Surprised by the Resurrection

Intro:
Happy Easter!

Have you ever been surprised by the visit of a friend? Have you ever actually been shocked at a surprise birthday party? That doesn’t happen that often, we usually sniff those a mile away! Have you ever been surprised by a gift? Have you ever been surprised by God?

I wasn’t supposed to be the Bible Teacher at that summer camp. I worked hard to get out of it. I was scared to death. I’d never taught in front of hundreds of kids before. No way! But God was at work. He surprised us in many wonderful ways that summer. In 10 weeks of camp 700+ kids made professions of faith in Jesus. It was crazy. The camp hadn’t seen that kind of God movement in over 10 years! We were all surprised!

The surprises weren't over at that camp .... I met Deborah! This awesome woman and I became friends and now she is my wife! That was a great surprise!

Today we look at the actual first folks that discovered Jesus raised from the dead. The material is familiar so be careful when reading it. You might want to read it out loud.

Read: Matthew 28:1-10
Now after the Sabbath, as it began to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 2Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from the sky, and came and rolled away the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4For fear of him, the guards shook, and became like dead men. 5The angel answered the women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been crucified. 6He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said. Come, see the place where the Lord was lying. 7Go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before you into Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.”
8They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring his disciples word. 9As they went to tell his disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!”
They came and took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.
10Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee, and there they will see me.”

Think:
Have you ever noticed that we tend to hear what we expect to hear? We tend to hear only in categories that we expect to hear on. For months Jesus warned the disciples that he would be killed and raised from the dead but they couldn’t hear it (v.6). He even told them that he would rise after 3 days. They wouldn’t hear it.

On the 3rd day some women visited the tomb early in the morning. Why were they going to the tomb? Was it to see if the resurrection had happened? No. The Gospel of Mark tells us they were going to the tomb with spices to “anoint the body of Jesus”. There was no expectation of finding Jesus alive. In fact, there was no expectation of finding anything out of the ordinary.

What they got was the shock of their lives. They got surprised. Angels, earthquakes, an empty tomb, the declaration of Jesus being alive ….. they were surprised! Overwhelmed, they run off to tell the others. As if this day did not have enough shock, they run right into their risen Jesus (v. 9). Surprise!

How they responded to Him tells a lot. They fell down, grabbed his feet and worshiped him. That is a weird response. They didn’t barrage him with questions? They didn’t demand proof. They didn’t fist bump him. They fell down. They grabbed his feet and they worshiped him.

These women would never have worshiped Jesus if they did not believe he was God. Jews worship God only. It is a point of national pride for them. Interestingly, Jesus accepted their worship. There is no evidence that he tried to stop them. He could never and would never have done that if he were not God.

The resurrection is God’s ultimate statement on the person of Jesus Christ. He was God in the flesh. He is God raised. He is the God that surprises us with life.

Do:
Have you ever been surprised by God? Have you ever met Him in places you didn’t expect? From a prostitute downtown to a praying Christian at home, God has the right and the desire to surprise. He is alive. He wants to surprise us. The question is, can we hear Him? Do we expect Him to act? Surprise us Lord!

How in awe are you of Jesus? This Easter we celebrate the greatest act of love in history. What will your worship look like? I pray that you will not be distracted by the clothes people wear at church or how good the music is or whether the pastor’s tie was nice, etc. Get dresses and good clothes for your kids this Easter but do not allow that to take time away from your worship of this risen King.

We’d be better off praying and worshiping the Lord at home than rushing off to the mall to get clothes to wear to church. We’d be better off in rags then getting all fancied up, going to church and sharing a big meal together but never being surprised by Jesus.

As they went to tell others, behold Jesus met them (v.9). When you go to church on Sunday look for Him. He’ll be with you where you least expect Him ... at your bedside, in the car, at church …. Be surprised!

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Jesus IS the Resurrection

Intro:
Have you ever known someone to rise from the dead? We’ve all heard stories of deathbed experiences … you know the “white light” stories?

I was at the bedside of my dad as he died of cancer. That was a terrible thing. But also a wonderful thing. In the final seconds of his life, this former agnostic, now Christian, used his final strenth to raise himself up in his bed. He looked at the door as if ready to leave. Barely above a whisper he said, "I am going home ..." He raised his arms toward heaven, said again, I am going ho ....." and fell back into his bed. He was gone.

