Here’s the notes from my Easter sermon “Death Defeated” preached at Cross of Christ Fellowship in Naperville, Il. Audio here.
Luke 24:36-43 “Death Defeated” (Easter 2023 sermon)
INTRO: Have you ever heard good news about something and struggled to believe, because it seemed too good to be true?
-A friend who thought she could not have a baby, gets pregnant
-The dream job you always wanted becomes available and employer offers you the position.
-A distant relative passes away and leaves you with an enormous inheritance.
-A family member, whom you have been praying for years about, becomes a Christian
-Some things feel too good to be true, but upon closer examination reveal they are true.
-The resurrection Jesus Christ is a bit like this: sounds too good to be true, but is true!
TODAY, we take a look together at the VERY first Easter, the day that Jesus rose from the dead
-We’ll hear and consider against the astonishingly great news: Jesus is alive!
-We’ll also consider why that good news is relevant to us today.Context: Jesus fulfilled his earthly ministry, was arrest, crucified, died, was buried, and this is now the 3rd day.
-Strange and wonderful events that have proclaimed the resurrection of Jesus:
–Women arrive at empty tomb is empty and two angels declare to them that Jesus has risen from the dead;
–2 disciples on road to Emmaus encounter Jesus; Peter has seen Jesus.
-Jesus’ disciples are gathered together but still do not fully believe or grasp Jesus is alive.
The Resurrected Jesus Appears to His Disciples (Luke 24:36-43)
-The resurrected Jesus appeared to his disciples (READ 36)
-Jesus comes to his disciples
-Sounds like a supernatural arrival, as the doors were locked (John 20:19)
-Jesus speaks PEACE to his followers “peace to you”.
-Jesus is the ‘prince of peace’: He wants his followers to experience the peace that only He can give.
-The disciples’ initial reaction was fear and misunderstanding (READ 37)
–KIDS, why do you think the disciples were startled and frightened? (they thought they saw a spirit).
-The disciples knew that dead people stay dead
-Jesus reassures them by showing his real physical body (READ 38-40)
-Jesus addresses their fear “Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts?”
-Jesus is the perfect counselor, infinitely wise and tenderly loving toward his people.
-Jesus asks his disciples to look at his hands and feet.
–KIDS: Why does Jesus do that? (“See…that it is myself”): These marks were from cross and identify Jesus.
-Invites them to “touch” Him and shows “his hands and feet”
-Jesus is giving proof that he really is the same Jesus who died on a cross
-Jesus is giving proof that he was not a spirit, but the resurrected Jesus, with a physical body.
*SIDEBAR: Did you the Bible’s present of our future is a physical?
-Not disembodied (that is true temporarily), but physical: the resurrection of the Dead at End of History
-Physical perfect bodies and live with each other in the new Earth
-But for those not reconciled with God, there is also the reality of hell—many will go there.
-Jesus provides further reassurance by asking for food and eating with them (READ 41-43) -Truth of Jesus’ resurrection seemed to good to be true: “still disbelieved for joy and were marveling,”
-Their lord and savior, who died a brutal death, had rose again. This is amazing!
-Jesus eats with his disciples (41-42)
-Not an insignificant, random detail, but further proof that Jesus was physically resurrected & there with them.
-Immaterial spirits cannot eat, only those with physical bodies.
RECAP: Jesus Christ is alive! He revealed himself to his disciples and gave them further proof to deal with their fears.
SO WHAT? WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
-JESUS was SUCCESSFUL in delivering his people from their sins: resurrection is proof he succeeded.
-JESUS is trustworthy, and we can trust him for the promise of eternal life: he said it would happen & it did!
-DEATH HAS BEEN DEFEATED: Jesus conquered death and sin for us. Jesus more powerful than death
-If we are Christians, we share in his victory!
CLOSE: BELIEVE on Jesus and you too will be raised to spiritual life now and eternal life in the world to come.
