The Post-Resurrection Appearances of Christ

 Acts 1:1-3 (ESV) "In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God."

Jesus appeared for 40 days after the resurrection and we have at least 10 sightings of Jesus after He rose.

5 sightings on the day of the Resurrection

1. To Mary Magdalene (early Sunday morning) John 20:11-18 (ESV) "But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' She said to them, 'They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.' Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping: Whom are you seeking?' Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, 'Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.' Jesus said to her 'Mary' She turned and said to him in Aramaic, 'Rabboni!' (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, 'Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, 'I have seen the Lord' -and that he had said these things to her."

2.Several other women (Sunday morning) Matt. 28, Mark 16, Luke 24 Mary  , mother of James and John, Joanna and others.

3. Cleopas and companion on the road to Emmaus Luke 24

4. Peter sometime on Sunday Luke 24:34 (ESV) "saying, 'The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"

5. 10 disciples (minus Judas and Thomas) Sunday evening. Others were also there. Luke 24:33-38 "And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, saying, 'The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!' Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread. As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, 'Peace to you!' But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, 'Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?'"

5 sightings after the 1st day 

1. The 10 disciples plus Thomas (a week later) John 20:24-28 (ESV) "Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, 'We have seen the Lord.' But he said to them, 'Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.' Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, 'Peace be with you.' Then he said to Thomas, 'Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.' Thomas answered him, 'My Lord and my God!'"

2. 7 disciples at the Sea of Tiberius (Sea of Galilee) John 21:1-14 (ESV) "After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. Simon Peter said to them, 'I am going fishing.' They said to him, 'We will go with you.' They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, 'Children, do you have any fish?' They answered him, 'No.' He said to them, 'Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.' So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, 'It is the Lord!' When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea. The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, 'Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.' So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, 'Come and have breakfast.' Now none of the disciples dared ask him, 'Who are you?' They knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave  to them, and so with the fish. This was now the third time that  Jesus was revealed to the disciples after he was raised from the dead."

3. A large gathering at a mountain in Galilee (about 500 people)

4. James (1/2 brother of Jesus) and later Paul

1 Corinthians 15:3-8 (ESV) " For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me."

5. The disciples on the Mt. of Olives (near Bethany) Luke 24:50-51 (ESV) "And he led them out as far as Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy, and were continually in the temple blessing God." (also found in Matt. 28 and Acts 1)

He appeared to different people, places, times, situations and circumstances over a period of 40 days. Is  that all of the appearances? Acts 1:3 (ESV) "He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God."

1. Many convincing proofs

2. He taught about the Kingdom

John 20:30 (ESV) "Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book;"

John 21:25 (ESV) "Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written."

Not all miracles and appearances were recorded maybe because they believed that He would be returning soon.

What if Jesus NEVER shown Himself after the resurrection?

1. How would we know that He arose?  How would we know that He was the Christ?

2. Where would the church and Christianity be today?

The post resurrection appearances tells us 2 things

1. HE WAS ALIVE, not still alive, but ALIVE AGAIN! He died, He overcame death. He proves this to us during the 40 days.

2. Greater than merely alive. He was Alive in a glorified, external body. It was His body, but it was glorified.

Described that state

 The disciples didn't always recognize Him immediately. He appeared and disappeared at will.

1. He appeared visibly

2. He conversed audibly

3. He had the disciples "touch/feel" Him

4. He ate with them

5. He still bore the scars of crucifixion

Glorified is a term to describe magnificent/awesome. So this resurrected body is much improved and eternally improved. Rev. 1: 17-18 (ESV) "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me saying, 'Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades."

1. He overcame DEATH!

2. He was much IMPROVED after DEATH!

So we have a champion who defeated death and Satan and rose GLORIFIED! But a champion who is a model/example for us! 1 Cor. 15:20-26 (ESV) "But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then coes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death." 

Jesus was the first fruit and He rose on the Jewish holy day of First fruits. First fruits is one of the 7 Jewish holidays. Lev. 23:10 (ESV) "Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, When you come into the land that I give you and reap its harvest, you shall bring the sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest to the priest," This was a celebration of the harvest to come. WE are the harvest to come!

