The Sermon Easter: He Is Risen by David McGee
Mar 31, 2013
Easter: He Is Risen (34:23)
Referenced Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:12-22; John 20:1-18; Revelation 1:4-7
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The scriptures below are from the WEB Bible.
1 Corinthians 15:12-22
12) Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
13) But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised.
14) If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain.
15) Yes, we are found false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn‘t raise up, if it is so that the dead are not raised.
16) For if the dead aren‘t raised, neither has Christ been raised.
17) If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.
18) Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
19) If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.
20) But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep.
21) For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man.
22) For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
John 20:1-18
1) Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came early, while it was yet dark, to the tomb, and saw the stone taken away from the tomb.
2) She ran therefore, and came to Simon Peter, and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord out of the tomb, and we don‘t know where they have laid him!"
3) Peter therefore went forth, and the other disciple, and they went toward the tomb.
4) They both ran together. The other disciple outran Peter, and came to the tomb first.
5) Stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths lying, yet he didn‘t enter in.
6) Then Simon Peter came, following him, and entered into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying,
7) and the cloth that was on his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself.
8) Then the other disciple also entered in therefore, who came first to the tomb, and he saw, and believed.
9) For as yet they didn‘t know the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
10) So the disciples went away again to their own homes.
11) But Mary was standing outside at the tomb weeping. So, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb,
12) and she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.
13) They told her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I don‘t know where they have laid him."
14) When she had said this, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and didn‘t know that it was Jesus.
15) Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?" She, supposing him to be the gardener, said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."
16) Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned herself, and said to him, "Rhabbouni!" which is to say, "Teacher!"
17) Jesus said to her, "Don‘t touch me, for I haven‘t yet ascended to my Father; but go to my brothers, and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and my God and your God.‘"
18) Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord, and that he had said these things to her.
Revelation 1:4-7
4) John, to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from God, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne;
5) and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood;
6) and he made us to be a kingdom, priests to his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
7) Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.
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Were grateful for what the day is Easter Sunday case, and we didn't remember that today is Easter Sunday and it is a unique experience for the for the Christian church. Now it's, it's something to go to like where David is in El Salvador and Satan on the Fourth of July. They will have a celebration. We were down it went over the Fourth of July and flag-waving, I have fireworks angle, but for once, not their day of liberation yell while in the Christian church in the in the church of Jesus Christ. It is Easter Sunday and is celebrated all over the world except in countries that don't understand Christianity, so we are used to having this place, this time in which we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and it is truly you a unique experience because not all the whole world doesn't celebrate this day, only Christians and those under Christian influence. Celebrate Easter, so there is a resurrection, and we believe in the resurrection, there is a resurrection for all this is that there is one certain to be resurrected to eternal life, and others to eternal separation from God. And so there is before also resurrection and a relationship with Jesus Christ that is so important to us. So is there speaks them to watch the whole and it brings hope into all of our lives because in Christ shall all be made alive in Christ is eternal life inside a mosque is the life of eternity. The breath of life that God has given us and shook this body perish. We believe that it will live on for an eternity with Christ. That is the hope of the resurrection. So we are eternal beings. The you know your you look like you've been around for an eternity. Somebody now don't do that if you heard that one. Where the hell was it two thirds of the world on RRR no wonder the world is so a beautiful person, so look to the person on your right with the person you're left music. Wow, that's me that one third is a beautiful person K teaser site Pastor so we are eternal beings and we live with this hope of eternal life, and that is something that sustains us. When things are really difficult when life is offering its greatest challenge. It's the life of Jesus Christ becomes that gives that this understanding of eternal life, so everything we believe about Jesus Christ. Everything we believe about what's in the Gospels what's written about him and about his life at all is focuses upon and sits upon this one truth. Jesus is resurrected from the dead. If Jesus is not risen, then all of the truth in all of the things that we believe about Jesus Christ are not important. Some people believe that Christianity is about having the right relationship with people and giving us a good moral bases from which to operate our life. While it's not that it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That brings us to life. Jesus is the one that helps us become a Christian. He's the one who forgives us of our sins, but he is also the one who empowers us to live the Christian life. If we think that we can be a Christian without God 's help, we missed the we need God 's help to live the Christian life. We cannot save ourselves from our sin and we cannot raise ourselves from the dead, you can you try, you