Amen, let’s just say amen. Well, Happy Easter. We are grateful that you chose to pack in this morning and grateful that you can go, we’re going to celebrate the miracle of the resurrection and we’re going to celebrate another miracle, because I’m going to attempt to go through 129 slides in 15 minutes and so, the big question as we come to this point today and is probably why you’re all here, ever wonder why we ever take a day out of the year just to celebrate Easter and people have done it for centuries, it’s tradition. It’s this thing that we do, but it’s like, why does everybody come together and pack in on a Sunday morning, on one particular Sunday of the year and tradition doesn’t make it right nor correct, people believe that Christians have been brainwashed for centuries and so, I want to tell you a story this morning and it’s of why this day is so important and why we celebrate it and I want to bring proof that it actually really happened, here’s, the whole story, first is the world is broken. I don’t think I have to go into great detail about that and what all that means, I’m sure people understand the world is broken question everybody’s mind is, how does it get there and how do we fix it, more importantly. We’re already here, power, politics, success, happy, marriages, religion.
None of these are going to stop hurricanes. None of this is going to stop diseases. None of this is, it doesn’t matter how much money you throw at any of it, it’s not going to stop it, all of the rest of our relatives, all that there’s nothing that’s going to stop all of this from being broken. So, let’s all just give up, amen, go home, have a meal and sit around and sulk around the table, as we carve into ham and whatever else we’re eating today, the world is broken, but it wasn’t always that way. I believe that when the world was originally created in creation, it was created as a paradise and that God, Yahweh, the one and only creator, created a beautiful garden with plants, animals and even humans and I’m going to borrow a story I heard, story I heard even last Sunday that talks about it, Genesis 1:11 says, then God said, let the earth produce vegetation, seed bearing plants and fruit trees on the earth, bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds and it was so and so, the earth produced all kinds of trees and plants and what happens if you take a plant and you remove it from the earth, it dies? Yeah, thanks. So, Genesis 1:20 God said let water swarm with living creatures and the water produced all the fish of the sea. What happens if you take a fish out of the sea, it dies.
Genesis 1:26, then God said, let us make man in Our image, according to our likeness, that they will rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, the livestock, the whole earth and the creatures that crawl on the earth. So, God produced man using himself, God. What happens if you remove God from man? He dies, spiritually, emotionally, because man cannot survive without the original source from which he was created, much like fish can’t survive out of water and plants can’t survive out of the earth. This is what took place in Genesis 3, humans decided that they wanted to go against the command of God and by doing the created corruption inside of all of us, that’s called sin, original humans decided to disobey God and by doing that created corruption inside all of us, called sin, corruption caused exile from the paradise of the Garden of Eden and it forfeited the place and the life God had given to them and so, from that day forward, their days would be hard and their lives would be subject to disease and sorrow and death and now one side, the safety of the garden Adam and Eve and all humanity with them, because all humanity descends from them, would be left exposed to this fallen planet. Well, God promised he would provide a means to return to that paradise.
There needed to be a payment to be released from the corruption and it needed to be someone who wasn’t corrupted. There’s a problem with that. The bible says in Romans 3:10 - 12 as it is written, there is not righteous not even one. There is no one who understands. There’s no one who seeks after God. All have turned away. All alike have become worthless. There is no one who does what is good, not even one, or even Romans 3:12 all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. That’s everybody and there was a system that got put into place, there were rules and laws and people that had to sacrifice animals to try to pay for their sin, 100s of 1000s of animals were sacrificed and their blood was shed to pay sins. Anybody have a credit card, don’t answer that. You know, when you pay something on a credit card, that you now have debt and until you pay that debt off, it accumulates and it gains interest over time and things like that. Charles Stanley said it best the Old Testament sacrificial system all those animals is like putting all of your sin on a credit card and all it did was put our sin on credit and eventually that debt has to be paid in full. Well, that puts us in a bind, because we can’t make that payment because of the corruption that’s in us and so, what happens is the god of humanity would become humanity. God would send Jesus, he as perfect, incorruptible.
Perfect blood, no sin, no corruption and he could fulfill the promise to bring humanity back to the relationship with him. See, here’s the thing. Sin mars corruption, but it cannot overcome it. The payment was made through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. Christ on the cross was the payment, romans 5:8 it says, but God proves his own love for us that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. So, Jesus died as a payment for us, so that we can have three things, forgiveness, which was paid on the cross, eternal life, which is given after Jesus rose from the dead, which is why we celebrate today and one thing that I think we often forget about is abundant life here on earth for us to tell the good news to everyone on this earth of this story and we live happily ever after. That’s everybody’s story. We live happily everybody living happily ever after. You’re living happily ever after in your own life and you’re like, yeah, not so much. Well, we as followers of Jesus Christ, still live in a corrupted planet and a corrupted world and we still have corruption in our bodies, because that’s not going away until you drain the blood from your bodies and you get rid of these earthly bodies, remember, it’s not a physical problem, it’s a spiritual problem. So, the sin in our body still gets in the way at times.
