April 17, 2022 –Easter Sunday

Ascension Presbyterian Church Longwood

Subscribe

Download

Share

00

00:00

and through his blood, the forgiveness of sins. In Christ Jesus, brethren, your sins are forgiven.

00:08

Amen. Amen. Please take up the hymnal and turn to number 286. 286.

02:41

Alyssa, to play through that one. In the wilderness, a lodging place for travelers, that I might leave my people and go from them, for they are all adulterers, an assembly of treacherous men.

05:48

And like their bow, they have bent their tongue for lies. They are not valiant for the truth on the earth.

05:56

For they proceed from evil to evil, and they do not know me, says the

06:01

Lord. Everyone take heed to his neighbor and do not trust any brother, for every brother will utterly supplant and every neighbor will walk with slanderers.

06:14

Everyone will deceive his neighbor and will not speak the truth. They have taught their tongues to speak lies.

06:23

They weary themselves to commit iniquity. Their dwelling place is in the midst of deceit.

06:30

Through deceit, they refuse to know me, says the Lord. Therefore, thus says the

06:36

Lord of hosts, behold, I will refine them and try them, for how shall

06:44

I deal with the daughter of my people? Their tongue is an arrow shot out.

06:51

It speaks deceit. One speaks peaceably to his neighbor with his mouth, but in his heart, he lies in wait.

06:59

Shall I not punish them for these things, says the Lord? Shall I not avenge myself on such a nation as this?

07:08

I will take up a weeping and a wailing for the mountains and for the dwelling places of the wilderness, a lamentation, because they are burned up so that no one can pass through, nor can men hear the voice of the cattle.

07:25

Both the birds of the heavens and the beasts have fled. They are gone.

07:31

I will make Jerusalem a heap of ruins, a den of jackals. I will make the cities of Judah desolate without an inhabitant.

07:41

Who is the wise man who may understand this, and who is he to whom the mouth of the

07:49

Lord has spoken, that he may declare it? Why does the land perish and burn like a wilderness so that no one can pass through?

07:57

And the Lord said, because they have forsaken my law, which I have set before them, and have not obeyed my voice nor walked according to it, but they have walked according to the deceits of their own hearts and after the bales, which their fathers taught them.

08:16

Therefore, thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, behold, I will feed them, this people, with wormwood and give them water of gall to drink.

08:28

I will scatter them also among the Gentiles, whom neither they nor their fathers have known.

08:34

And I will send a sword after them until I have consumed them. Thus says the

08:41

Lord of hosts, consider and call for the mourning women that they may come and send for skillful wailing women that they may come.

08:51

Let them make haste and take up a wailing for us that our eyes may run with tears and our eyelids gush with water.

08:59

For a voice of wailing is heard from Zion, how we are plundered. We are greatly ashamed because we have forsaken the land, because we have been cast out of our dwellings.

09:14

Yet hear the word of the Lord, oh women, and let your ear receive the word of his mouth.

09:22

Teach your daughters wailing and everyone her neighbor and lamentation. For death has come through our windows, has entered our palaces to kill off the children, no longer to be outside, and the young men no longer on the streets.

09:41

Speak, says the Lord, even the carcasses of men shall fall as refuse on the open field, like cutting after the harvester and no one shall gather them.

09:53

Thus says the Lord, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty man glory in his might, nor let the rich man glory in his riches, but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the

10:13

Lord, exercising loving kindness, judging and forgiving. Says now let the vault of heaven resound, 635, now let sing heartily the

12:48

Lord. Please take up number 200.

19:39

Please prepare for the prayers of the people. Amendments today, so men we need to jump on them.

19:48

Maybe you need to do double duty today. Let us now pray together in unison.

20:01

Oh God, from whom come all holy desires, all good counsel, and all just works.

20:10

Give to us your servants that peace which the world cannot give, and also that we being defended from the fear of our enemies may live in peace and quietness through the merits of Jesus Christ our

20:32

Savior, who lives and reigns with you in the Holy Spirit, God forever, amen.

20:41

The Lord says, I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods beside me.

21:23

You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.

22:19

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Keep this your law.

22:45

Just to never take your name flippantly, but reverently in the

22:55

Holy Spirit. Remember the

23:01

Sabbath day to keep it holy. This your law.

23:33

Honor your father and your mother. Mercy on us and incline our hearts to keep this your law.

