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EASTER MESSAGE WHO ROSE FROM THAT TOMB? JOHN 18-20
Now the peculiar thing about this phenomenon is that, not only did it spread to every single member of the party of Jesus of whom we have any trace, but they brought it to Jerusalem and carried it with inconceivable audacity into the most keenly intellectual center of Judea, against the ablest dialecticians of the day, and in the face of every impediment a brilliant and highly organized camarilla could devise. And they won. Within twenty years the claim of these Galilean peasants had disrupted the Jewish church and impressed itself upon every town on the Eastern coast of the Mediterranean from Caesarea to Troas. In less than fifty years it had begun to threaten the peace of the Roman Empire.”
What changed that whole party of 16 “whom are known to have belonged to the inner circle or Christ’s personal supporters: The eleven surviving apostles. Mary the mother of Jesus. Mary, the wife of Cleophas. Salome, the wife of Zebedee. Mary Magdalene. Joanna, the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward.”
What took the fleeing, fearful band like that and forged them into a “dynamic force? They formerly consisted of a habitual doubter like Thomas, a rather weak fisherman like Peter, a gentle dreamer like John, a practical tax gatherer like Matthew, a few seafaring men like Andrew and Nathanael, the inevitable women, and at most two or three others.”
And made them such a dynamic force? ONE THING:
THEY SAW HIM!
V. 18, I HAVE SEEN THE LORD V. 25, WE HAVE SEEN THE LORD V. 28, MY LORD AND MY GOD!!
I. What happened Easter Morning? A. Jesus was Raised from the dead! Romans 1:4 Jesus Christ our Lord, declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead.
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B. The Creator! (Have you looked up and said hello?) John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (KJV) II. Who was He? By way of the following 12 verses, analyze with me just who it was that rose! A. A NAME John18:1-11 Who has a name above all others, that every knee shall bow before? Jesus Christ our Lord, declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead. B. NO FEAR John 18:12-24 Who is absolutely fearless? Jesus Christ our Lord, declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead. C. PERFECT KNOWLEDGE John 18:25-27 Who alone knows all (omniscient)? check out Mark 14:27-30. It happened as He said. Jesus Christ our Lord, declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead. D. DIVINITY John 18:28-37 (see 19:7-9 also) Who alone is not from this world? Jesus Christ our Lord, declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead. E. SINLESSNESS John 18:38-19:16 Who is the only one who can stand even the scrutiny of those who hate Him and no fault can be found! Jesus Christ our Lord, declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead. F. GRACIOUSNESS John 19:17-42 Who can endure bearing shame and scoffing rude and stand perfectly at peace? Who could have called ten thousand angels! As they mocked the name of Jesus the mighty armies of God stood poised at the battlements of heaven with swords drawn ready to start Armageddon that very instant. But the call never came, “He could have called ten thousand angels, to destroy the world and set him free, but He died alone for you and me” Jesus Christ our Lord, declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead. OMNIPOTENCE John 20:1-10 Who can be executed by professionals, be buried for 3 days and then walk out of the Grave just when they said they would ? Jesus Christ our Lord, declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead. III. Conclusion: Why? Jesus Christ our Lord, declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead. A. John 20:11-18 He came to save the: The DEFILED like Mary He gives purity when they come to Him. B. John 20:19-23 He came to rescue the DEPRESSED like the disciples who were in hiding. C. John 20:24-31 He came to save the: The DOUBTERS like Thomas and He patiently gives them Faith when they doubt?
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D. John 21:1-14 He came to restore the DESERTERS like James and John He gives them Humility when they ask Him. E. John 21:15-25 He came to save the DENIERS like fearful Peter and gives them forgiveness when they fail Him! F. He came to save. To all like us today He gives forgiveness and true life when we ask Him! G. The Savior is waiting to enter your heart, why don’t you let Him come in? #329 IV. Evidences: A. Four eyewitness accounts in the Gospels. They all agree! B. The Tomb is empty. Then and to this day no body ever found! C. The abandoned Grave clothes. D. The witnesses who saw Him alive. E. Transformee lives of disciples. The New day of Worship for Christians