The Resurrection of Jesus

Are you going tonight which is of Jesus closest friends and followers is very grieving in the house following his execution, but that wasn't about to change that. I am Turning Point out that I would your marshes will account of Christ's victory of proven by the empty tomb. Hundreds of witnesses and countless change the line which is a special Easter message. The resurrection of Jesus.

I can tell your friends how excited I am what I see easterners about to happen here shut them out and we have incredible crowds, additional services, all kinds of really triumphant music and celebration. But there's more to it than that, there's this sense in the air. But something magnificent has happened and we know what that something is I've always been amazed that the world celebrates the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus, who many of them don't even believe in, but they celebrate his resurrection as they do's birthday and it to me. It is almost like a silent testimony to the power of this one who walked among us and for our sin and conquered death on our behalf, so we are excited today to be able to share with you another of the records of the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This from Luke chapter 24 Lisko revisiting the resurrection I chosen today to tell the story from the 24th chapter of the book of Luke in the first 12 verses here we are told of the experience of the empty tomb and are met with some visiting women in verse one on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. We see these women on their way to the tomb engaged in this ministry of love. But we forget it was also ministry of sorrow and hopelessness. These women who came to the tomb on that first Easter would have been some of the last ones at the cross with their Savior. Luke tells us that all of his acquaintances and the women who followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching the crucifixion they had been told by Christ before his death about his resurrection but either they did not believe him or he just went over the top of their heads. They were coming to embalm the Lord's body because they thought this was the end of him. Their faith had failed them, but their love was still strong and they brought their spices that day, which would have been sorted into the folding's of the cloth around his body, sort of as an external embalming process. They came with love to visit his grave. But as they drew near to the grave. Something happened, verse two says they found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

That's not just an incidental detail.

Let me fill in the blanks. This was something that was quite amazing to them. In fact, one of the other gospel writers tells us that this was the subject of their conversation on their way to the tomb that day. They had said among themselves, Mark 16 three who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us though Matthew records in his writings that a large stone was rolled against the front of the tomb. Mark says the stone was extremely large and some of the manuscripts describe the stone as a stone which 20 men could not roll away. Believe it or not I was at the very place where all this happened, I was in the garden where the tomb is and I guess I should file this report. It's still empty tomb. According to the Scripture was one that had been hewn out of rock never had it before been used as a place for a corpse with this particular tomb had been hewn out of rock. And when you go there and you see it. That's exactly what it looks like it looks like it was carved out of the rock, in which it exists. So the question would be what kind of a stone would be necessary to close the mouth of the tomb like that. Scholars have discussed what it would take for a stone to be big enough to cover the tomb where Jesus was buried and they have said, it would have weighed somewhere between 1 1/2 and 2 ton on the first Sunday morning when the women came to the tomb of the first things that shot them and made them realize that was going on was this stone was not where it was supposed to be. It was not in front of the tomb. It was not even rolled back up the slot. It was in a place by itself where it could not possibly have gotten if humans were involved in the process.

Mark and Luke describe the position of the stone is very clear. It was in a place not in front of the two.

It'd been moved out of the group.

It was some distance away from where it should've been, and John uses the word that means to pick something up and carried away to describe what happened to the stone that in order for us to understand what was going on. We have to get into the minds of these women as this story begins to unfold before them. Now they approach the sepulcher were Jesus was to be buried in the Scripture says in verse three of Luke 24 that they went in and they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus immediately. They noticed that no one was in the tomb and I want to say to you that the gospel rests entirely on the fact that the tomb was empty. This is been our claim and no one has ever been able to deny it.

Let's face it, the Jews of Jesus day could not deny it even though it there was nothing they wanted more than to discredit the witness of the resurrection and the Romans could not denied.

In spite of the fact this was the most embarrassing event in the 10 year reign of Pontius Pilate in order for you to grab magnitude of this very thing. The empty grave. Let us remember that the disciples began to preach the resurrection of Jesus Christ, not in some distant country, they began to preach that Christ was risen from the dead in the city of Jerusalem. Read the book of acts, and there you will find all the sermons that were preached during the after part of the resurrection, and they're all about the resurrection. They're not really about the crucifixion, they're all about the fact that Jesus overcame death and he was alive when the disciples became aware of this and it finally got into their spirit. They knew they were doing something miraculous. They knew they were living in a moment that had never been known before.

They had a leader who had died and had been dead for three days and had come out of the great victorious over death and not only that that's what he told me was going to do before it happened. So everywhere they went, they preached on this God bless the message of the resurrection and the church was born were here today because of those early days of the preaching of the apostles. How many of you know that the world offers promises full of emptiness, but Easter offers emptiness full of promise empty cross empty tomb empty grave goes all full of promise.