But, through Jesus, we now have a way to fight that sin in our body and that’s because Jesus returned to heaven, he left here behind a spirit that can inhabit us in our body, so that we can have at least a right way to think and give us the power to fight the sin that lives here as well and that’s the gospel. That’s the good news. That’s the story that we share with everybody and if you’ve never placed your faith and trust in Jesus this morning, we’ll give you an opportunity at the end of the service to do that and that’s a great story. The big question is, is it true? It sounds like a great fairy tale. If it were true, that would be great. How do we know, how do we really know that Jesus really rose from the dead, how do we know, if all of this that we celebrate isn’t just handed down from traditions to traditions to other people and we just gather together because we’ve been told to do it? I want to bring in 12 different testimonial accounts this morning as an argument to prove that Jesus actually rose from the dead. Witnesses, if you will and these testimonies are from people who saw him after he was killed and after he was publicly executed and that’s not denied. It’s all written and it’s all documented for us in the book called the bible and from there, you get to decide if my argument holds water.
That Jesus actually did rise from the dead, because the bible says this in 1st Corinthians 15: 17 - 19 it says and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless and you are still in your sins. Those then have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished and if we have put our hope in Christ for this life only, we should be pitied more than anybody. So, in other words, if Jesus didn’t really rise from the dead, then what are we really doing this morning, except to have some emotional experience and raise your hand in the air, celebrate a myth. This is the verse that we begin with from our argument and this is coming from Paul, he’s a follower of Jesus Christ and he’s making the same argument to this church in Corinth. So, my argument is not just me saying these things, but these things have been preserved for millennia. There are 12 different occasions on which Jesus appeared, first, number one, Mary Magdalene in John 20:11 - 18, it says this. Then the disciples returned to the place where they were staying, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb, but two angels in white sitting where Jesus’s had been lying, one at the head one at the feet and then, saying to her, woman, why are you crying, because they’ve taken away, my Lord.
She told them and I don’t know where they’ve put him, having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she didn’t know it was Jesus. Woman, Jesus said to her, why are you crying, who is that you’re seeking? Supposing he was the gardener, he she replied, sir, if you’ve carried him away tell me where you’ve put him and I will take him away and Jesus said to her, Mary and turning around, she said to him, in Aramaic Rabboni, which means, teacher, don’t cling to me Jesus told her, since I have not yet ascended to the Father, but go to my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my father and your father to my God and your God. Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, I have seen the Lord and she told them what he had said to her. Now if, if you find this testimony a little bit hard to believe, you’re in good company, because it says in Luke 24:9 - 11 returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the 11 and all the rest. Mary, Magdalene, Joanna, Mary, the mother of James and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things, but these words seem like nonsense to them and they did not believe the women. So, there’s other women that are listed there, let’s see their testimony from a different source book of Matthew 28:1 - 10 says.
After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to the view the tomb and there was a violent earthquake because of the angel of the Lord descended from heaven and approached the tomb, he rolled back the stone and was sitting on it, his appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The guards were so shaken by fear of him that they became like dead men. The angel told the women, don’t be afraid, because I know you’re looking for Jesus, who was crucified, he is not here for he’s risen just as he said, Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples he has risen from the dead and indeed, he is going ahead of you to Galilee, you will see him there. Listen, I have told you, so departing quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, they ran to tell his disciples the news, just then Jesus met them and said greetings. They came up, took hold of his feet and worshiped him and then, Jesus told them, don’t be afraid, go and tell my brothers to leave for Galilee and they will see me there. Pretty much same testimony, except that this included a few more ladies that were president and so, what’s to say that they didn’t just get together and come up with this story?
You know how a group of women can get together and talk. So, let’s hear it from two other people, two disciples on the road to Emmaus, Luke 24:13 - 35 now that same day, two of them were on their way to a village called Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. Together they were discussing everything that had taken place and while they were discussing and arguing, Jesus himself came near and began to walk with them, but they were prevented from recognizing him and then, he asked them, what is this dispute you’re having with each other as you were walking and they stopped walking and looked discouraged. The one named Cleopas answered him, are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that had happened here in these days, what things he asked them. So, they said to him the things concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet powerful in action and speech before God and all the people and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be sentenced to death and they crucified him, but we were hoping that he was the one who was about to redeem Israel. Besides all this, it’s the third day since these things have happened. Moreover, some women from our group astounded us. They arrived early at the tomb and when they didn’t find his body, they came and reported that they had seen a vision of angels.
