“It’s All About the Resurrection”
(Salvation Through the Son – Part Three - I Believe, Help My Unbelief Series)
Mark 16:1-8, I Corinthians 15:1-8, 12-20
Easter, April 20, 2003
Purpose: This final sermon in a series, based on Ron Lavin’s book “I Believe, Help My Unbelief; Another Look at the Apostle’s Creed”,
INTRODUCTION –
You probably don’t remember the name Nikolai Ivanovich Beukharin nor should you. But during his day, he was a powerful man on this earth. A Russian Communist leader, he took part in the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917, was editor of the Soviet newspaper Pravda, and was a full member of the Politburo. His works on economics and political science are still read and studied to this day.
There’s one particular story about Nikolai. It’s about a journey he took from Moscow to Kiev in 1930 to address a huge assembly on the subject of atheism. Addressing the crowd, he aimed his heavy artillery at Christianity hurling insult, argument, and proof against it.
An hour later, when he was finished, he looked out at what seemed to be the smoldering ashes of the people’s faith. “Are there are any questions?” Nikolai demanded. Deafening silence filled the auditorium, but then one older man began his slow but steady pace to the lectern.
Standing shoulder to shoulder to the communist leader, he surveyed the crowd first to the left then to the right. Finally, he mustered all the strength he had inside him and shouted the ancient greeting known well in the Russian Orthodox Church, “Christ is risen!” and en masse, the crowd stood to their feet and the response came crashing like the sound of thunder, “He is risen indeed!”
(www.eSermons.com)
This morning we end our series on the Apostle’s Creed with the strongest statement of our faith.
We’ve talked about God, the Father Almighty who created, and his creating.
We’ve talked about the Spirit, and the forgiveness of sins, about being liberated in the greatest
sense of the word.
And we’ve talked about Jesus, his being truly human and truly divine, and his descent into the hells and hollow places in our lives through his suffering, crucifixion, and death.
But today I come to you with this simple message of faith, “On the third day, he rose again; he ascended into heaven, is seated at the right hand of the Father and will come again to judge the living and the dead. We believe in the resurrection, we believe in the life everlasting.”
But in the same way Paul had to remind the church at Corinth, so we too need to be reminded of the gospel that we have received and on which, we have taken our stand.
For it is by this gospel we are saved…that Christ died for our sin, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day, and that he appeared to the twelve, and to Paul, and will eventually come and appear to the whole world.
This is the Easter message. I stand here today, in this pulpit, to proclaim this word that…
Christ is risen! And will you join me in saying, He has risen indeed!
I. It’s All About the Resurrection.
This is an amazing time isn’t it? As we look around, we see great events playing out on the world stage:
Democracy is being brought to regions of the world that have never understood the dignity
of the individual citizen or the joy found in liberty.
World health organizations are scrambling to stem the tide of the SARS virus. Even the
Roman Catholic and Episcopalian churches, have changed the way they take
communion in response.
The ability to communicate ideas and beliefs to any part of the world and to any person in
the world is quickly becoming commonplace.
And the ability to move produce and goods around the planet makes it possible as never
before to bring significant relief to regions of the world that suffer.
These world-shaping events are so important. They are literally changing the course of our history. And, as I watch and wonder, I often doubt whether the real action isn’t out there somewhere instead of here in the community, in this church.
But, it is at those times I’m reminded that it’s not about me, it’s not about what Wakelee Church does and doesn’t do, it’s not about our abilities or disabilities…when it comes right down to it…it’s all about the Resurrection.
Paul said if there’s no Resurrection, then all the preaching is useless.
If there is no Resurrection, our faith has no value.
If there is no Resurrection, we become false witnesses.
If there is no Resurrection, we are still living in our sins.
If there is no Resurrection, then we are to be pitied among humankind.
But Paul was quick to proclaim, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, (he is) the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
In a later verse in the same passage of I Cor. 15 Paul says, the resurrection will change us….
