Jesus, The Resurrected One 1-18-26 AM

 I.            The proof of the empty tomb.

a.      As we think about the resurrection, there needs to be an understanding of its proof.

b.      The resurrection is a real historical event.

c.      The first proof of the resurrection is that it was prophesied:

          i.      This psalm, 16, is a prophecy of it.

          ii.      Isa. 53:8-10 is a prophecy of it.

          iii.      Jesus prophesied that He would be raised from the dead (Mt. 16:21; 17:22-23; Jn. 2:19; 10:17-18).

d.     Another proof of the resurrection is the empty tomb itself.

          i.      Peter pointed the people at Pentecost to David’s tomb (Ac. 2:29) and then used David’s words to point to the resurrection of the Messiah.

          ii.      Remember what the Jewish leaders told the guards who were at the tomb of Jesus (Mt. 28:13).

          iii.      Now notice verse 15.

e.      Another proof of the resurrection is the number of witnesses to the resurrected Savior.

           i.      1 Cor. 15:5-8.

           ii.      Peter and John also claimed to be eyewitnesses of the resurrected Christ (Acts 3:15; 1 Jn. 1:1-3).

f.        Another proof of the resurrection is the change in Saul of Tarsus.

           i.      Think of how his life changed after meeting and seeing Jesus on the road to Damascus.

           ii.      He had terrorized the church so much that he would later call himself chief of sinners.

           iii.      He then began to preach the truth of the Savior, to the point that he would be persecuted in terrible ways, eventually dying for Jesus (2 Cor. 11:24-28).

           iv.      No one drastically changes their life like this for a lie.

g.      Another proof of the resurrection is the change in the lives of the brothers of Jesus.

           i.      These men did not believe Jesus was divine at first (John 7:3-5).

           ii.      After the resurrection, we see them with the apostles (Acts 1:13-14).

           iii.      One of them was inspired to write a letter found in the New Testament (Jude) and another was described as a pillar of the church in Jerusalem and also inspired to write a letter found in the New Testament (James – Gal. 2:9).

h.      In a day of skepticism and doubt, there is more than enough proof of the resurrection to remove both in our minds.

 II.            The place of the empty tomb.

a.      When I use these words together, you may think I’m talking about the physical location of the empty tomb.

b.      There are tombs in the area of Jerusalem that are said to be the empty tomb.

c.      I have no idea which, or if any, of those tombs held the body of our Lord.

d.      What I mean with this sentence is the place of the empty tomb in the gospel of our Lord.

e.      I believe, without any hesitancy, is that the resurrection is the most important event and doctrine of the whole gospel.

           i.      One writer stated, “There would be no gospel, not one account, no epistle in the New Testament, not faith, no church, no worship, no prayer in Christendom to this day without the message of the resurrection of Christ.”

          ii.      Another writer calls the resurrection “the watershed of New Testament history and the central point of its faith.”

f.       We could go on with quotes about it, but notice what the New Testament shows us about the centrality of the resurrection to its teaching.

g.      Look at the sermons and teaching in the book of Acts that have the resurrection as their center point (Acts 2:24, 31-32; 3:15, 26; 4:2, 10; 5:30; 10:40; 13:30-37; 17:31; 25:19; 26:22-23).

h.      Paul stated it was one of three core tenets of the gospel that he preached to the Corinthians (1 Cor. 15:1-4).

i.        It is central to the doctrine of Christ Himself (Rom. 1:4; Acts 2:36).

j.        It is central to the work of Jesus as our Redeemer (after the resurrection Jesus was exalted (Acts 5:30-31; Rom. 4:25).

k.      The doctrine of the church is dependent on the resurrection:

           i.      Jesus was made the Head of the church because of it (Eph. 1:20-23).

           ii.      The mission of the church is tied to the resurrection (Jesus gave the Great Commission after His resurrection and we are to tell others about it).

l.        The worship of the church has the resurrection as a central theme.

           i.      The day on which we worship is the first day of the week, corresponding to which day of the week the resurrection took place.

           ii.      The Lord’s Supper looks to the death of but also the resurrection of Jesus (1 Cor. 11:26 – it is to be done until He comes).

m.    The effectiveness of baptism depends on the resurrection (Rom. 6:3-5).

n.      Our hope is based on the resurrection (Re. 1:5, 18).

o.      The place of the empty tomb in the life of a Christian, Christianity itself, is at the very center of all things.

III.            The proper posture towards the empty tomb.

a.      When we, in our minds, stand before that empty tomb, what should be our response?

b.      The first response should be faith (Rom. 10:9-10).

c.      The second response should be worship (Mt. 28:8-9, 17; John 20:28).

d.      The third response should be joy (Mt. 28:8; John 20:20).

e.      The fourth response should be hope (Acts 24:14-15; 1 Cor. 15:19).

f. The fifth response should be to tell others (Matt. 28:7, 10, 19; Acts 4:20).

Some material for this sermon came from articles by Dr. Stephen Williams, one of my professors at Amridge Univ.