Who said he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it, just as the woman had said, but they didn’t see him and he said to them, how foolish you are and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Wasn’t it necessary for the messiah to suffer these things and enter into his glory? In the beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted for them the things concerning himself and all the scriptures and they came near the village where they were going and he gave the impression that he was going farther, but they urged him, stay with us, because it’s almost evening and now the day is almost over. So, he went in to stay with him and it was as he reclined the table with them that he took the bread blessed and broke it and gave it to them and then, their eyes were opened and they recognized him, but he disappeared from their sight. They said to each other, weren’t our hearts burning with us while he was talking with us on the road and explaining the scripture to us. That very hour, they got up and returned to Jerusalem. They found the 11 and those with them gathered together who said, the Lord has truly been raised and has appeared to Simon and they began to describe what had happened on the road and how he was made known to them in the breaking of the bread. So, now we have a group of women who have seen him.
Now we have two other people that are traveling on the road to Emmaus. By the way, when they were traveling on the road to Emmaus and Jesus met him he was seven miles away from Jerusalem. So, what happened after the ladies brought the news to the apostles and they dismissed it? Well, peter and John naturally had something to say. John 23:9 at that Peter and the other disciples went out heading for the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and got to the tomb, first, stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then following him, Simon Peter also came, he entered the tomb and saw the linen clothes lying there. The wrapping that had been on his head was not lying with the linen cloths, but was folded up in a separate place by itself and the other disciple who had reached the tomb first then also went in, saw and believed, for they did not yet understand the scripture that he must rise from the dead. So, now we got a total of about six different named sources and the story doesn’t end there, because after Peter and John and the women returned to the rest of the people, it stated that Jesus appeared to 10 more apostles in Luke 24:36 – 49, John 20, it says in Luke 24 as they were saying these things.
He Jesus himself stood in their midst, he said to them, peace to you, but they were startled and terrified by the thought that they were seeing a ghost. Why are you troubled, he asked them, why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, it is myself, touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you can see I have. Having said this, he showed them his hands and his feet, but while they were still amazed and in disbelief, because of their joy, he asked them, do you have anything to eat and so, they gave him a piece of broiled fish and he took it and he ate in their presence and he told them, these are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything about me in the Law of Moses, the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled and then, he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, he also said to them, this is what is written. The messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and repentance for forgiveness of sins will be proclaimed in his name to all the nations, beginning of Jerusalem, you are witness of these things and look, I’m sending you what my father promised as for you, stay in the city until you are empowered from on high. Now I mentioned 10 more apostles, because out of the original 12, one of the apostles, Judas, had already committed suicide.
Because, he was the one instrumental in getting Jesus killed and the other apostle, Thomas wasn’t there. So, Jesus appears again to Thomas and the rest a week later, John 20:24 - 31 it says, but Thomas called twin, one of the 12 was not with them when Jesus came. So, the other disciples were telling and we’ve seen the Lord, but he said to them, if I don’t see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger in the mark of the nails and put my hand in his side, I will never believe. A week later, his disciples were indoors again and Thomas was with him, even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, peace be with you and then, he said to Thomas, put your finger here and look at my hands, reach out your hand put it in my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe and then, Thomas responded to him, my Lord and my God, Jesus said, because you’ve seen me, you believe, blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe and Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of the disciples that are not written in this book, these are written, so that you may believe that Jesus is the messiah, the Son of God and that by believing.
You may have life in his name. So, now he appears to all of these people so far and the list keeps getting longer, because then he’ll appear to seven more apostles later on. It says in John 21 after appearing to everybody, Jesus made a special appearance to the seven apostles that were on the beach in Tiberius at the end of John. Because what happened? Well, peter had denied Jesus three times and he wasn’t really coherent enough to see that Jesus had come back from the dead and all that he was going to do and he felt guilty, probably about what was going on and he decided to go back to his old profession, fishing and he took six of his buddies with him, because that’s what guys do and so, as they were out fishing, Jesus showed up on the beach at that Sea of Tiberius and the special appearance was to Thomas, to Nathaniel, to James and to John and to two others and Simon Peter, but this appearance was specific for two people, one is for John, which we don’t have a conversation that was recorded, but the other was Peter and the point was, is Jesus was there to forgive him and to send him forward to start the commissioning of the church, but Jesus wasn’t done yet, he then appears to all of the apostles at the great commission, Matthew 28:16 – 20 it says this, the 11 disciples traveled to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them.
