The Resurrection

 

I. Introduction:

a.   What is the greatest event since the creation of the world? Some historians might argue that it had to do with a great battle that changed the tide of history. Others might discuss something like Alexander the Great’s drive to unify mankind. Others might say it was some great invention like the computer, steel, or frozen pizza.

b.   All such answers would be incorrect. The greatest event in history is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This miracle is the cornerstone to the entire Gospel Message. All the apostles now read and understood previous prophesy through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. All of His claims that He was God and had the power to forgive sins were proven by the very fact that He was risen from the dead just as he claimed to be.

II.  Body:

a.   Predictions: The predictions are an important part of the story. It is remarkable that Jesus was raised from the dead. However, other people had been raised from the dead too. This did not make them the savior. The fact that Jesus predicted that He would die and then three days later rose again makes His resurrection even more impressive. We would mock anyone who claimed that after he died he would be alive again. Yet Jesus claimed exactly that, even pinpointing the date, to the point that even His enemies were aware of the claims. These verses show His predictions:

                i.       Matthew 12:40

                ii.      Matthew 26:61

                iii.      Matthew 27:40

                iv.       Matthew 27:63

                v.         Mark 8:31

                vi.      Mark 9:31

                vii.      Mark 10:34

                viii.      John 2:20

b.   Event: In reading the passage we see a recollection of the resurrection account. We see the original disbelief by many of the apostles and the lack of understanding by almost all. Even though they heard the predictions they did not believe that He was raised from the dead. It took Jesus appearing many times to many people and even partaking of meals to prove that He was back not just as a spirit, but as flesh. Luke chronicles the great day of the resurrection.

               i.      Luke 24:1-53

               ii.      (Preacher’s Note: I read through this by each account of people seeing Jesus. Then I noted the different attitudes and the difficulty in believing presented by most of the people. And finally show the importance of the overwhelming accounts and evidence that Jesus was resurrected and what He had prophesied earlier had come true)

c.  Response:

                i.      John 20:24-29

                ii.   Thomas refused to believe until actually being able to touch Jesus. Upon doing so he proclaimed Jesus as both Lord and God.

                iii.  When we see the account of the resurrection and when we believe that Jesus was risen from the dead, we too must say, “My Lord and My God!”

III.   Conclusion

      a. The Resurrection is not just a date in history for us to memorize in forget.

      b. Instead it should be an event that happened that proves to us that Jesus was indeed God.

      c.  Based off of that realization we should commit ourselves to him with due reverence and love.