has risen from the dead,’ and the last fraud will be worse than the first.” 65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard. (Matthew 27:62-66)
On Sunday morning very early, the women went back to where Joseph and Nicodemus lay Jesus in the tomb. They went to anoint the body of Jesus, but they asked themselves a question, “who will roll away the stone?” This was a difficulty that they never faced. The stone was already rolled away. The body was missing. The tomb was empty.
The angel told the women, you are looking for Jesus he is not here. He is risen! It is the message of victory. He is risen! With this death is destroyed and the grave is conquered. The fact is, Jesus died, was buried and rose again, the tomb is empty.
The explanations of people who try to deny that God raised Jesus are nothing short of ridiculous. For the Jews it meant their reputation and for the soldiers it meant their life. Jesus was flogged, nailed to the cross for six hours, a spear was thrust in his side, he was pronounced dead, buried, the tomb was sealed and he rose again.
Why is it thought incredible by any of you that God raises the dead? (Acts 26:8)
This fact, the resurrection of Jesus, is central to our faith. When the disciples chose another disciple to replace Judas, they chose someone who along with them would proclaim the resurrection of the dead.
So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” (Acts 1:21-22)
When Peter preached the Pentecost sermon, he made the resurrection of Jesus a central part of that sermon. He said, This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. (Acts 2:32)
When Paul was preaching the resurrection, it threw Thessalonica into turmoil. explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. (Acts 17:3,8)
Paul declared that he was on trial because of the resurrection. Now when Paul perceived that one part were Sadducees and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, “Brothers, I am a Pharisee, a son of Pharisees. It is with respect to the hope and the resurrection of the dead that I am on trial.” (Acts 23:6)
We should also make the resurrection central in all our gospel proclamation. The resurrection of Jesus transforms lives. Peter denied Christ 3 times then was filled with courage when he encountered the resurrection of Jesus, seeing his resurrected Lord. At the cross Jesus disciples scattered, after the resurrection after Jesus appeared to them, they were willing to die.
They knew Jesus conquered death. They knew because of their faith in Christ. They too would be resurrected from the dead. Why did Saul, an enemy of Christians, working zealously to persecute Christians become a follower of Christ? He met the risen Christ, and his life was transformed.
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. (Romans 10:9-10)
Now over 2,000 years later Jesus is transforming lives of those who believe. Put your faith in Jesus Christ today.
Here is a prayer for you to pray:
Dear God, I thank you that you loved me and desire a relationship with me. I acknowledge that I have sinned and broken my relationship with you. I ask that Jesus Christ death on the cross count for my sins. I ask Jesus to come into my heart and make me a new person. I want to follow Jesus with my whole heart. I thank you God that our relationship is restored through Jesus Christ. Amen.