1. Jesus defeated death for Himself.

2. He defeated death for US also! 1 Cor. 15:54-55 (ESV) "When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.' 'O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?' 

Rev. 20:14-15 (ESV) "Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

3. Christians need not fear death. You might fear the event/process of dying vs the state of death.

4. Death is going to IMPROVE us also!! 1 John 3:2 (ESV) "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is."

Romans 8:16-17 (ESV) "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him."

What will it be like? It is a great mystery. 1 Cor. 15: 35-38, 42-44, 49-55 (ESV) "But someone will ask, 'How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come? You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of  wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body." "So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body." "Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: 'Death is swallowed up in victory.' 'O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?'"

We wont look like what is planted. We are in Adam's image now, we will be in Christ's image in Heaven.

The Question: Is there a difference between death and general resurrection? 

The Answer: We are alive, conscious, in a place of great comfort, contentment and joy.

Paul said "absent from the body = present with the Lord" 2 Cor. 5:4-9 (ESV) "For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened-not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee. So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him."

The thief of the cross "This day you will be with me in paradise"

Martyrs in Heaven "how long O Lord?" Rev. 6:9-11 (ESV) "When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne. They cried out with a loud voice, 'O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?' Then they were each given a white robe and told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brothers should be complete, who were to be killed as they themselves had been."

"Imagine Heaven" is a book written about Near Death Experiences. It is not the bible but it gives inspiring accounts from people who are from different backgrounds, religions and denominations. 

In Conclusion

1. Jesus died

2. For our sins/forgiveness so that we could be reconciled to God

3. He AROSE (resurrected just as He said He would be)

4. He arose victorious over death for Himself and for US!

5. He offered "many convincing proofs" of that

6. Now He adds to those testimonies...the TESTIMONY of the Holy Spirit

7. And He offers us (you) the SAME VICTORY, the same IMPROVEMENTS, the same ETERNAL STATE.

Do you want some of that? It is available to you by...

1. Recognizing Him as Lord and Savior

2. TRUSTING Him as your PERSONAL Lord and Savior (verbal prayer, declaration, public declaration, baptism)

Pre Christian Heb. 7:23-25 (ESV) "The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." He forever lives to intercede... He is praying for you, but it is your choice

Christians Heb.4: 14-16 (ESV) "Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  We can approach the throne of grace with confidence that He will understand.

The 40 days after the resurrection were not for Christ, but for us, so that we would have the confidence to approach the throne.

Trusting the Risen Christ

 Matt. 16:13-18 (ESV) "Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, 'Who do people say that the Son of Man is?' And they said, 'Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' He said to them, 'But who do you say that I am?' Simon Peter replied, 'You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.' And Jesus answered him, 'Blessed are you Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven, And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it." Peter was speaking for the group.

The Jews had been looking for the Messiah since the time of Moses. The words Christ (Greek) and Messiah (Hebrew) are the same.. The disciples believed that Jesus was the Messiah to save them from tyranny, until they witnessed the cross. The Messiah has died! They were fearful, confused and grieving. Was He not who He said He was? They were locked in a room because they were afraid for their own safety. John 20:19 (ESV) "On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, 'Peace be with you.'

After the resurrection and followed by the 40 days of teaching and Pentecost things changed. 

Acts 2:36 (ESV) "Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified." The disciples spoke boldly! There were no longer afraid. They called the Jews out for crucifying the Messiah. It was a total transformation from when they were hiding in the upper room. Their belief became trust.

Acts 4:7-12 (ESV) "And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, 'By what power or by what name did you do this?' Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to the, 'Rulers of the people and elders, if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, who you crucified, whom God raised from the dead-by him this man is standing before you well. This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.'"

Trust is the ability to step out, take a chance and act on your own belief and make yourself vulnerable. Some examples of this.

James 2:19 (NIV) "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that- and shudder."

Matt. 7:21 (ESV) "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."

