Easter 2013: It is Finished

Easter Sunday

March 31, 2013

Port Gardner Church

Chuck Hickman

Easter Sermon

It is Finished!

John 19:30

When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Welcome: Welcome Packets, Information Card in Bulletin, Offering Box, Children’s Ministry, Communion

Introduction:

Well it’s Easter again!

A day many of us know very wellOthers maybe not so muchEaster is the celebration of Jesus Christ. Of His perfect life, terrible death and glorious resurrection.Easter is the time we celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection from the dead.

You see and hear it all over the place this time of year

Easter liliesHe is Risen on cards, advertisements and FB pagesChurches even advertise their many options of Easter service times and all the amenities they offer to you and your family.

But with all of this kind of “hype” for this day of celebration, do we really know what happened on that day over 2000 years ago?

Do we just casually “believe” in Jesus and His resurrection because we’ve been told so by our family or a pastor or a friend?

Or do we know it in our heart and mind? Do we know it beyond a shadow of a doubt and do we live our life as a follower of this Savior… Jesus?

If Jesus is dead, then Christianity is dead.

1 Corinthians 15:17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins

I’m going to share some truth today. I’m going to share with you some things that maybe you know… or maybe you have never heard before or learned in your lifetime. This truth comes straight from eyewitnesses to Christ’s resurrection as well as from respected historians of that time period.

I’m going to deal specifically with the fact that God Saves us! That when Jesus said “it is finished” He wasn’t just speaking of His own bodily death… He was telling us that sin and death, for those who will follow… is finally, and completely… finished.

First, let’s read the account of an eyewitness and one of Jesus Disciples. John.

John 19:30-42 [30] When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, “It is finished,” and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

[31] 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. [32] So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first, and of the other who had been crucified with him. [33] But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. [34] But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water. [35] 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. [36] For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” [37] And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

[38] After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. [39] Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. [40] So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. [41] Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. [42] So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

John 20:1-18 [20:1] Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. [2] So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” [3] So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. [4] Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. [5] And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. [6] Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, [7] and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. [8] Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; [9] for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. [10] Then the disciples went back to their homes.

[11] But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. [12] And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. [13] 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.” [14] Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. [15] 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.” [16] Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). [17] 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.’” [18] Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

Unbelievable! That’s what many people might say when they hear this story.

But I tell you… that apart from the resurrection of Jesus Christ, there is no savior, no salvation, no forgiveness of sin, and no hope of resurrected eternal life.

Apart from the resurrection, Jesus is reduced to yet another good but dead man and therefore is of no considerable help to us in this life or at its end.

Plainly stated, without the resurrection of Jesus, the few billion people today who worship Jesus as God are gullible; their hope for a resurrection life after this life is the hope of silly fools who trust in a dead man to give them life.

Subsequently, the doctrine of Jesus’ resurrection is, without question, profoundly significant and worthy of the most careful consideration and examination.

And while I don’t have the time this morning to deal with every aspect of this truth, I will share with you several points that speak to the truth of this claim, that Jesus Christ is the risen son of God who takes away the sin of the world. Who takes away your sin.

What is Resurrection?

Resurrection is not Revivification.Revivification occurs when someone who dies comes back to life only to die again.This happens throughout the Bible… Lazarus.

Resurrection does not mean there is a second chance for salvation after death, as both reincarnation and purgatory wrongly purport.Hebrews 9:27 It is appointed for a man to die once, and after that comes the judgment.

Resurrection does not mean life after death.And Resurrection doesn’t mean you’ll come back as a butterfly or a bumble bee.

Resurrection is a complete and total reversal of death.

N.T Wright says “Resurrection is a fresh living embodiment following a period of death as-a-state.”We’re not talking about a resurrection like Lazarus where he died, was brought back to life and then died again.

What is the Biblical evidence for Jesus’ resurrection?

Jesus resurrection was prophesied in advance. 700 years before the birth of Jesus, Isaiah promised that Jesus would be born into humble circumstances.Live a simple life, die a brutal death, and rise to take away our sin.

Jesus predicted his own resurrection. On many occasions, Jesus plainly promised that he would die and rise three days laterJesus Died!Sleepless night of trials and beatingsScourged: So brutal that many died prior to crucifixionHe was crucified and declared dead by a professional executioner.To ensure his death, a spear was thrust in his side up and under his rib cage. A mixture of blood and water flowed out because Jesus heart sac had been punctured.He was wrapped in close to 100 lbs of linens and spices.Even if he wasn’t dead from the beatings, scourging, crucifixion as well as a pierced heat, (which would have been a miracle) He couldn’t have endured 3 days without water, food or medical attention in a cold tomb carved out of rock. In summary… Jesus died.

Jesus was buried in a tomb that was easy to find. Joseph of Aramathia (Prophesied by Isaiah)The place of His burial was easy to confirm.Everyone knew where He was buried.

Jesus appeared physically, not just spiritually, alive three days after his death.Many people touched HimDisciples touched his hands and feetThey clung to him, so did Mary(Thomas) put his hand in the open spear hole in Jesus’ side.

Jesus resurrected body was the same as his pre-resurrection body.His disciples recognized him as the same person who had been crucifiedMary Magdalene recognized his voice

Jesus’ resurrection was recorded as Scripture shortly after it occurred. Mark’s Gospel account of the days leading up to Jesus death mentions the High Priest without naming him.Because His readers would know who he was speaking of.The eyewitness accounts were penned while the eyewitnesses were still alive to verify the facts.

