This
last Wednesday evening at our Prayer meeting we had a really good discussion. The
question came up, that we know how to tell people why Jesus died on the cross,
but how can we explain why Jesus had to rise again? And we kicked around
several really good answers for that.
As
a boy, it seemed that the main reason was just to show that Jesus beat the
devil! Jesus wins, satan loses, end of story. And it felt good to know that.
Boys are little competitive guys and that whole “we win you lose” story appeals
to us.
Well,
guess what. That’s really not totally off course. There is a sense of defeating
the enemy in the work of Christ. In Colossians Paul ties together the death and
resurrection of Christ and the giving of eternal life to this: 15
And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly,
triumphing over them in it.
So I’d say yes,
there IS victory in Jesus. But I’d like to show you a few more reasons if you
have a few minutes on the Great Easter Sunday!
1.
First, To Show
He was truly the Messiah. Why does the resurrection of Jesus from the dead
show us that he is the Promised Messiah? Because, He did not die for his own
sins. He died for our sins, but once he paid for them, he rose again. This also
shows he can give life to all who trust in Him Act_2:24 Whom God hath raised up, having
loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be held of it. Death could
not keep him. He was the sinless perfect man. He was the only one who lived a
Righteous life. Act 17:31 Because he hath appointed a day,
in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath
ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised
him from the dead.
Rom 6:9 Knowing that
Christ being raised from the dead dies no more; death hath no more dominion
over him.
And this was important enough for
Peter to say, Act
10:40 Him
God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly. This was for
His disciples to see His victory and for the evil powers who thought they had
victory.
2. He rose to give us eternal life.
Paul
writes: Rom 4:25
Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
We have many verses that state clearly
that without the resurrection our salvation is not complete.Listen:
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into
death: that just as Christ was raised
from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life. And, 1 Co 15: 17 And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your
sins. AND,
Eph_2:6 And hath
raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Jesus needs to be
the Living Risen Savior if we are going to be “In Christ” and in the
heavenlies. Jesus must be raised in a New Life if he is to give us a new life. Jesus
needs to have conquered Death if we are to conquer death. BUT, I want to show
you one more thing: 1Pe 1:2
Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and
sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace, be
multiplied. 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which
according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of
Jesus Christ from the dead,
It is the duty of
the High Priest to take the blood of the sacrifice into the Holy of Holies! Now
I don’t know exactly what Jesus did when he entered the presence of His Father.
Remember, Jesus is still the God/man. This was the reunion of Father God and God
the Son, but also human and divine. But I know this, Jesus was obedient to
death, He shed His perfect sinless blood, and entered Bodily into the very
Throne room of His almighty Father- to declare for us that Redemption has been
accomplished and Applied! And by This living Christ we have Eternal life,
eternal standing in the heavenlies
3. 3rd He rose to defeat death so we
could be raised, too.
Rom
8:11 But if the
Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised
up Christ from the dead shall also
quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwells in you. 1Co 6:14 And God hath both raised up
the Lord, and will also raise up us
by his own power.
Way way back, at the beginning of the
story. There was Adam and Eve. They weren't created to die in 70 or 80 years. I
think they were made perfectly and given access to the Tree of life so they
could eat it and live forever. At least potentially. But they ate fruit from
the Other tree, right? And the dream of eternal life with the Father was lost
forever. Paradise Lost. But God didn't forget about it. God is preparing a
place for us. Not so we can float around like disembodied spirits strumming
imaginary harps!
No, but to have
glorified bodies. Bodies that interact with things. Bodies that have senses.
Bodies that glorify God.
They will be
different for sure. Jesus has a glorified body and he appeared in a room whose
door was shut. We also know that Jesus ate food, but we suspect He doesn't need
to. I don’t think we’ll need blood in our veins. The life of human flesh is in
the blood but Jesus said after the resurrection; Luke 24:39 See my hands and my feet? It is I myself:
handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see I have.
But however our
bodies 1 Cor 15 is very clear, we will have a very real body. 1 Co 15:42
So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is
raised is imperishable 43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is
sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body; it is
raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual
body. 45 Thus it is written, "The first Adam became a living being";
the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
4.
And Fourthly: He
Rose to Come again as King of Kings.
I’m
going to take us from Paul and Peter who had a lot to say about the resurrection
of Jesus, and go to His brother, James.
Jas 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of
the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and
has long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye
also patient; establish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws nigh.
The
First Time: Jesus
came as suffering servant. He came to turn the other cheek, heal the
brokenhearted, raise a few dead, and preach the Coming of the Kingdom of God!
But
Jesus is coming again!
Amen?
Jesus is coming
again.
Jesus
ascended to heaven
from a lonely hilltop with a few hundred followers. Jesus is coming again to multitudes of faithful saints!
Jesus,
left behind 11
apostles. Jesus coming back to saints
from every tribe and every tongue; every color and every race.
He
had no form or comeliness
that we should desire Him, but when He comes again Every Eye shall behold Him!
We esteemed him stricken of God and Afflicted!
But now God has given Him a name that is above every other name, That at the Name of Jesus…
That AT the Name of Jesus…
That at the NAME of Jesus…
That at the name of JESUS…
That at the name of Jesus… Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.
To the Glory of God the Father.
Proclaim Jesus as Lord today. Don’t wait.
Proclaim Him as Lord over your life.
Surrender your sinful life to Jesus.
Beg His mercy and Grace. He is our only hope.
Take Him as your redeemer. He bought your soul with His blood.
Embrace Jesus with your whole heart.
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