Resurrection Assurance (4/14/22)
Do you ever wonder if the Resurrection was real? You’re not alone. But millions of people not only accept it on faith, but because it is a historical fact. The thing about history is this: if you accept the testimony of people who had no motives to lie, and they fulfill all the rules of evidence that would hold up in court, you have a good case for the resurrection. People from all walks of life have accepted it as Christ’s greatest miracle, or FEAT.
FEAT is an acronym that stands for Fatal Torment, Empty Tomb, Appearances and Transformed Lives. The evidence for Christ’s death on the cross is irrefutable. There is no way he could have merely fainted. He was already in critical condition when he got to the cross from the scourging he endured. If you dare watch a graphic depiction, then The Passion of Christ is a very accurate movie. The soldiers certified he was dead and even modern medical doctors reach the same conclusion.
The tomb of Joseph of Arimathea was Empty! No mistakes, no confusion. He would know if it was his own tomb is the garden nearby Golgotha. So did the women who saw Jesus buried there.
The Appearances of Jesus were around a dozen to individuals and groups and even a large crowd of 500 at once (I Corinthians 15). They were indoors, outdoors, and included many details as Jesus invited them to even touch him. You have to read all four gospels to see all of the appearances, and then the book of Acts for two more.
Their lives were Transformed. They went from fearful, confused and depressed, to confident and irrepressible witnesses of what they had seen and heard. Instead of being fearful of the Pharisees, they told them that they could not help but speak about Jesus and his resurrection. They also lived their lives in service to Jesus and then gave their lives. No one does that for a lie that they made up!
Lives have been transformed and changed for 2,000 years now, thanks to Jesus and his resurrection. That’s why we celebrate it this week. The words to a song summarize his great victory.
In Christ Alone
In Christ alone, who took on flesh, fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness, scorned by the ones He came to save:
Till on that cross, as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied,
For every sin on him was laid, here in the death of Christ, I live!
There in the ground, his body lay, Light of the world by darkness slain.
Then bursting forth in glorious day, up from the grave He rose again!
And as He stands in victory, sin’s curse has lost its grip on me;
For I am His and He is mine, bought with the precious blood of Christ!
Keith Getty and Stuart Townend
Let’s pray: Lord Jesus, we thank you for sacrificing your life for us. That in your death, we live! Thank you for the great exchange- you took our sins and gave us your righteousness. Thank you that death could not hold you because you are the Author of Life! Thank you that darkness only triumphs for a short time, and that you win the ultimate victory. Thank you that we can share in your victory through our faith. Lord, we thank you for the first eyewitnesses, but there are far more reasons for us to believe! You saw our sin and that we needed to be rescued. Thank you for sending your Son so that we could have forgiveness and be bought by his blood. Thank you for eternal life and the hope that gives us. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Happy Resurrection Sunday!!