RESURRECTION! (John 3:14, John 12:32, I Corinthians 15)

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An Easter Series -- Part 6 of 7



I. Basic Facts About the Resurrection of Jesus

   A. Jesus predicted His own death and resurrection.
      Matthew 26:31-32: “Then Jesus said to them, ‘You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, “I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered.” [Quoting from Zechariah 13:7] But after I have been raised, I will go before you into Galilee.’” (He said this just before going to the Garden of Gethsemane.)

   B. It is a historical event.
      1. It happened - literal, physical, bodily.
         Without the bodily resurrection, you do not have biblical Christianity, but something else.
      2. It is attested -
         a. Tomb was empty
         b. Theories don't hold up - At the time everyone apparently agreed that the empty tomb was an incontestable fact.
            Swoon - How could he appear later in no need of medical attention?
            Jews stole body - would have created the rumor they wanted to stop
            Disciples stole body - Why would they be willing to die for such a hoax?
            Legend created by the church - reaction to early preaching was not denial of the resurrection as an event. Evangelists do not claim to have seen Jesus' resurrection. Preaching always connected the spiritual victory of the resurrection with the bodily resurrection of Jesus.
      3. Post-resurrection appearances over a period of 40 days (Acts 1:3)
         People saw Him with their physical eyes, while they were awake, One they recognized as Jesus of Nazareth. (Sometimes delayed recognition)

         To Mary Magdalene -- John 20
         To the other women -- Matt. 28
         To Cephas -- Luke 24
         To the Twelve (Thomas absent) -- John 20
         To the Emmaus disciples - Luke 24
         To more than 500 at one time -- I Corinthians 15:6
         To James, the Lord’s half brother -- I Corinthians 15:7
         To Paul (Saul) - Acts 9

II. The importance of the resurrection

O.T. Scriptures - Isaiah 53, Psalm 22, Zechariah 12:10, for example
   A. Christian faith rests upon this fact!
   B. It validates the gospel - It is an essential part of the gospel.
      Romans 10:9 Confess Jesus as Lord, believe God raised him from the dead....
   C. Vindicates Jesus' messiahship
   D. Vindicates Jesus' sonship
   E. Vindicates Jesus' work
   F. Further shows Jesus' humanity
   G. It demonstrates our own resurrection - OUR HOPE!
      “And just as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.” (I Corinthians 15:49)

      1. Flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. v. 50
      2. We shall not all sleep, but we will all be changed. v. 51
      3. Final victory over death, vv. 54-57
      4. Our body shall be like His.
         a. perfectly responsive to the Spirit
         b. retains individual identity
         c. No longer bound by material and spatial limitations (Materialize / localize at will)
         d. Not subject to any weakness or indignity
         e. Beautiful, strong and healthy
         f. Not subject to corruption
         g. Having continuity with earthly body / seed - to - tree / sown - raised

III. Christ Lifted Up

“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” John 3:14
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” John 12:32


   A. On the cross
      John refers to the crucifixion as glorification.
      We must understand what Jesus did for us on the cross.
   B. Lifted up “from the earth”
      1. The cross is “from the earth.”
      2 . The resurrection “from the earth.” He lives forever.
      3. The ascension “from the earth.” He is exalted forever.
      4. Seated at the right hand of God
         a. Mission accomplished
         b. In a position of honor
         c. In a position of authority
         d. In a position not shared

      5. Started his heavenly ministry as
         a. Our Advocate, our High Priest, our Intercessor, our Sustainer
         b. Head of the church -- The church must honor Jesus as Head of the body, manifesting his love and power, reaching out to the world.
         c. Preparing our place
         d. Preparing to return for us

      6. Proclaimed Lord and Christ
      7. Receiving great honor and glory

   C. Lifted up in the believers’ lives -- worshipped as Lord and Christ

    D. Lifted up in the church
      1. Early preaching lifted up Christ and always emphasized his death and resurrection.
      2. We can't give our life to a dead man. We can't expect anything from a dead man.
      3. Without the resurrection, our faith is futile.

   E. Lifted up In the world
      1. By the church, the Bible, and missionary effort
      2. By the Holy Spirit

   F. Lifted up by the power of God
      1. God's power raised Jesus from the dead
      2. God's power draws people to Him
      3. God's power gives us eternal life
      4. God's power is needed for the proclamation of the gospel
      5. God's power is needed to for us to live the Christian life. The same power that raised Jesus Christ is in every believer.

