Sunday, March 23, 2008 am
CHRISTIANITY AND THE RESURRECTION
Today is a special day to many who profess to be Christians. It is an annual observance known as Easter which remembers the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead nearly two centuries ago. For some this is one of the few times, (if not the only time) they assemble with their church annually to worship God. But the Bible is silent as to this observance. While there is some evidence that a modified observance of the Passover was observed locally (not worldwide) during the second century, history shows that the observance of Easter did not actually begin to be observed until about a hundred years later. And even then there was not agreement as to when (or how) to observe it. The problem is that the observance of this holiday is NOT found in the Bible. In fact the only mention of the word “Easter” is found in the King James Version of Acts 12:4 where Herod arrests Peter and puts him in prison intending to bring him forth “after Easter.” The Greek language and most other English translation properly use the word “Passover,” the Jewish feast that was still prevalent in Jerusalem at that time.
Having said this, to Christians the resurrection is extremely important and NEEDS to be observed. In fact it is at the foundation of Christianity. Therefore, because the world is thinking about the resurrection of Christ, I feel it is appropriate to address this subject today. In this lesson I would like to briefly examine three things. 1) The importance of the resurrection in the New Testament. 2) The case for the resurrection of Jesus. 3) How we remember the resurrection. NOTE: EACH of these points could be a lesson within itself.
I. The importance of the resurrection in the first century
a.
Mentioned in all four gospels
(Matthew 28:1-8, Mark 16:1-8, Luke 24:1-12, John 20:1-10).
Every account of the life of Jesus makes reference to His resurrection because
of its importance.
b. The preaching of Acts - The sermons in Acts are filled with references to the resurrection
i. Acts 1 records interaction of Jesus AFTER He arose from the dead and as He ascended back to heaven.
ii. Acts 2:22-36 – the message of the sermon was the resurrection of Jesus. First Peter quotes from David (Psalm 16:8-11) where David speaks of his soul not being left “in hades” or the pace of the dead (Thayer) or “abode of souls loosed from their bodies” (Kittel). Based upon this, Peter notes that David was still dead and his grave was in their midst. Therefore, David was prophesying of another which he proceeds to show was Jesus. And not only was Jesus raised but He had ascended to heaven and was seated at the right hand of God. Therefore, Peter said, “God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
iii. Acts 3:11-26, after healing a lame man Peter preaches on Solomon’s porch of the temple complex. He notes he was healed in the name of Jesus. In this sermon he exclaims that they had let a murderer go and killed Jesus (the Prince of Life), “whom God raised from the dead, of which we are witnesses.” (3:15)
iv. Acts 4:8-12 as Peter and John were arrested in the temple they defend what they are doing before the Sanhedrin noting, “Let it be known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, by Him this man stands before you whole.” (10)
v. Acts 5:29-32 after being arrested again for preaching Jesus and facing punishment Peter and the others said, “We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging Him on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior…”
vi. Acts 7 as Stephen condemned the religious leaders for their rebellion they begin to stone him. As they do, Stephen looks up and sees Jesus and says, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” (56). He recognizes that Jesus is alive (and thus raised).
vii. Acts 8:35, as Philip preached Jesus to the Ethiopian Eunuch the eunuch responds with a desire to be baptized. Philip says, “If you believe with all you heart, you may.” And the Eunuch answers, “I believe that Jesus Christ IS the Son of God.” (36-37) In his preaching, Philip had to have mentioned the resurrection of Jesus and His place NOW in heaven.
viii. Acts 9 as Paul is blinded on the road to Damascus to persecute Christians, the Lord asks him, “Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” (4) He identified Himself saying, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting…” This is present tense indicating the Lord was alive.
ix. Acts 10 as Peter teaches Cornelius and his household. He identifies Jesus as one who “went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (38). He then pointed out how the Jews in Jerusalem killed Him by handing Him on a tree and “Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly,…” (40) The rest of that chapter records Cornelius and his household obeying the gospel.
x.
