The Resurrection (5 things)

• 1^st – The first to come… vs. 1-2
  • On the 1^st day of the week – VERY early Sunday morning [still dark] vs. 1-2
    • Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw the stone had been rolled away…
      • She ran back to the tell Peter and John that someone had taken Jesus’ body…
      • But there were other women who had come along with Mary – Luke 24:1-9
    • The other women were also very confused – they did not know where the body was…
      • Two men (angels) appeared by them in dazzling clothing [white as snow]
      • ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead… He is not here – He is risen!’ 
      • When Jesus died – His spirit went down into the lower earth – Ephesians 4:9-10…
      • Jesus went to hell – where there were two rooms – Luke 16
      • One side a PRISON for those who reject salvation – the other a place of COMFORT…
      • Before the cross – no one could go to heaven – the price for sin not yet paid…
      • But there were many who died in FAITH – looking forward to the coming Messiah!
      • I Peter 3:19 – Jesus went preached to them – those who were in Abrahams bosom…
      • Isaiah 61:1 – Jesus then opened the prisons doors – and took them to heaven!
    • Interesting that the women were the FIRST to see the empty tomb – FIRST to believe…
      • Often it is the women who are the FIRST to respond the Gospel – go to church!
      • Women seem to be more in tune – open – to responding to the Gospel…
      • A common statistic – the whole world over – more women than men attend church
    • The Angels told the women to – remember what Jesus said…
      • Jesus had told the disciples He would be resurrected – Luke 9:22 / Luke 18:33
      • The problem was the disciples did not believe – they had forgotten…
      • Now the women had the Good News – Jesus is Risen – they were to tell the men!
      • Many of you ladies have husbands / fathers / sons – who do not believe…
      • Jesus allowed you to see first – but do not let it stop there – go and let others know
• 2^nd – The first to believe… vs. 3-10
  • Peter and John ran to see what had happened [Mary Magdalene followed] vs. 3-6
    • But John outran Peter and arrived at the Tomb first…
      • This fact is only given here in the book of John – written by John…
      • It is thought John was quite a bit YOUNGER than Peter – perhaps in his early 20s…
      • This was a race – and John makes sure to let us know he WON!
    • John did NOT go into to Tomb – he only GLANCED in as saw the burial clothes…
      • But When Peter caught up – he did NOT hesitate and ran into the Tomb…
      • Peter EXAMINED the clothes – and saw the cloth that had been laid on Jesus head…
      • It was neatly folded and laid off to the side by itself!
  • When John – who came in after Peter – ‘looked closer’ at the clothes he believed… v. 7-10
    • If someone had stolen the body of Jesus – why leave the grave clothes…
      • It meant only one thing – Jesus must have taken them off Himself…
      • It meant that Jesus was alive – He had RISEN from the dead!
      • I have been to Jerusalem – I have stood by Golgotha – I have looked into the Tomb…
      • The Gospel – the Good News is – Jesus is not there – He is Risen…
      • In the Resurrection Jesus showed He had the POWER over death – power over sin…
      • I Corinthians 15:55 – “Death, where is your sting? Hell, where is your victory?”
      • The GOOD News is Jesus defeated death – opened the door to ETERNAL life!
    • But Peter did not yet understand – Luke 24:12
      • He still did not yet understand the Bible – that Jesus had to rise from the dead…
      • He went away still confused as to what had happened…
      • The women heard Jesus was resurrected – John saw the empty clothes…
      • But Peter would NEED to see Jesus himself to believe!
      • Not everyone we share Jesus with immediately receive Him as their savior…
      • Many people have bias or prejudices in life that keep them from believing…
      • When we tell them about Jesus – they assume we are talking about religion…
      • That does not mean they will not believe – it just means they need more convincing!
        
• 3^rd – The first to see… vs. 11-18
  • Mary Magdalene – stayed by the Tomb after Peter and John left…
    • Mary had a great love for Jesus – because of what He had saved her from…
      • Jesus ha cast demons out of Mary Magdalene – Luke 8:2
      • We were all hopelessly lost in sin – all of us desperately needed Jesus!
      • The more realize/embrace that – the more we will love/follow Jesus!
    • Mary wept as she stopped down to look into the Tomb…
      • Mary also saw the two Angels in white sitting where Jesus had been laid…
      • They asked Mary ‘Women why are you crying’…
      • Mary answered – because ‘they’ have taken Jesus and I do not know where
    • As Mary turned around she saw Jesus – but did not recognize Him (gardener)…
      • Jesus asked why she was crying – she wanted to know if He had taken the body…
      • ‘Mary!’ – was His answer / with his voice – immediately she knew it was the Lord…
      • John 10:27– “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
        
    • Because Mary was looking for Jesus – she found Him!
      • People often feel like God is not there – God is not listening to them…
      • But the reason is often because they are not seeking God with all their heart…
      • They will shoot up a prayer when there is a problem in life…
      • For the most part Jesus is just something you do for an hour on Sundays…
      • But we find God when we seek and search for Him with all our heart!
      • Jeremiah 29:11-13 – “You will find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”
  • Jesus told Mary not to ‘cling to Him’…
    • Apparently in her excitement at seeing Jesus alive – Mary bear hugged Jesus…
      • Mary thought she had lost Jesus and she was not going to let Him go!
      • But Jesus had not yet ascended into heaven – there was still work to be done…
    • There would be a time to cling and not let go – one day – in heaven!
      • We do not get to ‘hang out’ with Jesus here – we are here to work…
      • God may call us to different places – so we have to say goodbye to people we love…
      • But there is a day coming when the work will be done – and there are not goodbyes!
      • In heaven we will be able to hang with Jesus and each other for eternity!
        
