The Revelations Of The Resurrection
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Introduction
Introduction
VIDEO.
When everything seems hopeless, the hope of Easter remains.
We are here today because He is risen!
This is a celebration!
As we spend time with family and friends, we need to be reminded why we are celebrating.
Why is it important that we celebrate and remember the resurrection of Jesus?
Does the fact that He rose really matter?
Isn’t His teaching what’s really important?
Today we have the privilege of celebrating the resurrection of Christ as we remember His sacrifice and death through communion.
Today we are going to work our way through Matthew’s account of the resurrection.
There are three revelations in His account.
From these revelations we learn the power, purpose, and passion of our mission here on earth.
Discover with me the power of our mission as we consider revelation #1…
1. A Tomb Emptied vv. 1-6
1. A Tomb Emptied vv. 1-6
READ
What can we learn from what takes place here?
First…
People of faith respond to difficulty with faithfulness.
That’s what we see here.
Women of faith and faithfulness.
They come to the tomb as soon as they can.
They come early.
They come prepared.
They come knowing there are guards.
They come ready to suffer.
They know the danger!
They face the emotional pain of Jesus’ death.
Why? Because people of faith respond to difficulty with faithfulness.
What else do we learn here?
The faithful experience God’s provision.
They see God work in ways others don’t!
God removes obstacles for these women.
I want to note that sometimes God’s provision doesn’t look like provision.
An earthquake seems negative.
But.
Supernatural help is available to those who walk by faith.
The faithful experience God’s provision.
Another thing we learn here is this.
Angels are scary.
A face like lightening is scary.
Clothes white as snow.
The guards are so terrified they are like dead men.
If an angel inspires this much fear, how much more should we tremble in the presence of our Savior?
God knows our desires.
The angel knows what they are seeking.
When we seek the Lord there is no reason to fear.
An important point is made with the statement that Jesus was crucified.
There will always be attacks on Scripture.
One of them has been that Jesus didn’t really die, that he fainted.
Another is that it was a fake body or Jesus was replaced or something like that.
The angel confirms that Jesus was crucified.
He died.
Verse 6 is the most important statement in the world.
Jesus rose from the dead.
Four words, but they are so powerful.
He is not here!
This is the foundation of our faith.
Jesus did what He had promised.
He rose from the dead.
The angel invites them to see the place where He had lain. Past tense.
Why is this so important?
Go with me to 1 Corinthians 15:12-19.
1 Corinthians 15:12-19
If Jesus didn’t rise, we have no foundation for our faith.
We have nothing to preach.
We are liars who are deceiving people!
If Christ didn’t rise we have no forgiveness of sin!
Our loved ones are gone!
There is no eternal hope.
The resurrection is the foundation of the Christian faith.
On the resurrection hangs the hope of the gospel.
The empty tomb gives us a powerful story to tell.
He is not here.
He is risen.
As. He. Said.
This is where the power of the gospel comes from.
#216 “Christ Arose”
He arose in victory.
He lives forever and we will one day reign with Him!
Hallelujah! Christ arose.
The resurrection of Christ is the power of our mission.
Next we discover the purpose of our mission as we consider revelation #2…
2. A Responsibility Given vv. 7-10
2. A Responsibility Given vv. 7-10
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There are two responsibilities given in these verses.
The first responsibility is given by an angel.
Share the news of Jesus’ resurrection.
Go quickly.
Tell.
We have this same responsibility!
We’ll talk more about that in just a minute.
The response of these women teaches us something vital here.
Obedience contains both fear and joy.
They go quickly.
They go with fear and great joy.
They RAN to bring the disciples word.
Sharing the gospel can be scary, do it anyway.
When we obey, there will be great joy.
The second responsibility here is given by Christ Himself.
The resurrection of Jesus is cause for rejoicing!
Rejoice!
Worship.
They worship Jesus.
They bow before Him.
This is the proper response to meeting God.
Proclaiming Jesus is priority #1.
Don’t be afraid.
Go and tell.
They will see Jesus.