Acts 13:30-33 – while on his first
missionary journey in Pisidia he preaches in the synagogue on the Sabbath
briefly tracing the history of Israel as God’s chosen people. Identifying Jesus
as the seed of David he takes them to Jerusalem where he notes their leaders had
put Jesus to death (at the hands of Pilate). And even though He died and was
laid in a tomb, “God raised Him from the dead. He was seen for many days by
those who came up with Him from Galilees to Jerusalem, who are His witnesses to
His people. He the quotes David in a number of Psalms which proves David
prophesied of the resurrection. The conclusion, “
Therefore let it be known to you, brethren, that through this Man is preached to
you the forgiveness of sins:…” (38-39). It was well received until Gentiles
wanted to hear it as well.
xi. Acts 17:31-32 – in Athens Paul preached the gospel to Epicurean and Stoic philosophers who wanted to hear more about the resurrection that he preached (18). Beginning by recognizing that they were religious Paul leads the lesson to Jesus and eventually mentions the resurrection in vs. 31-32. Paul notes that we have assurance of judgment because God has raised Jesus from the dead. THIS, of course, caused controversy. Some wanted to hear more while others rejected him. In vs. 34 we note that some joined him and believed.
xii.
Acts 18:5 – while in Corinth, Paul
“testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.” There is a word in that
sentence in the Greek indicating present tense. Paul was in Corinth for 18
months.
BETWEEN chapter 18 & 23 you find a number of different events occurring
including Paul going to Jerusalem and being arrested in the temple. While there
is some preaching in these chapters including an account of his conversion in 22
before a crowd in Jerusalem it is mostly the unfolding of events.
xiii. Acts 23 records Paul making his defense before the Sanhedrin. Interestingly he notices there are both Sadducees and Pharisees present and thus he says in vs. 6, “Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee; concerning the hope and resurrection of the dead I am being judged.” This caused a commotion because the Sadducees denied a resurrection while the Pharisees believed in one. As a result of this Paul is rescued and in time has a chance to appear before Roman dignitaries.
xiv. Acts 24 records Paul giving a defense before Felix, the governor of Judea. He defends himself against false charges of the Jewish leaders and notes that he has hope “that there will be a resurrection of the dead” (15) and, “Concerning the resurrection of the dead I am being judged by you this day.” (21)
xv. Acts 26 finds before Agrippa where he recounts his life beginning with his Jewish heritage and his conversion to Jesus. In the process of his discourse he notes, “Why should it be thought incredible by you that God raises the dead?” (8). He concluded his statement by saying, “to this day I stand witnessing both to small and great, saying no other things than those which the prophets and Moses said would come – that the Christ would suffer, that He would be the first to rise from the dead, and would proclaim light to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles.” (22-23).
xvi. And thus we have the accounting of the resurrection in the book of Acts. As you can see, it was a focal point of their preaching and faith. AND it ought to be at the center of our preaching frequently, not just a couple of times a year!
c. There are also many other passages in the epistles that make reference to the resurrection in numerous different ways. I encourage you as you study these epistles to notice how much our risen Lord is addressed.
II. The case for the resurrection of Jesus
a. Sadly, not all accept his resurrection. There are many today who deny there is a resurrection and that is one of the primary reasons for rejecting Christianity.
b. But if truth be known, there is plenty of evidence, both external (beyond the pages of the New Testament) and internal (within the Word) that proves His resurrection.
c. IF there is no resurrection, then we too should reject Christianity. Paul even taught that in 1 Corinthians 15. In that chapter Paul is defending the hope of the resurrection.
i. He begins by noting that Jesus appeared to numerous individuals, including more than 500 at one time and finally He appeared to Paul (15:1-8)
ii. He notes that if there is no resurrection, then Christ is not risen (13)
iii. And if Christ is not risen, then our preaching is empty and so is our faith (14). In fact, by preaching the resurrection, they were liars (if there is no resurrection) (15-16),
iv. Now notes vs. 19, “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, then we are of all men the most pitiable.”
v. The rest of the chapter is spent explaining the significance of the resurrection and how we will be raised.
d. Consider also these facts about our risen savior.
i. There are many arguments externally that could be made to consider as you examine the resurrection.
ii. If Jesus did not arise, why were His followers willing to die for Him? The persecutions they endured made NO sense if there is no resurrection. Again note 1 Cor. 15:19.
