Encounters with Jesus… vs.1-20

• Introduction
  • The 4 Gospels taken together give the complete account of the Resurrection of Jesus
  • Each reveals different details – as we bring them together we see after the resurrection…
  • Jesus revealed Himself to 5 different groups – each with a different response…
  • The Women / 2 disciples / The 11 Disciples / Priests & Soldiers / The 500
  • Which group are we this morning…
    
• 1^st – The women at the tomb… vs. 1-11
  • After the Sabbath – the 1^st day of the week – VERY early Sunday morning…
    • Mary Magdalene (Jesus cast 7 demons out of her)
    • Mary the mother of James and Jose (perhaps the sister of Mary – John 19:25)
    • Salome – mother of James and John – Mark 16:1
    • Joanna – servant of Herod Antipas – Tetrarch of Galilee – Luke 8:3, 24:10
    • The women came to Jesus’ Tomb bringing spices to complete his burial…
    • They didn’t expect Jesus to be risen – ‘who will roll the stone from the door of the tomb’
  • Sometime before they had arrived…
    • An angel of the Lord had come and rolled away the HUGE stone from the Tomb…
    • Not so Jesus could get out – but so that others could look in and see it was empty!
  • When the women arrived they saw 2 angels sitting in the tomb – Luke 24:4
    • The Angel’s appearance was pure light – their clothing white as snow…
    • One Angel spoke to them (the 1 speaking is recorded in Mark)
    • The Angel said – ‘You seek Jesus – He is not here – He is risen!’…
    • 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!
    • I could tell you there was eternal life – that death was not the end – only my words…
    • Jesus showed us death was not the end…
    • In the Resurrection Jesus showed He had the power over death – power over sin…
    • I Corinthians 15:55 – “O Death, where is your sting? O Hades, where is your victory?”
    • The Good News is Jesus defeated death / hell – opened the door to eternal life / heaven
  • Interesting that the women were the 1^st to see the empty tomb – the 1^st 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…
    • It is a common statistic – the whole world over – more women than men attend church
  • Go and tell all the disciples – and Peter – Mark 16:7
    • Now that Jesus was resurrected – someone needed to tell them the Good News…
      • Jesus had told the disciples He would be resurrected…
      • Mark 9:31 / Mark 10:34 / Mark 14:28 – but they did not believe…
      • They needed someone to go and to show them…
      • The Angel had the good news – Jesus is Risen – he told the women
      • Now the women had the Good News – Jesus is Risen – they were to tell the men!
    • So they went out – quickly – and ran to tell…
      • Many of you ladies have husbands – father’s – sons – who do not believe…
      • They have heard about Jesus – they have heard the Word – but do not believe…
      • Tell them!  Go out quickly and tell them the Good News! Jesus is Risen!
      • Jesus allowed you to see first – but don’t let it stop there…
      • You have been told – now go and let others know!
  • Mary Magdalene – weeping – because she did not know where Jesus was – John 20:11
    • Turned and 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.”
    • Mary and the women were the first to see Jesus after the resurrection…
    • Because they came to see the Lord – waited for the Lord – they heard His voice!
    • So often we want to hear from the Lord – direction – answer to prayer…
    • But we are not willing to look for the Lord – wait on the Lord…
    • We throw up a prayer – run out the door – and wonder why God did not answer…
    • We ask for everyone else’s advice – but not the Lord – then wonder why He is silent…
    • When we Look for the Lord – wait on the Lord – we will hear from the Lord!
      
• 2^nd – Two disciples… vs. 12-13 / Luke 24:13-35
  • Two of Jesus’ followers were heading to the village of Emmaus – 7 miles from Jerusalem…
    • They were talking about all that had happened – crucifixion – empty tomb…
    • Jesus came walking up next to them – but they did not recognize Him…
    • Jesus asked what they were talking about – ‘are you the only stranger in Jerusalem?’
    • They retold the events of the past 3 days – but added ‘they had not seen Jesus’…
    • They were amazed – the events of the day had stirred them – but they did not believe…
  • Foolish ones – slow of heart to believe the Word…
    • Jesus opened up the Scriptures to them – gave them a personal Bible Study…
    • Beginning at Moses (Genesis-Deuteronomy) through the prophets (Isaiah-Malachi)
    • Jesus taught them – through the whole Old Testament – about Himself…
    • Using just the OT – Jesus showed how everything had happened according to the Bible
    • If there is one Bible study I wish I could have been there to hear…
    • We often think of Jesus being just in the New Testament – we rarely read the Old…
    • But Jesus showed them the whole Old Testament was also all about Him!
  • Breaking bread…
    • When they arrived they invited Jesus for dinner – still did not know who He was…
    • When He broke the bread – communion – they recognized Him – and He vanished!
    • ‘Did not our hearts burn within us’ – when Jesus opened the Word to us!
    • They had walked with Jesus – so they were able to understand the Word…
    • Once they had understood the Word – they saw Jesus!
    • Many people fail to see how Jesus is working in their lives – is God really there…
    • The reason they don’t see the Lord – is because they don’t understand His Word!
    • When we spend time with the Lord – spend time in His Word – understand His Word
    • We will see Jesus in ALL our circumstances – in every part of our life!
      
