Easter Series Pt 3
“Reverberations from the Resurrection”
Matthew 28:1-10
Matthew 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
First: What do we know about the resurrection itself?
I. The Chronology of the Resurrection
The chronological order of the events surrounding the resurrection of Christ have been confusing to many. It has also been used as an argument against the validity of the Bible by some. However, the four gospels each tell only part of the story. When all four records are carefully compared, an order begins to come together. The following order may not be perfect, but it will solve the problems that some see in the order of the events.
1. Early Sunday morning, several women brought spices to anoint the body of Jesus. The tomb was empty and two angels told them to report to the disciples that Jesus had risen from the dead.
2. Mary Magdalene separated from the other women and told the disciples first that the tomb was empty (John 20:2)
3. Peter and John ran to the tomb and observed the empty tomb. John arrived first but Peter entered the tomb. John believed that Jesus had risen. They then returned home. (John 20:3-10).
4. Mary Magdalene slowly returned to the tomb and arrived there after Peter and John had left. She saw the two angels in the tomb. Then, she saw Jesus but thought him to be the gardener. Jesus revealed Himself to her and she became the first to see the resurrected Christ. She was not allowed to touch Him because he had not yet ascended to the Father (evidently, to place His blood on the heavenly mercy seat). (John 20:11-17)
5. This point is controversial, but I believe that Jesus quickly went into heaven to present His blood at the mercy seat in the heavenly temple. (Hebrews 9:12, 24)
6. The other women are also trying to catch up with the disciples. But, before they find them, Christ appeared to them (Matthew 28:9-10). Christ had evidently already appeared before the Father at this time because He allowed the women to hold Him by the feet and worship Him. The apparent time discrepancy can be explained in many ways. One of the women may have had to stop to catch her breath (remember, they were severely frightened). They may have missed the disciples while they were going back and forth. Or, something else might have happened. But, the time did not have to be long. The time between the appearance of Jesus to Mary and then to the women could have been as short as half an hour. Jesus did not need time as we know it in order to travel to and from heaven.
7. That afternoon, Jesus appeared to the disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-16).
8. Somewhere around this time, Jesus appeared to Peter. (Luke 24:34; 1 Corinthians 15:5)
9. Before the day was over, Jesus appeared to the ten disciples (minus Thomas) behind closed doors. (John 20:19, 24).
David Reagan
A. The interment in Scripture
Psalms 16:10 For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell (Sheol); neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.
Our confidence that this prophecy is speaking of Christ’s return from the grave rests on the authority of Peter’s sermon given at Pentecost Acts 2:25-28. The word "Holy One" (chasid) does not in itself necessarily refer to Christ (1). It just means a godly man (Psa. 145:10) (2). "Thine Holy One" might also be translated "thy saint" (3). But notice that God would grant the Holy One a most unusual deliverance. The Holy One would share the ordinary human experience of death, and after death, His soul, like the souls of other men, would go to "hell" (in Hebrew, sheol, the realm of the dead) (4). Yet God would not leave His soul in Sheol. By implication, God would remove it by an act of direct intervention. But where would the soul of the Holy One be taken? The verse goes on to say that although the Holy One would die, He would escape corruption." The corresponding Hebrew word, shachath, is usually rendered "pit," another common designation for Sheol (5). But in this verse, "pit" is not the correct translation, for whereas the Holy One would temporarily reside in Sheol, He would never see shachath. Shachath is the noun form of a verb that, in its many occurrences, always carries the sense "corrupt" or "destroy" (6). Thus, many standard versions including the KJV agree that shachath in Psalm 16:10 refers to corruption (7). Of the various Greek words available to translators of the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament), they chose diaphthora, which means "corruption" (8). Unquestionably, the prophecy contains the thought that no corruption would touch the body of the Holy One after His death. What would happen to avert normal degenerative processes? The most straightforward resolution of these questions supposes that a single event would both terminate His soul’s stay in Sheol (paradise) and spare His body from decay. The event that the prophecy foreshadows must be a resurrection, reuniting His soul and body in new, unending life. To forestall the corruption of His body, the resurrection would have to take place soon after His death, within a few days at most.
The Holy One’s attainment of immortality almost immediately after death marks Him out as no ordinary man. He is, in fact, Christ. The psalm is a prophetic vision of Christ triumphing over death and the grave.
