Embracing the Power and Hope of the Resurrection

Summary

The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a cornerstone of our faith, a truth that has been proclaimed for over 2,000 years. It is not just a historical event but a present reality, as we declare, "He is risen." This proclamation is in the present tense, emphasizing that Jesus is alive forever. Unlike the fickle nature of worldly things, such as the stock market, Jesus' resurrection is a constant, unchanging truth. It is the hope that has sustained believers through trials, suffering, and even death.

Reflecting on the resurrection is crucial. In our fast-paced world, we often fail to pause and consider its profound implications. Many professing Christians have a shallow understanding of their faith, not fully grasping the significance of Jesus' death and resurrection. As the atheist Christopher Hitchens pointed out, without belief in the resurrection, one cannot truly be a Christian. The resurrection is a paradigm-shattering event that demands our attention and reflection.

Rejoicing in the resurrection is a natural response when we understand its meaning. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the risen Lord, not just because He was alive, but because His resurrection confirmed His divinity and power over sin and death. This joy should not become routine or dull; it is a cause for continuous celebration, much like the unexpected inheritance of the Pilott brothers transformed their lives.

Finally, the resurrection calls for a response. If Jesus truly rose from the dead, then everything He said is true. He is the way, the truth, and the life. Our response should mirror that of Thomas, who upon seeing the risen Christ, declared, "My Lord and my God." This confession of faith is the appropriate response to the reality of the resurrection.

In times of personal loss and suffering, the hope of the resurrection becomes even more vital. As Rick Warren shared after the loss of his son, the resurrection provides the answer to life's most challenging questions. It is the promise of hope, joy, and victory over death. Jesus is alive, and because He lives, we have the assurance of eternal life.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Present Reality of the Resurrection: The phrase "He is risen" is in the present tense, signifying that Jesus is alive forever. This truth is a constant source of hope and stability in a world where everything else is subject to change. The resurrection is not just a past event but a present reality that impacts our lives today. [00:51]

2. Reflecting on the Resurrection: In our busy lives, we must take time to reflect on the significance of the resurrection. It is essential to understand what we believe and how it affects our lives. Without this reflection, our faith can become shallow and misunderstood. [04:50]

3. Rejoicing in the Resurrection: The resurrection is a cause for great joy. It confirms Jesus' divinity and His power over sin and death. This joy should be a continuous celebration, not something that becomes routine or dull over time. [13:01]

4. Responding to the Resurrection: The appropriate response to the resurrection is to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and God. Like Thomas, we must confess our faith in the risen Christ, recognizing the truth of His words and the reality of His resurrection. [18:32]

5. The Hope of the Resurrection in Suffering: In times of personal loss and suffering, the hope of the resurrection becomes even more vital. It provides the promise of hope, joy, and victory over death, offering comfort and assurance in the face of life's challenges. [20:08]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:51] - The Present Reality of Resurrection
- [01:45] - The Hope of Resurrection
- [02:28] - Reading from Matthew 28
- [04:01] - Reflecting on the Resurrection
- [05:38] - Understanding True Christianity
- [07:06] - The Impact of Belief
- [09:12] - The Paradigm-Shattering Event
- [10:38] - The Titanic Analogy
- [12:11] - Rejoicing in the Resurrection
- [13:47] - The Pilott Brothers' Story
- [16:11] - Responding to the Resurrection
- [17:41] - Thomas' Confession of Faith
- [19:23] - The Significance of Easter
- [20:59] - Rick Warren's Testimony
- [22:39] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Resurrection of Jesus Christ

Bible Reading:
- Matthew 28:1-10

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Observation Questions:

