Resurrection Power
God's Promise
Famous saying:
"God said it,
I believe it,
and that settles it."
This is how it should go:
"God said it,
I believe it,
and that settles it."
Because whether we believe it or not doesn't change the fact that
what God says is what it is.
When Jesus died on the original Good Friday for all those who loved him, hope also died.
“Hope”
A desire with anticipation
for something to happen or be true.
Why does HOPE die?
* Emotion-driven.
* Thought-driven
* Lack of a sense of power.
Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea buried Jesus.
If Jesus could not keep himself alive,
there was no use in trying to keep the Jesus movement alive.
His teachings or his miracles were not the
driving forces of his movement.
It was his claims about being the Son of God.
He claimed to have power to forgive sin.
[A rite reserved only for God]
He was greater than the Temple.
[Where God was present]
He was greater than Moses.
[Writer of first 5 books]
He was the Lord of the Sabbath.
[Dedicated to worshipping God]
Greater than Abraham.
[Father of Jews]
Greater than the Prophets.
[Who spoke for God]
Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah,
the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”
-John 11:25-27
That is what they believed in.
He was from God
He was God.
But then he died.
All of their HOPES surrounding Him died.
26 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw the signs I performed but because you ate the loaves and had your fill… 27 Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.” 28 Then they asked him, “What must we do to do the works God requires?” 29 Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.” 30 So they asked him, “What sign then will you give that we may see it and believe you? What will you do? 31 Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”32 Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, it is NOT Moses who has given you the bread from heaven, but it is MY Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world… 35 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry… 38 For I have come down from heaven …to do the will of him who sent me… 40 For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.” … “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I came down from heaven’?”43 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day… Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me… 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them… 60 On hearing it, many of his disciples said, “This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” 61 Aware that his disciples were grumbling about this, Jesus said to them, “Does this offend you?... For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. 65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them.”66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed. 67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. 68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
-John 6:26-69
But now that Jesus is dead, they think that they were clearly wrong.
They expected him to STAY DEAD.
Their hope died with Jesus.
But then, He Rose.
We celebrate the Event of Resurrection
Which Kept the movement of Christians going.
Which brought us the Written New Testament.
“If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep… 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.”
-1 Corinthians 15:17-22
“Promise”
A declaration or assurance that one will do a particular thing or that a particular thing will happen.
Remember God’s “Promises”
What “Promises” do you remember?
When do you remember “Promises”?
When you are excited about them.
When you are scared to death of them.
“I am the resurrection and the life.”
–John 11:25
“After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.”
-Matthew 28:1-4
“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay.”
-Matthew 28:5,6
Pastor: The Scripture says, and we rejoice that, “He has risen!”
People: HE HAS RISEN INDEED!