In Jesus Holy Name November 13, 2022
Text: Acts 21-25 Redeemer Lutheran
“The Resurrection: A Stumbling Block”
Over 50,000 people ran in the New York Marathon this past weekend. For 26.2 miles the streets were packed with runners as far as the eye can see. The air buzzes with nervous excitement. Runners are traversing the five boroughs, cheered on by spectators all along the route and millions of fans around the world.
In order to run in a marathon, one must endure months and months of training, pain and discomfort. Most runners will finish, but the 20th mile is where runners “hit the wall” and some just have to quit. Their bodies give out or they have lost their vision. There is one winner, people know that but they still run. Why?
The answer: People run marathons for charity, to loose weight, a personal challenge, others run for the ultimate “endorphin” high that many runners get. It is a bucket list challenge for many people. For some it is a life goal to brag about. For the past several months each Sunday we have been traveling with Peter and Paul through the book of Acts. We can see the finish line as we reach chapter 21-25.
The journey for Peter, Paul and their companions have not been easy. They, like Marathon runners, have endured hardship, disappointment, persecution, beatings, ship- wrecks, snake bites, arrests and prison.
Paul is on his way to Jerusalem. He knows he will be arrested. But he goes because he is committed to endure the pain and joy of telling the Jesus story to Gentiles.
Upon arrival in Jerusalem, there is another riot. Jews are beating Paul. He is rescued by the Roman guard but is given permission to speak to the crowd. Paul retells his conversion experience on the Damascus Road. As soon as Paul states that God loves the Gentiles…the riot begins again. The Roman commander arrested him for his own protection.
The next day he proclaims the story of the resurrection of Jesus before the Jewish
Sanhedrin to both Pharisees and Sadducees. In this chapter Paul may think he has it the “wall”. Will this arrest in Jerusalem be the end? Inside the walls of his prison, Jesus appears and said: “Take courage! Just as you have told my story in Jerusalem so you will tell my story in Rome!” Where there is life there is hope. The finish line is still ahead!
Jesus knows that the message of His resurrection can not be stopped. In the words of writer Walter Wink: “Trying to stop the message of the resurrection of Jesus is like trying to destroy a dandelion seed-head by blowing it in the wind.” Paul knows that in the final leg of his race he will be protected. Neither a Jewish prison, nor roaring storm that wrecks the ship on which Paul and his 276 fellow passengers are sailing…will stop the message of the resurrection from reaching Rome on the lips of Paul.
Philip Yancy wrote: We rightly celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. It is the day that changed history. In the apostle Paul’s words, “…. if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith.”
Acts 23 takes place in the year 56-58 A.D. Paul is sent to the prison in Caesarea. For two years he is questioned and tells the story of the resurrection of Jesus.
Paul’s case has been referred to Agrippa by Festus who confesses he cannot understand the charges against Paul. With his Roman background Festus cannot comprehend why the Jews hate Paul and why Paul keeps talking about “a dead man named Jesus who Paul claimed was alive” (Acts 25:19). There in that one sentence is the whole problem of Christianity. Paul believed it, the Jews didn’t believe it, and the Romans couldn’t understand it. The Jews said Jesus was dead, Paul said he was alive, and poor Festus doesn’t have a clue. So he passes the case along to Agrippa for his review.
We should pause and consider here the position in which Paul now found himself. Every notable person in Caesarea, both Jew and Gentile, was gathered there, together with King Agrippa II and the Roman Governor. What a contrast between their splendid robes and sparkling jewels, and the poor, worn, shackled prisoner! But they are remembered only because of this chance connection with Paul.
The Rev. John Stott writes: “God had made a grand and glorious promise to the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as well as to all Israel. That promise and hope was that they would become a blessing to all nations and all peoples on earth (Gen. 12:2-3). And in this chapter, Paul is standing before the Kings and rulers, both Jews and Gentiles.
The heart of God’s promise was the arrival of the Savior, who would appear through the Jewish line. With his coming He would make possible the resurrection of the dead. What a promise! Since mankind lost the Tree of Life in the Garden of Eden people have desired forgiveness and the hope of eternal life.
Paul was sent to proclaim God’s offer for the forgiveness of sins to the human race, Jew and Gentile. Warren Wiersbe says, “Forgiveness is the greatest miracle that Jesus ever performs. It meets the greatest need; it costs the greatest price; and it brings the greatest blessing and the most lasting results. We celebrate that gift today at the altar.
In AD 58. King Herod Agrippa, is visiting the Governor in Caesarea. Paul is brought into the palace of Herod Agrippa II in Caesarea by the Sea. He stands in chains before the mighty Agrippa, great-grandson of Herod the Great and his sister Bernice.
Paul’s explanation to the king is very simple. “I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen, that the Christ would suffer and be the first to rise from the dead” and I proclaim that truth to Jews and Gentiles.
Read: Acts 26:15b-23 These are the words Paul spoke to King Agrippa.
Listen to King Agrippa’s answer: Read Acts 26:28 “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”
Unbelief always has a thousand excuses. Some people refuse to believe that God raises the dead because they have never seen it happen and they only believe what they see. Others say, “I’ve been to many quiet cemeteries. Death seems to win every time. I haven’t seen anyone come back to life, therefore I don’t think it can happen.”
Paul might have said: King Agrippa why is it so incredible to believe that God can raise the dead? If God can create, why can He not re-create? If God once gives life to the dust of Adam, can he not do it again? Can not the watchmaker repair his broken creation?
“One of my favorite stories involves the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill. Most of us know him as the man who single-handedly rallied the British people in the darkest days of World War II, when the armies of Hitler were poised to cross the English Channel. By the power of his words, he gave courage to an entire country.
Before he died, he planned his own funeral service at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. The service itself was magnificent in every way, filled with biblical liturgy and great hymns. Just as the benediction was pronounced, an unseen bugler hidden in one side of the dome began to play Taps, the traditional melody signaling the end of the day or the death of a soldier.
As the mournful notes faded away, another bugler on the other side of the dome
began to play Reveille, the traditional melody signaling the coming of a new day. “It’s time to get up, it’s time to get up, it’s time to get up in the morning.” It was Sir Winston’s way of saying that though he was dead, he expected to “get up” on the day of the resurrection.”
(from a sermon by Rev. Ray Pritchard April 23, 2000)
When humankind fell into sin, God promised to send His Son to be our Savior. It was His promise that found its fulfillment 2,000 years ago in the Bethlehem stable. There a virgin gave birth, and God's Son became flesh: Jesus Christ, born true God and true man. That night the angels made an announcement that the world had waited centuries to hear: "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy." God's Son had come to redeem us, to buy us back. Not with gold, or silver, that humanity considers to be precious.
Jesus redeemed us from eternal death and God’s judgment, by His death upon the cross. Unappreciated, unapplauded, unloved, He lived a perfect life. Deserted by His friends, yes. Condemned by His church, yes. denied justice by His government, yes. When He was nailed to a cross, the earth shook and the sun was darkened as Jesus died for you and me. In that moment God transferred all our broken commandments to the cross and all of His righteousness to us by faith. (phrase from Rev. Ken Klaus)
When all seemed lost and hope seemed gone, on the third day after they had placed His lifeless body into a borrowed tomb, Jesus came forth and showed to all the world His victory over death. On Resurrection Sunday a living Lord Jesus Christ served notice to the world: from now on, death's reign is done and all who believe on Him will not perish but have everlasting life. This is God's truth.
The resurrection remains a stumbling block to many, yes. Even now, as our own personal “race” comes to an end we can see the finish line, the glow of heaven. Our hope is solid because God has promised it to be so.