know, the great Gatsby decided that quality died. He was good that he was going to be able to. He was going to be able right raise himself from the dead. Why didn't work so he still in the grave. There's only one person was risen from the dead, and that is Jesus Christ. Paul tells us in first Corinthians fifteen, he says, and this is his letter to the church at Corinth and the Corinthians were having some doubts about this resurrection, he says. Now let me ask you something profound, yet troubling if you became believers because you trusted in the proclamation, the Christ is alive and risen from the dead, how can you let people saying that there is no such thing as a resurrection what was going on in the early church was that there were people who came to know Christ came to be no Christians and in the church, but they were allowing people to speak in the church that there was no resurrection of the dead. And Paul says this can't be, you can't let this happen. While it's okay, the people would believe it, but now he doesn't have to be risen from the dead. Not true. I member a pastor from one of the neighboring churches. This was back about twenty five years ago. He semiauto believe in the Virgin birth is just good enough that he came in while and I was like what you know, I'm a sound that he would say such a thing that he didn't believe in the Virgin birth and I was alone isn't really necessary to Jesus Rosen, the dead, the die for our sins. I lately know now, he said you can't leave out those parsons, you can't leave out certain segments. Neither is money yes Re: hasn't. And Paul tells them he says if there is no resurrection, there is no living Christ. If Christ is dead. There is no living Christ. If Jesus is still in the grave. There is no one seated at the right hand of the father praying for us. Jesus is alive in the average receipts for you. If Jesus is in the grave, and he said that he doesn't want us that his sacrifice is incomplete for the completion of Christ and his death and his burial is the resurrection. What we lost in the Garden of Eden man died physically man died spiritually. Jesus Christ came and paid the price so that we would live spiritually and we would live again physically and Jesus came and he rose and the dead. Then he goes on here to the to the core. This is if there is the resurrection, there is no living Christ. And face it, there is no resurrection for Christ and everything we told you was smoke and mirrors everything you state your life on his smoke and mirrors. It's like it's all a fallacy. It's all pretend. If Jesus is not alive than all of this is true. Now, how does Paul know this is Paul so certain of our moment. This while he met Jesus on the road to Damascus and the bright light comes, he falls to the ground and he 's like and he hears his voice and he sees the risen Christ in the risen Christ says to Paul. It's hard for you to kick against the pricks. The goats. Now if I know what you're when I was growing up of the fire we had some I may revisit young young boy. We had a cow weaning her shotgun with him. Anyone know why she could kick in. I mean, if you are not behind that if you had to approach this. This power with very, very cautiously because even if you touched there should pick timing and whenever you got kicked she was. She was whitening with that love that. Let's look into and with the kickers on while in this is hard for you to kick against the goats that there were oxen they would pull carts and what happens if they would put a board behind day the heart and would have little wooden sharp spikes sticking out and so eventually they would get the message that the more you check the more you get hurt and Saul and oxen would learn not to pick against the government 's children learn not to kick against those little spikes and Jesus tells Paul is hard for you to kick against this reality about Jesus about myself and about your relationship with God. What you think God is about and and and apologist, like the lights go on you like Jesus Christ goes on his mind and he recognizes that this is Jesus, the very person that he and increase it if it had been crucifying people killing people for having their faith the very person he watched be stoned to death. Stephen had believed in, and now Jesus has encounter with him, and is writing to the church at Corinth telling them you can't let this happen. You can't let this happen. The people tell you that there is no resurrection. Not only that we would be guilty of telling you I a string of barefaced lies about God. If you will even the resurrection we been lying to you. Everything we've been telling you was just nothing but a bunch of lies. All these affidavits. That's a religion, religious, and that the legal term. What happens when you sign an affidavit. You are making a statement is signing your name to it. It is a legal document saying that this is how it happened. This is your testimony about a certain event and you have signed it and has been legally documented. They are saying that all the affidavits all the people who believed in Jesus and saw Jesus alive after the crucifixion that all their testimonies. Most legal documents are wise to then go on verse sixteen says if courses can be raised. If the dead cannot be raised to the King James version, then Christ wasn't because he was indeed dead. It was indeed dead. But he is alive and we will go on dialysis. If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for you. For a few short years. It's all garbage is nothing Christ didn't come just to inspire us to have a good life and have some good ideas if if that's all he came to get it to give us false this were so a lot, but the truth is this the Christ has been raised up the first in the long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemetery. Amen. He is the first in a long legacy of all those are going to leave the cemeteries and each of the Gospels speak of the Resurrection. Each of the Gospels speak about the life of Christ, the death of Jesus and his resurrection. The trailers where I'm failing the truth of his resurrection is reliable the Romans. The Romans and the Pharisees and the Sadducees would have done everything within their power to prove that Jesus wasn't risen from the dead. There were Roman guards at that at that to the Romans seal was upon the tomb that he couldn't open it up. Do you have a good picture that I had in Sunday school. There is if I'm making a plans and where to go to Israel next summer about that would event went on a trip to Israel, why not get to drive the bus. Take a couple days when drive over there. This is a this is what is considered Gordon's to worry about Gordon's a guy that is what this is his