Jesus Is Alive!
Greetings! Thank you for joining me today. The subject we are going to search out today is one that needs to be read or heard by everyone! We are going to examine the unique truth that separates Christianity from all other religions. May the Holy Spirit speak to your heart, mind and spirit the revelation and truth we will see today. Eric
The subject we share today is the most significant revelation we can impart to you! That message is: Jesus Is Alive! This revelation is paramount! Why? The fact that Jesus is alive, validates the truth of the Word of God.
“The resurrection of Jesus Christ is a cornerstone of Christian theology and is pivotal to the faith, as it affirms Jesus’ divinity, the truth of His teachings, and the hope of eternal life for believers!” (Bible Hub Topical Encyclopedia).
Prior to examining His resurrection, we need to establish another foundational fact - He died!
We will spend a little while looking at the events that took place in Jesus’ life which led up to His crucifixion and death.
The prophet Isaiah foretold His birth in Isaiah 9:6a, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.” In Luke 1:35, an angel told Mary that the Holy Spirit would come on her, the power of the Most High would overshadow her and the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Later, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and revealed that the child Mary was carrying was of the Holy Spirit and that His name was to be Jesus for He would save His people from their sins. Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled. Joseph took Mary as his wife but did not know her until she brought forth her firstborn Son and Joseph called His name, Jesus. (Matthew 1:18-25).
When Jesus was 12 years old and became separated from His parents, after a search, they found Him in the temple conversing with the teachers. They informed Him that they had been searching for Him - He responded with, “Didn’t you know I had to be in My Father’s house. (Luke 2:49). Verse 52 reveals that “Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.”
Jesus, in His ministry, called for an open free and loyal relationship which enabled obedience to the Law’s righteousness. Because of the miracles of healing, deliverance, and the feeding of the multitudes, Jesus had thousands of followers. In contrast, the priests, Pharisees and scribes adhered to and placed a heavy burden of legalism upon the Jewish people. On account of these schisms, there was tremendous opposition to Jesus’ ministry. For some time, the Pharisees and religious leaders set out and plotted against Him that they might destroy Him. (Matthew 26:3).
We read in Matthew 26, that following the Passover meal, Jesus had with His disciples, a “great multitude with swords, and clubs came from the chief priests and elders of the people” (Verse 47) to seize Him in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus had gone to pray.
Following a mockery of a trial, where two false witnesses came forward - they bound Him and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate, the governor.
Even though Pilate found no fault in Him, he turned Jesus over to the elders who had Him scourged, stripped', put a scarlet robe on Him and a crown of thorns on His head, mocked Him, took the robe off, then led Him away to be crucified. (Matthew 27:27-31). They nailed Him to the cross and waited for Him to die.
Matthew 27:45-50, reads, “From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" (which means "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"). 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah." 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him." 50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.”
When Jesus died, the veil of the temple separating the Holy Place from the Holy of Holies was torn in two from top to bottom, the earth quaked, the rocks split, graves were opened and bodies of saints who had died were raised. (Matthew 27:51-52).
Joseph of Arimathea had taken the body of Jesus, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his new tomb. Remembering a claim that Jesus was going to be resurrected, the chief priests and Pharisees went to Pilate and requested that the tomb be made secure. He told them to take a Roman guard and made the tomb as secure as they knew how; they sealed the stone shut and posted the guard. (Matthew 27:59-66).
It was settled! Jesus was dead!
However, the truth does not end there!
Matthew 28:1,2,4-7 reveals, “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. ... 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. 5 The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you."
There was no body! There were no remains! “He is risen from the dead … you will see Him!” Hallelujah!
The Apostle Paul emphasized the resurrection as a foundational truth for our faith, “For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received; that Christ died for our sins according to Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” (1 Corinthians 15:3 and 4).
Paul further elaborated on the resurrection’s significance stating that if Christ has not been raised, the Christian faith is futile, and believers are still in their sins. (1 Corinthians 15:17) and then verse 20 declares, “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” The firstfruits are the first ripened part of the harvest, furnishing actual evidence that the entire harvest is on the way. (Jesus died on Passover as the perfect Passover Lamb and His Resurrection is a promise of our own resurrection.) (Textual notes, New Spirit Filled Life Bible). Praise God!
Acts 1 reveals that the ‘evidence’ of Jesus’ resurrection was established by many infallible or convincing proofs! Verse 3 reads, “After his suffering he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.”
Since there are many accounts of His appearances and encounters with people, I will simple list who the encounter was with and provide the Scripture reference of where you can find it in the Word of God.
- Mary Magdalene (Mark 16: 9-11)
- Salomi and Mary (mother of James) (Matthew 28: 9,10)
- Peter (Luke 24:34)
- Two men on the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32)
- The apostles minus Thomas (Luke 24:36-43)
- The apostles with Thomas (John 20:26-29)
- Seven disciples on the shore of the Sea of Galilee (John 21:1-23=5)
- The apostles on a mountain in Galilee (Mark 16:15-18)
- Cephas, the 12, then over 500 at one time (1 Corinthians 15:6)
- His brother, James (1 Corinthians 15:7
- The apostles at His final ascension (Acts 1:9-12)
Luke 22:69 reveals, “Hereafter shall the Son of man sit on the right hand of the power of God.”
Jesus is not dead!
He is sitting at the right hand of the Father, where He makes intercession for believers! Romans 8:34b (CSB), “Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.”
Acts 13:34-41 very plainly reveals the truth of the resurrection, “God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay. As God has said, " 'I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.' 35 So it is also stated elsewhere: " 'You will not let your holy one see decay.' 36 "Now when David had served God's purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his ancestors and his body decayed. 37 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. 38 "Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. 40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: 41 " 'Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.'" God raised Jesus from the dead. Everyone who believes is set free from every sin!
The shed blood of Jesus brought about our justification. He was the sinless, perfect, Lamb of God!
Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we also have the hope of resurrection and the promise of an eternal inheritance.
1 Corinthians 6:14 reads, “By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.
1 Peter 1:3 and 4, “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,”
What separates Christianity from other religions? The empty tomb! Christ was resurrected by the power of Almighty God from the grave! Death could not hold Him
How do we establish our salvation through Jesus Christ?
Romans 10:9 and 10 reveals, “If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.”
However, this portion of Scripture wonderfully continues with verses 11 through 13, “As Scripture says, "Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame." 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile--the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
If you are reading this post, and have not yet accepted the sacrifice Christ made for you. I declare to you this day … Today is the day of salvation!
Unless noted otherwise, all Scriptures are taken the New International Version.
CSB Christian Standard Bible