Sermons from Good News: The events that changed the world (Resurrection Sunday)

Brief disclaimer: although the title of this sermon and post includes the phrase “Resurrection Sunday,” some astute readers may point out two things: 1.) today's post is occurring on a Monday, and 2.) the date of the church service appears to put it on a Saturday. I want to respond quickly to both points:

1.) it's just how it has worked out regarding the Resurrection post occurring on Monday. Because of the long lag between the church sermons being preached vs when they appeared on the blog, I ceased posting the devotionals so as to allow the opportunity for me to catch up on the church sermons and post them closer to the date that the services occurred. It just didn't work out regarding timing the Resurrection sermon to occur on this year's Resurrection Sunday. 

2.) Due to an arrangement our church has with their landlords (another church) we cannot meet on Sundays at all. As such, we have been gathering for “Sunday” services on Saturday evenings, which, if you go back through all the sermons I've posted on this blog, all dates recorded have either been Saturdays or Wednesdays (our midweek service day). Our church has another location a few suburbs over from where we currently meet that has been under reconstruction and refurbishing for over the last year, and a day will soon arrive when we will be able to gather there. When that day comes, we will move back to gathering on Sundays. 

Resurrection Sunday

Offertory scripture:

Romans 8:28-32

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Sermon message:

Thesis: The events that changed the world.

Holy Week, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday.

Point #1: God sent Jesus with a mission.

To save humanity from hell and eternal damnation.

Moses lifted up the serpent on a stick in the wilderness. The Israelites who had been bitten needed to look at the bronze serpent and be healed.

John 3:14

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,

Same thing regarding Jesus: we need to look at Christ crucified and receive His blood sacrifice in place of our sins, to be saved. He is the only way to heaven.

John 14:6

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Acts 4:12

Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

There is an easy part of salvation: simply believe on Jesus Christ as your Savior.

John 3:16

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Romans 10:9

that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

But it wasn’t easy to obtain. Jesus suffered and died a painful death for you and me. He did not have it easy when He was on this earth.

Point #2: Jesus suffered and died for you.

Matthew 26:47-49

47 And while He was still speaking, behold, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and elders of the people.

48 Now His betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him.” 49 Immediately he went up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed Him.

Jesus suffered because He was betrayed by one of His disciples, Judas.

Jesus also suffered being abandoned. Peter denied Jesus.

Matthew 26:69-74

69 Now Peter sat outside in the courtyard. And a servant girl came to him, saying, “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.”

70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are saying.”

71 And when he had gone out to the gateway, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This fellow also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

72 But again he denied with an oath, “I do not know the Man!”

73 And a little later those who stood by came up and said to Peter, “Surely you also are one of them, for your speech betrays you.”

74 Then he began to curse and swear, saying, “I do not know the Man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed.

Jesus also suffered being mocked and made fun of.

Matthew 26:67-68

Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, “Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?”

Jesus also suffered rejection.

Matthew 27:21-23

21 The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?”

They said, “Barabbas!”

22 Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”

They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!”

23 Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?”

But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”

Jesus suffered so we can be saved.

Jesus also suffered severe physical whipping and injury.

Matthew 27:26

Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.

Here is the significance: Jesus was whipped by the Romans, not the Jews. The Jews had a limit of 39 whips per person. The Romans didn’t. Not only so, but their whips had lead, glass, and other metals. They had no limit on the number of their lashes. The Romans got a sick thrill from whipping people in this way. People who received whippings from the Romans had skin ripped off. This is the punishment Jesus endured, on top of everything else.

Matthew 27:27-31

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. 28 And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.

Matthew 27:35-43

35 Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet:

“They divided My garments among them,

And for My clothing they cast lots.”

36 Sitting down, they kept watch over Him there. 37 And they put up over His head the accusation written against Him:

THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

38 Then two robbers were crucified with Him, one on the right and another on the left.

39 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

41 Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, 42 “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him. 43 He trusted in God; let Him deliver Him now if He will have Him; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”

Here’s Jesus’s response:

Luke 23:34

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

And they divided His garments and cast lots.

“Father forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing.”

Luke 23:44-46

44 Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 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.

Joseph had Jesus buried in his tomb.

Matthew 27:59

When Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth,

Satan sealed the grave to try to prevent Him from leaving.

Matthew 27:66

So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard.

But it didn’t work.

Then on Sunday morning…

Matthew 28:1-10

1 Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. 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.

5 But the angel answered and said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6 He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 7 And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.”

8 So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

9 And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.”

Point #3: Jesus rose from the grave.

1 Corinthians 15:14

And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and your faith is also empty.

1 Corinthians 15:17-18

And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins! Then also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.

But…

1 Corinthians 15:20

But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

1 Corinthians 15:22

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.

Point #4: Jesus wants us to believe and to tell others.

Mark 16:15-16
And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Point #5: God did not leave you powerless.

Romans 8:11

But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in all believers.