23:46

Our gracious God and Father, you have given us your commandments to teach us your ways and to make us holy and perfect like unto you.

23:56

Father, as we think about this command to honor our earthly father and our earthly mother, we think of our heavenly father that this earthly mother, the church, and as we think on these things,

24:10

Lord, how we should honor our earthly father and our earthly mother in the same way that we honor you and the church.

24:17

Father, give us the grace to do this. Give us the grace to show that honor in this lost and hurting world.

24:25

As an example, ask this in Jesus' name.

24:32

You shall not kill. Keep this your law.

25:02

We know that we cannot cleanse ourselves, by Christ, that we are to seek to cease sin in our hearts and in our lives, destroyed, that we may be obedient in thinking through the work of the gospel, that our love for our neighbors,

25:34

Christ, when he says that we have angered our hearts toward the brother, that we stop what we are doing, take this out and flesh it through on our own.

25:55

We worship you. You shall not commit adultery.

26:08

Keep this your law. You shall not steal.

27:16

This your law.

27:26

Our gracious heavenly father, we know that all things are yours in all things. We pray, father, that you would keep us from stealing, whether that be stealing from our neighbors or from others.

27:41

Father, ultimately, whatever it is that takes our minds of a view on our savior,

27:56

Jesus Christ, we pray, father, that you would give us thankful hearts for all that you have given us and that we would rejoice in it.

28:04

We ask this in Jesus' name. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

28:14

Have mercy on us and incline our hearts to keep this your law. The place for truth that is in all of us against our sisters, against each other.

28:41

Pray that when we are speaking about each other that we would do it in love and truth. Pray this in your son's name.

29:02

You shall not covet. Mercy on us and incline our hearts to keep this your law.

30:01

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul, mind and strength.

30:46

Please stand. Please find the bulletin insert that has our

31:00

Psalm of the Month, Psalm 22. Please take up your

33:55

Bibles and turn to John chapter 19. I'm going to read the last part of the crucifixion account in all of chapter 20.

34:11

Begin reading in verse 17 of John 19. And he bearing his cross went out to a place called the place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified him and two others with him, one on either side and Jesus in the center.

34:33

Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross and the writing was Jesus of Nazareth, the

34:40

King of the Jews. Then many of the Jews read this title for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city and it was written in Hebrew, Greek and Latin.

34:52

Therefore, the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, do not write the King of the Jews, but he said,

34:59

I am the King of the Jews. Pilate answered, what I have written, I have written.

35:06

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments and made four parts to each soldier apart and also the tunic.

35:15

Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. They said, therefore among themselves, let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be.

35:28

That the scripture might be fulfilled, which says they divided my garments among them and for my clothing, they cast lots.

35:37

Therefore, the soldiers did these things. Now there stood by the cross of Jesus, his mother and his mother's sister,

35:45

Mary, the wife of Clopas and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw his mother and the disciple whom he loves standing by, he said to his mother, woman, behold your son.

36:00

Then he said to the disciple, behold your mother. And from that hour, that disciple took her to his own home.

36:08

After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the scripture might be fulfilled, said,

36:16

I thirst. Now a vessel of sour wine was sitting there and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop and put it in his mouth.

36:27

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, it is finished. And bowing his head, he gave up his spirit.

36:36

Therefore, because it was the preparation day that the body should not remain on the cross on the

36:42

Sabbath, for that Sabbath was a high day, the

36:47

Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away.

36:53

Then their soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with him. When they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs.

37:04

But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear and immediately blood and water came out.

37:11

And he who has seen has testified and his testimony is true. And he knows that he is telling the truth so that you may believe.

37:20

For these things were done that the scripture might be fulfilled, not one of his bones shall be broken.

37:28

And again, another scripture says, they shall look on him whom they pierced. After this,

37:34

Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for the fear of the

37:39

Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus. And Pilate gave him permission.

37:47

So he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds.

37:58

And they took the body of Jesus and bound it in strips of linen with the spices as the custom of the

38:05

Jews is to bury. Now in the place where he was crucified, there was a garden.

38:12

And in the garden, a new tomb, which no one had been laid. So there they laid Jesus because of the

38:19

Jews' preparation day for the tomb was nearby. Now chapter 20.

38:25

Now the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene, went to the tomb early while it was still dark and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb.

