Easter2017|YourSaviorMustBeStrongerthanDeathLonSolomon–SeniorTeachingPastor

ENEMIES:Matthew12:40“ForasJonahwasinthebellyofthefishforthreedaysandthreenights,sotheSonofMan(i.e.Jesus)willbeintheheartoftheearthforthreedaysandthreenights.”FRIENDS:Matthew16:21“Fromthattimeon,JesusbegantoshowhisdisciplesthatHemustgotoJerusalem...andbekilled,andBERAISEDTOLIFEAGAINonthe3rdday.”CROWD:John2:18“Jesussaid,‘Destroythistemple,andinthreedays,Iwillraiseitbackup.’”John2:20“Thenthecrowdsaid,‘Ithastakenforty-sixyearstobuildthistemple,andyouwillraiseitupinthreedays?’”John2:21“ButJesuswasspeakingofthetempleofHisbody.”Matthew27:63“Sir,werememberthatwhenhewasstillalive,thisdeceiversaid,‘Afterthreedays,Iwillriseagain.’”EverybodyinIsraelknewfullwellaboutJesus’claimthathewouldrisefromthedead!#1–ThecompellingevidenceoftheRomansoldiers.Matthew27:63(RabbistoPilate)“Sir,werememberthatwhenhewasstillalive,thatdeceiversaid,‘AfterthreedaysIwillriseagain.’”Matthew27:64“Sopleasecommandthathistombbemadesecureuntilthe3rdday,lesthisdisciplescomebynight,andstealhisbody,andsaytothepeople,‘Hehasrisenfromthedead.’Andthen,thislastdeceptionwillbeworsethanthefirst.”Matthew27:65“Pilatesaidtothem,‘TakeasquadofRomansoldiersandmakethetombassecureasyouknowhow.”Matthew27:66“Sotheywentandmadethetombsecurebyputtinga(wax)sealonthestoneandpostingtheguard.”ARomansecurityteamlikethisconsistedof15enlistedmenplusoneofficer.IfaRomansoldierlosthisprisoner(evenhisdeadprisoner),helosthislife.Acts12:19“AndwhenHerodhadsoughtforhim(Peter)andnotfoundhim,heexaminedtheguardsandorderedthattheyshouldbePUTTODEATH.”Q:“IfnohumanbeingstolethebodyofJesus,thenwherediditgo?”A:“ItrosefromthedeadexactlyliketheBiblesaysitdid!”#2–ThecompellingevidenceofJesus’enemies.

Matthew28:12“Thentherabbisgavethesoldiersagreatsumofmoneyandsaid,‘TellpeoplethatHisdisciplescameatnightandstolehisbodyawaywhileyouweresleeping.’”Matthew28:14“Andifthisgetsbacktothegovernor’s(Pilate’s)ears,wewillpersuadehimandkeepyousafe.”ThereWASnodeadbodytoproduce–andsincewe’veagreedthatthebodyofJesuswasn’tstolen,therefore,wherediditgo–ifnotfortheresurrection?#3–Thecompellingevidenceoftheeyewitnesses.1Corinthians15:3(ApostlePaul)“ForIdeliveredtoyouthemessagethatIalsoreceived:thatChristdiedforoursinsaccordingtotheScriptures,andthatHewasburied,andthatHeroseagainonthethirddayaccordingtotheScriptures.”1Corinthians15:5“AndthatHewasseenbyPeter,thenbytheTwelve(apostles).”1Corinthians15:6“Afterthat,Hewasseenbyover500brethrenatonce,mostofwhomarestillalivetothisday.”WhywouldPauldareissuethiskindofchallengeifhecouldn’tbackitup?1Corinthians15:7“Afterthat,HewasseenbyJames,thenbyALLtheapostles.”1Corinthians15:8“Andlastofall,Hewasseenbyme.”

Thehigher“N”is,thegreaterthepossibilitythattheeventinquestionreallyhappened.

Dr.JohnDePoe(WesternMichiganUniversity):“ABayesianAnalysisoftheCumulativeEffectsofIndependentEyewitnessTestimonyfortheResurrectionofJesusChrist.”Dr.DePoe“FromtheNewTestament,onecancountasmanyas520eyewitnessestotheresurrection.”Dr.DePoe“Givensuchanumberofindependenteyewitnessestestifyingthataneventoccurred,theprobabilitythatthiseventdidindeedhappengoesupexponentially...andbecomesCLOSETOCERTAIN.”#4–Thecompellingevidenceoftheeyewitnesses’martyrdom.VirtuallyeveryeyewitnessofJesus’resurrectionthattheBiblementionsdiedasamartyrratherthanrecanttheirtestimonythatJesushadrisenfromthedead!NoneoftheearlyChristians“flipped,”becausetheywerenotrunningacon–theyhadreallyseentheRisenChrist–andtheywerewillingtodieratherthandenyit!#1–TheRomansoldiers.#2–Jesus’enemies. #3–Theeyewitnesses. #4–Theeyewitnessesmartyrdom.SOWHAT?“WhydidJesusdothis?”“Amin–ifyou’regoingtotrustsomebodytosaveyoufromdeath,thenthatpersonhastobestrongerthandeath–right?”“HowcantheysaveYOUfromdeathiftheycouldn’tevensaveTHEMSELVESfromdeath?”“IfJesuscansaveHimselffromdeath,thenHecansaveYOUfromdeath!”John14:19“BecauseIlive,you(whobelieveinMe)shalllivealso.”John11:25“HewhobelievesinMeshalllive(intheafterlife)evenifhedies(hereonearth).”1John5:11“Andthisistherecord,thatGodhasgivenuseternallife,andthislifeisinHisSon(RisenLordJesus).”1John5:12“HewhohastheSonhasthelife(eternallife);andhewhodoesnothavetheSondoesnothavethelife(eternallife)."1John5:13“ThesethingsIwritetoyouwhobelieveintheNameoftheSonofGodsoyoumayKNOWthatyouhaveeternallife.”GodwantsustoKNOWwhatwillhappentousafterwedie.Acts17:31“GodhasgivenusPROOFbyraisingHimfromthedead.”

Tobeofanyusetous,aSaviormustbestrongerthandeath.TheonlySaviorintheuniversewhois–istheResurrected,Risen,Alive-for-evermoreLordJesusChrist!John11:25“HewhobelievesinMeshalllive(intheafterlife)evenifhedies(hereonearth).”