1. What significant event does Matthew 28:1-10 describe, and who were the first witnesses to this event? [02:28]
2. How did the angel describe Jesus' status to the women at the tomb, and what instructions were they given? [03:12]
3. What was the reaction of the guards at the tomb when the angel appeared? [03:12]
4. How did the disciples react when they saw the risen Jesus according to John 20, as mentioned in the sermon? [13:01]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. Why is the present tense of the phrase "He is risen" significant in understanding the resurrection as a current reality? [00:51]
2. How does the resurrection of Jesus challenge the notion of a shallow understanding of Christianity, as discussed in the sermon? [05:38]
3. In what ways does the resurrection serve as a paradigm-shattering event, and how should this impact a believer's life? [09:12]
4. How does the story of Thomas illustrate the appropriate response to the resurrection of Jesus? [18:32]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on the present reality of the resurrection. How does the truth that "He is risen" provide stability and hope in your current life circumstances? [00:51]
2. In what ways can you make time in your busy life to reflect on the significance of the resurrection? What practical steps can you take to deepen your understanding of this event? [04:50]
3. The sermon mentioned the joy of the disciples upon seeing the risen Lord. How can you cultivate a continuous sense of joy in your life because of the resurrection? [13:01]
4. Consider the response of Thomas to the risen Christ. How can you express your faith in Jesus as "My Lord and my God" in your daily actions and decisions? [18:32]
5. In times of personal loss or suffering, how can the hope of the resurrection provide comfort and assurance? Can you recall a time when this hope was particularly meaningful to you? [20:08]
6. The sermon highlighted the importance of rejoicing in the resurrection. What are some ways you can celebrate this truth in your community or family life? [13:01]
7. How can the resurrection influence your perspective on life's challenges and the way you interact with others? What changes might you need to make to align your life more closely with this truth? [09:12]

Devotional

Day 1: The Ever-Present Reality of Resurrection
The resurrection of Jesus is not merely a historical event but a present reality that continues to impact our lives today. The phrase "He is risen" is in the present tense, signifying that Jesus is alive forever. This truth provides a constant source of hope and stability in a world where everything else is subject to change. Unlike the transient nature of worldly things, such as the stock market, the resurrection is a constant, unchanging truth. It is the hope that has sustained believers through trials, suffering, and even death. Understanding this present reality can transform how we live our daily lives, offering us a foundation of unwavering faith and assurance. [00:51]

1 Peter 1:3-4 (ESV): "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."

Reflection: In what ways can you remind yourself daily of the living hope that the resurrection provides, especially when faced with uncertainty or change?

Day 2: Deepening Our Understanding of the Resurrection
In our fast-paced world, it is easy to overlook the profound implications of the resurrection. Many professing Christians have a shallow understanding of their faith, not fully grasping the significance of Jesus' death and resurrection. Reflecting on the resurrection is crucial to understanding what we believe and how it affects our lives. Without this reflection, our faith can become shallow and misunderstood. Taking time to pause and consider the resurrection's significance can deepen our faith and enrich our spiritual journey. [04:50]

Colossians 3:1-2 (ESV): "If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth."

Reflection: How can you intentionally set aside time this week to reflect on the significance of the resurrection and its impact on your faith journey?

Day 3: The Joy of Resurrection
Rejoicing in the resurrection is a natural response when we understand its meaning. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the risen Lord, not just because He was alive, but because His resurrection confirmed His divinity and power over sin and death. This joy should not become routine or dull; it is a cause for continuous celebration. Just as the unexpected inheritance of the Pilott brothers transformed their lives, the resurrection should transform our lives with joy and gratitude. [13:01]

Psalm 16:11 (ESV): "You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Reflection: What are some practical ways you can cultivate a spirit of joy and gratitude for the resurrection in your daily life?

Day 4: Confessing Faith in the Risen Christ
The appropriate response to the resurrection is to acknowledge Jesus as Lord and God. If Jesus truly rose from the dead, then everything He said is true. Like Thomas, who upon seeing the risen Christ declared, "My Lord and my God," we must confess our faith in the risen Christ, recognizing the truth of His words and the reality of His resurrection. This confession of faith is not just a one-time event but a daily acknowledgment of Jesus' lordship in our lives. [18:32]

Romans 10:9-10 (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."

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you need to more fully acknowledge Jesus as Lord? What steps can you take today to surrender that area to Him?

Day 5: The Hope of Resurrection in Times of Suffering
In times of personal loss and suffering, the hope of the resurrection becomes even more vital. It provides the promise of hope, joy, and victory over death, offering comfort and assurance in the face of life's challenges. As Rick Warren shared after the loss of his son, the resurrection provides the answer to life's most challenging questions. Because Jesus is alive, we have the assurance of eternal life and the strength to endure hardships with hope. [20:08]

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 (ESV): "So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

Reflection: How can the hope of the resurrection provide comfort and strength in a current or past situation of suffering or loss in your life?