38:36

And she ran and came to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved and said to them, they have taken away the

38:42

Lord out of the tomb and we do not know where they have laid him. Peter therefore went out and the other disciple and were going to the tomb.

38:52

So they both ran together and the other disciple outran Peter and came to the tomb first.

38:58

And he stooping down and looking in saw the linen cloths lying there. Yet he did not go in.

39:05

Then Simon Peter came following him and went into the tomb and he saw the linen cloths lying there.

39:11

And the handkerchief had been around his head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded together in a place by itself.

39:19

Then the other disciple who came to the tomb first went in also. Then he saw and believed.

39:26

For as yet they did not know the scripture that he must rise again from the dead.

39:33

Then the disciples went away again to their own homes. But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping and as she wept, she stooped down and looked into the tomb.

39:44

And she saw two angels in white sitting one at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus had lain.

39:51

Then they said to her, woman, why are you weeping? She said to them, because they have taken away my

39:58

Lord and I do not know where they have laid him. And when she had said this, she turned around and saw

40:04

Jesus standing there and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, woman, why are you weeping?

40:14

Whom are you seeking? She supposing him to be the gardener said to him, sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away.

40:25

Jesus said to her, Mary. She turned and said to him,

40:31

Rabboni, which is to say teacher. Jesus said to her, do not cling to me for I have not yet ascended to my father, but go to my brethren and say to them,

40:42

I am ascending to my father and your father and to my God and your God. Mary Magdalene came and told the disciples whom she had seen that she had seen the

40:52

Lord and that he had spoken these things to her. Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for the fear of the

41:03

Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst and said to them, peace be with you.

41:11

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side and the disciples were glad when they saw the

41:16

Lord. So Jesus said to them again, peace to you as the father has sent me,

41:22

I also send you. When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, receive the

41:29

Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them. If you retain the sins of any, they are retained.

41:39

Now Thomas called the twin, one of the 12 was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples therefore said to him, we have seen the

41:48

Lord. So he said to them, unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and put my hand into his side,

41:58

I will not believe. And after eight days, his disciples were again inside and Thomas with them.

42:05

Jesus came, the doors being shut and stood in the midst and said, peace to you. He said to Thomas, reach your finger here and look at my hands and reach your hand here and put it into my side.

42:19

Do not be unbelieving, but believing. And Thomas answered and said to him, my

42:26

Lord and my God. Jesus said to him, Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed.

42:33

Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed. And truly,

42:39

Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book, but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the

42:49

Christ, the son of God and that believing you may have life in his name.

42:55

This is God's holy and infallible word. Please pray with me.

43:03

Oh Lord, we rejoice the glorious news of resurrection, how you have conquered sin and death and how you have by your grace united us to yourself.

43:19

Oh Lord, I pray that we would leave here with greater boldness and courage as your disciples did when they learned of your resurrection.

43:28

We ask these things in Jesus' name, amen. Please be seated. He is risen today and we rejoice in this great news that has come to the church.

44:01

The first thing we're going to consider today is the empty tomb. Mary Magdalene and the women went to the tomb on that early

44:10

Sunday morning and the synoptic gospels even identify others by name.

44:16

There was Mary, the mother of James, sometimes referred to as the other Mary. Salome and even

44:24

Luke adds a lady named Joanna and there may have been others. John seems to focus on Mary Magdalene because of the dialogue that she has with the angels and with Jesus himself.

44:36

They've come to anoint the corpse with the spices that had been prepared.

44:43

Can you imagine the pre -dawn pilgrimage that must've been so sorrowful?

44:48

All of their hopes have been pinned on Christ and it looks like there's a great defeat.

44:56

Imagine their uneasiness in coming to the tomb and finding the stone removed and lying on the ground.

45:06

History tells us that the tomb's entrance in those days had a groove in the base where the stone would slide into and settle down into to make it difficult both to move and to provide a seal.

45:22

The stone was really in there covering the tomb. We should recognize also that upon arriving and in the discovery of the empty tomb,

45:33

Mary is fearful of grave robbing and vandalism.

45:39

She comes and she's disheartened by the things that she sees but we know better.

45:46

This is a glorious reality. Christ is risen, he is not there.

45:53

Two questions have to be asked. In light of Jesus' seemingly ability to walk through locked doors and walls, why does the tomb need to have the stone removed?

46:05

In our text, he twice shows up unannounced at an assembly where the doors are shut and he's there in the midst of them.