   G. Lifted up for the glory of God
      The resurrection glorifies Christ and God who raised him.
“I am the resurrection…” Jesus is the one who makes possible our own resurrection.
“ ... and the life…” Only through Him can we gain eternal life. He sustains us.
(John 11:25)

IV. For the salvation of man / eternal life, God allowed the crime of the crucifixion to
become the sacrifice to pay for our sin. Jesus bore our sins - He died in our place.
He lifts us up.

   A. Whosoever will may come
   B. Will share with Christ
      1. Eternal life / immortality
      2. Resurrection type bodily existence
      3. Glory and authority
      4. Serving and worshiping God forever

V. The Resurrection Process Starts Now

   A. The believer has eternal life now.
      1. This amounts to a moral and spiritual regeneration and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
   B. The bodily resurrection and exaltation happens later. By the resurrection, death is defeated!
   C. Christian faith governs the believer's a way of life.
      “I have come that they might have LIFE and have it more abundantly.” John 10:10
      “Choose life, that you and your descendents may live.” Deut. 30:19
   D. Christian faith is the way to life.
       “… you must be born again” John 3:7

VI. There Is Another Resurrection -- to Judgment and Condemnation

“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” John 3:36

   A. Retribution is not inconsistent with God's character or the Bible's teaching.
   B. Condemnation that is eternal
   C. Condemnation that is irreversible - no appeal to higher authority

VII. What Can We Do?

“There is therefore no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1

   A. Understand the importance of the Resurrection
      1. Part of the Gospel
      2. Part of the Christian's life now
      3. Part of the Christian's future

   B. Let God help you live the Christian life
   C. Lift up Christ / make Him known
   D. Help your church to lift Him up
   E. Celebrate the Resurrection!

Direct Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible.

Crucified for Us (Matthew 27, Luke 23, John 19)

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An Easter Series -- Part 5 of 7

Introduction -- Clamor for Crucifixion

   A. The religious officials persuaded the crowd to demand the release of Barabbas instead of Jesus.
   B. The were manipulated, but they allowed themselves to be manipulated.
   C. Pontius Pilate, the Roman procurator, after ceremoniously washing his hands said, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood,” (Matthew 27:24) Of course, he wasn’t.
   D. “And all the people answered and said, His blood be on us and on our children.’” (Matthew 27:25)
   E. “Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he delivered Him to be crucified.” (Matthew 27:26)

I. Jesus Crucified

   A. Mockery, Humiliation, and Beating
      Scourged = flogged with a leather whip containing bits of bone or metal imbedded in its thongs (“cat o’ nine tails”). Used by the Romans on murderers and traitors.
He was beaten and spat upon by the soldiers.
They dressed Him in a purple robe and placed a crown of thorns on His head. [“I thank Thee for wearing the thorns on Thy brow, If ever I loved Thee, my Jesus, ’tis now.”*] (See John 19:1-6)
“Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said, ‘Behold the Man!’ When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, ‘Crucify, crucify!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Take Him yourselves, and crucify Him, for I find no guilt in Him.’”(John 19:5-6)

   B. On the Way to Golgotha
      He carried His cross. When He could no longer carry it, a man from Cyrene (North Africa), named Simon, was compelled to carry it.

   C. Jesus on the Cross -- Words** and Events at the Cross
      1. “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
      2. They gave Him wine mixed with gall, but He was unwilling to drink it.
      3. He made provision for His mother.
         “…Woman, behold your son!” (John 19:26)
         “…Behold your mother!..” (John 19:27)
      4. The sign above his head” THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS (written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin -- John 19:20)
      5. Two robbers were crucified with Him, one on either side. (see Isaiah 53:12) One asks Jesus to remember him in His kingdom. “And He said to him, ‘Truly I say to you, today you shall be with Me in Paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
      6. More abuse from the crowd, chief priests, scribes and elders, and the robbers. “He trusts in God; Let Him deliver Him now, if He takes pleasure in Him, for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” (Matthew 27:43, referring to Psalm 22:8)
“If you are the Son of God …” -- same words Satan used in Jesus’ temptation.
      7. The cry of dereliction: “My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken Me?” (Matthew 27:46, quoting from Psalm 22:1) “This cry may reflect the desertion Jesus felt as He was bearing the sins of the world.” (Charles C. Ryrie)
      8. “I am thirsty.” (John 19:28) He was given a drink from a sponge filled with sour wine.
      9. He cried out, “It is finished!” (John 19:30)
     10. “And Jesus, crying out with a loud voice said, “Father, into Thy hands, I commit My spirit,” And having said this, He breathed His last.” (Luke 23:46) (See Psalm 31:5).
     11. The soldiers did not break His legs because He was already dead. (“not a bone of Him shall be broken,” (Psalm 34:20, quoted at John 19:36))
     12. “…but one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately, there came out blood and water.” (John 19:34) “…They shall look upon Him whom they pierced.” (John 19:37, quoting Zechariah 12:10)