If I was the resurrection I would have brought him back to life right then. I would have healed him. I am not the resurrection and the life. For that one day I wish I was. I do not possess the power to give life to anyone. But I know the One who does!

Lazarus apparently was a nice guy that died before his time. He was dead and people wanted him back! Oh to live such a life that people will miss you when you are gone and the pastor doesn’t have to lie at your funeral! :)

Lazarus was dead 4 days before he was raised again. It is an amazing story and a miracle. But what is even more amazing is what Jesus said to Martha before he raised Lazarus.

Read: John 11:17-27
17 So when Jesus came, he found that he had been in the tomb four days already. 18 Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, about fifteen stadia away. 19 Many of the Jews had joined the women around Martha and Mary, to console them concerning their brother. 20 Then when Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, but Mary stayed in the house. 21 Therefore Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you would have been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. 22 Even now I know that, whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”
24 Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will still live, even if he dies. 26 Whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”
27 She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, God’s Son, who comes into the world.”

Think:
Jesus is the Resurrection. He isn’t simply able to raise the dead. He isn’t simply going to be resurrected. He is the Resurrection. He owns the resurrection. He is the very cause of new life from the dead. He is the cause and we are the effect.

JESUS is the resurrection
He IS the resurrection
He is THE resurrection
He is the RESURRECTION

JESUS: The Christ, God’s Son (v.27). Not some random guy but the great I AM.

IS: Jesus owns this (“to be” verb). The resurrection and Jesus are inseparable. Just like a math equation: Jesus = the resurrection & the resurrection = Jesus. The resurrection is not an event as Martha alluded to but a Person (v.24).

THE: Not just “a” resurrection but “the” resurrection of the dead. This is the hope the Old Testament folks looked forward to. This is the hope for dead people.

RESURRECTION: He sustains his own even in death. The promise of the resurrection is that believers in Jesus will never die eternally (v.26). If we believe in Jesus we will never die … even if we die physically. Jesus did not have to raise Lazarus. He already had him covered. He raised him to prove he was the Resurrection. He has my dad as well.

Do:
Take time to worship your risen Resurrection today. He is alive and life itself.

Do you know Jesus today? Have you ever believed in him and found the life He gives? It is not just a resurrection after we die, it is a resurrection every single day. Someone once said, "If you are born once you die twice but if you are born twice you only die once." Have you been born 2x? If you are reading this then you have been born once through your mom. If you believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior then you have been born twice! For more information on how to know Jesus read the link on the home page "Begin a relationship with Jesus".

Please listen to the words of “Lord When Thou Ascended” in the DevoLink Worship Center below.

DevoLink: Devotions to help you Link with God.

Resurrection: Evidences

Intro:
I am sitting in the Chattanoogan Hotel wondering what God wants for us next. Technically this is Maundy Thursday the celebration of all Jesus did in the upper room. He instituted the Lord’s Supper, he washed the agonized in a garden and he was betrayed by his team.

What I want to focus on are evidences for the Resurrection. What evidence was there for the resurrection of Jesus from the dead?
*The seal on the tomb was broken
*The tomb was empty
*The large stone in front of the tomb was moved
*The grave clothes were left in the tomb
*He was seen by more than 500 witnesses

All of these are “proofs” of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. BUT, probably the most compelling is the changed lives of the disciples. How can you explain a group of followers denying the Lord on Friday that are willing to stand in front of large crowds declaring that they saw Jesus alive. How do you describe the change in Peter who denied Jesus 3x to save his skin but after the resurrection allowed himself to be crucified upside down rather than deny him.

Consider this from Josh McDowell:

The most telling testimony of all must be the lives of those early Christians. We must ask ourselves: What caused them to go everywhere telling the message of the risen Christ?
Had there been any visible benefits accrued to them from their efforts--prestige, wealth, increased social status or material benefits--we might logically attempt to account for their actions, for their whole-hearted and total allegiance to this "risen Christ ."
As a reward for their efforts, however, those early Christians were beaten, stoned to death, thrown to the lions, tortured and crucified. Every conceivable method was used to stop them from talking.
Yet, they laid down their lives as the ultimate proof of their complete confidence in the truth of their message.