Hebrew 11:1 (ESV) "Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen."

Trust = belief solidified. A belief is something we have, trust is something we do.

After the resurrection the disciples were still confused. They had no answers, but now they step out in faith and trust in who He is. And the trust Him unto death.

The disciples stepped out and acted in spite of ...

    1. the confusion

    2. the dangers

    3. His bodily absence

    4. His delayed return

How much do you believe? How much do you TRUST?

I. The Resurrection convinced the disciples of Jesus' Authority 

    Matt. 28:18 (ESV) "And Jesus came and said to them, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.'"

    1.The disciples had seen Him perform many miracles. They had seen Him heal, raise people from the dead, but He had overcome His OWN death.

    2. The disciples saw Him Rise with a glorified body in an eternal state. 

    Rev. 1:17-18 (ESV) "When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me saying, 'Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.'"

II. The Resurrection convinced the disciple of Jesus' Ability 

    Jesus can do anything He chooses to do. He has power.

III. The Resurrection convinced the disciples of God's Goodness 

    John 3:16 (ESV) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

    Romans 5:8 (ESV) "but, God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

    1 John 4:9-10 (ESV) "In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

This poses a problem for believers. If God is all powerful and all good, why all of the evil and suffering in the world today? Why doesn't God fix it ? Why does He allow it? The disciples had the same problems and questions. But the lack of answers did not stop them from trusting, serving and moving on! Because they believed if God is all powerful and all good then He WILL deal with all evil, suffering, pain, and injustice in HIS WAY, in HIS TIME, according to HIS WISDOM!

John 16:33 (ESV) "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."

Question...Do you believe that? Can you trust Him in that...in the midst of the bad?

IV. The Resurrection convinced the disciples of God's constant Presence 

    Matt. 28:19-20 (ESV) "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

They saw the resurrected Jesus for 40 days and then He ascended into Heaven and they never saw Him again, BUT they KNEW He was with them. He is with us...He is with me.

    Hebrews 13:5-6 & 8 (ESV) "Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."

V. The Resurrection convinced the disciples that Jesus will Return 

    They probably believed that He would return in their lifetime, but when it didn't happen they remained faithful unto death.

    Acts 1:4-6 (ESV) "And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, 'you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.' So when they had come together, they asked him, 'Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?'

    2 Peter 3:3-4 (ESV) "knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, 'Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.'"

They were trusting...

    1. He will return

    2. He will establish His Kingdom

    3. He will dispel all evil and wickedness

    4. He will correct all wrongs

    5. He will compensate us for all injustice.

They TRUSTED, followed, served even in darkness, confusion, suffering, martyrdom. They didn't just believe....they TRUSTED!

You probably believe, but what is your trust level?

Romans 10:9-11 (ESV) "because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. For the Scripture says, 'Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.'"

It is easy as ABC

Admit - you are a sinner/ in need of Jesus' sacrifice

Believe - He is the Son of God / the SACRIFICE He died for your sins and raised 

Confess - Verbally which leads to TRUST- Acting upon that declaration.

Col. 2:6 (ESV) "Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him"

Recive by faith and walk in faith in Him. The same way you received him so you walk in Him.

Jesus, the Perfect Passover Lamb

 Holy Week! There is so much you could cover during Holy Week. So many trails to go down, so many truths about the Father and Jesus. This week of Jesus' life was a demonstration of God's love.

The week started with a triumphal entry into Jerusalem. John 12:13 (ESV) "So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, crying out, 'Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel!'"

Some of the things that happened did during the week ... Jesus cleanses the temple, weeps, cursed the fig tree, Judas betrays Jesus, they prepare the Passover meal, the Lord's Supper,  Gethsemane Jesus prays intensely and asking for the "cup" to pass from him but says "Your will not mine". He returns to his disciples and they are sleeping. They couldn't stay awake to pray with him. He was arrested, mocked, beaten to where he was unrecognizable. He was tried and carried his cross for our sins. Jesus was our perfect substitute.