When they saw him, they worshiped, but some doubted still, Jesus came near and said to them, all authority has been given to me on heaven and earth, go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I’ve commanded you and remember I’m with you always, until the end of the age. That would be enough. 12 Apostles, two guys on the road to Emmaus, disciples, a group of women, couple of other people, but it doesn’t stop there. It says that he also appeared to 500 brethren, 1st Corinthians 15:6. It says then he appeared to over 500 brothers and sisters at one time, most of them are still alive, but some have fallen asleep. Oh, and then, he appears to his brother, James, same verse, 1st Corinthians 15:7. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles and then, all the disciples at the dissension in Acts 1:4 - 8. While he was with them, he commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for the father’s promise, which he said, you have heard me speak about, for John, baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit in a few days. So, when they had come together, they asked him, Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?
He said to them, it’s not for you to know the times or periods that my Father has set by his own authority, but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come on you and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and all Judea and all Judea and Samaria and to the ends of the earth. So, let’s see three women, two guys on the road to Emmaus, 12 apostles, 500 other brethren and then, all of the people that were gathered in the upper room. There’s only one left and that’s Paul and Paul, who wrote the majority of the New Testament, who was a Pharisee, who was against Jesus, who was killing Christians, all of a sudden, runs into Jesus in his own life Acts 9:1 - 9 says this. Now Saul was still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, he went to the high priest and requested letters from him to the synagogues in Damascus, so that he found any men or women who belong to the way, he might bring them as prisoners to Jerusalem and as he traveled and was nearing Damascus, a light from heaven suddenly flashed around him, falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, Saul. Saul, why are you persecuting me? Who are you Lord? Saul said, I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting, he replied, but get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do
The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the sound but seeing no one. Saul got up from the ground and though his eyes were open, he could see nothing. So, they took him by the hand led him into Damascus, he was unable to see for three days and he did not eat or drink this. This wasn’t a bodily appearance, but to have Jesus talk audibly for you, there’s days, I sure wish that would happen. It still proves that Jesus had indeed risen from the dead in some ways, here are the written accounts of 12 different appearances of Jesus after he had been publicly crucified, testimonies of over 500 different people written and recorded for at least the last 2000 plus years. So, now we can celebrate Easter and the resurrection as followers of Jesus without fear, because we know that this is a true account. The question is this. Are you still back in the corruption phase, are you still trying to understand deal with the brokenness of life, are you still trying to fix things on your own? Have you never asked Jesus to be the payment for your debt, have you have you never reconnected back with the source of life in God, have you never been saved from sin that still inhabits your body? How would you like to make somebody’s Easter experience absolutely incredible this morning?
It says in Romans 10:9 -10, if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you’ll be saved. One believes with the heart, resulting in righteousness and one confesses with the mouth, resulting in salvation. This is how we reconnect our spirit back to the source. This entire week, not just our church, but the whole church, followers of Jesus Christ all over the world have come together to celebrate the fact that Jesus died for our sin and that he was buried for three days and that he rose again back to life and was witnessed by over 500 people. This is why we have joy today and if that’s not you, if you’ve never confessed with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believed in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you can have that same joy. Doesn’t get rid of the sin in your body, but, it sure helps with abundant life and it guarantees you eternal life after this in heaven. Where are you, what is God speaking to you this morning, what is he telling you, what is he sharing with you, what do you need to do? You already know what you need to do. Are you willing to do it? I’m going to say prayer and during this time of prayer.
It’s an opportunity that if you’ve never accepted Christ into your life, you can do that. I can’t express to you being maybe the 501st witness of what Jesus did for me and I’m not just saying that because I’m a preacher. I wasn’t always a preacher. If you knew my past life, you’d be surprised. I’m a preacher, but God saved me from all of that and he gave me an eternal destiny, but more importantly, he gives me things that I can’t even explain, joy, peace. You want peace in your life? Don’t try to earn it on your own. It’ll never get there. You want peace in your life, Jesus gives peace, peace through things that are just insurmountable, that fight the brokenness of this world he gives me patience. Don’t ever pray for patience, but Jesus gives it to you freely, endurance. You know what it’s like to endure people, to endure trials in your life, all of these things God gives to us and so, if you’ve never done that. I’m going to give you an opportunity to do that right now, every head bowed, every eye closed.