Daily Archives: April 8, 2007

Sunday Recap

08 Sunday Apr 2007

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Today was a great day. We had two Resurrection Day celebrations. The first began at 7:00 AM as several churches gathered for a community sunrise service. I had the opportunity to preach the message at that service. We followed that up by breakfast and on a cold morning (it was 21 degrees when we left the house) it did a body good.

We came home and I began to prepare for our worship celebration. We started the service with a reading from Matthew 28:1-10 and then sang “Jesus is Alive” and “Celebrate Jesus” followed by “Because He Lives” and “He Lives.” The congregation really sang their hearts out like they have the past few weeks. After prayer and offering, we sang “Christ the Lord is Risen Today” and then we had a solo. Linda did a great job singing “Then Came the Morning” and set up my sermon, which asked the question “What If?” I felt God working among us as we concluded the service. It was a long day, but it was a wonderful celebration. Have a blessed Easter!

What If?

08 Sunday Apr 2007

Posted by in Easter, resurrection

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While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” So the soldiers accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.

What if? What if what we are celebrating this morning is not true? How does that affect us? From what we just read, it appears that people have been trying covering up the resurrection for thousands of years. It seems, at least with the resurrection story, that conspiracy theories and collusion are nothing new.

Matthew is the only gospel writer to record this story of the meeting between the chief priests and the soldiers. That Jesus’ disciples would come and steal the body and claim Jesus’ resurrection was already noted. Matthew records this in his gospel chapter 27 beginning at verse 62.

The next day, on the Sabbath, the leading priests and Pharisees went to see Pilate. They told him, “Sir, we remember what the deceiver once said while he was still alive: ‘After three days I will rise from the dead.’ So we request that you seal the tomb until the third day. This will prevent his disciples from coming and stealing his body and then telling everyone he was raised from the dead! If that happens, we’ll be worse off than we were at first.”

It appears the chief priests and Pharisees seem to be a little paranoid. The fact that Jesus is the Messiah and is the promised One that the prophets spoke about is completely lost on them. Several prophecies were fulfilled in the man of Jesus and they still didn’t get it. Even if we go and take a look at the writings of the Psalms, the Hebrew songbook, they still don’t get it. Some of Jesus’ last words spoken from the cross were, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This is a direct quote from the Psalms. Jesus fulfilled many prophecies, but the scribes and the Pharisees didn’t get it. Before we get to hard on the Pharisees, if Jesus had been prophesied to our generation, I’m not so sure all of us would get it. On Friday, I had to go to work for a few hours and it struck me that for most people, Friday was just another day. It was business as usual. I mediated on that fact for a while and realized that for most of the people in Jerusalem, Jesus’ crucifixion was just ordinary. Others had claimed to be the Messiah and they suffered the same fate. Most in Jerusalem just went about their business. It was just any other day.

In reality, except for the guards, Pharisees, and the followers of Jesus, the day of the resurrection was just any other day. Is that true? What are the implications if Jesus didn’t rise from the dead?

I said earlier that conspiracy theories are nothing new. Most of you are quite aware of the documentary that was aired on The Discovery Channel last month. The tagline to the documentary went like this, “The one revelation that could change everything.” The documentary claimed that a burial cave that contained Jesus and that of his relatives was discovered in 1980. The documentary challenges the tenets of the Christian faith – the resurrection of Christ and his ascension to heaven.

Last year in the weeks preceding Easter, we heard all about the lost gospel of Judas. It seem that many want to discount the possibility of Jesus’ resurrection.

Why would the Pharisees want to discount the resurrection? Because it would prove that Jesus was who he said he was. The gospel writers record many accounts of Jesus’ run-ins with the Pharisees. It’s never a pretty picture. Very early in Jesus’ ministry they started plotting how to get rid of him. Jesus was dangerous to their safe religion.

More importantly for us, what hinges on the resurrection? Why is the resurrection important? What if the resurrection never happened? What are the consequences?

Is the resurrection easy to understand? Is it a mystery? This week I heard a news clip of a Christian campus organization using a coffin to illustrate Jesus’ death and resurrection. Why? Because most of us are not familiar with what a tomb is. We are familiar with coffins. Imagine that Jesus was crucified this past Friday. They immediately put him in a coffin and buried him. What are the chances that a mere human could raise themselves from the dead on Sunday morning? I was watching Mythbusters a few months ago and they tested the myth of being buried alive and living to tell about it. According to the research they did, it would be just about impossible for that to happen.

Some say, that Jesus didn’t really die – that he was in a suspended state for several days. Let’s take a look at the evidence. It’s possible that Jesus’ body could have shut down from the extreme torture he received at the hands of the Roman guards. John records this in chapter 20 beginning at verse 31:

It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was the Passover). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers, however, pierced his side and immediately blood and water flowed out.

