SERMON SPOTLIGHT * 4/9/23
What are you doing with the empty tomb? You have to do something. Below is an outline summary of the sermon for your further study and deeper reflection.
EASTER SERIES 2023
TEXT: Mark 16:1-8
TITLE: The Resurrection
PREACHER: Derek Overstreet
SERMON EXCERPTS:
”Mark wrote his gospel to show us who Jesus is and force us to make a decision based on that reality. Christian faith is not blind. It is experiential but the experience is built on empirical, historical, undeniable evidence.”
“If the resurrection is true, how can you not believe in Jesus? If Jesus is alive, then doesn’t it take greater faith to be an atheist or an agnostic than it does to be a Christian? Jesus is an undisputed historical figure. His birth, his life, and his death are every bit a part of world history, as King Tut, Julius Caesar, and George Washington. What do we do with an empty tomb?”
“People try to explain it away:
Jesus’ enemies stole his body - There’s no evidence of this; frankly, it doesn’t make sense. Acts teaches us that Christianity exploded after Jesus’ resurrection. All it would have taken to crush the Church was to provide the body. They didn’t because they couldn’t.
Jesus’ disciples stole his body - This conspiracy theory of all conspiracy theories still exists today, BUT In the first century, you would never build a case for anything, let alone a resurrection from the dead with three women as your star witnesses. AND the authority, conviction, and personal sacrifice with which the disciples preached and pursued Jesus would have never lasted if they knew they were frauds.
Jesus never actually died - On numerous fronts, this explanation is so outrageous even Jesus' enemies didn’t push it.”
“There can only be one conclusion - God raised Jesus from the dead. The resurrection is what the OT Scriptures predicted centuries before would happen. It’s what Jesus repeatedly taught would happen. It’s what the authorities feared would happen. It’s what these three women and the disciples said happened. It’s what over 500 people in the following days personally witnessed happening.”
“These women are to be commended for their courageous expression of devotion to Jesus. But even in their devotion, their unbelief was revealed.”
“The resurrection reminds us Christianity is real. Our faith is not in vain. We are not to be pitied. Our lives are not a house of cards because Jesus is alive. That means my sins are COMPLETELY forgiven. The power of death is TRULY broken. The penalty of sin is FULLY paid. God’s love is ETERNALLY mine, and one day I WILL live in Christ’s glorious presence.”
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE:
Matthew 28:11-15
1 Corinthians 15:3-8
2 Corinthians 5:21
Romans 10:8-13
1 Corinthians 15:54-48
QUOTES:
Thomas Arnold - The evidence for our Lord’s life and death and resurrection may be and often has been shown to be satisfactory. It is good according to the common rules for distinguishing good evidence from bad. Thousands and tens of thousands of persons have gone through it piece by piece as carefully as every judge summing up a most important cause. I have myself done it many times over, not to persuade others but to satisfy myself. I have been used for many years to study the histories of other times and to examine and weigh the evidence of those who have written about them, and I know of no one fact in the history of mankind which is proved by better and fuller evidence than the great sign which God hath given us, that Christ died and rose again from the dead.”
J.C. Ryle - We need not wonder that so much importance is attached to our Lord’s resurrection. It is the seal and headstone of the great work of redemption, which He came to do. It is the crowning proof that He has paid the debt which He undertook to pay on our behalf, won the battle which He fought to deliver us from hell, and is accepted as our Surety and our Substitute by our Father in heaven. Had He never come forth from the prison of the grave, how could we ever have been sure that our ransom had been fully paid? Had He never risen from His conflict with the last enemy, how could we have felt confident, that He has overcome death, and him that had the power of death, that is the devil? But thanks be unto God, we are not left in doubt. The Lord Jesus really “rose again for our justification.” True Christians are “begotten again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” They may boldly say with Paul, “Who is he that condemns – it is Christ that died, yes rather that is risen again.”
APPLICATION:
What is the hardest thing going in your life right now?—If God can raise Jesus from the dead, he can handle your circumstance!
The empty tomb ensures me He is there! He is Faithful! He is sufficient!
The empty tomb ensures God’s promises are Yes and Amen!
The empty tomb ensures His throne is approachable as the place of unfailing mercy and all-sufficient grace!
The empty tomb ensures my forgiveness and justification before God is full, final, and forever!
The empty tomb ensures me there is a better life—the resurrection life with Jesus NOW and YET to come!