Raja Dalelah: “I'm convinced I saw

aircraft near Andaman islands”

Easter Sermon Series:

Sacrifice and Salvation

The Triumphal Entry Lk 19:28–44 The Last Supper Matt 26:17–30*** The Crucifixion Matt 27:27–54 The Resurrection Matt 27:62–28:15

Matt 27:62-28:15

27:62 The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate.

63 "Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.'

64 So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."

65 "Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how."

66 So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. day.

Matt 27:62-28:15

28:1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.

3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.

4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.

6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.

Matt 27:62-28:15

7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.

9 Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him.

10 Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Matt 27:62-28:15

11 While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened.

12 When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money,

13 telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.'

14 If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble."

15 So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the

Jews to this very day.

the Resurrection Matt 27:62–28:15

4 ‘E’s”

1. the END - Christ Died –Before Resurrection there must be DEATH

– Scripture states JESUS DIED

• Ref 1 Thess 4:14 & Rev 1:18

–WHAT IF Jesus never died but just “fainted” or “swooned”

‘Swoon’ - to faint from extreme emotion ??

‘Swoon Theory’ Jesus never died just unconscious Regained consciousness in the

cool cave... Healed & Cleaned himself... Then appeared to his followers –

radiant, healthy, smiling .... What about ...

? Grave clothes .... ? 75lbs of spices ... ? Stone about 1 1/2 tons.... ? Guards ...

o It takes more faith to believe ...

Jesus DIED on the Cross

Roman soldiers are ‘professionals’

Pilate verified it - Mk 15:44 ? Possible “Reason” why Jesus

died so quickly ... Joseph & Nicodemus were

‘educated men’ ... Wrapped in long cloth with

75lbs of spices ... Died & Buried in a tomb.

1. the END

1. the END - Jesus DIED on the Cross

so that ...

• Heb 2:14-15 “... by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death — that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.”

• Heb 9:15b “...he has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.”

2. He EMERGED • Defn ‘Emerge’: To Rise from..., To Come Forth from... • Jesus Christ EMERGED from the tomb • The Resurrection is Real • The Resurrection must be Real ... • Why is this IMPORTANT ? VERY, VERY IMPORTANT ?

2. He EMERGED – Christ Resurrected ..

The RESURRECTION is the very foundation of our Christian Faith

a. Jesus Predicted it

Ref Mk 8:2, 31, 9:31 ...

b. Jesus Declared it

Ref John 11:25

2. He EMERGED – Resurrected ...

c. Paul Taught it ... 1 Cor 15:54-55 "Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"

2. He EMERGED – Resurrected ...

d. Peter’s Taught it ... 1 Peter 1:3-4 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy ...

he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in heaven for you,...”

2. He EMERGED– Resurrected ...

e. John Heard it - Rev 1:18 “I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I

am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of

death and Hades.”

3. the EMPTY tomb • Christ died, the END and was buried ...

• On the 3rd day Christ EMERGED from his tomb ...

• The stone was rolled away –

by an angel .... earthquake ....

–Not for Jesus to come out

BUT for people to look in

• The tomb must then be ...

EMPTY !

3. the EMPTY tomb YET some claimed the tomb was NOT EMPTY ?? Explanations proposed ...... ? Wrong Tomb ... Easy to refute ...

? Body was stolen ... by .... ? Grave Robbers ? Jewish Authorities ? the Romans ? his Family members ? his Apostles

3. the EMPTY tomb

Conclusion :

Jesus RESURRECTED

the tomb was EMPTY

JESUS IS ALIVE

4. the EYEWITNESSES

Their Reliability ?

Women ?

Question : Why do you think Jesus appeared to women first ?

Not first choice ??

Changed Lives

The Apostles

Ap

ost

les

plu

s P

aul

Andrew Bartholomew (Nathanael) James James the Less

John

Paul

Matthew Peter

Philip Thomas Simon the Zealot

Jude (Thaddeus)

4. the EYEWITNESSES Their Reliability ?

Changed Lives The Apostles His Family members John 7:2-5, Mark 3:20-21 Acts 1:14, Acts 15 – James, Jude ..

Numbers 1 Cor 15:6 “After that, he appeared

to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.”

4. the EYEWITNESSES Their Reliability ? ‘Non-Christian’ sources... Josephus – the historian

Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, ... He drew over to him both many of the Jews and many of the Gentiles. He was [the] Christ. And when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, ... he appeared to them alive again the third day; as the divine prophets had foretold these ... And the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct at this day.

4. the EYEWITNESSES Their Reliability ? ‘Non-Christian’ sources... Albert Henry Ross (1881 –1950)

– a writer with a pseudonym Frank Morison

Lee Patrick Strobel A Journalist / Lawyer an atheist ... began investigating the

Biblical claims about Christ after his wife's conversion...

the Resurrection Matt 27:62–28:15

the END - Christ Died

He EMERGED - Christ Resurrected

the EMPTY tomb - Tomb was Empty

the EYEWITNESSES - were Reliable

APPLICATION

1. The TRUTH of the Resurrection Ref : 1 Cor 15 :3-8 “that Christ died for our sins... that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day..., and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.

After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers 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, ...”

APPLICATION

1. The TRUTH of the Resurrection Ref : 1 Cor 15:13-19 “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not

even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is

useless and so is your faith. More than that, we are then found to be false

witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. ...

For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either.

APPLICATION

1. The TRUTH of the Resurrection Ref : 1 Cor 15:13-19

And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.

Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost.

If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.

V32 If the dead are not raised, "Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."

APPLICATION

1. The TRUTH of the Resurrection Ref : 1 Cor 15

V 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

V 54-57 "Death has been swallowed up in victory.“ "Where, O death, is your victory ? Where, O death, is your sting ?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

APPLICATION

2. The POWER of the Resurrection

Ref Phil 3:10-11

“I want to know Christ and

the power of his resurrection and

the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,

and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.”

APPLICATION

3. The PROMISE of the Resurrection

Ref Jn 14:19b “... Because I live, you also will live.” 2 Cor 5:14-15 “For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.”

Carl McCunn

March 1981 ....

+ 1,400 pounds of provisions.

Carl McCunn

"I think I should have used more foresight about

arranging my departure."

the TRUTH of the Resurrection

the POWER of the Resurrection

the PROMISE of the Resurrection

Question ?

Are you PREPARED ?