This piercing was to make doubly sure that Jesus was dead. Some say the fact that blood and water flowed attest to the fact that Jesus died of a broken heart and that he truly died. He was not in a state of suspended animation. Why is this important? If Jesus was simply in a suspended state, he was not raised.

Why is the resurrection so important? Let’s go to Paul’s writings to the church in Corinth to answer the question, “What if Christ was not raised from the dead?”

But tell me this—since we preach that Christ rose from the dead, why are some of you saying there will be no resurrection of the dead? For if there is no resurrection of the dead, then Christ has not been raised either. And if Christ has not been raised, then all our preaching is useless. And we apostles would all be lying about God—for we have said that God raised Christ from the grave. But that can’t be true if there is no resurrection of the dead. And if there is no resurrection from the dead, then Christ has not been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless and you are still guilty of your sins. In that case, all who have died believing in Christ are lost! And if our hope in Christ is only for this life, we are more to be pitied than anyone in the world.

But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead. He is the first of a great harvest of all who have died.

So, what difference does the resurrection make in the Christian faith? It is the centerpiece of the faith. Everything we believe in hinges on the fact that Christ has been raised from the dead and if he has not, then we are just fooling ourselves.

The apostles thought declaring the resurrection was worth dying for. If preaching the resurrection was worth dying for, then it must have happened. Listen to Peter’s words in Acts chapter 10.

Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism. In every nation he accepts those who fear him and do what is right. This is the message of Good News for the people of Israel—that there is peace with God through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee, after John began preaching his message of baptism. And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus when around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

And we apostles are all witnesses of all he did throughout Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him to life on the third day. Then God allow him to appear, not to the general public, but to us whom God had chosen in advance to be his witnesses. We were those who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. And he ordered us to preach, everywhere and to testify that Jesus is the one appointed by God to be the judge of all – the living and the dead. He is the one all the prophets testified about, saying that everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.”

Peter and Paul were both eyewitnesses to the resurrection. They died martyr’s deaths. This morning you have an opportunity to believe in the risen Christ. Peter said that those who believe in Christ will have their sins forgiven. Christ came to earth two thousand years ago, to pay the price for our sins, by shedding his blood, and conquering sin, death and hell by conquering the grave.

The Reality of the Resurrection – Community Sunrise Service

08 Sunday Apr 2007

Posted by in Easter, resurrection, Sunrise

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Roman soldiers nailed Jesus to the cross at noon. When they did, darkness fell across the whole land until 3:00 in the afternoon. The sun was gone from the sky. It was then that Jesus breathed His last words and released His spirit to the Father. The veil in the temple was ripped in two; rocks split apart; tombs were opened; Jesus died.

Perhaps these could be the saddest words we could here. The disciples’ hopes were crushed – their leader was gone. Most of them fled in horror. The women that were among Jesus’ entourage hung around until the terrible deed was done. The disciples found some safe hiding places to spend the Sabbath. We don’t know whether the women were with them or not. Here’s what we do know; Luke tells us that early on Sunday morning, the women went to the tomb to properly bury Jesus. I would imagine that some of the conversation centered around how they were going to get to the body. How would they move the stone? How would the guards react?

Imagine their surprise that the stone had been moved. Imagine their amazement that the body was gone. There was no body in the tomb, what had happened. If there were any questions, they were soon answered by two men clothed in dazzling robes. I think I would have been as terrified as the women. The bowed their faces to the ground and then the men talked. “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive?” I can imagine, they thought to themselves, “What? What do you mean?” They had seen Jesus die. They had watched Him be put into the tomb. What do you mean why do we seek someone who is alive among the dead? The men continue, “He isn’t here.” Again, imagine the thoughts, of course he isn’t here the tomb is empty. Where is he? “He is risen from the dead”, they continue. “Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”

Then they remember that he had said this. Luke 9:21 records it this way, “He will be rejected by the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of the religious law. He will be killed, but on the third day he will be raised from the dead.” These are Jesus’ own words.
So the women remember the words that Jesus said and compared it to the words of the two men and decide to run back to tell the eleven disciples – and I like how Luke also says “and everyone else.” – what had happened. This was great news that Jesus was alive. You think the disciples would have been excited at the news, remember Jesus’ words, but no. Here’s their reaction. We’ll have to continue to use our imaginations here. I’m sure the women came back excited and the men couldn’t believe and it seems at first they didn’t want to believe it. They dismissed the story as nonsense. The Greek word here is translated as an idle tale. We would call it an old wives tale. Is that what the story of the resurrection is — Simply an old wives tale?
It seems one disciple wasn’t so sure. The disciple that had denied Jesus three times – Peter – gets up and runs to the tomb to find it empty. He also finds the burial cloth, but he still doesn’t appear to be quite convinced. Was the story of the women real? He goes back home, wondering what happened.