The body sown is perishable, but it will be raised imperishable;
it is sown with dishonor, it will be raised in glory.
it is sown in weakness, it will be raised in power;
it is sown as natural, it will be raised as spiritual” (15:42-43)
This Resurrection is our hope! It is our joy! It is our faith!
Lavin said in his book said, “The resurrection of Christ from the grave is the cornerstone of Christianity. It is the Magna Carta of our faith. Everything depends on it. Nothing in the Christina faith is worth trusting with it. As a matter of fact, it is not stretching too far to say that all of the New testament stands firmly on the event we call Easter.” (109) It’s all about the Resurrection.
II. Nothing Has Ever Shaped the World Like the Easter Message
And when we began to doubt, we need to be reminded that no event in history has shaped the world like the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I was listening to David Jeremiah this week. In his message, he made this comment. “There is no other religion anywhere in the world that offers an empty tomb as its salvation. There is no other religion that has people lined up for hours in Jerusalem or elsewhere, to look at the empty place where their leader is no longer. In short, Christianity is the only religion that celebrates a Resurrection.”
He went to say that it would have been easy for those of the apostle’s day to prove them wrong. Their ministry started in Jerusalem. And starting from that first day, they proclaimed Christ had risen!
The Pharisees couldn’t prove them wrong. The Saduccees had no explanations, and the Roman authorities were just as dumb-founded as anyone else.
The resurrection of Jesus Christ has stood the test of time because there isn’t anyone who has been able to disprove it.
And because of that message, hopes have been restored, attitudes have brightened, emotions have been positively influences, and lives have been changed.
Illus. Let me tell you another story…
It was Easter Day 1973 . Uganda groaned under the terror of Idid Amin. Still fresh in you Pastor Kefa Sempangi’s memory was a faced burned beyond recognition, the sight of soldiers cruelly beating a man, and the horrible sound of boots crushing bones, all for the crime of being Christian.
But that East of 1973 Sempangi bravely and openly preached on the Risen Lord in his town’s home football stadium to over 7,000 people. After the serve, five if Idid Amin’s Secret Police followed Sempangi back to his little church and closed the door behind them. Five rifles pointed at Sempangi’ s face.
“We are going to kill you for disobeying Amin’s orders” said the captain. “If you have something to say, say it now before you die.” Sempangi, thinking of his wife and little girl, began to shake.
But the risen Lord living in his heart gave him the courage to speak. “Do what you must, “ he said, “The Word of God says that in Christ I am already dead, and that my real life is hidden with Him in God. It is not my life that is danger my friends, but yours. I am alive in the risen Lord, but you are still dead in your sins. May He spare you from eternal destruction.”
The leader looked at Sempangi for a long time. Then he lower his gun and the other guns followed, “Will you pray for us?” he asked. Sempangi did, and from that day those five officers, now converted through the witness of Sempangi’s bravery, protected the pastor with their very lives.”
(Rev. Dr. Robert Bryan from “The ABC’s of the Resurrection)
Nothing has ever shaped the world like the gospel message.
III. Life Does Not Go On Forever
And, lastly, as I’m reminded it’s all about the Resurrection, and that nothing has ever shaped the world like it, I’m also reminded a very simple fact about life itself…Life on this earth, in these bodies, does not go on forever.
There is death. Every one of us must face our own mortality. There is no military victory, no medical cure, no global village that can prepare any individual to answer the ultimate questions in life any better than the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
This morning I stand here to proclaim this hope. It’s the hope of the Russian Orthodox
standing against the atheism of Communion, It’s the hope of Paul and the Corinthian Church. It’s the hope of people like Sempangi, who in the face of death itself, stood firm and claimed that indeed Christ is risen!
IV.
This morning we have the same opportunity as all of these. As we come together for communion….
(Communion served)
Closing Blessing – As we leave this place to continue our journey our Christ outside these doors,
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, be with us all. Amen.
PLEASE NOTE: If you did not find this sermon helpful, please contact me at gb@clergy.net. Your assistance will help my sermon skills and my congregation all at the same time! Thanks.