• 3^rd – The Disciples… vs. 14 / Luke 24:36-45
  • Stubborn…
    • The disciples had not believed the report of the women…Luke 24:11
    • The disciple had not believed the 2 from the road to Emmaus… Mark 16:13
    • They were stubborn – but Jesus kept trying to reach them…
    • If we know people who are stubborn – just won’t believe life is about Jesus…
    • Keep telling them – keep reaching out to them – Jesus has not given up on them!
    • People don’t change in a day – men don’t believe the 1^st time – or 2^nd, 3^rd, …256^th
  • After all these things – the disciples were gathered – doors shut in fear…
    • Afraid of the chief priests – afraid of the Romans – just plain afraid…
    • Jesus stood in their midst – ‘peace be with you’ – John 20:19
    • Even seeing His hands and feet – they did not believe – for Joy…
    • Jesus loved to eat – always at feasts / the Last Supper / 1^st event in heaven – feast!
    • Jesus asked them – do you have any food – then they recognized Him and believed!
    • I LOVE that Jesus was recognized – and accepted – because of food!
  • Doubting Thomas – John 20:24-29
    • One of the 11 Disciples was not there to see Jesus…‘I will not believe till I see’…
    • 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 – do not be unbelieving – 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!
    • John 20:29–“Jesus said… because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”
    • 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 – no faith/trust
    • God desires that we have faith in Him – trust Him – not have Him prove Himself to us
    • That is when we have a truly blessed relationship with the Lord – a friend of God!
      
• 4^th – The chief priests and soldiers – Matthew 28:11-15
  • Afraid to go to Pilate (penalty death?) the Roman guards went to the religious leaders…
    • It would seem the guards gave an accurate description of what happened…
    • The awe inspiring scene at the tomb – that left them as is dead…
    • But the religious leaders paid them off – large sum – to keep quiet – lie…
    • Tell everyone the disciples stole the body while they slept…
    • They would take care of (bribe) Pilate if there were any questions – sleeping on the job
  • A foolish story – no one with any common sense would believe…
    • If a Roman soldier fell asleep on the job – it would have cost him his life…
    • And there is no way 11 fishermen could have taken on hardened Roman soldiers…
  • Yet even with the proof of the resurrection – the leaders would not believe…
    • There will always be those – who no matter what – just will not believe in Jesus…
    • They will even go out of their way – bribe others – pressure others – lie to others…
    • To keep them from believing in Jesus as well!
    • Matthew 23:13 – “How terrible it will be for you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you won’t let others enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and you won’t go in yourselves.”
    • How terrible it will be for those –who not only refuse to believe – but discourage others
      
• 5^th – The 500… vs. 15-20 / Matthew 28:16-20
  • The Disciples went to meet up with Jesus in Galilee – Mark 14:28
    • By this time many had come to believe – over 500 saw Jesus in Galilee…
    • I Corinthians 15:6–“After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once…”
    • When they saw Him they worshiped Him – ‘but some doubted’…
    • Not the Disciples – but some of the other 500 or so present…
    • But they were there – what better place to question – than at the feet of Jesus!
    • Not everyone who comes to church believes – some still doubt and question…
    • But what better place to be – to get answers to your questions – with Jesus!
    • As you are in prayer / in the Word / in fellowship / in church…
    • Whatever question – doubts you may have – the Lord will answer!
  • Handling snakes / drinking poison… vs. 18
    • An odd verse only given here in the Gospel of Mark…
    • There is dispute over Mark 16:9-20 – not in some of the older Greek manuscripts…
    • Most of what is written in the last 12 verses is found in the other gospels – valid…
    • This one verse is only found here in the entire Bible – questionable origin…
    • We do have the example of Paul being bitten by a snake without harm – Acts 28:3
    • But it is not advisable to try – it does not spread the Gospel – glorify Jesus…
    • There are extreme cults who have taken this verse – handle snakes / drink poison…
    • Matthew 4:7 – “Jesus said, ‘It is written, You shall not tempt the LORD your God.’”
  • The Great Commission…
    • Just before Jesus ascension to heaven – He gave one last command… 
    • The verbs of the Great Commission – last command of Jesus
      • Go – (Aorist / passive / participle)
      • Make Disciples – (Aorist / active / imperative)
      • Baptize – (Present / active / participle)
      • Teaching – (Present / active / participle)
    • The only command – make disciples!
      • People need to hear – men need to know – the world needs the answer – Jesus
      • We are commanded to tell them – make disciples of Jesus
  • Jesus is Risen!
    • If we look for Him – wait on Him – we will hear the voice of our Lord
    • If we walk with Him – He will open His Word so we understand – and see Him
    • If we have faith in Him – trust Him – we will have a blessed life – friendship with God
    • If we have doubts – questions – at the feet of Jesus we will find all the answers
    • Then be sent out to tell others – make disciples – of all nations
    • Giving the world – our community – our friends/family – the hope of Eternal life!