46:13

The risen body of Christ, a real physical body, can do miraculous things but the stone had to be removed.

46:27

First, the grave had been conquered. I want you to think about that for just a moment.

46:35

The removal of the stone. No stone, no heavy stone could keep

46:42

Christ in the tomb. No Roman guardian could stand outside and prevent his exit.

46:50

Death itself could not keep him in the tomb. So in first glance, in first observation, the tomb has to be empty because the grave has been conquered.

47:03

Christ has conquered sin on the cross and now he's conquered death.

47:12

There's a secondary value to the tomb being opened. It allows the women to peer inside.

47:21

Peter and John also could see what's going on there and Peter, firstly, would go inside the tomb.

47:28

We see some of his personality at work there. He comes and he enters in the tomb and he looks around in this very small, confined space, no doubt asking the question, where is

47:38

Jesus? They have taken him, the

47:48

Lord, out of the tomb, she would say. We do not know, verse 12, where they laid him.

48:00

Second and maybe most prominent in John's accounting are evidence and proofs of the resurrection.

48:06

He recounts a number of things I'm going to go through pretty quickly to give us more evidence and proofs of the resurrection.

48:14

We've already said first, the empty tomb. Second, what about Jesus's orderly exit?

48:20

Look at verse six. Then Simon Peter came following him and went into the tomb and he saw the linen cloths lying there and the handkerchief that had been around his head, not lying with the linen cloths, but folded together in a place by itself.

48:40

Now, this is striking to me because Jesus, even in his triumphant exit from the tomb, most likely folds up the laundry and puts it in its proper place, leaving it behind.

48:55

No doubt, enclothing himself with garments that are fitting a risen

49:01

Christ and King. What about Mary and the women and John and Peter observing the tomb?

49:11

There is no recording anywhere in the scripture of the particular details of how Jesus was raised.

49:17

Have you ever thought of that? We don't have any idea what happened. But there is evidence that is entirely

49:25

Trinitarian in its working. It's a Trinitarian operation.

49:32

In Galatians one, Paul says, the father, Paul, an apostle, he would say, not for men nor through men, but through Jesus Christ and God the father who raised him from the dead.

49:48

So Paul says in Galatians that the father raised him from the dead. Paul would say elsewhere in Romans eight, the

49:57

Holy Spirit, he would say, but if the spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised

50:05

Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his spirit who dwells in you.

50:14

And it may be surprising to remember from John chapter two, Jesus himself said, destroy this temple and in three days

50:25

I will raise it up. The operation of father, son and Holy Spirit is the how of the resurrection and a greater testimony to Christ's deity.

50:43

There's something else. Throughout history of scripture and special revelation, there has been a demand, a plea that the savior, that Christ would be raised.

50:53

Look at verse nine. It says, for as yet they did not know the scripture. What did they not know?

51:01

That he must rise again from the dead. Psalm 16, the

51:08

Mictam of David speaks to the life of David, but even greater so speaks to the life of the

51:13

Lord. What does it say? For you will not leave my soul in shale, nor will you allow your

51:20

Holy one to see corruption. Resurrection in the

51:27

Psalms. Psalm 110, the most oft quoted Psalm in the

51:32

New Testament. The Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool.

51:42

Christ, the man who lived on earth is the Lord referred to by God himself.

51:50

God calling God Lord, sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool.

51:56

Implication, resurrection. Psalm 110, verse four.

52:04

The Lord has sworn and will not relent. You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.

52:11

How can one be a priest forever? Well, he must be a man to represent man before God, but he must be

52:20

God to represent God to men. A priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.

52:29

Psalm 110 speaks of resurrection. And what about Daniel 12?

52:35

In a time of hopelessness, Old Testament prophet says, in at that time, your people shall be delivered.

52:44

Everyone who was found written in the book and many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake.

52:52

Some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting contempt.

52:58

The resurrection of the righteous in Christ to glory, the resurrection of the wicked, those not in Christ to shame and everlasting contempt.

53:10

There's also the testimony of the angels. Can you imagine the scene?

53:16

Mary is surprised by all that's happening and she looks again into the tomb and there are two angels.

53:22

Woman, why are you weeping? Because they've taken my

53:29

Lord away. And then she looks again and she's talking and she supposes this man to be a gardener.