discovery and why they believe that this is the two that Jesus rose from is that on the left-hand side of the entrance. There's a Christian symbol and then, as in front of the the tomb. There were, there's like a little step is a little step there. That's a trough where the stone would have been placed in. And where that trough is aware that step is, there is an indentation down in the trough. Now the trough is and see the wall and then in front of the wall. You can see like a another wall, which is probably about three feet in front of the vote. The back wall, and in that there is about a foot wide trough and a stone which was perfectly oval, and probably six feet tall, bigger than the entrance to the for this to the grave was rolled in place and would have gone into that trough would've gone into that trough and sat there so that water what you wanted to people could and moved. So whenever you're looking at the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and you're looking at the women going there to prepare the body of Jesus you are looking at how that they are going to know that style class. You know what the Roman soldiers, plus deal with the seal that was put upon that stone. That said, the Roman government says you cannot move this snow day so early in the morning. John Chapter twenty verse one to early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance. Mary Mattingly is the lady that Jesus had cast seven demons out of and she is the lady that had followed the disciples and follow Jesus. It was very much a part of what Jesus was doing at that time and she was moved move the meaning. She loved Jesus. She loved the disciples that she liked the other disciples and his disciples believed that Jesus was the Messiah, but didn't understand that he had to die and so she ran when she got to the entrance of the tomb. She saw that the stone was rolled away. The seal was broken, and we don't dozens in different parts different Gospels give us a little bit bits and pieces. Now John, here only focuses on Mary Magdalene, that there were other women. It came with her as outlined in some of the other Gospels. But John focuses on Mary because John S and John and Mary are very similar. They are very much attached to Jesus. They are very much in love with Jesus very much encouraged by Hammond touched by his ministry touched by it. John is the disciple the way has had upon Jesus shoulder at the Last Supper. John is the one who had this connection with Jesus that he was just felt so close to him and so at the town. Mary mangling one of the head, she gets there and she sees that the true, the stone was rolled away what issue do she runs back at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the other disciple is John Ryder, this one, the one that Jesus loved, meaning that he and Jesus John and Jesus had this very close others. John is the closest of the twelve. There's beer, James and John, who are the three closest of the of the twelve, and they are in place there and they want to offer they want to see how they were his close relationship with Jesus. And so whenever the resurrection came, it was important for them to be there so they took the master. Mary says they've taken the master from the two we don't know where they've laid him. They don't have a thought. They don't have a clue about a resurrection they are not expecting a resurrection if we had seen what they had saw in the brutal beating of Jesus, the crucifixion of Jesus the death of Jesus, the taking him from the grave are from the two of us, from the cross and lay inputting the strips of close around him. If we had seen that horrific site with never thought of resurrection whenever thoughts of a resurrection now on in the passion, the movie the passion you look at that and you know some critics of said why they overplayed that in reality side of Isaiah the prophet says that his back would have been like a cloud field, there would not be one piece of flesh left unturned. So the crucifixion of Jesus and the scourging of Jesus were horrific and these disciples Mary with them. What have been very much aware of this crucifixion in this body that was totally destroyed and wrecked by beatings and discouraging Zen and dying there on the cross. And so when she sees that that the chair was empty. She feels that summit had a stillborn. So Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the two if that arresting consummate scholar say that the other disciples, all of them were there when when Mary went to tell them. But only Peter and John ran to the two why the other thing thou don't know you don't know they ran. I like John's description. They ran neck and neck like a horse race is to get to the Jew first, and are running to find out what happened. Somebody has taken the body of Jesus. They ran neck and neck, the other disciple got to the Jew first meaning, John, but outrunning Peter, John, stooping down to look in. He saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. John John's one of these guys I I I I liken myself to John. I'm a good one to get there, but I'm not one in first knowingly. First, you go right ahead. One-on-one interview. Go check it out for me. I'm right behind you, Bill and Peter. He's just impetuous Peter. He runs on ahead and see if there was impetuous Peter to Agent Orange Reagan to these right in their face first on the lot so they get inside Simon Peter arrived after interdicting observed a living why there can be purchased. Use the covers had not lying with the linen clothes, but separate neatly folded by itself. Now we won with the other disciples, the one who'd gotten there first went into the tomb. They took one look at the evidence and believe how you wanted to a two look at the evidence, and immediately delete always been a challenge from Doctor Matheson Sunday school, there were seventy five pounds of murder and offered the other one that was there was other stuff spices seventy five pounds wrapped in this linen around the body of Jesus. So if you have the body of Jesus being wrapped and around that wrapping you have in that wrapping intertwined with that rapper you have seventy five pounds of spices. Now I know what it's like to have seventy five pounds a week. The notes and stuff like that so you can have a couple of inches of spices it up flag wrapped around the body of Jesus with these lending when they went in and they looked at the code and the cocoon because those spices and then left wrapping would not have collapsed, but would have been there just like was around the body. They walked in and they believe now they didn't believe in the resurrection they can they can have any concept of a resurrection, but they walked in and