04.04.2010 Easter

04.04.2010 Grace Summit - Easter - He is Risen Indeed from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

04.04.2010 Grace Summit Worship - Easter from Grace Summit on Vimeo.

SermonAudio
There are a lot of television specials this time of year – and many will talk about how the Gospel writers wrote different aspects of the stories – trying to throw doubt on the Gospel writers. We tend to think of the Gospel writers as Americans in the 20th century – but they weren’t – they were from the Middle East and in the first century. For them – they wanted to tell the truth of the Gospel message – we can have confidence in it – they weren’t concerned about chronology – they just wanted to get the story out.

The Sabbath began at sundown – and they needed to get him off the cross by sundown – so they would often break the legs to speed up the process.
Luke 24:1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared. 2 And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
Mark tells us that they were concerned about finding someone to help them roll away the stone. Here is a picture of a sample garden tomb… - It was a garden tomb, because Mary considered Jesus to be for the gardener.
Here is an example of a rolling stone that fit in a groove – very very large – and one would need someone to roll the stone away.
3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 And it happened that while they were perplexed about this, behold, two men suddenly stood near them in dazzling apparel; 5 and as [the women] were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, [the men] said to them, "Why do you seek the living One among the dead? 6 "He is not here, but He has risen. Remember how He spoke to you while He was still in Galilee, 7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. "
Many of these women were there until the end – they were there at the cross – even when others had fled. Mary Magdalene was one of the most faithful. But they did not get it. Why do you seek the living among the dead? 3 times Jesus had these speeches about how He would die and rise again on the third day. …Remember how He told you?

Luke 24:8 And they remembered His words, 9 and returned from the tomb and reported all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. 10 Now they were Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the [mother] of James; also the other women with them were telling these things to the apostles. 11 And these words appeared to them as nonsense, and they would not believe them.
What has changed in 2000 years? These apostles needed to go to our Love and Respect seminar!
12 [But Peter arose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he ^ saw the linen wrappings only; and he went away to his home, marveling at that which had happened.]

We’ll pick this up in John 20 –
11 But Mary was standing outside the tomb weeping; and so, as she wept, she stooped and looked into the tomb; 12 and she ^beheld two angels in white sitting, one at the head, and one at the feet, where the body of Jesus had been lying. 13 And they ^said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She ^said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." 14 When she had said this, she turned around, and ^beheld Jesus standing [there,] and did not know that it was Jesus.
She doesn’t recognize Him.
13 And they ^said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She ^said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him." 14 When she had said this, she turned around, and ^beheld Jesus standing [there,] and did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus ^said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?" Supposing Him to be the gardener, she ^said to Him, "Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have laid Him, and I will take Him away."
She still doesn’t recognize Him,
Then Jesus said, MARY!
Hearing her name in His voice did it for her…
16 Jesus ^said to her, "Mary!" She ^turned and ^said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means, Teacher). 17 Jesus ^said to her, "Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren, and say to them, 'I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.'" 18 Mary Magdalene ^came, announcing to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and [that] He had said these things to her.
Jesus had to reveal it to them – it is not something we can understand the significance of without Him doing something in our hearts. It is the same today. People can go to church all of their lives, but unless Christ reveals inside an individual’s heart what He has done for him, he cannot understand. You can’t try to prove it through history – it can only be proven when Jesus comes into your heart to open it up to see. Every believer has that time where Christ does this work in your heart.
Whom are you seeking?
What are you looking for?
For the disciples and Mary – they were looking for a Messiah – who was a lot different from the Messiah they got. It is no different today – people are looking for something to fulfill their life and to give meaning and purpose – but people are looking at the wrong place or the wrong thing.
Mary clings to Him – He says Stop clinging to Me! (He said it nicely, not like I just said it). One of the older translations says – “I have not yet been glorified.” – We read it like no one could touch him or something bad would happen – but that is not what it means – “I cannot stay here – because I must go and send the Holy Spirit – then I can be with you forever. Go tell the disciples.”
Back to Luke
The Road to Emmaus – which I won’t read…
36 And while they were telling these things, He Himself stood in their midst. 37 But they were startled and frightened and thought that they were seeing a spirit. 38 And He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts
It is always an issue of faith. How often in our lives – do doubts arise?
39 "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have."
A ghost does not have flesh and bones like I have – Think about this – the God of all creation – the one who created all things… On Christmas becomes a little baby – and then at the age of approximately 33 – is hung on a cross to die. And then this God, who became man – raised from the dead – comes back with flesh and bones. He still has a body – a human body. Yes, it is unique, yes, it is glorified – but it is one that Mary could cling to – one that He could say, “Touch Me!” –
39 "See My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself; touch Me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have." 40 [And when He had said this, He showed them His hands and His feet.] 41 And while they still could not believe [it] for joy and were marveling, He said to them, "Have you anything here to eat?" 42 And they gave Him a piece of a broiled fish; 43 and He took it and ate [it] before them.
Jesus – has a piece of broiled fish – and it not like they could see the piece of broiled fish in there. He wants them to understand that He has a body.
1 Cor. 15 – Paul is talking about the resurrection – the Corinthians were questioning whether there was a resurrection – he says, Yes – and we have witnesses – in total, around 500 people – who knew Jesus before He died who saw Him after the resurrection.
Like in a court of law – “I wasn’t speeding!” We have 500 people who saw you do it!
1 Cor. 15:12 Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; 14 and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. 15 Moreover we are even found [to be] false witnesses of God, because we witnessed against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; 17 and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.
20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who are asleep.
First fruit – when harvest time would come – the first one – (like tomatoes – you can never wait until it is ripe!) – but the Jews were required to take the first fruits and give it to the Lord – a pledge of a future harvest. Christ is the first fruit.

