The Death &
Resurrection of Jesus Christ
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
Sermon Delivered 4/16/06
Introduction
Today is my favorite day of all the days of the
year, because it is a day above every other day of the year for
Christians. It is the day Christ Jesus the Lord arose from the dead.
Do you know what that means Christian friend? Turn with me in your
Bible to John 14:19 and listen to Christ’s own words – "Yet a
little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me:
because I live, ye shall live also." Because Christ arose from
the dead, one day, all of those who "sleep in Jesus" will be raised
from the dead unto immortality. Turn to John 5:25
"Verily,
verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the
dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear
shall live." Next, lets look at the words the Apostle Paul wrote in
1 Corinthians 15:20-24
"But now is Christ risen from the
dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. 21
For since by man came death, by man came also the
resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, even so
in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every man in his
own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's
at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end, when he shall
have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall
have put down all rule and all authority and power."
Purpose of Today’s Message
The purpose of this message is to focus on the
death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ the Lord and its
significance to mankind.
Being put to death is nothing new! A month or so
ago Linda and I stood on the exact spot where many enemies of the
Crown of England had been put to death. Several years ago I walked
down the road in Old Rome that Nero once lined with pitch-saturated
human bodies that he had lighted on fire to illuminate the way. Why?
Because he had declared them enemies of Rome. So, one must answer
the question, "What makes Christ’s death any different from all
the death of those who were convicted to die?"
Because of Who He Was
While it might be hard for us to grasp,
nonetheless you must know that Jesus was the Son of God.
God himself testified that Jesus was His Son at
Christ’s Baptism ( Matthew 3:17) and again when Peter, James
and John witnessed the transfiguration of Christ (Matthew 17:4-8).
Jesus said he was the Son of God (John 10:36; Revelation 2:18).
Even the demons clearly knew the Jesus Christ was the Son of God (Mark
3:11; Luke 4:41). Mark, John, Peter, Paul, the other Apostles,
Nathanael, and many other who saw his mighty works testified that
Jesus was the Son of God (Mark 1:1; John 1:34, 49; John 20:31;
Matthew 16:16; Acts 9:20).
The premise or ground that the Jews used to put
Jesus to death was that "he made himself the Son of God."
(see John 19:7). That’s not true at all. Jesus did NOT make
himself the Son of God, He WAS the Son of God. That can clearly be
seen in John’s Gospel -- John 1:1, 14, 18 "In the beginning
was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his
glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full
of grace and truth. 18 No man hath seen God at any time;
the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he
hath declared him."
Clearly, Jesus was no ordinary person. He was
the Son of God. But, how could this be proved, beyond a
shadow of a doubt? Let me explain.
Jesus repeatedly put his disciples and the Jews
on notice that He would rise from the dead after three days ( Matthew
16:21; 20:18-19; John 2:19). Perhaps others have made
such claims. But, I can tell you this. There has never been anyone
else make good on that claim, except Christ. The Jews did everything
in their power to keep the resurrection from happening (Matthew
27:62-66). So, what proof is there the Jesus was the Son of
God? It is the Resurrection! Turn in your Bibles to
Romans
1:4 "And declared to be the Son of God with power,
according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the
dead:"
Christ’s death was different because He
was God The Son! Christ’s death was unique because he
made good on his claim to rise from the dead. The grave could not
hold Him because of who He was.
What Was The Purpose of The Death of Christ?
I do not need to say much of anything. I will let
the Scriptures speak for themselves…
… 1 John 3:5 "And ye know that he was manifested [appeared]
to take away our sins; and in him is no sin."
… 1 Peter 3:18 "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins,
the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to
death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:" The sinless Christ
died for the our sins!
… 1 Peter 2:24 "Who his own self bare our
sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins,
should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."
… Galatians 1:4 "Who gave himself for our
sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world,
according to the will of God and our Father:"
… Titus 2:14 "Who gave himself for us, that
he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a
peculiar people, zealous of good works."
The literal, bodily resurrection of Christ is a
fact! Anyone who denies the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ
denies the plain testimony of Scripture. Turn with me to
Luke
24:1-49
and let’s examine what Dr. Luke writes under the
Inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
There were hundreds of eyewitnesses that saw the
risen Christ. But what does the Resurrection do for us?
It guarantees the believers salvation from
sin
Romans 4:25
"Who was delivered for our offences, and was
raised again for our justification."
Romans 6:4-11 "Therefore we are buried with
him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from
the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in
newness of life. 5 For if we have been planted together in
the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness
of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old
man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be
destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. 7 For he
that is dead is freed from sin. 8 Now if we be dead with
Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: 9
Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death
hath no more dominion over him. 10 For in that he died, he
died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. 11
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin,
but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord."
It assure the believers resurrection to immortality
2 Timothy 1:9-10 "Who hath saved us, and
called us with an holy calling, not according to our works,
but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in
Christ Jesus before the world began, 10 But is now made
manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath
abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light
through the gospel:"
1 Corinthians 15:20-24 "But now is Christ
risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that
slept. 21 For since by man came death, by man came
also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all
die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. 23 But every
man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that
are Christ's at his coming. 24 Then cometh the end,
when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father;
when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power."
1 Peter 1:3-5 "Blessed be the God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant
mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection
of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 To an inheritance
incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in
heaven for you, 5 Who are kept by the power of God through
faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time."
Christ died for your sins and rose again and
lives today. He is the ONLY way to Heaven. Have you received Him as
your Savior? If not, believe on Him today.
|
