Sermons on the resurrection of Christ

The Resurrection

And

The Forty Days with the Apostles

Go with me to Jerusalem.

1.       The trial---the persecution—slaps and slugs—crown of thorns—the scourging.  His whole torso was a ripped and torn by the steel in the whip. His body was a giant scab.

“And when they were come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified him, and the malefactors, one on the right hand and the other on the left”  Luke 23:33.  They drove large nails in his hands and feet and lifted him before all as a convicted criminal. The mob laughed. They humiliated him. His nakedness—their language—the shame—the pain! Six agonizing hours. His strength had oozed away. He was bleeding out.  “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do!”

His body slipped from the violent darkness of Golgotha to the blackness of death.

It was over.

Death is quiet.

Death is black both in symbols and reality.

A rich man claimed His tattered body.

He took it to his own tomb. It was a tomb made for his family. It had been hand hued with clanging hammers on steel chisels.  They dug a tunnel into the rock. But the tomb was finished. It had never been used. The Scriptures say “it was a “new” tomb.

Joseph and Nicodemus, “who came to Jesus by night,” gently carried Jesus into the tomb, laying Him on a large flat slab of rock, and covered Him with a shroud, and rolled the stone in the opening of the cave.

Heaven could still hear His raspy voice, “My God—My God—Why hast thou forsaken me?”

Soldiers, by Pilate’s order, sealed the small openings around the stone with mud or clay so they could determine if His body was stolen by His friends or enemies. He said He would arise from death. But no one believed Him! So, if someone robbed this tomb and claimed a resurrection, everyone would know.

The soldiers had disappeared at the order of their commander.  Imperial Rome was finally finished with this long day. The Carpenter was finished too.  His followers had slipped away with stooped shoulders and sad faces.  The world’s greatest single day closes as the drapery of night settles gently upon the earth.

It was dark again—and quiet.

As morning comes, the disciples of Jesus are behind closed doors and shuttered windows.  Their hearts are broken by seeing His violent death and because of their disappointment in themselves. They forsook Him. They are frightened. They are confused. He’s gone, and they are scared!

They think they know about where everyone else is staying—but they are fearful to get together in large groups.  Jerusalem is full of angry people. They are certain the streets of this city will flow with the blood of hundreds of His followers.  If they would kill the innocent Jesus, what would they do to them? The mob has seen His disciples in His company. They know who is in this little group. They all know they should stay off the streets and behind locked doors.

Everything is so different now that the Master is gone.  Everything seems upside down. For three years they nearly lived on the streets—but now they are hiding.  The shades of evening come. They hope they are less conspicuous in night’s cover. The followers of Jesus don’t want their lights to shine now!

The dawn opens the Sabbath. They didn’t prepare well for this one. They began to get up from their mats. There will be less people around town. They have survived their most fearful day.  Today should be better.  “Lord—please keep us safe!”

Because it is the Sabbath, families will be together; less chance of mobs forming. The people should control their anger better. It is a Holy day. They will lose themselves in their rituals. Maybe they will survive.

And they do.

As the beams of morning’s dawn begin to break the darkness early Sunday morning, Mary Magdalene, Mary, the wife of Cleopas, and Salome are walking toward the sepulcher when the earth begins to move beneath them and structures move as though pushed by the wind. It was a “great earthquake.”   There have been others recently. Their anxiety increases. “The angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it” as to signify the victory over death.

“His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:  And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.  And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.  He is not here: for he is risen, as he said.   Come, see the place where the Lord lay.   And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you. And they departed quickly from the sepulcher with fear and great joy; and did run to bring his disciples word.”                   (Matt. 28: 2-8)

Peter and John had a race to the tomb. John wanted you to know that he is the fastest.   John 20:4 

The three women and the Apostles, Peter and John all saw it the first thing Sunday morning.  They saw that the tomb was empty.  No historian, no atheist, no agonistic, no person living or dead, has ever been able to give a reasonable explanation for the empty tomb—except that Jesus arose from the dead by the power of God.  And all of our hope of eternal life is found in His resurrection.

There are 12 Biblical accounts of our Lord’s Appearances after His resurrection.

1.       Mary Magdalene early Sunday morning                              John 20: 11-18

2.       Women returning from the tomb                                         Matt. 28: 9-10

3.       Simon Peter alone                                                                     Luke 24: 34

4.       Two disciples on Emmaus road                                               Luke 24: 13-31

5.       Apostles, except Thomas                                                          John 20: 19-25

6.       Apostles, with Thomas present                                               John 20: 26-39

7.       Seven disciples fishing                                                               John 21: 1-13

8.       Eleven disciples on a mountain                                               Matt. 28: 16-20

9.       Above 500 brethren                                                                    I Corinthians 15: 6

10.   James only                                                                                     I Corinthians 15: 7

11.   All the apostles at ascension                                                      Luke 24: 50-51

 

I Corinthians 15: 6 says that he appeared unto above 500 of the brethren, and most historians suggest that was about the number of his followers. Doesn’t that sound like Jesus—wanting to be with every one of them again, perhaps to prove himself, before he ascended into heaven. This truly must have built their faith, and gave them the assurance to go and accomplish what he had commanded them.

Forty days ago they lived in fear. A little over a month later, they stood bravely and boldly preached the Risen Christ on the day of Pentecost.  The church of Jesus Christ was established and the saved of the last 2000 years have been added to it.

March, 2015

Don Pruitt