There are people today who still count the resurrection as an idle tale, a bunch of nonsense. But Christians know that Jesus is alive, for his Spirit lives in them, and we can boldly affirm the reality of Christ’s resurrection. Why?

For one, nothing is more convincing than personal experience. The women experienced Jesus’ resurrection personally. They were there at the empty tomb. They heard the words of the angelic visitors. This was all the proof that they needed.

We see in Matthew’s gospel that there was a plot to “cover-up” the resurrection. Conspiracy theories are nothing new. The guards fell asleep. The religious leaders devised a plan and it worked and yet just because they made up a story does not negate the reality of the resurrection.

Jesus appeared to two of the disciples on the Emmaus road. He walked with them and met the rest of the group. He appeared to many people and Paul tells us that he appeared to over 500 people at one time. These are people who personally witnessed the resurrection. Can you imagine how Peter felt when he finally saw the resurrected Jesus? I’m sure there was joy in his heart. There were those who ate with him, talked with him, and listened to him in the days following his resurrection. When we open our lives to the risen Christ, we can testify of his living presence. Not only is there the touch of personal experience, but there is the testimony of Scripture.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all share accounts of the resurrection. The accounts differ in the way that they are told. Some critical scholars point out these differences, but if we look at Scripture with a critical eye, we can explain the differences in the stories. An acquaintance of mine in New York, said that instead of proving the stories are false, the differences actually prove the stories are true. As someone in the legal field, variations in witnesses’ testimony are actually good. Lawyers get concerned when all the stories line up, because that is evidence that there is collusion involved or as we say conspiracy. When the witnesses get together and tell the same story, there is cause for alarm.

It’s interesting to note that the gospel accounts are straight-forward accounts – no elaborate language, no adornments and no visionary experiences and they are all filled with present tense.

John’s account records the grave clothes were folded. If this had be a grave robber, they wouldn’t have bothered with folding the clothes.

The scripture is filled with accounts of the resurrection. We find several in Acts. Peter preached in front of the Pentecost crowd, “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this.” The risen Christ appeared to Saul on the road to Damascus. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15 3-7, “I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him.”

In Revelation, John records Jesus’ words, “I am the living one. I died, but look – I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.” The scriptures are clear that Jesus is alive, but there’s one more factor. The resurrection can be known through personal touch and it can be known through the scriptures but it can also be known through the power of transformation.

We have been taking a serious look at transformation over the past few months at Preston Wesleyan. The resurrection made a difference in the lives of the first-century disciples. The women coming to the tomb on Sunday were puzzled by the lack of a body, but when they heard that Jesus was alive they were changed and they wanted to tell everyone what had happened.

The pre-resurrection disciples were strange bunch. There was infighting, fear, depression and so on. But look how things change after the resurrection. The risen Jesus can help us as well.

Jesus can help our doubts as well. Think of Thomas, we even call people who doubt, Doubting Thomas. Jesus changed Thomas’ attitude as well. To a world that doubts the resurrection ever happen, Jesus can minister to them through his Holy Spirit through us and dispelling their doubts.

The risen Christ brings purpose and meaning to life. Without the resurrection, Paul tells us we are to be pitied among all men, if we only have hope that Christ was raised for this life. Our job becomes to give hope to all that Christ has been raised from the dead and to help them meaning and purpose.

Jesus resurrection is a reality, it is not an idle tale. I encourage you to seek Him. He is real. He can be known through personal touch; through the scriptures; and through the power of a changed life.

He Is Risen — Just As He Said

08 Sunday Apr 2007

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1 But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 3 So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.
5 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”
8 Then they remembered that he had said this. 9 So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened.

Easter Vigil – Saturday Night

08 Sunday Apr 2007

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The Easter Vigil, also called the Great Vigil of Easter, is a service held in many Christian churches as the first official celebration of the Resurrection of Jesus. Historically, it is during this service that people (especially adults) are baptized and that adult catechumens and candidates are received into full communion with the Church. It is held in the hours of darkness between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter Day – most commonly in the evening of Holy Saturday – but is considered to be the first celebration of Easter Day since, in Church (and Jewish) reckoning, days begin at sunset the night before. — from www.answers.com.

I love the symbolism of this service that I heard about a few years ago even though I’ve not been part of one, but I have read through the service and it seems powerful. Thursday night we left our sanctuary in the darkness. This service begins after dark on Saturday in the dark. A new fire is lit and then the paschal candle is lit from that fire representing the light of Christ come back to life. There are several Old Testament readings, which I am not including this evening. Here are the other readings:

Romans 6:3-11; Psalm 114; Matthew 28:1-10

Romans 6:3-11

3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

Over the last 48 hours the disciples have been waiting — in anticipation. This scripture alludes to Christ’s coming resurrection and the power the resurrection gives us over the power of sin. So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

Friday has past — It’s Saturday evening — We wait in ancipation of celebration of …

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