Quotes

He is risen indeed. For 2,000 years, believers have gathered to proclaim that Christ is risen. Jesus was dead, but now he is alive again, just as he promised. And have you ever considered that the exclamation he is risen is in the present tense? That has significance. It underscores the fact that not only is he alive again, but he is alive again forever. That's why we keep on saying it year after year for 2,000 years now. [00:00:09]

Our Lord lives. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the one hope that has held up human beings across every continent and every culture for two millennia through challenging times of poverty and disease, pain, hardship. Even death itself, I would say especially death itself. We celebrate today because Christ is risen. If Jesus had not come to life again and left an empty tomb to show for it, it wouldn't matter in the least if the stock market or anything else had risen or not. [00:01:20]

The resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ should prompt us to do at least three things that I want to talk with you about this morning rather briefly. The first thing it should prompt us to do is to reflect on it. To think about it, to consider what it means, to think of its impact on us and on our lives. It's often difficult in our hectic world even to stop and think. Things are happening so quickly day after day. [00:04:14]

But it's essential that we do reflect on the resurrection if we're going to know what we believe and understand how it impacts our lives. There is a lot of fuzzy thinking out there about the Christian faith. And much of it comes or is a part of the lives of people who profess to be Christians who don't understand what it is that they actually believe. The noted atheist Christopher Hitchens was the author of the best-selling book God is not Great: Why Religion Poisons Everything. [00:05:06]

He responded, "I would say that if you don't believe that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ and Messiah and that he rose again from the dead and by his sacrifice our sins are forgiven, you're really not in any meaningful sense a Christian." And the interviewer very quickly changed the subject. But that exchange is very telling. You can call yourself anything you like, but if you don't believe that Jesus is the son of God who died on the cross for our sins and then rose from the dead, you are not in any meaningful sense a Christian. [00:06:31]

The trouble is, I don't really think there are that many people who have contemplated very deeply at all what the resurrection of Jesus means for our lives. Oh, they're relieved to think that it somehow means they have eternal life in the sweet by and by, but it doesn't much affect the way they live their lives in the sour here and now. We don't reflect on it enough and contemplate its implications because if it's really true, then it changes everything. [00:07:35]

Tim Keller said that people used to tell him they could never be Christians because there are parts of the Bible that they find offensive. For example, things the Bible says about money or marriage or sex and so on. And Keller would ask them, "Are you saying because there are parts of the Bible that you don't like that Jesus Christ couldn't have been raised from the dead?" And they say, "Well, no, I guess I'm not saying that." And Keller would go on and say, "Well, every part of the Bible is important, but here's the point. [00:08:25]

If Jesus was raised from the dead, you're going to have to deal with everything in the Bible. If Jesus wasn't raised from the dead, I don't know why you're vexing yourself. But the fact of the matter is the Apostle Paul was more offended by Christianity than you are. He was killing Christians. But when he realized Jesus had been raised, it didn't matter what offended him anymore. It didn't matter because it was true. So Keller says we have to keep that in mind. [00:09:08]

The resurrection is a paradigm shattering historical event. Ent Wright, probably the most preeminent Bible scholar of our generation, says that when the first generation of believers was asked why they were Christians, they had a very simple and straightforward answer. Because Jesus was raised from the dead. That settles it all. That puts the end to the question. Because Jesus was raised from the dead. They understood the significance of that, the impact of that, the ramifications of that. [00:09:40]

It changed their lives. And their lives and witness changed our world. Do you understand the significance of the fact that Jesus rose from the dead? It is a paradigm shattering historical event. Now, this last week was the anniversary of the sinking of the unsinkable ship, the Titanic. Maybe you saw some of the news stories about it. But let's say for example, you were a seaman on the Titanic and your job, your role, your responsibility was at the end of the day to reorganize the deck chairs. [00:10:23]

The resurrection of Jesus is indeed true. And it should prompt us to reflect more on what it means for how we live our lives every day, for the decisions and the choices we make every day. Do you ever do that? Do you reflect on it at any time other than Easter? That is if we understand what the resurrection means, it will prompt us not only to reflect on it but to rejoice in it. In fact, we can't help but rejoice in it if we understand what it means. [00:11:56]

In John chapter 20, it says that Jesus appeared to the disciples on resurrection day. He showed them the wounds in his hands, in his side. And then it says in the NIV, the disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Overjoyed. They were ecstatic. Jesus was alive. They were thrilled. They were rejoicing. Not just because someone they loved who had died was alive again. Although that certainly is cause for rejoicing. They were rejoicing because of all it meant that Jesus had in fact risen from the dead. [00:12:35]

It means for example that he really is the son of God. that he really does have power over life and death and that he really can rescue us from our sins and give us eternal life. That all of that is true and that is something to celebrate. And I think sometimes we grow dull to that realization. It becomes routine. It becomes wrote. We become desensitized to it. We don't rejoice in it as we should. Recognizing the cause for rejoicing that it really is. [00:13:22]