I. Adam & Eve  

    1. They had one rule...Don't eat the fruit of the Tree

    2. They failed and sinned.

    3. They realized that they were naked and they were ashamed.

    4. The first blood shed in the garden was to cover the shame/nakedness of Adam and Eve. What was the animal that was sacrificed in the garden to provide a covering for their nakedness? Could it have been a lamb? We don't know, but could it be? Perhaps Gen. 3:21 (ESV) "And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them."

    5. Even though they were kicked out of the garden God gave them a promise of redemption. Gen. 3:15 (ESV) "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."

II Abraham & Isaac  

Gen. 22:2-7 (ESV) "He said, 'Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.' So Abraham rose early in the morning, saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him, and his son Isaac. And he cut the wood for the burnt offering and arose and went to the place of which God had told him. On the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw the place from afar. Then Abraham said to his young men, 'Stay here with the donkey; I and the boy will go over there and worship and come again to you.' And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son. And he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, 'My father!' And he said, 'Here I am, my son.' He said, 'Behold, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?'  

    1. God asked Abraham to take his only son. Do you see the picture? Heb. 11:17-19 (ESV) "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promise was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, 'Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.' He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back." When Abraham spoke to his men he believed that both he and Isaac would be coming back to them after they had worshiped. 

    2. When Isaac asked Abraham where the lamb for the sacrifice was, Abraham told him that God would provide. Gen. 22:8 (ESV) "Abraham said, 'God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.' So they went both of them together." Romans 5:8 (ESV) "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." God provided a perfect sacrifice for us

    3.Gen. 22:9-13 (ESV) "When they came to the place which God had told him, Abraham built the alter there and laid the wood in order and bound Isaac his son and laid him on the alter, on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son. But the angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, 'Abraham, Abraham!' And he said, 'Here I am.' He said, 'Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son, for me.' And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son." Isaac was a "willing sacrifice" he was willing to lay down his life in obedience to his father. Abraham was an old man. Isaac could have overpowered his father as he was trying to bind him and lay him on the wood, but he was "willing". Whenever we see the "angel of the Lord" in scripture it is believed to be a Christophany where Jesus is manifested before His birth. Do you see the perfect picture of Christ? Jesus in the Garden asking God if the cup could be passed from him. The ram was found in a thicket of thorns...like the crown of thorns that were placed on Jesus' head. God provided Abraham a substitute, just as God has provided us a substitute for us. Mount Moriah was the location that Abraham built the alter and called it "The Lord will Provide" The temple that Solomon built was built on Mt. Moriah 2 Chron. 3:1 (ESV) "Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD in Jerusalem on Mount Moriah, where the LORD had appeared to David his father, at the place that David had appointed, on the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite."

III. The Passover 

The 10th plague the was brought on Pharaoh and Egypt that would bring God's people out of captivity. To avoid the plague, Moses told the Hebrew people to put the blood of the lamb  on the door frame of their house.

    1. Without blemish Exodus 12:5 (ESV) "Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male a year old. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats," They were to choose a perfect sacrifice

1 Peter 1:19 (ESV) "but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot." During the week of Passover the people would bring their chosen lamb to be "inspected" in the temple to make sure it was perfect.

Heb. 4:15 (ESV) "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." Jesus was perfect, he had no sin. Pilate found no fault in him. Luke 23:4 (ESV) "Then Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowds, 'I find no guilt in this man.'"

The chief priests and Sanhedrin looked for false witnesses against Jesus. Matt. 26:59-60 (ESV) "Now the chief priests and the whole council were seeking false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward." They broke their own laws...the 10 commandments.

    2. No bones broken Exodus 12:46 (ESV) "It shall be eaten in one house; you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house, and you shall not break any of its bones."

John 19: 31-36 (ESV) "Since it was the day of Preparation, and so that the bodies would not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken and that they might be taken away. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. He who saw it has borne witness-his testimony is true, and he knows that he is telling the truth- that you also may believe. For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: 'Not one of  his bones will be broken.'" Just like the "perfect lamb" Jesus was without blemish, perfect in every way. Like the lamb, Jesus' bones were not broken. Just as the lamb's blood was poured out to cover the sins of the people, when the soldiers pierced Jesus' side blood poured out for our sins. 