immediately believed, and what did they find the handkerchief that was a bit over the face of Jesus was not in that little shell, but was neatly folded beside it and laying there. They walked in and they immediately believe see it is not just this event, but there's the account of Paul 's account of Paul meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, the income of the other disciples as we read on here in this chapter. How do they on the roads we may have and how that they saw Jesus and how that they recognized him, but they didn't. And I think it if if you ever been around someone who has no whenever they die they gone through very horrific illness, long-term and her body is just emaciated, changed in the new walk into the funeral home and you look at them and say while they may look like the same person we know that happens to us in a normal sequence of events, but as they remember, remember, Jesus and his death and his scourging his beatings they plucked out his beard mean they grab hold of his face and ripped out his beer. They buffeted him. They punched him. They put a crown of thorns upon him, and they needed down the palm branches. They were wrapped his body apart with the# tells NA jai alai, lacrosse, and I mean here is that this horrific picture of death as they walked into this town, and they believe John and the other disciple Peter what they do, they were stunned at what they saw they went home with Mary with my family, my favorite passages of Scripture Mary stood out of the tomb weeping and as she wept she now Google up into the tomb, and she saw two angels setting their dressed in white one at the head and the other foot of where Jesus body had been laid. So here in the top of this 2K of wrappings was an angel. It had an angel at the foot and Mary looks in their connection is nothing and to angel sitting on either end, they said to her, woman, why do you weep why do you weep one one translation. Why do you look for the living among the dead. It's like what I'm looking for Jesus. Why do you look for the living among the dead. I don't know where they've put him. She says there's no thought the other. Some people have the conspiracy theory that Jesus really wasn't dead. He somehow got out of there and got back and recovered the Yahoo was that they stalled his body and know the words on that the Romans and in that the Pharisees and the religious leaders would never allow that to happen. They were found, and she says that these angels. I don't know where they put him, and after she said this she turned away, and she saw Jesus standing there, but she didn't recognize him. She started there in the company of Jesus and didn't recognize him. Here we are in an Easter Sunday, being in charge of being in this place of inspiration and Jesus to be right beside us is wearing a spirit when I'm recognizing because he didn't show up the way we expected. If he doesn't come the way we expect somehow we missed him. That's when the Pharisees that would happen to the religious real blue rulers and leaders at the time they were expecting become a certain way and show up that way became his own times in his own way she saw Jesus shoot in recognizing Jesus spoke there is about and why do you weep for you. Looking for is the way I'm just asking these really stupid questions. The blind man, but he wanted to do for you what he wanted to do for you, like I thought Jesus yell is blind& see you. Jesus knows that sometimes twenties looking for is for us to say exactly what we have need of and give it to him. Jesus wants us to look at our life and say, God, you know all things, but my faith says, I believe you for this and so what you are looking for. She thinking them to be the gardener, master, if you took him, he stole it. She's dying Jesus, if you took in being the gardener did you put it someplace else to get them out. Did you unwrap all-important back problems wrapping back in place. If you take him somewhere. Tell me where. Yes so that I can take care of him. She's not lost that focus of trying to find him to finish the burial. She is so focused that she's got to bury him properly. She's got to wrap him up properly and with all those spices in place by this. It's got to be done a better, it's got to be done better. We've got to finish the task is quickly possible until the Lincoln Dennis and placed him in the tomb. The wedding should be placed in the tomb. So we have fulfilled our part, we done our obligation. I have fulfilled my love for him and the others love for him to did the ladies know that we fulfilled our love for him and we plan in place. Why is the least we could do for the person that we thought was the Messiah, and Jesus says, what is the say Jesus said to her with your name. Everybody to say Jesus said to her, Mary, how does Jesus say your name when he speaks to your heart and that still small voice, he says, David know there is a certain way. My mother would say my name yet I can still remember there's certain ways that you say your child's name your loved one's name that only you say it that way and they hear God speaks our name to loss. He speaks his name to us. He speaks our name to us faces. David speaks that name. Something inside of us that this yes so they decided was the just pays attention to something going on here that's greater than the one I understood what I what I'm thinking thirteen Jesus says Mary and Mary recognizes Jesus and everything likes up inside of her. This exam is Jesus actually play facilities in Jesus name, and if I'm not you know, I'm not leaving just yet. I'm not ascended to the father just yet. I will be around for about forty days even say that the webbing around for about forty days you have to hang on me. I'm still be here for a while and Mary is just she's ecstatic. I mean, she just she just ecstatic at Embassy, Mary, mentally went to tell the news of the disciples I saw the master and she told him everything that he is one of the description when read in Revelation chapter one verse four through seven John the disciple who is called the one that Jesus loved John has been exiled for his testimony about Jesus to the Olive patents. He knows Jesus, as well as anybody and he says I John writing this to the seven churches of Asia province. All the best to you from the God who is the God who was in the God about to arrive, and from the seven spirits assembled before the throne and from Jesus Christ, loyal witness firstborn from the dead, ruler of all earthly kings glory and strength. The Christ who loves us who blood washed our sins from our lives who made us a kingdom, priests for his father forever. And yes, he is on his way writing the clouds still be seen by every guy those who mocked