21 For since by a man [came] death (ADAM), by a man (JESUS) also [came] the resurrection of the dead.
That is odd – I would expect it to say – By the Son of God…but it says – by a man.
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all shall be made alive.
23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ's at His coming,
What is this saying? Our resurrected bodies will be just like His! He is in heaven – both God and Man – and in coming forth as the first fruit – He is in the likeness of all the rest – just like that first tomato is red and juicy – all of the ones following it will be.
45 So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul." The last Adam [became] a life-giving spirit. 46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural; then the spiritual. 47 The first man is from the earth, earthy; the second man is from heaven. 48 As is the earthy, so also are those who are earthy; and as is the heavenly, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

Let’s go back to v. 35 –
35 But someone will say, "How are the dead raised? And with what kind of body do they come?" 36 You fool! That which you sow does not come to life unless it dies; 37 and that which you sow, you do not sow the body which is to be, but a bare grain, perhaps of wheat or of something else. 38 But God gives it a body just as He wished, and to each of the seeds a body of its own. 39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one [flesh] of men, and another flesh of beasts, and another flesh of birds, and another of fish. 40 There are also heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is one, and the [glory] of the earthly is another.
Now, what he is doing – he is trying to explain the resurrection. In America, we have such an emphasis on the body – think of all the products sold! Things to make you feel young – to try to stay young – but no matter how much we do, in time, they fall apart. There is nothing we can do to stop it. We may delay it, but only for a brief time. These frail bodies will be replaced. And he uses a seed as an example. That is like this body – but he is saying – the next one – totally different – completely better. Our bodies – when we get there – these frail bodies – bodies of weakness and sickness – will be completely changed.
41 There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory
He is comparing bodies – the contrast is incredible.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown a perishable [body], it is raised an imperishable [body]; 43 it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power;
He is going to replace these weak bodies of ours – and someday we will have a body that is incredible, unbelievable! Someone once said – if you were to see yourself in glory – you would worship yourself. What is to come is so much better and real! This concept of a body – we are not just going to be spirits floating on clouds – it will be us! We will recognize those we love and we will be able to love more than we could imagine. We will have a capacity to do all those things we love – those things that give us true joy! We get confused – we think we’ll be “in heaven somewhere – in clouds” – but where does the Bible say you’ll be? On earth – It will be a new earth! Superman, step aside! And that should give us hope – we live in a world that is somewhat couched and packaged – in a world where things are kind of taken care of and there is comfort – but I think we lose perspective on what we are living for – because we can find comfort, satisfaction, entertainment here – but it is fake, and a shadow of what God has for us – it is important to have our eyes focused on that day and that time.
Every now and then, difficulty comes in to turn us toward that day – something happens – and it is at that point that these things begin to fill us and have the deep meaning that they are meant to have. Some have said – some are too heavenly minded to do any earthly good – well, I say, you have to be heavenly minded to do earthly good!
1 Cor. 15: 53 For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written, "Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not [in] vain in the Lord.
We need to focus and pay attention on that time if we wish to abound in this time.
It will transform who we are if we live every day in light of the world to come.