   D. Other Events
      1. They divided His garments and cast lots for His seamless tunic. (John 19:23-24, Psalm 22:18)
      2. Three hours of darkness. Just as His birth had been an occasion for special light, His death was an occasion for special darkness. (Matthew 27:45)
      3. “And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom, and the earth shook; and the rocks were split…” (Matthew 27:51)
      4. “and the tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many.” (Matthew 27:52-53)
      5. The centurion and his men were frightened by the earthquake and other events, and the centurion said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54)
      6. The body of Jesus was claimed and buried by Joseph of Arimathea, a rich man who had become a disciple of Jesus. (Matthew 27:57-60. See Isaiah 53:9)

II. The Meaning of the Death of Jesus

   A. His death fulfilled God’s plan from eternity past. “ … the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” (Revelation 13:8, KJV)

   B. Jesus went to the cross voluntarily. (John 10:18)

   C. The suffering Jesus endured is described as follows by Bill Lobbs:

I suggest to you that it was knowing that this was what awaited him on the cross (the loss of the Father’s presence) that prompted Jesus to ask the Father three times in Gethsemane’s Garden, “If it be possible, let this cup be taken from me.” I don’t believe Jesus feared the beatings he would suffer. He wasn’t afraid of scourging whip that would soon cut across his back. He wasn’t trying to avoid the pain of the nails that would pierce his hands and feet, nor the crown of thorns on his head. It was none of these things that caused Jesus to cry out to the Father. It was knowing that on the cross he would have to take our God forsakenness upon himself. The ultimate penalty is to be “God forsaken,” Jesus suffered this when he became the sin offering for the world. He suffered the most agonizing sorrow and pain anyone could ever suffer.

   D. He Died as Our Substitute.

      “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2 Corinthians 5:21, KJV)

   E. His Cross Was a Victory over Satan, Sin, and Death.

   F. The Cross Was the Message of Early Preaching.
      “The preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God.”(I Corinthians 1:18, KJV)

   G. God Used the Murder of His Own Son as the Payment for All Sin of Those Who Would Believe.
      His righteousness demands punishment for sin, and this was fulfilled at the cross. The death of Jesus is the full, final, and only payment for your sin.

   H. The Cross Shows the Greatness of God’s Love for Us.
      God has always shown His love and great patience, but the cross is the greatest expression of them.

   I. Christ Is Our Example of Patience in Suffering.
      In I Peter, the Apostle exhorts his readers to bear patiently with suffering, pointing to Christ as the great Example:

… since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, neither was any deceit found in His mouth, and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds, you were healed. (I Peter 2:21-24. Also see Isaiah 53:9)

   J. The Resurrection
      Jesus didn’t stay on the cross. He didn’t stay in the tomb. He was raised from the dead. He is the Son of God. His Sacrifice was accepted in behalf of all believers. Because He rose again, we can also. His resurrection is the pattern for our own. (See I Corinthians 15)

   K. He Ascended and Is at the Right Hand of the Father, Interceding for Us.
      He is preparing a place for us. He sends His Holy Spirit. He is the Head of the Church.

Conclusion: Christ’s Work Demands a Response -- a Decision.

   A. Make the decision God wants you to make.
      1. To receive, through faith, Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, on the basis of His death, burial, and resurrection.
      2. If you have already received Him, be strengthened and encouraged in you faith.

   B. Failure to make a decision is actually a decision.

   C. Time for deciding to receive Christ in very limited.




Direct Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible, except as otherwise noted.

*From the hymn, “My Jesus, I Love Thee,” words by William R. Featherston (1846-1873)

**Order of Jesus’ sayings based on A.T. Robertson, A Harmony of the Gospels, Harper and Row, pp. 228-234.

Illustration: Jesus helped by Simon of Cyrene, part of a series depicting the stations of the Cross. Unknown painter, 19th century.