    3. Under the blood (saved) Exodus 12:7 & 13 (ESV) "Then they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and the lintel of the houses in which they eat it." "The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt."

Ephesians 1:7 (ESV) "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,"

Hebrews 9:14 (ESV) "how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God."

John 1:29 (ESV) "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'"

Jesus offered himself up for our sins. He did not deserve the punishment that he took. The just dying for the unjust. Without the blood there is no forgiveness for sin.

John 3:16-17 (ESV) "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."

    4. Jesus took our punishment...our great substitute 

1 Peter 3:18 (ESV) "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,"

From the cross Jesus made 7 statements. The final statement was "It is Finished" Tetelestai  is the Greek word for finished, completed, fulfilled, accomplished. Paid in Full

2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV) "For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him might become the righteousness of God."

Charles Spurgeon "The atonement and propitiation were made once and for all and forever, by the one offering made in Jesus' body on the Tree. There was the cup; Hell was in it; the Savior drank it-not a sip and then a pause-not a draught (a single act of drinking) and then a ceasing. He drained it till there is not a dreg left of any of His people. The great ten-thronged whip of the Law was worn upon His back. There is no lash left with which to smite one for whom Jesus died."

The Gospel...Jesus died for us

Remember what God had done with the Passover.... Now we have the new covenant remember through the Lord's Supper

Isaiah 53: 2-7 & 12 (ESV) "For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned-every one-to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth." "Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercessions for the transgressors."

    

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What difference did Jesus Make?

 A lot of the information in today's sermon came from the book "Under the Influence" by Alvin J. Schmidt. This message will contain a lot of history and facts.

Acts 17:5-7 (ESV) "But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, 'These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.'" The Apostles had come into the city/world and upset the status quo. They were turning the known world upside down. This is what we should be doing...making the world into what God wants it to be.

John 14:12 (ESV) "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father." What is Jesus talking about? Were the acts of the Apostles greater than Jesus's? R.C. Sproul said "If Jesus meant that people would do greater miracles than he performed in the sense of displaying more power and more astonishing things than he did, then obviously one of the works that Jesus failed to perform was sound prophecy because that didn't just happen." Jesus was saying that through His people God will do great things. Not in power but in scope. There is zero doubt that Jesus changed things. Just look at the differences from BC/AD... we gather and worship on the Lord's Day in the Lord's house worldwide. Today 1/3 of the world are Christians.

Is Christianity good for the world? Is the work of Christ good  work? Romans 12:5 (ESV) "so we, though many are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another." 1Corinthians 12:27 (ESV) "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." Ephesians 4:11-12 (ESV)"And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ," Not that Christians have been perfect. There have been egregious errors, but as a whole Christianity has been good for the world. 

I. Art  Architecture

Cathedrals in Europe

Sistine Chapel

Museums filled with sculptures and paintings done to glorify God.

II. Language 

You can see how New Testament scripture and Gospel truth has infiltrated our language in every day sayings. 

    1. Rob Peter to pay Paul

    2. The Gospel truth

    3. Thorn in the Flesh

    4. Wolf in sheep's clothing

    5. Good Samaritan

    6. Avoid it like the plague

    7. Turn the other cheek

    8. When in Rome

III Music

Basically all classical music ever written was created to glorify God. You can look at the works of Mendelssohn, Beethoven, Mozart, Handel and Bach. The symphony, the sonata, the cantata and concerto. One can argue that R&B and soul music came out of Negro spirituals and a lot of country music came from gospel music.

IV Liberty and Justice for all

The ideas that are the foundation of America came out of Christianity and the quest for religious freedom. They did not come out of thin air. These ideas came out of Christian ideas and doctrine.

