Emory Baptist Church

If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 24:1. I want to share a message with you entitled, “The Resurrection: Fact or Fiction?”

 

We ended Luke 23 with Joseph of Arimathea putting Jesus’ body in his family tomb, and from what Jesus said to the thief on the cross, I think we can know where Jesus was during those three days.

 

While His body was in the tomb, Jesus’ spirit was in heaven. He said to the thief, “Today, you will be with me in paradise.”

 

The further we get away from the first century, the more dispersion and doubt is cast on the truthfulness of the resurrection of Christ.  Through the years, there have been many attempts to explain away Christianity’s claim of a resurrected Savior.

 

First, there has been the assertion that the Mary Magdalene and her friends simply went to the wrong tomb.  Surely Luke 23:55 can put that theory to rest.

 

55 And the women who had come with Him from Galilee followed after, and they observed the tomb and how His body was laid.

 

Secondly, some have said the disciples just imagined Jesus’ resurrection.  However, they weren’t even expecting the resurrection. Why would they imagine it? See Luke 24:4, 11.

 

4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments…11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.

 

Thirdly, some have said the stray and rabid dogs of Jerusalem devoured Jesus’ body.  How could that be though since the tomb was secured by the stone?

 

Fourthly, known as the “swoon theory,” some have said Jesus actually never died.  He fainted or swooned from extreme exhaustion.  However, when the Roman soldier pierced Jesus’ side in John 19:34 and water and blood exited, that was a sure sign of death.

 

Fifthly, some have said that the disciples stole His body never to be found.  Again, the stone and the Roman soldiers tell us otherwise. 

 

Therefore, I want to share with you five proofs that the resurrection of Christ is fact rather than fiction.

 

 

1. Sunday Worship, Luke 24:1

1 Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared.

 

We know from the gospel accounts that Jesus was crucified on Friday.  Because Saturday morning was the Sabbath and a day for rest and no work, these women who were some of Jesus’ closest friends, came on Sunday morning to His tomb expecting to find Him dead so they could anoint His body with their spices to delay decomposition. 

 

However, on their arrival, the tomb was empty.  Did you know that because Jesus was resurrected on a Sunday morning, the Christian Church has worshiped on Sunday and not Saturday for almost 2,000 years? 

 

The reason that we are gathered here today on Sunday rather than yesterday is because Jesus was resurrected on Sunday, and that became the practice of the early church and has been Christian history since the first century.  See Acts 20:7 and 1 Corinthians 16:2.

 

7 Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul, ready to depart the next day, spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.

 

2 On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

 

 

2. An Empty Tomb, Luke 24:2-6a

2 But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. 5 Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead? 6 He is not here, but is risen!

 

Our second proof that Jesus’ resurrection is fact is the empty tomb.  That may sound silly and obvious, but the empty tomb is the proverbial smoking gun. 

 

We know from Matthew 28:2-4 that there was an earthquake and an angel that dislodged the stone from verse three.  When the ladies entered, Jesus wasn’t there.

 

2 And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. 3 His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. 4 And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

 

Verse four of Luke 24 says the women were perplexed.  They came expecting to find Him, expecting to anoint His body with their spices.

 

In their confusion, two angels appeared to them, and one angel audibly spoke to them.  He said in verse five, “Why do you seek the living One among the dead?  He is not here, but is risen.”  Literally, the angel said, “He has been raised.”

 

Well, who raised Him?  God the Father and the Holy Spirit brought Jesus from death to life and from the tomb.  They breathed life in to Him never to die again physically. 

 

An empty tomb is our second proof that the Jesus’ resurrection is fact.

 

 

3. Fulfilled Prophecy, Luke 24:6b-7

Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.’” 

 

The angel continued speaking and reminded the ladies that Jesus had told them what would happen.  Therefore, they shouldn’t have been surprised. 

 

Jesus was the fulfillment of prophecy.  He is on record as having told His disciples that He would be crucified, and He would rise again on the third day.  As a matter of fact, He told specifically or alluded to His death and resurrection on four occasions in Luke’s Gospel.

