Jesus – The Resurrection

Jesus – The Resurrection

According to Matthew 28:6 -- an angel announced on that first Easter morning: -- "He is not here; for He is risen!" The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ is the bedrock -- the very foundation -- of all Christian belief! It is the keystone in the arch which holds the others stones in place! Many other great doctrines in Christian belief -- stand or fall with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ!

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ distinguishes Christianity from all other religions of the world. Every religion has a founder who lived, died & was buried. But Christianity has a founder who lived, died & was buried, & after three days arose victoriously from the grave!

Our Lord's bodily resurrection insures the bodily resurrection of every believer! The apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Corinthian church that if there is no Resurrection -- then "we are of all men the most pathetic!" (1 Cor. 15:19). If there is no Resurrection then the grave is the end! If there is no Resurrection -- then we have no message -- no foundation for faith; -- no salvation; -- no hope! But the moment you introduce the truth of the Resurrection -- then our message becomes a living force; -- our faith takes hold; -- salvation becomes a glorious possibility; -- our hope for the future becomes bright!

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was very real to the early disciples! It transformed their lives! -- It turned them from fearful, vacillating disciples -- into courageous -- mighty apostles! The death & resurrection of Christ -- was the central theme of their preaching! -- This truth brought into existence the whole Christian Church!

Let's take a few moments this morning to look at this thrilling fact of the Resurrection -- as it is recorded in the gospels! Three things I would have you notice with me today!

1. Notice The Vanquished Stone!

We are told in the Bible -- that at the suggestion of the Jewish religious leaders -- the Roman governor Pilate commanded that the tomb of Christ be sealed with a huge stone -- & that guards be placed on watch. The Jews -- remembering the words of Christ -- were fearful that the disciples would come in the night -- steal away the body of Christ -- & then spread the news that He had risen from the dead!

These precautions were a concerted attempt on the part of the forces of evil to keep Christ from rising from the dead! The last thing the enemies of Jesus desired was that Christ should emerge from the tomb! Their victory now seemed complete. -- All hell rejoiced! The enemies of Christ sealed the tomb. The Roman officials tried to make it secure!

But all of Satan's forces put together were no match for one solitary angel! The Bible says: -- "Behold ... an angel of the Lord descended from heaven -- & came & rolled back the stone from the door -- & sat on it!" (Matt. 28:2) Do you get the picture? -- The angel sat on the stone! It was as if to say -- no stone -- no guard -- no government can hold back the Lord of life!

That angel -- setting on top of that vanquished stone -- was a symbol of Christ's absolute triumph over death, hell, & the grave! The stone that had sealed the tomb now became the seat for an angel from heaven!

2. Notice The Vacant Sepulcher!

When the woman came weeping to the tomb early at dawn -- the angel said to them: -- "Why do you seek the living among the dead? -- He is not here -- for He is risen!" (Luke 24:5-6). Those who entered the tomb found no body! Jesus' linen clothes were folded neatly & laid to one side. The tomb was empty! In fact -- it was empty even before the angel rolled away the stone. The angel did not roll away the stone so that Jesus could come out; -- he rolled it away so the women could go in -- & see that the tomb was empty!

An evangelist in India -- was preaching in the open air one day -- when a Muslim suddenly interrupted him by saying: -- "Wait a minute, sir. -- We Muslims have something that you Christians do not have." "What is it?" -- asked the preacher. "I'll tell you." replied the Muslim. -- "We Muslims can go & stand at the tomb of our prophet Mohammed & say, -- 'Here lies the body of our prophet Mohammed.' -- You Christians have no tomb at which to worship." With a smile the evangelist replied: "Thank God -- we Christians have no tomb because we have no corpse!" We do not worship a dead body; -- we worship a living Christ!

Graves of human beings are respected for their occupancy. We often stand at the grave of a loved one -- or friend -- & say to ourselves: -- "Here lies the body of my wife; -- or husband, son, daughter, mother, father, friend" -- whatever the case may be. But Jesus Christ's tomb is revered for its vacancy! He is not in the tomb! -- He is alive forevermore! -- Praise God!

3. Notice The Victorious Savior!

The angel declared: -- "He is not here -- for He is risen." Jesus is risen not merely in spirit; -- not merely as a ghost; -- but He is risen in real flesh & blood! In His Resurrection -- Christ triumphed once & for all -- over death -- hell -- & the grave. Now He can declare to the whole world: -- "I am the resurrection & the life -- whoever lives & believes in Me shall never die!"

It is no wonder that the apostle Paul cries out in triumph: -- "O death, where is your sting? -- O grave, where is your victory?" (1 Cor. 15:55) In Christ's Resurrection -- the forces of evil were completely routed -- whipped out -- beaten -- lambasted -- walloped! Satan was dealt a fatal blow -- & death was robbed of its sting! Now we no longer need to fear death! For death has become the door leading into the blessed life of heaven -- yes, leading into the very presence of God!

Death is merely God's way of numbing us -- while He is changing our bodies -- into new resurrected bodies -- like our Lord's resurrected body. And when we stand at the grave of a loved one -- we realize that this is not final! -- We have been separated merely for a season -- for there is a glorious reunion ahead! The story is told of how the news of the battle of Waterloo was received in England. An elderly caretaker of Winchester Cathedral in southern England loved to tell of how the news of Wellington's victory over Napoleon reached the south coast of England. News of the history making battle came from a sailing vessel -- singled by way of flagmen to those who stood on top the cathedral: -- W-e-l-l-i-n-g-t-o-n d-e-f-e-a-t-e-d ... And then dense fog blocked the view of the flagmen. On those who thought this was the end of the message -- a dark gloom suddenly descended. But after a while -- the fog lifted & the signals come through with the complete sentence: W-e-l-l-i-n-g-t-o-n d-e-f-e-a-t-e-d ... the enemy. Immediately the thrilling news raced across the nation -- lifting everyone from gloom to joy!

To the disciples of Jesus -- the Cross meant only one thing -- Jesus defeated! But suddenly on Easter morning -- the fog lifted -- & the glorious radiance of the first Lord's Day morning flooded that borrowed tomb -- announcing the joyful -- gloom-dispelling news: -- Jesus defeated the enemy!

Conclusion: -- "He is not here!" -- announced the angel.

Therefore -- He is everywhere!

Because Christ is not in the tomb -- He is with me; -- He is with you -- in the office -- in the school -- in the factory -- in the home -- in the marketplace! He is with me -- & with you -- wherever we go. For Jesus said: "Surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:20 NIV).

It is so very important -- it is so essential -- that you & I believe in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ today! It is not enough just to believe that Christ died for us. We must also believe that He rose again -- so that He can give to us the gift of Eternal Life! Because He lives -- we can enjoy abundant life here & now -- & Eternal Life forever!

The apostle Paul impresses upon us the importance -- that we truly believe in Easter -- in the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! He wrote to the Christians at Rome: "If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord -- & believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead -- you will be saved! -- For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God" (Rom. 10:9-10). Do you believe in the living Christ today? Oh -- that we might know Him & the power of His resurrection!

Pastor Lyle Pettit -- Wynne Chapel -- Cochise, AZ

Easter Sunday -- April 8, 2007