Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ

Mat. 28:6

Introduction

Today is considered the resurrection day of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I’m very sure that most of the Pastors will be preaching about the resurrection. I think it’s also a good idea to preach about resurrection today. I know most of you have heard and knows about it, but it’s always good to remind everybody that the Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Do you know that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is where Christianity stands or falls? The Word of God says that “if Christ be not risen, then our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain (1 Cor. 15:14). Death has no power to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Illustration 1: “Proofs” From Mount of Transfiguration

The sudden appearance of Moses and Elijah, on the mount (Luke 9:30) settles many age-long questions—

On life after death. The appearance of these dead saints, very much alive, demonstrated that there is life after death.
On reincarnation. Moses and Elijah appeared as individual persons. They were not reincarnated under other forms of creatures. There is nothing here of Hindu “karma,” (the consequence to determine the nature of persons next existence) which supposedly issues in a nirvana (state of perfect happiness and peace).
On recognition of saints. Moses was still recognized as Moses, and Elijah was still Elijah. We would be able to recognize each other in the resurrection.
On soul sleep. This disproves the theory of soul sleep, as both Moses and Elijah were alive consciously and in conversation.
On glorified bodies. Moses and Elijah had bodies which could suddenly appear and disappear; similar in structure, height, and appearance, yet different in texture. This gives us a glimpse of our future resurrected bodies.
Fellowship of saints. Moses and Elijah evidently enjoyed fellowship in heaven, as they talked with Christ.
Knowledge of earthly events. Moses and Elijah were apparently intelligently in touch with earth. They talked with Jesus of “His decease which He should accomplish at Jerusalem.” They are absolutely joyful and forever satisfied in their glorified state. Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations: Signs of the Times.

I. Evidence of the resurrection

The empty tomb. Mat. 28:6, Luke 24:3 says, And they entered in and found not the body of the body of the Lord Jesus.
The witness of the angels. Matthew 28:5-7. Luke 24:4-7, 23 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
By His post appearance to first to Mary Magdalene (Mk. 16:9, Jn. 20:18), Peter (Lk. 24:34), two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Lk. 24: 13-31), to the Apostles except Thomas (Jn. 20: 19, 24), to the apostles with Thomas (Jn. 20:26). He ate and drank, showed his wounds to his disciples after His resurrection (Lk. 24:40-43, Jn. 21:12)
Five hundred people saw Him at one time. 1 Cor. 15:6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.
His appearance to James. 1 Cor. 15:7 After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. This James was his brother who doesn’t believe Him at the start of His ministry. (Jn. 7:5)
His appearance to Saul the Christian persecutor. Acts 9:5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. See also 1 Cor. 15:8. Saul became Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles.
Testimony of the changed lives of millions and millions of people who come to him.
The resurrection of our Lord is the heart of Christianity, the foundation of the church. If Jesus did not rise from the grave, then our faith is wrong and we are all lost. 1 Corinthians 15:16-19 For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished. If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.

Illustration 2: The Living One

A Mohammedan and a Christian were discussing their religions and had agreed that both Mohammed and Christ were prophets. Where, then, lay the difference? The Christian illustrated it this way: “I came to a crossroads and I saw a dead man and a living man. Which one did I ask for directions?” The response came quickly, “The living one, of course.” “Why, then,” asked his friend, “do you send me to Mohammed who is dead, instead of Christ who is alive?” This is the basic difference between Christ and every other religious leader. All the others came into the world, lived, and died—but none of them lived again. The resurrection of Christ was the one event that persuaded His disciples once for all that He was the Christ, God’s Son.
Illustrations of Bible Truths

II. The Resurrection Hope 1 Cor. 15:17, 18
A. Our entire faith rests or falls with the resurrection. If Christ did not die and was not raised from the dead, then:

Your faith is vain.
You are still in your sins.
All who have died have perished.
Then there will be no future reunions with loved ones, but Christ did rise from the dead!
Because Jesus rose, we have a positive hope of reunion. Because Jesus rose from the dead, every man, woman, and child shall rise from the dead.

III. The Resurrection of the Dead
A. There are at least four different resurrections spoken of in the Bible.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Cor. 15:20). The O.T. feast of first fruits was a picture of Christ’s resurrection as the first fruit of those who sleep in death (Lev. 23:9-14).
The resurrection of N.T. believers at the Rapture (1 Cor. 15:23; 1Th. 4:13-17).
The resurrection of Israel and O.T. saints at the coming of Christ (Dan. 12:1-3,13; Rev. 20:4-6).
The resurrection of the unsaved dead following the Millennium (Rev. 20:5-15). The saved shall be raised to eternal glory; the unsaved to eternal punishment and shame (Jn. 5:28-29).