That's what happened when the women arrived that day, but there's an explanation of all of this about to happen. In verse four we meet some angels. It happened as they were greatly perplexed about this, two men stood by them in shining garments to angels that Mary saw when she looked into the tomb and these angels had a message for Mary, a very assuring message as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth. The angel said to them, why are you seeking the living among the dead. He's not here, he's risen. In other words, Jesus is alive. The tomb couldn't keep them under all the famous tombs in the world are famous for one reason there famous because of the people who are buried there. The tomb of Jesus is famous for what it does not contain it was empty on that first Easter and it is still, still, and the emptiness is a constant reminder of this Angel message is not here, he's risen as he said, so the angelic messengers give an assuring message, and that assuring message is the message we celebrate on this day when you go through a tough time. You need something you can hold onto something that sure something that's time-tested, here's the one hope that has held up human beings across every continent and every culture for two millennia of difficult times of poverty, disease, pain, hardship, and death itself. Christ is risen he is risen indeed. And then there's this moment of awakening, memory, and I put this in your because it's kind of critical to the way some people look at the resurrection verses six through eight. The Angels speaking to the women said do you remember how he spoke to you when he was still in Galilee, saying that the Son of Man will be delivered into the hands of sinful man and be crucified in the third day rise again.

The lights go on all yeah I remember that people all the time this and what you feel like such a big deal out of resurrection. Jesus didn't even believe in the resurrection I love it when people say stupid things like that because obviously read the Bible we mean Jesus didn't believe in the resurrection he experienced the resurrection.

But he also spoke about it. During his three years of ministry. He spoke freely of his death, his burial and his resurrection.

So if somebody says Jesus didn't believe in the resurrection they just haven't read the record he believed in it he taught it to his disciples, he told him I was going to happen. He described all the details of it and the fact that they didn't believe it, even after it happened. Many of them is not the fault of Jesus. He told him the empty tomb, and the resurrection when it happened. Hit the disciples was shock and all. In fact, in the early moments of his resurrection. The people were closest to them. They didn't believe it happened, it happened exactly as he said it would. And they were caught in unbelief as his repeated appearances to them ultimately broke down there doubt it's an amazing thing that they had been with him all this time they had heard all these teachings when it happened. Of course there's the evidence of the empty tomb and the declaration of the women when they went into the tomb and saw that it was empty. The Bible says they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the 11 all the rest was Mary Magdalena, Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles, stop here.

Make a note about the priority women in the story they were the first to see the empty grave women were the first to see the Angels women were the first to see the resurrected Lord. Women were the first to hear his loving words and they were the first to chair the joyful news that he was alive and you know why it's important we as a country probably have the highest regard for women of any of the countries we know about, but it wasn't that way in Jerusalem when Jesus came out of the grave. Women were given no credit for anything they couldn't even serve as a witness at a trial, and so culturally such a story from women would be viewed with suspicion. One of the main process that the resurrection story is credible is the realization that the first century church would never have created a story like that, whose main witnesses were women. They just wouldn't have done that when they told the disciples what they had seen. Verse 11 says their words seemed to them like idle tales and they didn't believe him. I mean, the apostles were not men poised on the brink of belief just needing somebody to push them over the edge. They were utterly skeptical, even when the women they knew well told them of their experience. They refused to believe. So if you're here today in your heart. Case your skeptic, you're in good company. The disciples were just like that to. They got through it and I hope you will too.

There's a person who's been entering the dialogue here is going to fix everything.

He always fixes everything you know about Peter.

Peter listen to these women even know if they were telling the truth or not, but Peter says Peter Rosen. He ran to the tomb office turnout, and find out for myself, stooping down when Peter got to the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying by themselves in a real sense, the grave of Jesus was not totally empty. In fact, some years ago I preached an Easter sermon on the title but not quite empty tomb because the tomb had some grave clothes that were still there.

And when John leaned in and he looked into the tomb and he saw the grave clothes. It was so startling to him that the Bible tells us that he became a believer. Let me tell you what he saw the grave clothes in the form of the body slightly caved in an empty like the empty chrysalis of a caterpillars cocoon see in burial in Jesus day the input on a shroud of put on a coat or a burial down what you got married you got wrapped like a mummy with clothing all wrapped all around your body, but when they looked inside there was nobody but all of these wrappings in all of this cloth was still in the shape of the body and there was nobody there. It was this discovery that cause John the apostle to believe in the resurrection.

John left the tomb that day, full of faith but not Peter. The Bible says about Peter that he departed marbling to himself what it happened. So I tell you all of this to let you know that the opening mood for Easter.

That day wasn't what you might think that here's all these religious people may be in a church some place waiting to hear the news well. He came out these these risen know it was surrounded by people just like all of us in all different stages of belief and unbelief about the reality of the resurrection somewhere.

Sure, some are not sure, but seem to me like the ones who are closest to Jesus had the most trouble trying to figure this out and accepted as fact when Jesus came out of the grave he met astonishment in surprise and fear and confusion. Yeah, I told him this was going to happen but they didn't get it. Easter still like that today. For many people it's a surprise Sobieski this question if all of this is true, if he really did come out of the grave, if he is alive if he overcame death if he's the only one who's ever lived who of his own power took back life. If that is true, what is it mean to us. Let me suggest three things that it means to me. Maybe you agree first of all, it means that I can be forgiven. You see when Jesus was teaching and preaching before his death he said things like, if you put your trust in me.