    1. No one is above the law- No king but Christ

    2. You need multiple lines of evidence (2 or more)

    3. Innocent until proven guilty

The Declaration of Independence was written during the Great Awakening. It appeals to Nature's God and Supreme Judge.

King George III and the House of Commons the Presbyterian revolt resulted in the 1st Great Awakening

    1. Fair pay for laborers- Luke 10:7  (ESV)"And remain in the same house, eating and drinking what they provide, for the laborer deserves his wages."

    2. The work we do Colossians 3: 23-24 (ESV) "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ." 

    3. What about slavery? Slavery existed all around the world for centuries and continues today in parts of the world. Christ encouraged proper treatment of slaves and laborers. 

V. Science

Good science reveals truth about God and how to understand and work with his creation.

Bad science seeks to explain God away and usurp his roll.

Romans 1: 19-20 (ESV) "For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things have been made. so they are without excuse."

Psalms 19: 1-2 (ESV) "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge."

Proverbs 25:2 (ESV) "It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out."

    1.William Thompson Kelvin the founder of Thermal Dynamics established the scale of absolute zero. "If you think strongly enough you will be forced by science to the belief in God"

    2. Christians made huge strides in the fields of Human Physiology, biology, astronomy and physics.

    Isaac Newton-discovered gravity-Christian

    Robert Boyle "Father of Chemistry" - Christian who gave to foreign missions and led missions

    John Priestly discovered oxygen - Christian

    James Simpson discovered chloroform the first anesthesia. He thought that about God putting Adam to a deep sleep and decided that there must be away to put people into a "deep sleep" for surgery.

    Joseph Lister introduced and applied antiseptics into medicine and the world. He taught physicians to wash their hands and sterilize instruments.-Christian

VI. Education

Proverbs 22:6 (ESV) "Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it."

Education is for everyone is a Christian concept. Literacy is for everyone is a Christian concept. Religious reformers wanted everyone to be able to read the bible for themselves and not rely on priests. Missionaries have been involved in literacy, teaching people how to read using the bible. Have you ever been to school or in a school? You have John Calvin and Martin Luther to thank for that. Universities were the product of Christian education to train clergy. The Ivy league schools were started as "Christian" colleges.

Along these same lines Christians are the ones who fought for the care of orphans and the elderly. Hospitals are named after Christian denominations. Christians fought to educate the blind, deaf and the mentally handicapped.

VII. Women

Some say that Christianity is oppressive to women. However in Rome women were not educated, were seen as property. They were ranked just above slaves. But how did Jesus and Christians view/treat women.

    1. The woman at the well- She was not a noble woman. Jesus shared with her who He was and then she shared with her community.

    2. The first witness of the resurrection- the women

    3. Mary and Martha are listed as followers of Jesus.

    4. Paul taught that a wife was a partner rather than property.

Roman pagans vs early Christians- Romans abandoned baby girls...Christians took them in

Women were not allowed to speak in public or leave the house without a man. Men could divorce their wife for any reason, but women were not allowed to divorce their husbands. Women could not inherit property and Roman mistresses had more rights than a wife. A Roman husband had authority to have his wife executed. Women were used and abused in temples. Christianity changed all of that. Today you can look at the parts of the world who are untouched by the gospel and see how women are treated and not valued.

VIII Morality

In Rome they had the Gladiatorial games where they had huge crowds to watch horrible things. Christians would not attend. They would not participate in unholy events. In Rome human life did not matter. The only thing that mattered was the individual. 

In Pre St. Patrick Ireland human sacrifice was a common occurrence as well as many other places in the world. Christians lived their lives differently than those around them. Non Christians began to see how different their lives were. The early Christians were severely persecuted especially in the first 100-300 years after Christ. This slowly changed as more and more people became followers of Jesus.

Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)  "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." 

Hebrews 12:1-3 (ESV) "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted."

Without the work of Christ and his people the world would be a very dark place to live.

Why was Jesus Rejected?

 Rejection is one of the worst feelings. The fear of rejection can be even worse. 

Isaiah 53:3  "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not."  Isaiah was written about 700+ years before Christ. This is known as the forbidden chapter.

