Resurrection Sunday 2022

 From my files:  

THIS CHANGES EVERYTHING!

The validity of our faith is not hat Jesus was a good person, or a great teacher – or that he died on a cross.  Jesus on the cross reveals the deep love and passion of Jesus – the Resurrection of Jesus reveals His power!   On the cross, Jesus was emptied of His glory and took upon him all our sins – and the empty tomb reveals the power to change everything!  The validity of our faith is found in the resurrection of Jesus Christ – who overcame death and the grave. He who promises us eternal life – proved it is possible by overcoming death and the grave to live again! This is what separates Christianity from every other religion. 

 

How did 12 peasant fishermen, tax collectors, farmers – how in the world did they multiply – 12 followers of Jesus to one out of every three people on the planet identifying themselves as Christian?

 

The answer is the Resurrection of Jesus Christ! The resurrection of Jesus changed everything. It split our calendar to the A.D. and the B.C. 

No other event has impacted the world so much as the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is amazing to think about the fact that Jesus never wrote a book, in fact he never wrote anything down, and yet there are more books written about Jesus than any other subject in the world.  Jesus never composed a song, but there is more music written about Jesus Christ than any other subject, bar none, in history. Jesus never drew any pictures or did any sculpture, but more art has been made about Jesus Christ than any other subject in history. Jesus never traveled more than 100 miles from where he was born, and yet, you can find followers of Jesus in every nook and cranny of this planet.  

 

Here is the simple truth of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and how it changes everything:

 

Do you know that you were created to live forever?  God did not create you to live a few years in this life to work hard, make money and then die.  No – He placed eternity in your heart – to live forever.

 

 “He has planted eternity in the human heart...” Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NLT)

 

You are not a human being, having a spiritual experience.  You are a spiritual being having a human experience. You were created for eternity.  Your body will grow old – decay and die – but your spirit lives forever. Your spirit will live throughout eternity – either with God or without God.  And the Resurrection of Jesus Christ changed all that.

 

We live with a perspective that we live 80 or 90 years, or possibly longer – then we die.  But that was never what God intended for us. Death was not a part of God’s original plan.  Death is called the “last enemy” in His Word. When our enemy – Satan – introduced sin into the world, it brought about death – because sin separates us from God.

 

That is what real death is – not physical death – but spiritual death is separation from God. Jesus defeated sin on the cross as he took our sin upon Him and paid the price – paid in full! When Jesus walked out of the tomb – he had defeated death; proving that there is life after death!

 

 “He won’t let up until the last enemy is down--and the very last enemy is death!”                                             1 Corinthians 15:25, 26 (Mess)

 

 “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die like everyone else, will live again.”  John 11:25 (NLT)

 

My prayer for you today:

 

 “I pray that you will begin to understand how incredibly great His power is to help those who believe Him. It is that same power that raised Christ from the dead.”                            Ephesians 1:19, 20

 

What Does the Resurrection Prove?                                                                             It proves . . .

 

1. Jesus was who He claimed to be – GOD.

 

 “Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus said to them, ‘I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?’ ‘We are not stoning you for any of these,’ replied the Jews, ‘but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.’”                                    John 12:31

 

2. Jesus had the power to do what He claimed He would do –   CONQUER     DEATH.

 

 “From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things . . . and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”        Matthew 16:21

 

 

 

What Does the Resurrection Mean?

 

 

1. I can believe with CONFIDENCE

 

 “. . . He showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive.”             Acts 1:3

 

How do I know Jesus is alive?

 

 

 

2. I can live with PURPOSE.

 

 “If all we get out of Christ is a little inspiration for a few short years, we’re a pretty sorry lot.”                         1 Cor.15:19 (Mess)

 

“Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for.”              1 Peter 1:3, 4 (Mess)

 

 “ . . . Christ gives meaning to your life.”             Colossians 3:4 (CEV)

 

 

3. I can start over with FORGIVENESS.

 

 “If Christ hasn’t come back to life, your faith is worthless and sin still has you in its power.”                 1 Corinthians 15:17 (GWT)

 

 “. . . go tell his disciples and Peter . . .”       Mark 16:7

 

 “You are a God of forgiveness always ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, full of love.”                          Nehemiah 9:17 (LB)

 

 

4. I can die with ASSURANCE .

 

 “I am the one who brings people back to life, and I am life itself. Those who believe in me will live even if they die.”               John 11:25 (GWT)

 

For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

“Where, O death, is your victory?

Where, O death, is your sting?”    1 Corinthians 15:53-55

 

 

 

Closing:

 

 “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in . . .”                                                Rev. 3:20

 

When you accept Jesus – because of the Resurrection – it changes everything!

 

 

“What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for . . . including a future in heaven – and the future starts now!”                                                 1 Peter 1:3, 4 (Mess)