 

Luke 9:21-22, 21 And He strictly warned and commanded them to tell this to no one, 22 saying, “The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised the third day.”

 

Luke 9:43-44, 43 But while everyone marveled at all the things which Jesus did, He said to His disciples, 44 “Let these words sink down into your ears, for the Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men.”

 

Luke 11:29-30, 29 And while the crowds were thickly gathered together, He began to say, “This is an evil generation. It seeks a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah the prophet. 30 For as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so also the Son of Man will be to this generation.

 

Luke 18:31-33, 31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 33 They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again.”

 

However, Jesus not only fulfilled His own New Testament prophecies, He is also the fulfillment of multiple OT prophecies.  Consider Isaiah 53. 

 

It was written approximately 700 years before Christ.  Yet, Christ fulfilled that prophecy perfectly. 

 

1 Who has believed our report?

And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?

2 For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,

And as a root out of dry ground.

He has no form or comeliness;

And when we see Him,

There is no beauty that we should desire Him.

3 He is despised and rejected by men,

A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

4 Surely He has borne our griefs

And carried our sorrows;

Yet we esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten by God, and afflicted.

5 But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

6 All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned, every one, to his own way;

And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted,

Yet He opened not His mouth;

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,

And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,

So He opened not His mouth.

8 He was taken from prison and from judgment,

And who will declare His generation?

For He was cut off from the land of the living;

For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.

9 And they made His grave with the wicked—

But with the rich at His death,

Because He had done no violence,

Nor was any deceit in His mouth.

10 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him;

He has put Him to grief.

When You make His soul an offering for sin,

He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days,

And the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in His hand.

11 He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.

By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,

For He shall bear their iniquities.

12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,

And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,

Because He poured out His soul unto death,

And He was numbered with the transgressors,

And He bore the sin of many,

And made intercession for the transgressors.

 

 

4. Female Testimony, Luke 24:8-11

8 And they remembered His words. 9 Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. 11 And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.

 

After their encounter with the angels, these three women named in verse ten went and told what they knew to be true to the eleven remaining apostles.  Therefore, the first eye-witness testimonies of the empty tomb and subsequently, a resurrected Savior, were from women. 

 

The greatest miracle in all of history rises and falls on the testimony of females.  In the first century, this was shocking. 

 

Verse eleven says the apostles didn’t believe them.  Yet, this has been the reality since the first century.  Female testimony is our fourth proof that Jesus’ resurrection is fact.

 

 

5. Changed Lives, Luke 24:12

12 But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; and stooping down, he saw the linen cloths lying by themselves; and he departed, marveling to himself at what had happened.

 

Notice Peter in verse twelve.  Peter had to see for himself. 

 

When he got to the tomb, he looked in and only saw the linen wrappings.  He then went away marveling at all that happened.

 

This is the same Peter who on Thursday night denied Jesus three times.  See Luke 22:54-62.

 

54 Having arrested Him, they led Him and brought Him into the high priest’s house. But Peter followed at a distance. 55 Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. 56 And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.”  57 But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.”  58 And after a little while another saw him and said, “You also are of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not!”  59 Then after about an hour had passed, another confidently affirmed, saying, “Surely this fellow also was with Him, for he is a Galilean.”  60 But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are saying!”  Immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. 61 And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word of the Lord, how He had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” 62 So Peter went out and wept bitterly.

 

However, it is also the same Peter that preached some of the most powerful sermons in the early chapters of Acts where thousands turned from their sin and hell to eternal life and heaven.  Peter’s life was changed because of the resurrection is fact.

 

Acts 2:41, 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

 

Acts 4:4, 4 However, many of those who heard the word believed; and the number of the men came to be about five thousand.

 

Acts 4:19-20, 19 But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20 For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”

 

 

Conclusion

If you’re here this morning wondering if the resurrection can really be true, be assured that it can and is.  Will you call on the resurrected Lord today to save you from your sins and give you heaven and eternal life?

