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.

When Jesus Wept -- (John 11)

Image via WikipediaIntroduction

“Jesus wept.” (v. 35)

This is the shortest verse in the Bible, yet one of the most important and meaningful.

He was ready to demonstrate His own words, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.” (John 5:25)



Instances of Jesus weeping, being deeply moved, with strong emotion

At the tomb of Lazarus

At Gethsemane

Over Jerusalem


Emotional life of Jesus

Jesus is not an impersonal force, or One too far removed from us or unlike us to understand our feelings. He has experienced them and He created them.



Weeping at the tomb of Lazarus

Jesus had a special relationship with Lazarus and his sisters. They were His close friends.

“Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.” (v. 5) Yet He delayed His coming to their home after Lazarus died, because He was preparing a significant sign designed to glorify God the Father and Himself. Jesus came with His disciples to the home of Lazarus.


“…This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.” (v. 4b)


I. Where and in What Circumstances Jesus Wept

Bethany, a village about two miles from Jerusalem.

Upon the death of His friend Lazarus
At Lazarus’ tomb. Before Mary, Martha, His disciples, and the other mourners.

     A. Although He had purposely delayed His coming

     B. Knowing Lazarus would rise again

     C. Knowing God would be glorified

     D. Knowing people would be moved to believe in Him


II. How Jesus Wept


     A. Openly
     B. Unashamedly
     C. Out of strong emotion
     D. In such a manner as to impress the people with His love for Lazarus
     E. As He prayed.


III. Why Jesus Wept (John 11:20-35)


     A. The Exchange Between Jesus and Martha: His statement and her confession
When Jesus arrived, He was met by Martha.

“…Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died. Even now, I know that  whatever You ask of God, God will give you..” (vv. 21-22) She expressed faith.

 “Jesus said to her, ‘Your brother shall rise again.” (v 23).
 Martha: “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.”


“Jesus said unto her, ‘I am the resurrection, and the life. He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest
thou this?’” (vv.25-26, KJV)


Jesus is the one with final power over death.


“She said to Him, ‘Yes, Lord, I Have believed that You are the Christ, the Son of God, even He who comes into the world.’” (v. 27)


This was to be a miraculous sign.


     B. The Exchange Between Jesus and Mary
She rose up quickly to meet Jesus - some distance from the house, where Martha had been.         She fell at His feet. “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.” (v.32)

“When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit, and was troubled. (v.33)  ‘…Where have you laid him?’ They said to Him, ‘Lord, come and see.’” (v.34)



     C. Jesus wept. (v. 35)


     D. He prepared Himself for this important encounter. He was deeply moved --
Deep sorrow and sympathy for Mary and Martha, and by extension, all who would have to suffer as they did over the loss of their beloved brother. Sorrow over the fact of sin and death -- He had come into the world to abolish them. “The last enemy that will be abolished is death.”(I Corinthians 15:26) He was sorrowful over the state of mankind and the destruction caused by sin.


“And so the Jews were saying, ‘Behold how he loved him!’” (v. 36)

“But some said, ‘Could not this man who opened the eyes of him who was blind, have kept this man

also from dying?’” (v. 37)



“Jesus therefore again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb...” (v.38)



     E. He Had Indignation Over Death, and the Power of Satan
He came to abolish death and destroy the works of Satan. This event was a sign pointing to the greater reality of His own resurrection (and ours)   It was more convincing than raising someone from a deathbed.


Conclusion and Applications:


Jesus raised Lazarus, who had been in the tomb for four days, from death.

“… He cried out with a loud voice, ‘Lazarus, come forth.’ He who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings; and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, ‘Unbind him and let him go.’” (vv. 43b-44)


1. Jesus demonstrates His humanity. He experienced human temptations and sufferings. He had human
friendships and human grief. The Bible says, “…weep with those who weep.” (Romans 12:15b)

2. Jesus’ work on our behalf is out of love. He wept for others. He shared their grief.


3. Jesus shows that it is appropriate and acceptable to weep over the death of a loved one, a believer,
even though we know that the person is with the Lord, in a better place. We weep over the unwanted separation, and over the unfulfilled hopes. Jesus understands our sorrow, and has experienced it Himself. But He provides the final remedy.


4. We can be thankful to God for Jesus’ example, and thankful in all situations. “Father, I thank thee…,” He prayed.


5. Jesus is our true comforter. He is our fellow sufferer. We can give and receive this kind of comfort

with others, knowing that Jesus is the Source.


“For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.” Rev. 7:17 (KJV)



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

KJV = King James, or Authorized Version.


Illustration: Giuseppe Salviati, The Raising of Lazarus. Oil on canvas. Fondazione Querini Stampalia, Venice, Unknown date. Public domain.

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