53:37

The next evidence of proof of resurrection is not just an empty tomb, but Jesus himself there, right there with her.

53:46

He says to her, Mary, Jesus was standing there. And then

53:53

Mary in verse 18 comes and tells the disciples that she had seen the

53:59

Lord and that he had spoken these things to her. What an astonishing turn of events.

54:08

It should be noted, the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the greatest apologetic defense of our faith.

54:17

How can it be refuted? If these things be true, how could it be argued against?

54:24

And then Jesus himself appears to the disciples. Look at verse 19, the same day at evening being the first day of the week when the doors were shut, where the disciples were assembled, that teleportation that we talked about earlier in Sunday school for fear of the

54:41

Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst. How is it possible that the body that was raised from the grave could pass through walls and close doors?

54:54

Such is the glorified body of Christ. He stands in the midst of them and pronounces his blessing and his peace to be on them.

55:03

He shows them his hands and his side. The glorified body of Christ bears the marks of his atoning work.

55:14

And then he commissions them. He sends them out. He says in verse 21, as the father has sent me, so I also send you.

55:26

And then there's Thomas. Look at verse 24. Thomas was not present in this earlier meetings.

55:36

And he says, in response to them saying, the other disciples saying, we have seen the

55:41

Lord. He says, unless I see in his hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails and put my hand into his side,

55:50

I will not believe. In verse 26 and following, we learn that Jesus would say to Thomas, reach your finger here.

56:02

Look at my hands. Reach your hand here and put it into my side.

56:08

Do not be unbelieving, but believing. I have to ask you. Do you believe?

56:19

Do you believe that Jesus is risen? Do you believe the testimony of these eyewitnesses?

56:25

Do you believe the recording of scripture, holy inspired scripture? Do you believe these things are true?

56:33

All the doubts of Thomas are answered. He responds in each of those questions with proofs.

56:41

Put your finger here. Reach your hand here. Touch my side. Put it in the side.

56:47

Do not be unbelieving, but believing. And Thomas exclaims and we with him, oh

56:54

Jesus, you are my Lord and my God. And Thomas, his declaration speaks for all of us so joyfully, so zealously.

57:06

And there's something very encouraging to the church and to the Christian today in verse 29. It says, Thomas, because you have seen me, you have believed.

57:17

Listen carefully. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed.

57:23

We sang about the resurrection today and in your eyes and in your voices, you believed it.

57:29

You said it and you sang it and you believed it was true. Christ says, blessed are you who believe in this way, who have not had the privilege of putting fingers in the imprints of nails or reaching hands into sides.

57:47

Blessed are you who have not seen and yet believed. But there's something else

57:54

I want us to consider today. And that is the centrality of the resurrection in early

58:00

Christian preaching. In fact, it seems to be a cornerstone, a centerpiece of the apostolic method of gospel proclamation.

58:11

To be an apostle, it says in Acts 1 .22, you have to be an eyewitness to the resurrection of Christ.

58:19

It's an essential criterion of apostleship. In that text,

58:25

Luke records one of these men, they would say, must become with us as a witness to his resurrection.

58:34

And remember Peter's sermon at Pentecost in Acts 2. This Jesus being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified and put to death whom

58:51

God raised from the dead having loosed the pains of death because it was not possible that he should be held by it.

59:01

Peter goes on to quote Psalm 16, which we've already cited in his

59:07

Pentecost sermon. In Peter's second sermon, he said in Acts 3, you killed the prince of life, whom

59:16

God raised from the dead of which we are witnesses. In context, by the resurrected

59:26

Christ, the lame man having faith in him is made strong.

59:32

The faith that comes through Christ has given this lame man in Acts 3, this perfect soundness in the presence of you all,

59:40

Peter would say, because of Christ and his resurrection, this man is healed.

59:48

In Acts 4, the chief priests, the captain of the temple and the Sadducees arrest the disciples because they were greatly disturbed that they taught the people and preached in Jesus the resurrection from the dead.

01:00:05

And we learned something of the efficacy of this resurrection message in Acts 4 .4.

01:00:11

Many of those who heard the word believed. When they heard about the resurrection of Christ, they believed and the number of men came to be about 5 ,000.

