Title: The Demands of Easter
Text: Matthew 28:1-20
Date: March 31, 2024

Introduction: Two barriers stand in the way as we approach this Easter text concerning the resurrection of our Lord.
 First, for the believer, the primary problem is the interest barrier. We have heard the story so often that we tend to take it for granted.
 Second, for the unbelievers, there is the intellectual barrier. Beginning with the presupposition that such a thing cannot happen, they refuse to believe it.
Nonetheless, as Paul affirmed to the Corinthians, the message of the resurrection is the foundation of the Christian Gospel.

“Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.” (1 Corinthians 15:1-8)

What does the New Testament affirm about the resurrection? Two ideas are prominent.
 First, the New Testament declares that the resurrection really happened. Jesus was dead and then, three days later, He was alive again. This was confirmed by the empty tomb. It was further confirmed when Jesus talked to the disciples (Luke 24) and ate with them (John 21).
 Second, the New Testament recognizes Jesus’ resurrection as a foreshadowing of what will someday happen to us. Paul presented Jesus as “the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep” (1 Corinthians 15:20). Most cultures have some concepts of life after death. Research with death and dying has uncovered numerous near death experiences which suggests life after death. That is all speculation. With Jesus, it is a fact that we should embrace. He came back from the dead to confirm that death is not the end.

Let’s take the subject a step further by asking the question: What does the resurrection of Jesus Christ mean for us today? What are the demands of Easter?

I. We must

Jesus.

II. We must

to Jesus.

III. We must

others about Jesus.

Larry Gipson
First Baptist Church Oneonta