We have a responsibility to tell others about Jesus.
Look down at the end of this chapter.
Matthew 28:19-20
How do we make disciples?
First, we give them the gospel.
We looked at 1 Corinthians 15 earlier. The beginning of that chapter says this.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures,
To be a disciple of Jesus, you must first place your faith in Him.
Ephesians 2:8-9 says this…
Ephesians 2:8-9
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
We must believe that Christ died for our sins, that he was buried, and that He rose again.
We do not earn salvation, it is God’s free gift.
That is the first step in becoming a disciple.
The second step is to follow Jesus.
Luke 9:23
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.
Our responsibility is to invite people to Jesus and teach them what it means to follow Him.
This is the foundation of our mission.
Our purpose is to proclaim Jesus!
We live to make Him known!
The command of Christ gives us purpose.
We have this same command!
We must go and tell.
#220 “He Lives”
This is what we declare.
Jesus lives.
We know He lives because His Word says so.
We know He lives because He has changed our lives.
We preach Jesus.
The resurrection of Christ is the power of our mission.
The purpose of our mission is to tell others about Jesus.
Finally, we discover the passion for our mission as we consider revelation #3…
3. A Need Displayed vv. 11-15
3. A Need Displayed vv. 11-15
READ
Our world needs the gospel of Jesus Christ.
What do these verses teach us about the need of our world?
There will always be opposition to the gospel.
These are supposed to be the religious elite.
Bribery, lies, corruption.
We live in a time of great need.
We have an active enemy.
Love makes a difference.
Verse 14 makes it very clear that the leaders care only for themselves.
They do not care about the soldiers.
People have become used to others not caring.
The goodness of God leads to repentance.
We need to demonstrate the goodness and love of God.
Truth sets people free.
This section ends with the acknowledgement that people were believing a lie!
They need Jesus!
They need the way, the truth, and the life to shine on their hearts!
Our enemy, Satan, is the great deceiver.
He uses lies to keep people trapped in bondage.
Only the truth of the gospel, the truth about Jesus, can set people free.
This is the foundation of our love for the lost.
They are sheep with no shepherd.
They are trapped in lies and bondage to sin.
People need Jesus.
Gospel passion is born from a recognition of need.
What people need is only found in Christ alone.
“In Christ Alone”
People need Jesus!
When we trust in Him we have nothing to fear.
He is going to return, He is going to call us home.
Will we be ready?
Turn with me to 1 Corinthians 11:23-32
This is a time for believers to remember the price that was paid. To be reminded of the penalty of sin. Taking part of communion does not save you. This is simply a way for us to be reminded of what Christ has done. If you know the Lord as savior this morning, please join us in bread and juice as we remember Jesus Christ. These are only symbols, they represent the body and blood of our Savior. Examination – verses 26-32
As we prepare our hearts to take communion, I want us to watch this short video and then have a time of silent prayer.
VIDEO
OBSERVANCE OF COMMUNION
OBSERVANCE OF COMMUNION
1 Corinthians 11:23-32
The Bread (His Body) vv. 23-24 #112 “Jesus, Name Above All Names”
The Cup (His Blood) v. 25 “Jesus Thank You” (chorus only)
Conclusion
Conclusion
Three revelations.
An empty tomb.
A responsibility given.
A need displayed.
Three lessons.
The resurrection of Jesus is the power of our mission.
The proclamation of Jesus is the purpose of our mission.
The need for Jesus gives passion to our mission.
Here is the commitment I want us all to make today.
COMMITMENT:
With passion boldness and clarity I will declare the gospel of Jesus Christ.
______________________________________________________
Outside these walls there is world trapped in sin and darkness.
They are waiting for the light of life to shine.
They are waiting for freedom.
We have been placed here to tell others about Jesus.
In the power of Christ may we live out our purpose to passionately preach the gospel.
If you are here, or watching online, or listening to this message, and you have never placed your faith in Jesus, do it today. There is no guarantee of tomorrow.
Today is the day. As we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, trust in Him to save you.