Read: Acts 2:22-32, 36-37
22"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. 23This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. 25David said about him:
" 'I saw the Lord always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will live in hope,
27because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
28You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.'
29"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. 30But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. 31Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. 32God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact.
36"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
37When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"

Think:
You just read Peter’s first sermon to his own people. This message includes several important things:
1. Evidences of God working through Jesus (v.22)
2. The crucifixion of Jesus (v.23)
3. The resurrection of Jesus (v.24)
4. OT Proof that Jesus is God as a result of the resurrection (v.25-31)
5. His proof that he saw Jesus and is now a witness of this fact (v.32-33)

Jesus declared that he was the only way to God. He said he would prove this by being raised from the dead. His disciples never really Got it UNTIL he actually rose from the dead. Of the original 12 disciples, 10 of them were murdered for their testimony that Jesus was God and that he was raised from the dead.

You can choose from thousands of religions. They are essentially the same works-oriented movements. They are people trying to bridge the God-gap. In Jesus Christ we have God himself closing the gap. He comes to a world that he created and that world rejects and murders him. But death could not hold him down. God raised this Jesus from the dead.

That demands a response. Some might ignore it, some might get angry. Still, others are going to be cut to the heart and respond to God (v.37). We are not called to get results just to share the story of our Lord raised from the dead!

Do:
Have you accepted the fact that Jesus is God and your only solution for the God-gap? Have you accepted the fact that Jesus is raised from the dead and has thus proved who he is?

Take some time to ask God to give you boldness through the Holy Spirit to speak when given the opportunity. Maybe you can ask a co-worker, neighbor or friend what Easter means to them. Make sure to tell the about your resurrected Lord. They might be searching.

Listen to the song "Lord when thou Ascended" in the Worship Center below. Be warned, this is a form of Gregorian chant. Very old church soud but worshipful. Listen to the words! Blessings!

DevoLink: Devotions to help you Link with God.

The Resurrection Equation

Intro:
It seems that the church has become a place that defines itself negatively. We are more known by what we are against than what we are for. For example, we are against abortion. We are against gays. We are against sex before marriage. We are against cussing, we are against Disneyland (some of us are any way!), we are against drinking,we are against smoking, we are against certain translations of the bible, we are against evolution, we are against … everything!

This is what happened with the Pharisees. In the “400 silent years” between the OT and the NT these religious leaders rose up to fill the God-gap. It might have started out innocent enough but before long they were legislating behavior externally and were negatively defined. They became the ‘No’ guys.

The resurrected life knows nothing of this negative orientation. We are invited to join God in the biggest YES of history. The resurrection is God’s exclamation point on history. The resurrection is God’s YES to hope, God’s YES to love, God’s YES to salvation, God’s YES to future glory.

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.

2 Corinthians 1:20

Read: Colossians 2:20-3:4
20 If you died with Christ from the elementary principles of the world, why, as though you still live in the world, do you subject yourselves to rules like, 21 “Do not handle, do not taste, do not touch” 22 (all of which perish with use), according to the precepts and doctrines of men? 23 Which things indeed appear like wisdom in self-imposed worship, false humility and harsh treatment of the body. These lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
3
If then you were raised together with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on the things that are above, not on the things that are on the earth. 3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4When Christ, who is your life, is revealed, then you will also be revealed with him in glory.

Think:
You can live in the resurrected power of Jesus each day. You can journey with the Savior and enjoy life as it is supposed to be. There is life in the power of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Sadly, there are some that are unwilling to journey with Jesus. They want to be in control of themselves and others. They seek to control impulses by stringent behavior. The world becomes a negative thing to be shunned and behavior modification is the order of the day.

Look at verses 2:20-23. Apparently these “believers” were trying to live in the negative (v.21). Paul has strong words for this:
1. Rules orientation works for a short while but eventually fails …the rules perish with the use (v.22)
2. These rules are created by men to try to control behavior externally (v.22)
3. These rules are deceitful for these “believers” because (v.23)
*They look like wisdom
*They lead to self-worship – led them to the wrong end
*They offer a false humility – strangely they became proud of themselves
*They require strict discipline
4. These rules do not work! They lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence (v.23)

Have you ever been around some of these “believers”? You can detect it in the way they walk; you can tell it in the way they talk. If you are sensitive you can tell that these are proud people, self-made religious people. I do not believe they wanted to end up like this. They are just on the wrong side of the resurrection equation.