Illustration 3: It Matters Not How Long in the Grave

A closely sealed vase was found in a mummy pit in Egypt by the English traveler Wilkinson. In it were discovered a few peas, old, wrinkled, and hard as a stone. The peas were planted carefully under a glass, and at the end of 30 days, they sprang into life, after having lain sleeping in the dust of a tomb for almost 3,000 years—a faint illustration of the mortal body which shall put on immortality. “Because He lives, we shall live also.”
A Treasury of Bible Illustrations

IV. The Resurrection Body
A. 1 Cor. 15:35-49 There are some who deny the resurrection of the body, saying that the post-resurrection product will be a spirit only.
1 Cor. 15;44 says it is raised a spiritual body, not a spirit without a body. I Cor. 15:35 asks two questions: ‘How are the dead raised up?” By God’s power.
B. “And with what body do they come?” Paul proceeds to answer the second question:

It is not the same body, verse (It would be physical body) v. 37. The dead body is like a seed planted in the ground and the plant is different from the seed that was planted. The crippled or burned body at death will not be like that in the resurrection. It will germinate and mature as the other bodies. There will be no aged, deformed, crippled or ugly bodies in heaven.
It is a God-given body, verse38. It is according to the sovereign will of God. John 3:2, “When He shall appear, we shall be like Him.” (That is, perfect.)
It will be an incorruptible body, verse 42. This body will be incapable of death or decay. Those condemned in hell will need this kind of body to endure forever and forever in hell. This human body would disintegrate there.
It will be a glorious body, verse 43. Probably like the glorious bodies in Matthew 17 at the Transfiguration — radiant in white glory.
It will be a body of power, verse 43. It will not be subject to the laws of earth. Jesus’ body passed through locked doors and solid walls. Jesus ascended easily.
It will be a spiritual body, verse 44. Jesus’ earthly body was one of flesh, blood and bones. Jesus’ resurrection body had flesh and bones but it did not have blood. The blood was poured out on the cross. Luke 24:39 “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.’ After this Jesus ate fish and honeycomb, Luke 24:42,43.
It is an immortal body (1 Cor. 15:53). This means it is not subject to death.

V. The Resurrection Mystery 1 Cor. 15:51-54
A. The mystery: It is not necessary for all of us to die. Some will be alive when Jesus returns and will be raptured. The living shall be changed, verse 52, “And we shall be changed,” proving that the resurrection body is different, yet likely similar to our present bodies. the living body must put on incorruption, I Corinthians 15:52, and immortality, 1 Cor. 15:53.

VI. Resurrection Song 1 Cor. 15:54-57
A. Verse 54 — death is swallowed up in victory.
B. Verse 55 — the sting of death is gone.
C. Verse 55 — the grave has lost its victory.
D. Verse 57 — victory is ours through Christ.

Illustration 4: A Sign for Unbelievers
Well over three hundred verses are concerned with the subject of Jesus’ resurrection in the New Testament. We are told that this event is a sign for unbelievers (Matt. 12:38-40); cf. John 20:24-29) as well as the answer for the believer’s doubt (Luke 24:38-43). It serves as the guarantee that Jesus’ teachings are true (Acts 2:22-24; 1 Cor. 15:12-20) and is the center of the gospel itself (Rom. 4:24-25, 10:9; 1 Cor. 15:1-4). Further, the resurrection is the impetus for evangelism (Matt. 28:18-20; Acts 10:39-43), the key indication of the believer’s daily power to live the Christian life (Rom. 6:4-14, 8:9-11; Phil. 3:10) and the reason for the total commitment of our lives (Rom. 7:4; 1 Cor. 15:57-58). The resurrection even addresses the fear of death (John 11:25; 1 Cor. 15:54-58; cf. Heb. 2:14-15) and is related to the second coming of Jesus (Acts 1:11; Rev. 1:7). Lastly, this event is a model of the Christian’s resurrection from the dead (Acts 4:2; 1 Cor. 6:14; 1 Thess. 4:13-18) and provides a foretaste of heaven for the believer (Phil. 3:20-21; 1 Peter 1:3-5).
Immortality – The Other Side of Death by Gary R. Habermas & J. P. Moreland, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1992, p. 245.

VII. Conclusion:

Our Lord Jesus Christ rose from the dead. The evidence is overwhelming that no court of the law here on earth can deny. We have a sure faith that even if we die, we will live again. Would you like to live again after you die? Will you come to Christ? Repent from your sins and receive Him as your personal Savior.