01:00:27

I'm gonna read a couple more quick excerpts for you from Acts in Acts 4 .10, it says, let it be known to all of you that Jesus, by the name of Jesus Christ, whom you crucified, whom

01:00:44

God raised from the dead, these things have happened. In verse 33, it says, and with great power, the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the

01:00:58

Lord Jesus Christ and great grace was upon them all. And I wanna stop here and pause.

01:01:06

We need to preach the resurrection more. We reserve it for Holy Week.

01:01:12

We talk about it for Holy Week more. It has to be a central part of our gospel witness and proclamation of Christ and him crucified.

01:01:22

Sometimes we leave it off with him still being on the cross. Christ was crucified, dead, and buried, but he is risen.

01:01:33

He has ascended. In chapter 13 of the book of Acts, this theory is continued to being proved true about Paul and his preaching.

01:01:46

This is what he says in chapter 13, verse 26. Paul says, men and brethren, sons of the family of Abraham, and those who among you who fear

01:01:59

God, to you the word of this salvation has been sent. To those who dwell in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not know him, nor even the voices of the prophets, which are read every

01:02:11

Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning him. Though they found no cause for death in him, they asked

01:02:19

Pilate that he should be put to death. When they had fulfilled all that was written concerning him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb.

01:02:30

And the greatest understatement ever, but God raised him from the dead.

01:02:38

Continues, and he was seen for many days by those who came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses to the people.

01:02:45

And we declare to you glad tidings, that promise which was made to the fathers.

01:02:50

God had fulfilled this for us, their children, in that he has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second

01:02:58

Psalm, you are my son, today I have begotten you. And that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken thus.

01:03:09

I will give you the sure mercies of David. Still don't believe

01:03:16

Psalm 16 is about resurrection. Paul says, therefore, he also says in another

01:03:22

Psalm, you will not allow your holy one to see corruption.

01:03:29

In chapter 17, very obvious, Paul's discourse at the

01:03:34

Areopagus at Mars Hill, chapter 23, chapter 24, chapter 26, the content of the message is resurrection.

01:03:46

And I'd like all of you to turn with me to First Corinthians chapter 15, really quickly. First Corinthians 15.

01:04:16

Paul says, moreover brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved.

01:04:31

If you hold fast that word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain.

01:04:40

For I deliver to you first of all that which I also received, that Christ died for our sins.

01:04:47

Now he was seen by Cephas and then by the 12. And after that, he was seen by over 500 brethren at once of whom the greater part remained to the present, but some have fallen asleep.

01:05:00

After that, he was seen by James, then by all the apostles. Then last of all, he was seen by me also as by one born out of due time.

01:05:11

For I'm the least of the apostles who am not worthy to be called an apostle because I persecuted the church of God.

01:05:20

By the grace of God, I am what I am and his grace toward me was not in vain.

01:05:27

How much more proof do you need? How central is the message of Christ's resurrection to our faith?

01:05:34

It's utterly essential. In John chapter 11, the resurrection is seen as an essential part of the gospel.

01:05:43

Do you remember what Jesus would say to Mary and Martha surrounding the events related to Lazarus?

01:05:50

I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me, though he may die, yet he shall live.

01:06:02

Many of you learned to share your gospel using Romans chapter 10. And Romans 10, nine says essentially that if you confess with your mouth the

01:06:11

Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

01:06:22

There's another element. I want this to start moving a little bit toward application for us today.

01:06:28

Christ's resurrection guarantees our resurrection. Romans eight again, if the spirit of him who raised

01:06:38

Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his spirit who dwells in you.

01:06:52

First Peter one says, blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope.

01:07:01

How? Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

01:07:08

How do we have an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that does not fade away because of the resurrection of Jesus?

01:07:17

It's reserved in heaven for us who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time.

01:07:31

Finally, I want you to think about your own body today. The resurrection gives us a proper view of our bodies.

01:07:44

Turn back to first Corinthians six, since you're right there in first Corinthians 15. Turn to first Corinthians six.

01:07:59

Beginning in verse 12, all things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful.

01:08:06

All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. Foods for the stomach and the stomach for foods, but God will destroy both it and them.

01:08:17

Now the body is not for sexual immorality, but for the Lord and the

01:08:23

Lord for the body. Why? Verse 14 says, and God both raised up the

01:08:30

Lord and will also raise us up by his power. Our lives lived in these failing bodies matter for now and eternity.

01:08:46

Verse 15, it says, do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot?

01:08:58

Certainly not. Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her?