I. Who despised and rejected Jesus?

    A. His own people Most of His earthly ministry was for the Jews. John 1:10-11 "He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him."  Matt. 23:37

    1. Judas sold him out

    2. The multitudes and crowds wanted to hear his message, to be healed. The shouted "Hosanna" Please deliver us, please save us. A few days later they were shouting for his crucifixion. Pilate offered up Jesus to be released, but the crowd chose Barabbas to be freed and Jesus to be crucified. Barabbas was guilty and Jesus took his place. This is a picture of what Jesus did for us. He took our place.

    B.  Romans The soldiers not centurions Matt. 27:27-31 "Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews!' And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him."

    C. Religious Elite Matt. 12:14 "But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him." Matt. 16:1 "And the Pharisees and Sadducees came, to test him they asked him to show them a sign from heaven." Matt.26:3-4  "Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him." The Pharisees and Sadducees did not like one another and yet agreed about Jesus and they plotted together to kill him.

II. Why was Jesus rejected?  First of all it was part of God's plan. Isaiah 53 predicted God's plan. Jesus was our substitute. He was tempted and yet did not sin.

    A. People love their sin  John 3:19-20 "And this is the judgement: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed." I know it. You know it. EVERYONE knows it, yet fails to submit. No one likes their sin pointed out.

No one is "really" an atheist, they just don't like God's rules and their sin pointed out. Romans 1:18-21 "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse."

    B. Pride-  People just can't admit that they are wrong. The Pharisees had a wrong view of who the Messiah would be. They thought he would be a military leader. Today we sometimes have a wrong view of Jesus. We make him in "our own image" instead of submitting to who Jesus is and how he was revealed. Matt. 1:21 "She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."  John 1:29 "The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, 'Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!'"

    C. People can't admit they need help  We must realize that you can't fix dead. Eph. 2:1 "And you were dead in the trespasses and sins." Rich man, Pharisees. We are all that way

    D. People can't relinquish the throne of their heart

    1. Pharisees and Lazarus John 11:45-46 "Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them wet to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done." John 11:53-54  "So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to at town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples." Many of them saw Jesus as a threat to their authority.

    2. Aft.er healing the blind man John 9:39-41  "Jesus said, 'For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.' Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things and said to him, 'Are we also blind?' Jesus said to them, 'If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, 'We see,' your guilt remains.'" You must swallow your pride to learn from a lowly itinerant preacher from Galilee. They didn't want to relinquish control.

    E. Submitting to Jesus is hard  Pete Maravich's dad was a coach and he used his young son to humble his college players and remind them that they still had something to learn, So do we!

    1. Rich young Ruler.  Mark 10:17-22 "And as he was setting out on his journey, a man ran up and knelt before him and asked him, 'Good Teacher, what must i do to inherit eternal life?' And Jesus said to him, 'Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments: Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother.' And he said to him, 'Teacher, all these I have kept from my youth.' And Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, 'You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come follow me. Disheartened by the saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.  Luke 18:18-23 

    2. Let me first bury my father/get my inheritance. Jesus was not was telling him not to honor his parents, but to remember that Jesus comes first. Luke 9:59-60  "To another he said, 'Follow me.' But he said, 'Lord, let me first go and bury my father.' And Jesus said to him, 'Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.'" Matt. 10:37-39, Matt 15: 1-6

Today in our part of the world becoming a Christian is a celebration, but not so in other parts of the world, it can destroy your world. Pastor Larry in Utah he joined a LDS church because he met a woman. Larry became very involved with the LDS church and moved up in the church leadership. He became convicted that what they were teaching was wrong. He left the church and gave his life to Christ. He lost EVERYTHING, his wife, his children, his home, his job. He had other Christians walk along side of him. He planted a church and now has lead his children to Christ and is working on his ex-wife. Don't let pride keep you from Jesus.

The question we have to ask ourselves, would I sill follow Jesus if it was hard? Would I if I had to give EVERYTHING up.