About 15 years ago, there was an interesting story came out about two Hungarian brothers named Gaza and Zult Pilott. These brothers were flat broke. They were homeless. They literally lived in a cave near Budapest for years. And they survived by scraping together whatever money they could through selling scrap metal and junk that they could find. They were in a a hopeless situation basically. And Gaya said essentially, you know, women won't give you the time of day once they find out you live in a cave. [00:14:03]

But then all of a sudden everything changed overnight, if you will. some charity workers came along who had been contacted by some attorneys, some lawyers. They were looking for the Pilott Brothers. It turns out that they had inherited a substantial portion of their late maternal grandmother's $6.6 billion fortune. All they had to share it with was a sister. their mother had had a falling out with their grandmother at some point in time in the past. [00:14:52]

Just like that, two destitute brothers suddenly had the means to move from a cave into a castle. Gaza said, "Maybe now we can find some wives and have families. You suppose those guys had cause to rejoice? I think almost everyone would agree that they did. But how much more should we rejoice? The resurrection of Jesus Christ is exponentially better news than a $6 billion inheritance. If we recognize its significance, we will rejoice in it. [00:15:32]

Finally, the resurrection prompts us to respond to it. If Jesus Christ really did get up and walk out of that tomb on resurrection morning as we profess to believe, then we ought to respond to that appropriately. If Jesus is truly alive, then everything he said is absolutely true. He is in fact the son of God, God's provision for the salvation of humankind. Everything he ever said about God, about sin, about repentance, about forgiveness, salvation, judgment, eternal life, all of it absolutely true. [00:16:20]

Jesus really is the way and the truth and the life. as he says in John 14 verse6 and no one can come to God the father except through him. So what is the appropriate response to the reality of the resurrection of Jesus and the truth of all of these things? Well, our example for that is the Apostle Thomas. If you know his story, you know that he's become known through the ages as doubting Thomas. That's because when Jesus appeared to the disciples on the evening of the resurrection day, Thomas wasn't there. [00:17:00]

And when he finally arrived, Jesus had gone and the others reported to him, "Jesus is alive. He's risen." And Thomas refused to believe it. He said rather sternly, "Unless I see with my eyes the wounds in his hands and in his side, I will not believe it," he said. A week later, he was with the disciples when Jesus appeared again. And Jesus had heard Thomas's unbelieving words. He he spoke to Thomas first and directly, "Look, see my wounds. Come touch them. Put your hand in my side. [00:17:44]

Stop doubting and believe. And Thomas responded appropriately. When he saw Jesus and saw those scars, when he realized that Jesus was indeed alive, he made one of the strongest confessions of faith in the Bible. He said, "My Lord and my God." That's really the only appropriate response, isn't it? to surrender to Jesus the living one as Lord and God. Resurrection proves it. Have you ever confessed faith in Jesus as your Lord and your God the way Thomas did? [00:18:28]

You never truly know how significant and consequential Easter is until death comes calling either for you or for someone you love more than life itself. It's in that moment when the hope and the reality of the resurrection of Christ becomes more essential to you than the air you breathe. That's where the rubber meets the road. Rick Warren, the retired pastor of the megaurch Saddleback in California, the author of the best-selling book, The Purpose-Driven Life, together with his wife Kay went through a devastating loss. [00:19:19]

When their 27-year-old son Matthew died of suicide after years of struggling and battling with depression and mental illness. He won every battle except the last one. And of course, they were devastated. And it it illustrates the fact that no family is immune. Not even the family of a pastor of a mega church. And when people would ask Rick Warren how he managed to keep going in the midst of of that tremendous pain and grief, his answer was one word. Easter. [00:20:10]

You see, he said the the death and the burial and the resurrection of Jesus happened over three days. Friday was the day of suffering and pain and agony. Saturday was the day of doubt and confusion and min uh misery. But Sunday, Easter, was the day of hope and joy and victory. And here's the fact of life. He says, "You will face these three days over and over and over in your lifetime. And when you do, you'll find yourself asking, as I did, three fundamental questions. [00:20:54]

Number one, what do I do in my days of pain? Number two, how do I get through my days of doubt and confusion? And number three, how do I get to the days of joy and victory? The answer, he said, is Easter. The answer is Easter. Because our Lord Jesus lives. He has conquered even death for us. He is alive again forever. He is risen. He is risen indeed. [00:21:42]

Chatbot

Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?