B. The interval in Scripture
Also, there is a direct Messianic reference in Hosea to the actual length of time that Jesus would spend in Sheol. Jesus himself confirms this interval of time and we have further evidence from the reaction of the Sanhedrin to his death and the teaching of the Apostle Paul and Luke who was a co-worker and is responsible for writing the Gospel that bears his name and the book of Acts.
Hosea 6:2 After two days will he revive us: in the third day he will raise us up, and we shall live in his sight.
Matthew 16:21 From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.
Matthew 27:64 Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first.
Luke 24:46 And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day:
1 Corinthians 15:4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
Second: Can the record of the resurrection be trusted?
II. The Confessions of the Resurrection
A. The variety of the witnesses
(Peter) Acts 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
(Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Act 10:41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.
1 Corinthians 15:5 And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve:
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.
7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles.
8 And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.
B. The veracity of the witnesses
The only apostle whose death the Bible records is James (Acts 12:2). King Herod had James “put to death with the sword,” likely a reference to beheading. The circumstances of the deaths of the other apostles are related through church tradition, so we should not put too much weight on any of the other accounts. The most commonly accepted church tradition in regard to the death of an apostle is that the apostle Peter was crucified upside-down on an x-shaped cross in Rome in fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy (John 21:18). The following are the most popular “traditions” concerning the deaths of the other apostles:
Matthew suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, killed by a sword wound. John faced martyrdom when he was boiled in a huge basin of boiling oil during a wave of persecution in Rome. However, he was miraculously delivered from death. John was then sentenced to the mines on the prison island of Patmos. He wrote his prophetic book of Revelation on Patmos. The apostle John was later freed and returned to what is now modern-day Turkey. He died as an old man, the only apostle to die peacefully.
James, the brother of Jesus (not officially an apostle), was the leader of the church in Jerusalem. He was thrown from the southeast pinnacle of the temple (over a hundred feet down) when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, his enemies beat James to death with a club. This is thought to be the same pinnacle where Satan had taken Jesus during the temptation.
Bartholomew, also known as Nathanael, was a missionary to Asia. He witnessed in present-day Turkey and was martyred for his preaching in Armenia, being flayed to death by a whip. Andrew was crucified on an x-shaped cross in Greece. After being whipped severely by seven soldiers, they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: “I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.” He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he died. The apostle Thomas was stabbed with a spear in India during one of his missionary trips to establish the church there. Matthias, the apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot, was stoned and then beheaded. The apostle Paul was tortured and then beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero in Rome in A.D. 67. There are traditions regarding the other apostles as well, but none with any reliable historical or traditional support.
It is not so important how the apostles died. What is important is the fact that they were all willing to die for their faith. If Jesus had not been resurrected, the disciples would have known it. People will not die for something they know to be a lie. The fact that all of the apostles were willing to die horrible deaths, refusing to renounce their faith in Christ, is tremendous evidence that they had truly witnessed the resurrection of Jesus Christ. www.gotquestions.org
Recommended Resources: Logos Bible Software and Foxe’s Book of Martyrs by John Foxe.
Finally: What are the reverberations of the resurrection?
III. The Consequences of the Resurrection
“Paul was very concerned that the Corinthian church got it straight. The resurrection was foundational to the church, foundational to Christian teaching, foundational to our future hope, foundational to the teaching of the apostles, and foundational to the future ministry of the body of Christ.” Guy Glass
A. The adverse consequences
1 Corinthians 15:13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen:
14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain.
15 Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not.
16 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised:
17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins.
18 Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.
19 If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
1. The fact of the resurrection. If there is no resurrection then Christ is not risen and there is no difference between Him and Mohammed or any other religious leader.
2. The fall of preaching. If there is no resurrection then all gospel preaching is a colossal lie! It is a great deception.
3. The failure of faith. Faith becomes empty, worthless and vain without any redeeming value.
4. The forgiveness of sins. Paul says that there is no remedy for sin. No way for man’s guilt to be removed.
5. The fate of the dead. If all of Adam’s posterity suffered his fate (physical death) then all of the second Adam’s posterity suffered His fate as well.
6. The future is without prospect. We have nothing to look forward to beyond this life!
But friend we believe that Jesus did rise from the dead and on that truth we rest secure. Listen to this short verse:
“Upon a life I did not live,
Upon a death I did not die;
Another’s life, another’s death,
I stake my whole eternity.”