until then we'll see him. People from all nations and all times will tear their clothes and lament all yes I yes it is. Jesus showed John sees him again in heaven. Many years later and he as if the same Jesus that you and I pray to. It's the same Jesus who name and calls to us tells us that he loves us, gives us a hold of eternal life forgives us of our sins and lives within us forever. Amen, so we spent Christ is risen, he is risen indeed how I know he lives, he lives within my heart. Amen. And that is the hope of eternal life that holds us each and every day, and it is his spirit. It speaks to our hearts and gives us hope beyond our doubts beyond our fears beyond our questions. Jesus is in upset with questions is not set with problems and doubts the moment he continues to present himself. He speaks our name that still small voice. He speaks our name tells us he loves us and never leave us nor forsake us to put on. He writes our name in his book of life, and we will live forever. Jesus, we thank you. You are the resurrection and the life we confess our sins O God, and ask for you to forgive us and live within our hearts. Our past is not as important as this moment in time in which you speak our name. We hear your voice and we say Jesus, thank you for loving me. Thank you for forgiving me. This is not our past. It's our present and our future that Jesus is concerned about an lordly gift to you. Our lives we get you a hearts. We ask the deceased season this day of celebration of eternal life. May you touch our hearts heal our woundedness. The Lord bring us close to you. We pray in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ our risen Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. God bless you. Happy Easter tied to someone and every resurrection dayWere grateful for what the day is Easter Sunday case, and we didn't remember that today is Easter Sunday and it is a unique experience for the for the Christian church. Now it's, it's something to go to like where David is in El Salvador and Satan on the Fourth of July. They will have a celebration. We were down it went over the Fourth of July and flag-waving, I have fireworks angle, but for once, not their day of liberation yell while in the Christian church in the in the church of Jesus Christ. It is Easter Sunday and is celebrated all over the world except in countries that don't understand Christianity, so we are used to having this place, this time in which we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and it is truly you a unique experience because not all the whole world doesn't celebrate this day, only Christians and those under Christian influence. Celebrate Easter, so there is a resurrection, and we believe in the resurrection, there is a resurrection for all this is that there is one certain to be resurrected to eternal life, and others to eternal separation from God. And so there is before also resurrection and a relationship with Jesus Christ that is so important to us. So is there speaks them to watch the whole and it brings hope into all of our lives because in Christ shall all be made alive in Christ is eternal life inside a mosque is the life of eternity. The breath of life that God has given us and shook this body perish. We believe that it will live on for an eternity with Christ. That is the hope of the resurrection. So we are eternal beings. The you know your you look like you've been around for an eternity. Somebody now don't do that if you heard that one. Where the hell was it two thirds of the world on RRR no wonder the world is so a beautiful person, so look to the person on your right with the person you're left music. Wow, that's me that one third is a beautiful person K teaser site Pastor so we are eternal beings and we live with this hope of eternal life, and that is something that sustains us. When things are really difficult when life is offering its greatest challenge. It's the life of Jesus Christ becomes that gives that this understanding of eternal life, so everything we believe about Jesus Christ. Everything we believe about what's in the Gospels what's written about him and about his life at all is focuses upon and sits upon this one truth. Jesus is resurrected from the dead. If Jesus is not risen, then all of the truth in all of the things that we believe about Jesus Christ are not important. Some people believe that Christianity is about having the right relationship with people and giving us a good moral bases from which to operate our life. While it's not that it is the resurrection of Jesus Christ. That brings us to life. Jesus is the one that helps us become a Christian. He's the one who forgives us of our sins, but he is also the one who empowers us to live the Christian life. If we think that we can be a Christian without God 's help, we missed the we need God 's help to live the Christian life. We cannot save ourselves from our sin and we cannot raise ourselves from the dead, you can you try, you know, the great Gatsby decided that quality died. He was good that he was going to be able to. He was going to be able right raise himself from the dead. Why didn't work so he still in the grave. There's only one person was risen from the dead, and that is Jesus Christ. Paul tells us in first Corinthians fifteen, he says, and this is his letter to the church at Corinth and the Corinthians were having some doubts about this resurrection, he says. Now let me ask you something profound, yet troubling if you became believers because you trusted in the proclamation, the Christ is alive and risen from the dead, how can you let people saying that there is no such thing as a resurrection what was going on in the early church was that there were people who came to know Christ came to be no Christians and in the church, but they were allowing people to speak in the church that there was no resurrection of the dead. And Paul says this can't be, you can't let this happen. While it's okay, the people would believe it, but now he doesn't have to be risen from the dead. Not true. I member a pastor from one of the neighboring churches. This was back about twenty five years ago. He semiauto believe in the Virgin birth is just good enough that he came in while and I was like what you know, I'm a sound that he would say such a thing that he didn't believe in the Virgin birth and I was alone isn't really necessary to Jesus Rosen, the dead, the die for our sins. I lately know now, he said you can't leave out those parsons, you can't leave out certain segments. Neither is money yes Re: hasn't. And Paul tells them he says if there is no resurrection, there is no living Christ. If Christ is dead. There is no living Christ. If Jesus is still in the