You can be forgiven if you put your trust in me, your sins can be covered and then he went and did what he said he was going to do. He died on the cross of everybody knew that and he was witnessed by the Jewish community and by the Romans. He hung on a cross between two thieves and poured out his life and he died and so let's put a period there for just a moment and say if that's all that happened. Are we still okay no were not. Still okay were not okay because a lot of people have died for things they believed in. A lot of people have said all died for this.

Even some of our own patriots of put their lives on the line for things they believe. But Jesus said, I want to die and I want to come back and when I come out of the grave you're going to know that everything I told you about forgiveness is true and when Jesus came out of the grave that day. What he proved was that his death on the cross was sufficient for our sin. I like to see it this way.

His death was the sacrifice, and his resurrection was a stamp on the document paid in full so my sins have already been covered using. How could that be.

He was just a man know he was not. He was the God man. He was the infinite God man. He was God walking around in the body and when he died on the cross is death was infinite, just as his life was infinite.

His death was enough for everyone would put their trust in him.

So when he died on the cross. You can be sure that it was sufficient for everyone.

But how do you know it was really really true and it was really miraculous and it was really from God. You know that because three days later he came out of the great victorious over that nobody's ever done that before Romans as it this way. He was delivered up because of our offenses and he was raised because of our justification, and Paul tells us this, that if we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus, and if we believe in our heart that God has raised him from the dead. We will be saved. I stand before you today free and forgiven him a forgiven boy and I know a lot of you are forgiven to a man who not only are we forgiven the Bible fellowship.

Remember what happened. Jesus came out of the grave he came out of the grave and 40 days later he went back to heaven. So what's he doing up there. The Bible says he seated at the right hand of the father making intercession for us. Literally. He's our advocate in heaven.

Do you know what that means. It means I got an attorney in heaven taking care of my stuff. That means when I do something that's not understood my attorney in heaven. He takes that to the father and puts it right. The Bible says he's making intercession for us. You seated right next to God the father and when I pray he takes my prayers and he put some in the perfect format and gives them to God, and they get answered. And here's the greatest of all the good news. He's not only in heaven as my advocate and my intercessor. He also lives within my heart and I can talk with him anytime I want and I talked to him today to my risen Lord.

When you receive Jesus Christ as your personal savior.

When you become a Christian, you not only get a Savior and Lord, you get a friend in the Bible says Jesus is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. How many could use a friend like that last all third. Not only do I get forgiven and I get fellowship with God. But third, my future is sealed, it's fixed. I don't have to worry about what's going to happen to me when I die because the promise is this Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life.

He who believes in me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. But wait a minute. That sounds like doublespeak. What is that all about. The Bible teaches that there's two kinds of death infected calls it the first death in the second death is a word that means separation.

That's what the word itself means by the way I've done some homework on this and death is 100%. Did you know that for everybody. So death is separation and first death means that your soul and your spirit get separated from your body. That's what happens when a person dies.

We put their body in the grave, but the Bible says their soul and the spirit goes to be with God. That's the first death and and all of us will will experience that if the Lord doesn't come back before him, but the second death is one that's not understood by many as the one you don't want to get close to the second death is in the separation of your soul and your spirit from your body.

The second death is the separation of your soul and spirit from God, for ever.

Now listen again to what Jesus said. Jesus said under her. I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die physically. He shall live. When you die you keep on living.

And whosoever lives and believes in me shall never die. The second death is when you believe in Jesus you live forever in his present. So what I know is this.

I'm not afraid to die. I'm not anxious to die. I don't want to die any sooner not have to, but I'm not afraid to die because I know what it is I'll never die spiritually because I made peace with God, I face death physically, and I know that it's a scary thing, but I'm not afraid of it because I know what it is. One day Jesus is going to come back and if we haven't already died before then Linda be caught up together be with him in the Bible says so shall we ever be a man running happy remembering when Jesus did for you when it came out of the grave he conquered death. If you put your trust in him, you will never die, or you may die physically, but you will never die spiritually which means to be separated from God forever, so together as a Turning Point family. We join hands on this good Friday to celebrate the risen Christ. I hope that you will find a place tomorrow to celebrate with other believers on tomorrow or Sunday these days on the week and sometimes almost interchangeable in many of our churches have Saturday services whatever day. Make sure you get the church and that you you help celebrate our living Lord, Turning Point will have a resurrection message on television over the weekend. You can find us almost anywhere now in the country. Most of the time we are not on the air when you would normally be in church, but if we are just DVR. Watch it later. So find us and join us as we share the Easter message on television and I will see him next time right here on this stage. For more information on Dr. Jeremiah special is the website where we offer two free ways to help you stay connected and monthly magazine Turning Points in their daily email devotional sign up today at Jeremiah total/writing Jeremiah total/writing last for a company to mystify the last that is readily inside illicitly in times the book was for gifted you can also purchase the Jeremiah study Bible in English send division international as well as in standard or lodgment in the new King James, your choice of attractive, Jeremiah/writing details on Gary hopefully join us Monday as we continue the handwriting on the Turning Point. Jeremiah friend. He's in question