• 4^th – The first to be sent… vs. 19-23
  • The disciples had not believed the report of the women… vs. 19-20
    • They were stubborn – but Jesus kept trying to reach them…
      • If we know people who are stubborn – just will not believe life is about Jesus…
      • Keep telling them – keep reaching out to them – Jesus has not given up on them!
    • Later that night – the disciples were gathered – doors shut in worry and fear…
      • Afraid of the chief priests – afraid of the Romans – just plain afraid…
      • Jesus stood in their midst – ‘peace be with you’ – they thought Jesus was a spirit…
      • Jesus showed them His hands and feet – still they did not believe – for Joy…
      • Fear is the opposite of trust– we are afraid because we are not with Jesus…
      • II Timothy 1:7 – “God has not given us a spirit of fear… but of power, love…”
      • So instead of killing ourselves by worrying – lets run to Jesus and find peace!
  • As the Father send Me – so I send you… vs. 21-23
    • Jesus work was completed – the disciples was just getting started…
      • Jesus never intended to stay – He knew from the beginning He would leave…
      • His plan had always been for these men to establish His church…
      • They would be the ones to share the Good News with the whole world…
      • God has called us to go out and share the Good News – Romans 10:13-15
      • How can people believe – be saved – if we are not out there sharing the Gospel…
      • We are called to GO – tell people about Jesus – give them the message of salvation!
    • Jesus breathed on the disciples – ‘receive the Holy Spirit’…
      • Up till this point the Holy Spirit had been with the disciples – convicting them…
        • But now for the FIRST time the Holy Spirit was going to live in them…
        • The same word is used when God breathed life into Adam [LXX] – Genesis 2:7
        • Life begins when the BREATH – Spirit of God – fills us!
      • The ministry of the Holy Spirit can be broken up into three categories…
        • The Spirit is with us convicting us – before we believe in Jesus – John 16:7
        • The Holy Spirit come to live in us – after we believe in Jesus – John 20:22
        • The Holy Spirit comes upon us – gives us the power to live boldly for Jesus!
        • II Corinthians 4:7 – “We have this treasure in jars of clay…”
        • If we are full of ourselves – we will not be able to effectively serve the Lord…
        • If we are living a life where we feel constant defeat to sin in our lives…
        • We need to be emptied – pray that God fills us up with His the Holy Spirit…
        • Then we will have the power of God to live our lives for Jesus!
    • If you forgive anyone their sins – they are forgiven…
      • And if you refuse to forgive anyone – then they will not be forgiven…
      • How did the disciples have the power to forgive – they had the KEYS!
      • Matthew 16:19 – “I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven…”
      • If they shared the Gospel they unlocked heaven – brought forgiveness to the listener…
      • If they did not share the Gospel – un-forgiven – heaven was still shut!
      • We have been given the power of the Gospel – the KEYS to heaven…
      • Whomever we give the Gospel to – we give ACCESS to heaven…
      • Whomever we keep the Gospel from – we keep FROM heaven…
      • What a responsibility!  What an opportunity!
      • We have the KEYS to heaven – do we HOLD to them – or GIVE them to others…
      • Do we share the hope of salvation – the Gospel – with anyone everyone!
        
• 5^th – The first to doubt… vs. 24-31
  • Thomas – one of the 11 Disciples was not there to see Jesus… vs. 24-29
    • When the others told him Jesus was risen – but he did not believe…
      • Unless he put his hands in the nail prints / finger in Jesus’ side – would not believe!
      • After 8 days Jesus appeared to them all again – Thomas was there the 2^nd time…
      • Thomas – put your hand in my side and in my hands – and Believe!
      • Thomas said – ‘My Lord and my God!’ – He believed after he saw…
    • We tend to be hard on ‘doubting’ Thomas – but all the Disciples had to see first…
      • None of them believed until they had ‘seen’ Jesus…
      • Jesus told them ‘Blessed are those who have not seen – yet they believe!’
      • It is much easier to believe if we see – it takes no faith – it takes no trust…
      • Jesus desires that we have a relationship with Him – friendship with God…
      • What kind of friendship would it be if God always had to prove Himself…
      • God desires that we have faith in Him – not have Him prove Himself to us…
      • That is when we have a truly blessed relationship with the Lord – a friend of God!
  • The many works of Jesus… vs. 30-31
    • Jesus did many other signs for His disciples that are not recorded…
      • So many that if all of them had been recorded it would fill the world with books…
      • But these were written so that we might believe!
    • Believe that Jesus is the Christ / Messiah – the Son of God…
      • So that through believing we might have life!
      • Eternal life – true life – begin the moment we believe in Jesus Christ…
      • God has opened up the way for anyone to have this relationship with Him…
      • But God will not force us to accept Him – we have to choose to believe in Jesus!