01:09:03

How can the body of Christ, united to Christ, attach himself to a harlot or to an idol?

01:09:13

Because the two, he says, shall become one flesh.

01:09:19

He who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with him. Flee sexual immorality.

01:09:25

Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body.

01:09:32

Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you and whom you have from God, that you are not your own?

01:09:43

For you were bought at a price. Therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are

01:09:54

God's. Finally, in this section, the most probably off -quoted and powerful language of resurrection.

01:10:07

First Corinthians 15, we'll continue there. It says in verse 35, how are the dead raised up?

01:10:20

And with what body do they come? Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive until it dies.

01:10:32

And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain, perhaps sweet or some other grain, but God gives it a body as he pleases, and to each seed its own body.

01:10:48

All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men and another flesh of animals, another of fish and another of birds.

01:10:56

There are celestial bodies and there are terrestrial bodies, but the glory of the celestial is one and the glory of the terrestrial is another.

01:11:05

There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon. Wasn't that moon beautiful last night?

01:11:11

Spectacular. And another glory of the stars, for one star differs from another star in glory.

01:11:21

So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption.

01:11:28

It is raised in incorruption. It is sown in dishonor. It is raised in glory.

01:11:35

It is sown in weakness. It is raised in power. It is sown a natural body. It's raised a spiritual body.

01:11:44

There's a natural body and there is a spiritual body. And the whole of revelation of Scripture teaches us, verse 45, and so it is written, the first man,

01:11:54

Adam, became a living being. The last Adam became a life -giving spirit.

01:12:03

However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural and afterward the spiritual. The first man was of the earth made of dust.

01:12:14

What an amazing statement follows. The second man is the Lord from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust.

01:12:26

And as is the heavenly man, so also are those who are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the man of dust in our sin in Adam, so now in Christ, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly man.

01:12:43

Resurrection, power. Think of all of your sin and all of your corruption and all of your failure.

01:12:51

This resurrection is so powerful to transform you as one who bears the image of the heavenly man who is

01:13:02

Christ. And so we'll close this out here with Paul's words.

01:13:07

Now of this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption.

01:13:18

But behold, I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed.

01:13:26

In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed.

01:13:42

I think a sign of growth and maturity for the Christian is that they really begin to hate their sin.

01:13:53

I long for death because I will no longer be able to sin against my savior. And I know when my body and your body as believers are planted in the ground, they're going to be raised incorruptible because of the resurrection of Christ.

01:14:11

What about your sin? Conquered by Christ on the cross. What about your death?

01:14:17

Conquered by Christ by raising himself from the dead, emptying the tomb.

01:14:28

Verse 53, for this corruption must put on incorruption. This mortal must put on immortality.

01:14:37

This corruptible has put on incorruption. This mortal has put on immortality.

01:14:43

Then we shall, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory.

01:14:51

So today we cry out and say, oh, death, where's your sting? Oh, Hades, where is your victory?

01:15:01

The sting of death is sin. The strength of sin is the law, but thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our

01:15:10

Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the

01:15:19

Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain. In the

01:15:25

Lord. So Resurrection Sunday has happened.

01:15:34

Romans 12 calls us to present ourselves, our bodies, as a living sacrifice to God, which is our reasonable service.

01:15:48

We now live in the glorious wake of the resurrection. We now need to live in the victory that Christ has won.

01:16:01

A brief word of application, and then we will proceed to the table. First, believe in the risen

01:16:10

Christ. How simple yet profound. Believe in the risen

01:16:16

Christ. And in your witnessing, in your evangelism, in the discipling of your children, preach the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

01:16:27

Don't leave out any of those parts. Number three, live as those who have passed from death to life.

01:16:42

We were with corruptible Adam, but now we've been united to the heavenly man.

01:16:51

We've passed from death to life. We need to walk in that newness of life. Are you hopeful about the future?

01:17:00

Be hopeful about the future. Even your corruptible body will be raised incorruptible.

01:17:10

The last word, maybe the most powerful for us going forward. After the resurrection, timid, fearful, doubtful, weak men became as bold as lions, and they actually turned the world upside down.

01:17:35

They're hiding from the Jews when

01:17:40

Jesus comes through the doors and the walls. It's time for us to go and do likewise.

01:17:47

Bold as lions, fearless because of the victory that is in Christ.