Horatius Bonar
B. The affirmative consequences
In 1 Corinthians 15:20 Paul almost shouts: “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept.”
Pastor John Piper writes that because of the resurrection we have:
1. A Savior who can never die again. Romans 6:9 Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
2. Justification. Romans 4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
3. New birth. 1 Peter 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4. Righteousness provided for us. Romans 4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed (righteousness), if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;
5. The Holy Spirit given to us. Acts 2:32 This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.
33 Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear.
6. Intercession for us. Romans 8:34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.
7. The Lord’s personal fellowship and protection. Matthew 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
8. Proof of coming judgment. Acts 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.
9. Deliverence from the future wrath of God. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
10. Our own resurrection from the dead. 2 Corinthians 4:14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
How were people saved before Jesus died for our sins? Answer: Since the fall of man, the basis of salvation has always been the death of Christ. No one, either prior to the cross or since the cross, would ever be saved without that one pivotal event in the history of the world. Christ’s death paid the penalty for past sins of Old Testament saints and future sins of New Testament saints. The requirement for salvation has always been faith. The object of one’s faith for salvation has always been God. The psalmist wrote, “Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (Psalm 2:12). Genesis 15:6 tells us that Abraham believed God and that was enough for God to credit it to him for righteousness (see also Romans 4:3-8). The Old Testament sacrificial system did not take away sin, as Hebrews 10:1-10 clearly teaches. It did, however, point to the day when the Son of God would shed His blood for the sinful human race. What has changed through the ages is the content of a believer’s faith. God’s requirement of what must be believed is based on the amount of revelation He has given mankind up to that time. This is called progressive revelation. Adam believed the promise God gave in Genesis 3:15 that the Seed of the woman would conquer Satan. Adam believed Him, demonstrated by the name he gave Eve (v. 20) and the Lord indicated His acceptance immediately by covering them with coats of skin (v. 21). At that point that is all Adam knew, but he believed it. Abraham believed God according to the promises and new revelation God gave him in Genesis 12 and 15. Prior to Moses, no Scripture was written, but mankind was responsible for what God had revealed. Throughout the Old Testament, believers came to salvation because they believed that God would someday take care of their sin problem. Today, we look back, believing that He has already taken care of our sins on the cross (John 3:16; Hebrews 9:28).
What about believers in Christ’s day, prior to the cross and resurrection? What did they believe? Did they understand the full picture of Christ dying on a cross for their sins? Late in His ministry, Matthew 16:21 “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. 22 Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.” What was the reaction of His disciples to this message? “Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. ‘Never, Lord!’ he said. ‘This shall never happen to you!’ Peter and the other disciples did not know the full truth, yet they were saved because they believed that God would take care of their sin problem. They didn’t exactly know how He would accomplish that, any more than Adam, Abraham, Moses, or David knew how, but they believed God.
Today, we have the complete revelation. More than the people living before the resurrection of Christ; we know the full picture. Hebrews 1:1 God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds;. Our salvation is still based on the death of Christ, our faith is still the requirement for salvation, and the object of our faith is still God. Today, for us, the content of our faith is that Jesus Christ died for our sins, He was buried, and He rose the third day 1 Corinthians 15:3-4. www.gotquestions.org
Martin Luther – “The most damnable and pernicious heresy that has ever plagued the mind of man is that somehow he can make himself good enough to deserve to live forever with an all-holy God.” I want to close this message by asking you a series of questions. How many of you think you are a good person? How many of you think that all things considered you are not too bad? How many of you have ever told a lie? The Bible says that all liars will hasve their part in the lake of fire. How many of you have ever coveted something? The Bible says “thou shalt not covet.” How many of you have ever looked upon a man or women with lust in your heart? Jesus said that you have committed adultery. How many of you have ever used profanity or taken God’s name in vain? You have broken the Ten Commandments. How many of you have ever had hate in your heart for someone? Jesus said you are guilty of murder. If you have done these things then you are a lying, covetous, adulterous, blasphemous, murderous sinner and you deserve Hell! If you have done any or all of these things then your righteousness is like “…filthy rags…” This was true of the very first sinner, and it is true of all of us! Adam, was naked but when he believed God’s word, God gave Him animal skins to cover himself. God will give you the “…righteousness of Christ…” to cover you guilt and sin if you are willing to believe on Him.