grave. There is no one seated at the right hand of the father praying for us. Jesus is alive in the average receipts for you. If Jesus is in the grave, and he said that he doesn't want us that his sacrifice is incomplete for the completion of Christ and his death and his burial is the resurrection. What we lost in the Garden of Eden man died physically man died spiritually. Jesus Christ came and paid the price so that we would live spiritually and we would live again physically and Jesus came and he rose and the dead. Then he goes on here to the to the core. This is if there is the resurrection, there is no living Christ. And face it, there is no resurrection for Christ and everything we told you was smoke and mirrors everything you state your life on his smoke and mirrors. It's like it's all a fallacy. It's all pretend. If Jesus is not alive than all of this is true. Now, how does Paul know this is Paul so certain of our moment. This while he met Jesus on the road to Damascus and the bright light comes, he falls to the ground and he 's like and he hears his voice and he sees the risen Christ in the risen Christ says to Paul. It's hard for you to kick against the pricks. The goats. Now if I know what you're when I was growing up of the fire we had some I may revisit young young boy. We had a cow weaning her shotgun with him. Anyone know why she could kick in. I mean, if you are not behind that if you had to approach this. This power with very, very cautiously because even if you touched there should pick timing and whenever you got kicked she was. She was whitening with that love that. Let's look into and with the kickers on while in this is hard for you to kick against the goats that there were oxen they would pull carts and what happens if they would put a board behind day the heart and would have little wooden sharp spikes sticking out and so eventually they would get the message that the more you check the more you get hurt and Saul and oxen would learn not to pick against the government 's children learn not to kick against those little spikes and Jesus tells Paul is hard for you to kick against this reality about Jesus about myself and about your relationship with God. What you think God is about and and and apologist, like the lights go on you like Jesus Christ goes on his mind and he recognizes that this is Jesus, the very person that he and increase it if it had been crucifying people killing people for having their faith the very person he watched be stoned to death. Stephen had believed in, and now Jesus has encounter with him, and is writing to the church at Corinth telling them you can't let this happen. You can't let this happen. The people tell you that there is no resurrection. Not only that we would be guilty of telling you I a string of barefaced lies about God. If you will even the resurrection we been lying to you. Everything we've been telling you was just nothing but a bunch of lies. All these affidavits. That's a religion, religious, and that the legal term. What happens when you sign an affidavit. You are making a statement is signing your name to it. It is a legal document saying that this is how it happened. This is your testimony about a certain event and you have signed it and has been legally documented. They are saying that all the affidavits all the people who believed in Jesus and saw Jesus alive after the crucifixion that all their testimonies. Most legal documents are wise to then go on verse sixteen says if courses can be raised. If the dead cannot be raised to the King James version, then Christ wasn't because he was indeed dead. It was indeed dead. But he is alive and we will go on dialysis. If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for you. For a few short years. It's all garbage is nothing Christ didn't come just to inspire us to have a good life and have some good ideas if if that's all he came to get it to give us false this were so a lot, but the truth is this the Christ has been raised up the first in the long legacy of those who are going to leave the cemetery. Amen. He is the first in a long legacy of all those are going to leave the cemeteries and each of the Gospels speak of the Resurrection. Each of the Gospels speak about the life of Christ, the death of Jesus and his resurrection. The trailers where I'm failing the truth of his resurrection is reliable the Romans. The Romans and the Pharisees and the Sadducees would have done everything within their power to prove that Jesus wasn't risen from the dead. There were Roman guards at that at that to the Romans seal was upon the tomb that he couldn't open it up. Do you have a good picture that I had in Sunday school. There is if I'm making a plans and where to go to Israel next summer about that would event went on a trip to Israel, why not get to drive the bus. Take a couple days when drive over there. This is a this is what is considered Gordon's to worry about Gordon's a guy that is what this is his discovery and why they believe that this is the two that Jesus rose from is that on the left-hand side of the entrance. There's a Christian symbol and then, as in front of the the tomb. There were, there's like a little step is a little step there. That's a trough where the stone would have been placed in. And where that trough is aware that step is, there is an indentation down in the trough. Now the trough is and see the wall and then in front of the wall. You can see like a another wall, which is probably about three feet in front of the vote. The back wall, and in that there is about a foot wide trough and a stone which was perfectly oval, and probably six feet tall, bigger than the entrance to the for this to the grave was rolled in place and would have gone into that trough would've gone into that trough and sat there so that water what you wanted to people could and moved. So whenever you're looking at the resurrection of Jesus Christ, and you're looking at the women going there to prepare the body of Jesus you are looking at how that they are going to know that style class. You know what the Roman soldiers, plus deal with the seal that was put upon that stone. That said, the Roman government says you cannot move this snow day so early in the morning. John Chapter twenty verse one to early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance. Mary Mattingly is the lady that Jesus had cast seven demons out of and she is the lady that had followed the disciples and follow Jesus. It was very much a part of what Jesus was doing at that time and she was moved move the meaning. She loved Jesus. She loved the disciples that she liked the other disciples and his disciples believed that Jesus was the Messiah, but didn't