01:17:53

Now is the time for boldness. Now is the time for courage. Christ has won the victory.

01:18:00

We are united to Christ. We have the victory. Let us go out and walk and live in the victory that is ours in him.

01:18:09

Amen? Amen. Let's pray together. Lord, we ask your forgiveness,

01:18:28

Lord, because the story is so familiar to us. We pray in the power of your spirit that it would have a fresh work to do in our growth in godliness and sanctification, that your name would be hallowed here, that we would really believe and act and live as though the victory has been won.

01:18:51

Amen. Help us to see that our obedience here matters, that our faith here matters, that our witness for you here matters.

01:19:03

Help us to be steadfast and immovable and always abounding in your work, knowing that that work that's attached to you by faith is never in vain.

01:19:17

And oh Lord, now as we approach the table, we ask for your blessing on this incredible moment where we picture and experience our union with Christ.

01:19:29

We are not only united to a righteous man, but we're united to the man of heaven,

01:19:37

God himself in the flesh. Oh Lord, help us to peer deeply and ponder and revel and rejoice in these things.

01:19:45

It's in Jesus' name that we pray. Amen. Let's continue our worship with the presentation of tithes and offerings.

01:20:28

Please stand and let's pray together. Oh Lord, we thank you for the good gifts you give to your people and the stewardship of life and time and talent and treasure.

01:20:51

We pray that these tithes and offerings would be used for the bold proclamation of your death, burial and resurrection and your victory.

01:21:00

We ask these things in Jesus' name, amen. With warm and tender and fervent hearts, let us now sing the

01:21:12

Gloria Patri. Let us give thanks to the

01:22:06

Lord. It is good and right so to do. It is right and a good and joyful thing that we should at all times and in all places give thanks to you, oh

01:22:17

Holy Lord, Father almighty everlasting God. Because you sent your beloved son to redeem us from sin and death and to make us heirs in him of everlasting life.

01:22:30

That when he shall come again in power and great triumph to judge the world, we may without shame or fear rejoice to behold his appearing.

01:22:39

Therefore with angels and archangels and with all the company of heaven, we praise and magnify your glorious name, evermore praising you and singing.

01:22:50

Please be seated, let's pray together.

01:24:33

Oh God, as the father of all mercies and consolation, we thank you that you grant us, your people, your gracious presence and the effectual working of your spirit in us.

01:24:52

We pray that you would bless and sanctify these elements of bread and wine, this glorious sacrament of the

01:25:01

Lord's Supper, that we might receive by faith the body and blood of Christ crucified for us.

01:25:08

And that we may feed upon him in faith that he may be one with us. And that we might be one with him.

01:25:18

That he may live in us and we in him to live for him who loved us and gave himself for us.

01:25:29

Amen. Our Lord Jesus on the night in which he was betrayed took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to his disciples saying, take, eat, this is my body.

01:25:43

Likewise he took the cup after supper saying, this cup is the new covenant in my blood, drink from it all of you, for as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the

01:25:54

Lord's death. Therefore we proclaim the faith. Christ has died,

01:26:02

Christ is risen, Christ will come again. Let's approach the table now by praying together in unison.

01:26:11

We do not presume to come to this your table, O merciful

01:26:17

Lord, trusting in our own righteousness, letting your hand hold in great mercies.

01:26:24

We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under your table, but you are the same

01:26:31

Lord who always shows mercy. Grant us therefore, gracious Lord, so to eat the flesh of your dear son

01:26:40

Jesus Christ and to drink of his blood, that our sinful bodies may be made clean by his body and our souls washed through his most precious blood and that we may evermore dwell in him and he in us, amen.

01:26:58

Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us. The gifts of God for the people of God.

01:39:02

Since we've had the privilege of commuting at the table, let's make this commitment now together in unison.

01:39:11

Almighty and ever living God, we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food of the most precious body and blood of your son, our savior,

01:39:23

Jesus Christ, and for assuring us in these holy mysteries that we are living members of the body of your son and heirs of your eternal kingdom.

01:39:36

And O Lord, grant us this other benefit, that you will never allow us to forget these things, but having them imprinted in our hearts, may we grow and increase daily in the faith which is at work in every good deed.

01:39:52

And now Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our

01:40:01

Lord, to him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit, the honor and glory now and forever, amen.

01:40:09

Please stand. Receive now the blessing of the new covenant, the grace of the

01:40:52

Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the