Christ Arose
17 June 2018 AM – Mark 15:42-16:14 – Mr17 – Scott Childs
Introduction: Read text. Jesus Christ died on the cross. Pilate questioned if He could be dead yet. The Roman Centurion assured him that Christ was dead. Joseph of Arimathaea took Jesus’ body from the cross, wrapped it for burial and placed it in his stone cave tomb. Early Sunday morning the women discovered Christ’s empty tomb. Entering the tomb, they saw a young man wearing a white robe who told them that Jesus had risen to life. They were terrified and fled. Mary Magdalene then saw Jesus and ran to tell the disciples. They refused to believe. Later the two men on the road saw Jesus. They too told the disciples who still did not believe. That evening, Jesus entered the room where the disciples ate. He rebuked them for their unbelief and hard hearts.
Transition: This morning I want to examine several scriptures that reveal five facts about Christ’s resurrection which we need to believe.
1. Christ Arose Literally
a. He was no longer in the tomb
1) The women found the tomb empty (Mr 16:6).
2) Christ’s grave wrappings were still there. (John 20:6-7) “Then cometh Simon Peter following him, and went into the sepulchre, and seeth the linen clothes lie, And the napkin, that was about his head, not lying with the linen clothes, but wrapped together in a place by itself.”
b. He was seen by many believers
1) Mary saw Jesus
2) Paul tells us of many others who saw Him. (1 Corinthians 15:5-8) “And that he was seen of Cephas [Peter], then of the twelve: After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me also, as of one born out of due time.”
2. Christ Arose Bodily
a. His body had flesh and bone
1) His resurrected body was not just spirit. (Luke 24:39) “Behold my hands and my feet, that it is I myself: handle me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.”
2) His resurrected body could be touched and still had scars. (John 20:27) “Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.”
b. His resurrected body was not just a spirit body
1) The Jehovah Witnesses falsely teach that Jesus arose with a spirit body not a literal body. They claim that after His resurrection “Jesus also assumed human form temporarily, just as angels had previously done.” “After his resurrection, Jesus had materialized fleshly bodies. But now Jesus dematerializes the body he used on this occasion, and he ascends to heaven as a spirit creature.” – JW.org web articles
2) The Bible says that Jesus still has a glorious body in heaven, not just a spirit. (Philippians 3:21) “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.”
3) If Jesus did not raise physically, what happened to his body?
4) In John 2:19-21, Jesus said His physical body would raise. “Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body.”
3. Christ Arose Immortally
a. His resurrected body was immortal
1) His physical body was now an immortal body (it was no longer able to die).
2) His actual body was changed, but it was still a body. Paul illustrated this in 1 Corinthians 15:35-37, “But some man will say, How are the dead raised up? and with what body do they come? Thou fool, that which thou sowest is not quickened, except it die: And that which thou sowest, thou sowest not that body that shall be, but bare grain, it may chance of wheat, or of some other grain:” A seed of wheat is still the same wheat after it dies and sprouts, but it has a different form. Jesus’ body was now immortal.
b. Christ’s immortal body was still a body
1) The disciples touched Him. He ate before them. They saw Him. They saw His scares. He talked with them. Yet His immortal body was able to walk through the wall and ascend up into heaven.
2) When His followers did not recognize His resurrected body, it was because He kept them from it. (Luke 24:16) “But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.” It was not because He looked different. When Jesus opened their eyes, they knew Him. (Luke 24:31) “And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.”
4. Christ Arose Purposely
a. To justify all who believe on Him
1) (Romans 4:25) “Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.”
b. To deliver all believers from coming wrath
1) (1 Thessalonians 1:10) “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”
c. To guarantee all believers of resurrection
1) (1 Corinthians 15:21-23) “For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming.”
d. To provide all believers with immortal bodies
1) (1 Corinthians 15:51) “Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.”
e. To intercede for all believers in heaven
1) (Romans 8:34) “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”
f. To give all believers a living hope
1) (1 Peter 1:3-5) “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
5. Christ Arose Victoriously
a. He destroyed the power of death
1) (Hebrews 2:14-15) “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”
2) We no longer need to fear death or hell.
b. He conquered death for all men
1) (Romans 6:9) “Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.”
2) (1 Corinthians 15:54) “So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.”
Conclusion: We have examined Bible evidence that Christ arose literally, bodily, immortally, purposely, and victoriously. The resurrection of Christ is at the heart of the Gospel. The resurrection of Christ gives us assurance that Christ can save our souls. The resurrection of Christ gives us a living hope. Death is not the end. If we place our faith in Christ, we will live eternally with Him in heaven.
If you are not positive you have place your faith in Christ to save your soul, I urge you to do it today.
Christian friend, study carefully the facts we have examined today. Do not be deceived by the cults. Know the Bible truth.
Song: He Lives 132