Jesus resurrection is celebrated in the earliest church creeds.a. 1 Corinthians 15: 3-41 [3] For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, [4] that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,

9. Jesus’ resurrection convinced his family to worship him as God.Think about how difficult that would be… your entire familyIt is impossible to conceive of Jesus convincing his own mother and brother to suffer such persecution in this life and risk the torments of hell in eternal life for worshiping him as the one true God unless he truly was. (Jewish faith would condemn them to hell)

Jesus’ resurrection was confirmed by his most bitter enemies.Paul, before his conversion, was a devout Jewish Pharisee who routinely persecuted and killed Christians. After an encounter with the risen Christ, Paul was converted and became the most dynamic defender and expander of the church.

Circumstantial Evidence

Effects have causes. Jesus’ resurrection is no exception, as is evident by eight effects cause by it.

Jesus’ disciples were transformed.Prior to the resurrection they were timid, fearful and even hiding when Jesus appeared to them.Following the resurrection, they were all transformed into bold witnesses to what they had seen and heard, even to the point of dying in shame and poverty for their convictions.

Jesus’ disciples remained loyal to Jesus as their victorious Messiah.

Matthew suffered martyrdom in Ethiopia, killed by a sword woundMark died in Alexandria, Egypt after being dragged by horses through the streets until he was dead.Luke was hanged in Greece as a result of his tremendous preaching to the lost.John faced martyrdom when he was boiled in a huge basin of oil during a wave of persecution in Rome. He was miraculously delivered from death. He was then sentenced to the mines on the prison Island of Patmos where he wrote the book of Revelation. He was later freed and died an old man in Turkey. The only apostle to die peacefully.Peter was crucified upside down on an X-shaped cross. He requested this manner of death because he felt unworthy to die in the same way as Jesus ChristJames was thrown over a hundred feet down from the SE pinnacle of the Temple when he refused to deny his faith in Christ. When they discovered that he survived the fall, they beat him to death with a fuller’s club (A fuller's club was used in cleaning and bleaching Clothing) This was the same pinnacle where Satan had tempted Jesus.James the Great, Son of Zebedee was a fisherman by trade when Jesus called him to a lifetime of ministry. As a strong leader of the church, James was ultimately beheaded in Jerusalem. The Roman officer, who guarded James watched, amazed as James defended his faith at his trial. Later, the officer walked beside James to the place of execution. Overcome by conviction, he declared his new faith to the judge and knelt beside James to accept beheading as a Christian.Bartholomew was killed in Armenia, flayed to death with a whip.Andrew was crucified on an X-shaped cross in Patras, Greece. After being whipped by seven soldiers, they tied his body to the cross with cords to prolong his agony. His followers reported that when he was led toward the cross, Andrew saluted it in these words: “I have long desired and expected this happy hour. The cross has been consecrated by the body of Christ hanging on it.” He continued to preach to his tormentors for two days until he finally died.Thomas was stabbed with a spear in India while on a trip to establish the church in the sub-continent.Jude was killed with arrows when he refused to deny his faith in Christ.Matthias (the apostle chosen to replace the traitor Judas Iscariot) was stoned and then beheaded.Paul was tortured and beheaded by the evil Emperor Nero at Rome in A.D. 67. Paul endured a lengthy imprisonment, which allowed him to write his many epistles to the churches he had formed throughout the Roman Empire. The letters, which taught many of the foundational doctrines of Christianity form a large portion of the New Testament.

The disciples had exemplary character. There is no evidence to challenge the character of the disciples. Also, these were devout Jews who knew that if they worshiped a false god and encouraged others to do the same, they would be sentenced by God to the fires of eternal hell for violating the first two commandments. And wouldn’t such lying conflict with the character of men and women who gave their lives to feeding the poor, caring for widows and orphans, and helping the hurting and the needy?Worship changed. They stopped worshiping on Saturday and started worshiping on Sunday. No Jew would have ever accepted this new day of worship unless they had truly been changed by Jesus. They also welcomed the sacraments of Communion and Baptism into their worship of Jesus as God.Women discovered the empty tomb. They were mentioned by name. If it were a lie, it would be more credible to say that men discovered the empty tombThe entirety of the early church preaching was centered on the historical fact of Jesus’ resurrection. The debate of the day was not if the tomb was empty… but why was it empty? If it was a lie why are they assuming the tomb was empty? Because it was common knowledge of the day.Jesus tomb was not enshrined.Christianity exploded on the earth and a few billion people today claim to be Christians.

Historical Evidence

Book:

What does the resurrection do for Christians?

It reveals Jesus as our Messiah King!

The promised son of God.

Born of a virgin

Lived a perfect life. To be the perfect sacrifice to save us from the wrath of God.

Died a horrible death taking on the sin of the world.

He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures.

After 40 days… Jesus ascended into heaven

He sits at the right hand of the Father

He’s coming again to judge all people.

Now, before we end this morning, let me make this last remark.

You may be asking this morning… “how can I be saved?”

The way is simply this.

Our sins deserve punishment;

God must and will punish sin;

Jesus Christ came into this world and was punished in the place and stead of all that believe on him.

Your business, then, this morning is to make this simple inquiry of yourself…

Do I want a Savior? Do I feel that I want him?

And if you answer that question with “Yes I want a savior.”

Then my business is to say,

Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart, and you will be saved.

It saddens me that if any of you are in a peril so frightful, as to be living without God, without Christ, without a hope of heaven; to have death hanging over you, and yet not to tremble at it. This morning I beg you, close with Christ.

See your way clear to Jesus this morning.

Let’s pray together.