 

Maybe you’re here this morning and you are saved but didn’t know have to answer critics of Christianity, I hope today is an encouragement to you and some resources for you to defend the faith.

 

If you have your Bibles, please take them and find Luke 23:34. I want to continue our study and thought from last Sunday in a sermon entitled, “The Cross, Part 2.”

 

Today, we are going to look at Jesus’ seven sayings while on the cross. That will mean looking at Luke 23, John 19, and Mark 15.

 

If you were here last Sunday, we look at the cross under three headings. It is Friday, and we saw before the cross, on the cross, and after the cross.

 

In addition to looking at Jesus, we also considered others that you know including Simon of Cyrene, the thief on the cross, Joseph of Arimathea. Today, our focus is Jesus and thinking about Him ON the cross.

 

I have never preached this sermon previously even though I have preached through Mark and John. Much of study material has been provided by John MacArthur and the staff of the Colson Center named for Chuck Colson.

 

It is hard to pinpoint the timing of each of these. However, MacArthur puts them generally at 9 AM, 12 PM, and 3 PM.

 

 

1. A Word of Mercy, Luke 23:34

34 Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do.”

 

We looked at this verse last Sunday. It is the first of seven while Jesus on the cross.

 

Mercy has been defined as withholding what is deserved. All who put Jesus on the cross deserved His anger and His ire. Yet, Jesus gave forgiveness contrary to what was deserved.

 

He asked His Heavenly Father to forgive them. That included the Sanhedrin and Pilate and Herod and the Jews.

 

More importantly, that includes me. That includes you.

 

Not only does Jesus give us mercy, as followers of Christ, He sets the standard for us. We too are to forgive even when others do not deserve it and even before others ask for it.

 

 

2. A Word of Grace, Luke 23:43

43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

 

The first saying took place at 9. This one took place at noon.

 

This other thief had admitted his own guilt, and recognized Jesus’ authority as Savior. Then, he asked Jesus to save him.

 

Verse forty-three is Jesus’ response. It was a word of grace.

 

If mercy is withholding what we deserve, grace is giving what we do not deserve. Jesus gave this thief the promise of eternal life in heaven.

 

This man was not baptized, and he did not join a local church. However, as best we can tell, he did repent and he did believe.

 

Consequently, when he died, he lived in heaven with Jesus for eternity. He is proof positive of the legitimacy of genuine bedside conversions.

 

If you admit you are a sinner today and believe that Jesus died on the cross for you as a perfect sacrifice and call on Him to save you today, He will. He will give you grace as well.

 

 

3. A Word of Compassion, John 19:26-27

26 When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” 27 Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.

 

These words were also uttered around the noon hour. Jesus spoke to His mother about John.

 

Keep in mind, this was not John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin. This was John the Apostle or John the Revelator, Jesus’ best friend.

 

He looked at His mother and, full of compassion for her and for her future, promised John would take care of her. Jesus also told John he had a mother again.

 

In Jesus’ words, we see His feelings about the body of Christ. When your earthly family is no more or has deserted you, your heavenly family should be there and just as strong.

 

Jesus is not only saying for us to treat brothers and sisters in Christ like family. He is saying we ARE family.

 

 

4. A Word of Despair, Mark 15:34

34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

 

According to Peter’s account written by Mark, it was the ninth hour. In other words, it was 3 PM.

 

Jesus cried out with a loud voice, and this would have been in Aramaic. However, we have it in our English translations as “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

 

Have you ever asked God why? Jesus did too.

 

The reality is that God is holy, and in this moment, Jesus became our sin. However, bear in mind that it wasn’t just our respectable sins.

 

He became all sin of all humanity for all time. Let that sink in. He did this so that we might know the righteousness of God through Christ.

 

Even though we ask why, God doesn’t always answer. However, don’t forget the other parts of Psalm 22.

 

1 My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?

Why are You so far from helping Me,

And from the words of My groaning?

2 O My God, I cry in the daytime, but You do not hear;

And in the night season, and am not silent.

