This morning we celebrated Resurrection Day!

Resurrection Day [ 30:23 ] Play in Popup | Download

Luke 23:50 to 24:8

‘They remembered his words’

1) EVIDENCE FOR THE RESURRECTION

(a) His absence from the tomb

Theories:-

1 Jesus did not die

See John 19:33,34 “But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.”

2 Disciples stole the body

3 Authorities stole the body

4 Robbers stole the body

See John 20:1,2 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

(b) His presence with the disciples

Hallucination? No!

  • Consider the number of appearances, at least 10 different occasions
  • Consider the number of people, over 500
  • Consider the period of time, about six weeks
  • Consider the nature of appearances

See Luke 24:37-43 They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, “Do you have anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.

(c) The Immediate effect

Birth and growth of Christian church

(d) The Effect down the ages

Experiences of Christians

2) BELIEF IN THE RESURRECTION

Belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not an optional belief within Christianity, like some sort of half-way faith for the reluctant.

If there is no resurrection of Jesus Christ:

  • you and I will not be raised
  • our sins would not have been forgiven
  • Christ would not have conquered death

See 1 Corinthians 15:12-20

But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

3) CELEBRATION OF THE RESURRECTION

Easter is a time:

  1. To celebrate resurrection, his and ours.
  2. To declare it to the world by observing it.
  3. To remind ourselves of the truth of it in the hope that the wonder of it might continue to fill us.
  4. To claim again the benefits of it.
  5. To be identified with Jesus again. See John 19:38-92

Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no-one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was near by, they laid Jesus there.