iii. If Jesus did not arise, then the entire New Testament IS A FAKE! None of it is to be accepted. We have already shown the extent to which it deals with the resurrection. But it is interesting how many will accept parts of it (that they like) but reject those they don’t.
iv. Where is the body? A compelling argument for the resurrection is the fact that His body could not be found following its burial. When Jesus was buried, Matthew 27 records extraordinary measures being made to secure the tomb. (62-65) In these verses we that because Jesus made the claim He would arise (even His enemies knew about this claim) they went to Pilate to secure the tomb. A guard was provided by Pilate and they secured and sealed the tomb. Sealing the tomb meant that a seal was placed across the tomb that carried the penalty of death if it was broken. Also the Roman guard was accountable with their lives. In addition to this, the stone rolled across the entrance to the tomb could NOT be moved without being noticed (it was large and heavy).
v.
Some say His friends took the
body – but what about the guard?
Also, why die for a lie?
Some say His enemies took the body – but if they did, they would have
produced it and stopped the movement in its steps. Acts 5 records the advice
of Gamaliel noting that if their message was from God it could NOT be stopped,
but if it was from man (and if Jesus did not arise it was from man) then it
would come to nothing. He cites to examples of that in vs. 36-38 (Theudas and
Judas of Galilee).
There are other theories which are easily dismissed or plain ridiculous (Jesus
swooned, the wrong tomb, etc). But when you HONESTLY weigh them, the most
logical conclusion is that Jesus arose. Even if you can’t explain it – it makes
the most sense.
III. How we remember the resurrection
a.
When we obey the gospel
– Romans 6:3,4. In the act of baptism we are “buried with Him through baptism
into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the
Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.”
1 Peter 3:21 says, “There is also an antitype which now saves us – baptism
(not the removal of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience
toward God), through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
b. WE assemble each first day of the week so that we can partake of the Lord’s Supper. We also find that on that day we are to give (1 Cor. 16:1-2). It was also the day our Lord arose! Anytime we assemble, ESPECIALLY on the first day of the week, there is a reminder to us that He has risen. It is because of the hope of the resurrection that we are here!
c.
As we partake of the Lord’s
Supper – In Matthew’s account of
Jesus instituting the Lord’s Supper He tells them that the cup represented His
blood which was shed “for the remission of sins.” Then He said, “But I say
to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day
when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.” (26:28-29)
As we partake of the Lord’s Supper today, it is IN the kingdom, which has been
established (1 Corinthians 10:16).
But another question that arises is how often we ought to partake of the Lord’s
Supper. Again, we can look in scripture and observe that it was something done
frequently. Acts 20:7 mentions that “on the first day of the week, when the
disciples came together to break bread…” That is a reference to the Lord’s
Supper which was done on “the first day of the week.” How often is not
mentioned in the text, but we know that EVERY WEEK has a first day and we can
see this was a habit (consider how Paul stayed in Troas 7 days where he
assembled with the saints to “break bread” (6)
Paul, in 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 seems to indicate that this observance was
something they did frequently and they needed to be reminded of WHY they did it
(to commemorate His death and resurrection) and to do it properly (in a worthy
manner).
d. In our preaching and Bible studies. As we study the New Testament we are continually reminded of the resurrection and we ought to follow the pattern of the apostles who saw this as very important.
e. By living lives of sacrifice and service to God. We live with the hope of a resurrection after this life and like the Christians of the first century, we would die for it (at least that is my hope!). Philippians 3:8-11 finds Paul willing to give up all in this life “for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord...that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection of the dead.”
And thus we can see the significance of the resurrection. It is my hope that in this lesson we are reminded of what the scriptures actually tell us about this important event and HOW we are to remember it. If we truly are resting our hope in the resurrection, then let us give Him all that He demands and follow the pattern He has set for remembering it, and not just something we do once a year.
While the observance of Easter is based upon one of the founding blocks of Christianity and it is observed with the noblest of intentions, it simply is not something the church is authorized to do and thus we do not recognize it. Please do not take my word for this, but open the Bible for yourself and study. If I am wrong, please show me! Don’t base your salvation on the teachings of ANY man, including me! Think about it!