understand that he had to die and so she ran when she got to the entrance of the tomb. She saw that the stone was rolled away. The seal was broken, and we don't dozens in different parts different Gospels give us a little bit bits and pieces. Now John, here only focuses on Mary Magdalene, that there were other women. It came with her as outlined in some of the other Gospels. But John focuses on Mary because John S and John and Mary are very similar. They are very much attached to Jesus. They are very much in love with Jesus very much encouraged by Hammond touched by his ministry touched by it. John is the disciple the way has had upon Jesus shoulder at the Last Supper. John is the one who had this connection with Jesus that he was just felt so close to him and so at the town. Mary mangling one of the head, she gets there and she sees that the true, the stone was rolled away what issue do she runs back at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the other disciple is John Ryder, this one, the one that Jesus loved, meaning that he and Jesus John and Jesus had this very close others. John is the closest of the twelve. There's beer, James and John, who are the three closest of the of the twelve, and they are in place there and they want to offer they want to see how they were his close relationship with Jesus. And so whenever the resurrection came, it was important for them to be there so they took the master. Mary says they've taken the master from the two we don't know where they've laid him. They don't have a thought. They don't have a clue about a resurrection they are not expecting a resurrection if we had seen what they had saw in the brutal beating of Jesus, the crucifixion of Jesus the death of Jesus, the taking him from the grave are from the two of us, from the cross and lay inputting the strips of close around him. If we had seen that horrific site with never thought of resurrection whenever thoughts of a resurrection now on in the passion, the movie the passion you look at that and you know some critics of said why they overplayed that in reality side of Isaiah the prophet says that his back would have been like a cloud field, there would not be one piece of flesh left unturned. So the crucifixion of Jesus and the scourging of Jesus were horrific and these disciples Mary with them. What have been very much aware of this crucifixion in this body that was totally destroyed and wrecked by beatings and discouraging Zen and dying there on the cross. And so when she sees that that the chair was empty. She feels that summit had a stillborn. So Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the two if that arresting consummate scholar say that the other disciples, all of them were there when when Mary went to tell them. But only Peter and John ran to the two why the other thing thou don't know you don't know they ran. I like John's description. They ran neck and neck like a horse race is to get to the Jew first, and are running to find out what happened. Somebody has taken the body of Jesus. They ran neck and neck, the other disciple got to the Jew first meaning, John, but outrunning Peter, John, stooping down to look in. He saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. John John's one of these guys I I I I liken myself to John. I'm a good one to get there, but I'm not one in first knowingly. First, you go right ahead. One-on-one interview. Go check it out for me. I'm right behind you, Bill and Peter. He's just impetuous Peter. He runs on ahead and see if there was impetuous Peter to Agent Orange Reagan to these right in their face first on the lot so they get inside Simon Peter arrived after interdicting observed a living why there can be purchased. Use the covers had not lying with the linen clothes, but separate neatly folded by itself. Now we won with the other disciples, the one who'd gotten there first went into the tomb. They took one look at the evidence and believe how you wanted to a two look at the evidence, and immediately delete always been a challenge from Doctor Matheson Sunday school, there were seventy five pounds of murder and offered the other one that was there was other stuff spices seventy five pounds wrapped in this linen around the body of Jesus. So if you have the body of Jesus being wrapped and around that wrapping you have in that wrapping intertwined with that rapper you have seventy five pounds of spices. Now I know what it's like to have seventy five pounds a week. The notes and stuff like that so you can have a couple of inches of spices it up flag wrapped around the body of Jesus with these lending when they went in and they looked at the code and the cocoon because those spices and then left wrapping would not have collapsed, but would have been there just like was around the body. They walked in and they believe now they didn't believe in the resurrection they can they can have any concept of a resurrection, but they walked in and immediately believed, and what did they find the handkerchief that was a bit over the face of Jesus was not in that little shell, but was neatly folded beside it and laying there. They walked in and they immediately believe see it is not just this event, but there's the account of Paul 's account of Paul meeting Jesus on the road to Damascus, the income of the other disciples as we read on here in this chapter. How do they on the roads we may have and how that they saw Jesus and how that they recognized him, but they didn't. And I think it if if you ever been around someone who has no whenever they die they gone through very horrific illness, long-term and her body is just emaciated, changed in the new walk into the funeral home and you look at them and say while they may look like the same person we know that happens to us in a normal sequence of events, but as they remember, remember, Jesus and his death and his scourging his beatings they plucked out his beard mean they grab hold of his face and ripped out his beer. They buffeted him. They punched him. They put a crown of thorns upon him, and they needed down the palm branches. They were wrapped his body apart with the# tells NA jai alai, lacrosse, and I mean here is that this horrific picture of death as they walked into this town, and they believe John and the other disciple Peter what they do, they were stunned at what they saw they went home with Mary with my family, my favorite passages of Scripture Mary stood out of the tomb weeping and as she wept she now Google up into the tomb, and she saw two angels setting their dressed in white one at the head and the other foot of where Jesus body had been laid. So here in the top of this 2K of wrappings was an angel. It had an angel at the foot