3 But You are holy,

Enthroned in the praises of Israel.

4 Our fathers trusted in You;

They trusted, and You delivered them.

5 They cried to You, and were delivered;

They trusted in You, and were not ashamed.

 

6 But I am a worm, and no man;

A reproach of men, and despised by the people.

7 All those who see Me ridicule Me;

They shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying,

8 “He trusted in the Lord, let Him rescue Him; Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him!”

 

9 But You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts.

10 I was cast upon You from birth.

From My mother’s womb

You have been My God.

11 Be not far from Me,

For trouble is near;

For there is none to help.

 

12 Many bulls have surrounded Me;

Strong bulls of Bashan have encircled Me.

13 They gape at Me with their mouths,

Like a raging and roaring lion.

 

14 I am poured out like water,

And all My bones are out of joint;

My heart is like wax;

It has melted within Me.

15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd,

And My tongue clings to My jaws;

You have brought Me to the dust of death.

 

16 For dogs have surrounded Me;

The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me.

They pierced My hands and My feet;

17 I can count all My bones.

They look and stare at Me.

18 They divide My garments among them,

And for My clothing they cast lots.

 

19 But You, O Lord, do not be far from Me;

O My Strength, hasten to help Me!

20 Deliver Me from the sword,

My precious life from the power of the dog. 21 Save Me from the lion’s mouth

And from the horns of the wild oxen!

 

You have answered Me.

 

22 I will declare Your name to My brethren; In the midst of the assembly I will praise You.

23 You who fear the Lord, praise Him!

All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him,

And fear Him, all you offspring of Israel!

24 For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted;

Nor has He hidden His face from Him;

But when He cried to Him, He heard.

 

25 My praise shall be of You in the great assembly;

I will pay My vows before those who fear Him.

26 The poor shall eat and be satisfied;

Those who seek Him will praise the Lord.

Let your heart live forever!

 

27 All the ends of the world

Shall remember and turn to the Lord,

And all the families of the nations

Shall worship before You.

28 For the kingdom is the Lord’s,

And He rules over the nations.

 

29 All the prosperous of the earth

Shall eat and worship;

All those who go down to the dust

Shall bow before Him,

Even he who cannot keep himself alive.

 

30 A posterity shall serve Him.

It will be recounted of the Lord to the next generation,

31 They will come and declare His righteousness to a people who will be born, That He has done this.

 

5. A Word of Need, John 19:28

28 After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!”

 

In this fifth saying and from John 19, we see Jesus’ full humanity. He was thirsty.

 

In this midst of your trial and tribulation and temptation, remember that Jesus was fully God and fully man.

 

He knows our every experience. However, the devil will try to convince us otherwise.

 

The devil will try to convince you that we are alone and isolated. Don’t believe the devil!

 

 

 

 

6. A Word of Victory, John 19:30

30 So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

 

The Romans soldiers obliged Jesus’ thirst with watered down wine. He then uttered one word in the original language.

 

The word is tetelestai. It means paid in full. Jesus said it is finished.

 

Think about that. What was finished?

 

The payment for all sin for all human for all time was accomplished. The perfect sacrifice had been made.

 

Nothing was good enough previously. Nothing more was necessary.

 

Jesus finished His job. He did it completely and perfectly, and He has given you an opportunity to share in that victory over sin and death by calling on Him to save you.

 

 

7. A Word of Trust, Luke 23:46

46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’” Having said this, He breathed His last.

 

In the last of seven sayings from the cross, we have a word of trust. In short, Jesus trusted in God’s plan.

 

Keep in mind that God’s plan including Jesus being betrayed, denied, and crucified. If that is what God’s plan meant for God’s Son, what can you I expect?

 

Regardless, you can trust Him with every fiber of your being and every area of your life. He has promised never to leave your or forsake you.

 

Invitation

Today’s invitation is for you to be saved. Today’s invitation is for your to be recommitted or rededicated to living a Christ-like life. Today’s invitation is for our guests to join Emory Baptist Church. Will you come today?