Do you want to be different? Do you want to know the power of God in your life? Do you want to live in triumph to the glory of God? Do you want to deal with those nagging habits? Do you want to see the world the way God does? If so, it is time to get on the right side of the resurrection equation.

Look at verses 3:1-4. Paul commands these “believers” to live with a positive focus on Jesus:
1. Focus on things above (v. 1,2) – set your mind on things above not at things on the earth. That is the place where Jesus dwells in power. That is the place where God is glorified by angels and elders. That is the place where your Savior prepares a mansion for you. That is the place where Jesus will return from. That is your real home.
2. Focus on Jesus (v.1,3) – when we start with us or with our hobby horses or with our moral codes, etc. we are wrong. We are on the wrong side of the resurrection equation. We are to focus on Jesus Christ, risen from the dead and coming in glory. We are to be enraptured in Him. We are to love Him.
3. Focus on your future (v.4) – Christ is our life. He doesn’t want us focused on everything else (even good things), we are to focus on Him. Keep an eye on the future. Your glory is yet to be revealed. It will not be the glory of self-made religion but the glory of a childlike trust in Jesus. He is coming. We will be revealed.

Do:
Let’s wrap with a few simple questions: How negative are you? Try to listed to yourself this week. See what comes out of your heart through your mouth. They used to say, "If you ahve nothing good to say, say nothing at all." That might be a starting place! There is so much to be positive about (Jesus, things above, our future hope and glory, etc.). Are you on the right side of the resurrection equation?

What are you focused on? Be honest with yourself. Are you basically using Christianity as a self-help program or are you journeying with Jesus?

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The Resurrection: It's pretty important

Intro:
There is no more important theme in the New Testament than the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection is the answer to the ultimate question: “Who was Jesus Christ?” Jesus said the Father would prove who he was when he raised from the dead.

I have always found it odd that the Church celebrates this most important day just 1x a year. How often have you heard a sermon on the resurrection of Jesus in October or June? We have made a week for VBS, a week for missions, we have a day for mom, a day for dad, a day for veterans, a day for the unborn, a day for the persecuted church … and a day for the resurrection.

Oh yeah, did I mention that this was one of the most important events in all history? Did I mention this supersedes our ability to have babies and be called a mom or dad? Did I mention this supersedes our service to the military? Did I mention this is the reason for our missions conferences? Did I mention that this is the reason that our persecuted are willing to die? Did I mention this supersedes the abortion issue? Should I go on? I think you get the point?

All these things are important but not when compared to the most important event in the life of the Church. Not when compared to the greatest event in history.

Read: 1 Cor. 15:12-19
12 Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised. 14 If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain. 15 Yes, we are found false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn’t raise up, if it is so that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead aren’t raised, neither has Christ been raised. 17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins. 18 Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.

Think:
Context: When people die are they raised or do they stay in the ground? That is the question the Corinthians asked the apostle Paul. 1 Corinthians 15 is Paul’s answer Apparently some in the church were saying that there is no resurrection. So Paul says, if there is no resurrection:
1. Then Jesus Christ is not raised (v.13)
2. Our message of hope and life is worthless (v.14)
3. Our belief that Jesus Christ is the Savior is worthless (v.14)
4. We are liars about the hope we have (v.15)
5. We are still in our sins (v.17)
6. There is no hope for our loved ones that have already died (v.18)
7. We are fools that the world needs to pity (v.19)

Look over that list again. Think through the importance of the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. It validates what He said. It validates what we say to others. It validates our trust in Jesus. It secures our hope for life after death. It makes life worth living. That is what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15.

So, how important is the resurrection of Jesus from the dead? It has implications on everything you believe … everything!

Do:
When is the last time to thought through your belief in the resurrection? When was the last time you reflected on how important that event is? Do not allow the one day we celebrate the resurrection at Church be your only reflection on this most important of events.

The key to resurrection power (something we will look at this week) is dying. You cannot raise what does not die first. Are you willing to die to yourself this day? Surrender to your resurrected Lord right now. Give Him your life. Die to your desires and will and ask Him to live His life through you. It will make all the difference.

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