and Mary looks in their connection is nothing and to angel sitting on either end, they said to her, woman, why do you weep why do you weep one one translation. Why do you look for the living among the dead. It's like what I'm looking for Jesus. Why do you look for the living among the dead. I don't know where they've put him. She says there's no thought the other. Some people have the conspiracy theory that Jesus really wasn't dead. He somehow got out of there and got back and recovered the Yahoo was that they stalled his body and know the words on that the Romans and in that the Pharisees and the religious leaders would never allow that to happen. They were found, and she says that these angels. I don't know where they put him, and after she said this she turned away, and she saw Jesus standing there, but she didn't recognize him. She started there in the company of Jesus and didn't recognize him. Here we are in an Easter Sunday, being in charge of being in this place of inspiration and Jesus to be right beside us is wearing a spirit when I'm recognizing because he didn't show up the way we expected. If he doesn't come the way we expect somehow we missed him. That's when the Pharisees that would happen to the religious real blue rulers and leaders at the time they were expecting become a certain way and show up that way became his own times in his own way she saw Jesus shoot in recognizing Jesus spoke there is about and why do you weep for you. Looking for is the way I'm just asking these really stupid questions. The blind man, but he wanted to do for you what he wanted to do for you, like I thought Jesus yell is blind& see you. Jesus knows that sometimes twenties looking for is for us to say exactly what we have need of and give it to him. Jesus wants us to look at our life and say, God, you know all things, but my faith says, I believe you for this and so what you are looking for. She thinking them to be the gardener, master, if you took him, he stole it. She's dying Jesus, if you took in being the gardener did you put it someplace else to get them out. Did you unwrap all-important back problems wrapping back in place. If you take him somewhere. Tell me where. Yes so that I can take care of him. She's not lost that focus of trying to find him to finish the burial. She is so focused that she's got to bury him properly. She's got to wrap him up properly and with all those spices in place by this. It's got to be done a better, it's got to be done better. We've got to finish the task is quickly possible until the Lincoln Dennis and placed him in the tomb. The wedding should be placed in the tomb. So we have fulfilled our part, we done our obligation. I have fulfilled my love for him and the others love for him to did the ladies know that we fulfilled our love for him and we plan in place. Why is the least we could do for the person that we thought was the Messiah, and Jesus says, what is the say Jesus said to her with your name. Everybody to say Jesus said to her, Mary, how does Jesus say your name when he speaks to your heart and that still small voice, he says, David know there is a certain way. My mother would say my name yet I can still remember there's certain ways that you say your child's name your loved one's name that only you say it that way and they hear God speaks our name to loss. He speaks his name to us. He speaks our name to us faces. David speaks that name. Something inside of us that this yes so they decided was the just pays attention to something going on here that's greater than the one I understood what I what I'm thinking thirteen Jesus says Mary and Mary recognizes Jesus and everything likes up inside of her. This exam is Jesus actually play facilities in Jesus name, and if I'm not you know, I'm not leaving just yet. I'm not ascended to the father just yet. I will be around for about forty days even say that the webbing around for about forty days you have to hang on me. I'm still be here for a while and Mary is just she's ecstatic. I mean, she just she just ecstatic at Embassy, Mary, mentally went to tell the news of the disciples I saw the master and she told him everything that he is one of the description when read in Revelation chapter one verse four through seven John the disciple who is called the one that Jesus loved John has been exiled for his testimony about Jesus to the Olive patents. He knows Jesus, as well as anybody and he says I John writing this to the seven churches of Asia province. All the best to you from the God who is the God who was in the God about to arrive, and from the seven spirits assembled before the throne and from Jesus Christ, loyal witness firstborn from the dead, ruler of all earthly kings glory and strength. The Christ who loves us who blood washed our sins from our lives who made us a kingdom, priests for his father forever. And yes, he is on his way writing the clouds still be seen by every guy those who mocked until then we'll see him. People from all nations and all times will tear their clothes and lament all yes I yes it is. Jesus showed John sees him again in heaven. Many years later and he as if the same Jesus that you and I pray to. It's the same Jesus who name and calls to us tells us that he loves us, gives us a hold of eternal life forgives us of our sins and lives within us forever. Amen, so we spent Christ is risen, he is risen indeed how I know he lives, he lives within my heart. Amen. And that is the hope of eternal life that holds us each and every day, and it is his spirit. It speaks to our hearts and gives us hope beyond our doubts beyond our fears beyond our questions. Jesus is in upset with questions is not set with problems and doubts the moment he continues to present himself. He speaks our name that still small voice. He speaks our name tells us he loves us and never leave us nor forsake us to put on. He writes our name in his book of life, and we will live forever. Jesus, we thank you. You are the resurrection and the life we confess our sins O God, and ask for you to forgive us and live within our hearts. Our past is not as important as this moment in time in which you speak our name. We hear your voice and we say Jesus, thank you for loving me. Thank you for forgiving me. This is not our past. It's our present and our future that Jesus is concerned about an lordly gift to you. Our lives we get you a hearts. We ask the deceased season this day of celebration of eternal life. May you touch our hearts heal our woundedness. The Lord bring us close to you. We pray in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ our risen Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. God bless you. Happy Easter tied to someone and every resurrection day