Mountain Life Church/Life Pack/April 19-20, 2014

HeGotUp!

He Got Up!Sermon Notes

April 19-20, 2014

I. The WomenA. Followers of Jesus

1. They ministered to Jesus in Galilee2. They followed Him to Jerusalem3. The anointing for burial

a. Jesus died too late on Friday to be anointed for burial (usually 100 pounds of spices was used)

b. The women purchased the spices on Saturday eveningc. Then they came Sunday morning to anoint His body

for burial

B. Jesus honored women1. He put them in a place

of honor unlike their culture

2. They were the first witnesses to the resurrection

II. Joseph of ArimatheaA. Sought permission to bury Jesus in his tomb

1. A Follower of Jesus (Matthew 27: 57 and Mark 15: 43)2. A wealthy man who served on the High Council

B. Joseph’s courage1. He had courage in the face of what appeared to be failure 2. His courageous act enabled him to unknowingly fulfill

scripture (Isaiah 53: 9)

C. Two Josephs bookend Jesus’ life1. Jesus’ stepfather at his birth and early childhood2. Joseph of Arimathea at His death3. Joseph = Hebrew - He Increases

The empty tomb was "too notorious to be denied." Paul Althaus states that the resurrection "could have not been maintained in Jerusalem for a single day, for a single hour, if the emptiness of the tomb had not been established as a fact for all concerned."

FACT #3: LARGE STONE MOVED On that Sunday morning the first thing that impressed the people who approached the tomb was the unusual position of the one and a half to two ton stone that had been lodged in front of the doorway. All the Gospel writers mention it. Those who observed the stone after the resurrection describe its position as having been rolled up a slope away not just from the entrance of the tomb, but from the entire massive sepulcher. It was in such a position that it looked as if it had been picked up and carried away. Now, I ask you, if the disciples had wanted to come in, tiptoe around the sleeping guards, and then roll the stone over and steal Jesus' body, how could they have done that without the guards' awareness?

FACT #4: ROMAN GUARD GOES AWOL The Roman guards fled. They left their place of responsibility. How can their attrition he explained, when Roman military discipline was so exceptional? Justin, in Digest #49, mentions all the offenses that required the death penalty. The fear of their superiors' wrath and the possibility of death meant that they paid close attention to the minutest details of their jobs. One way a guard was put to death was by being stripped of his clothes and then burned alive in a fire started with his garments. If it was not apparent which soldier had failed in his duty, then lots were drawn to see which one wand be punished with death for the guard unit's failure. Certainly the entire unit would not have fallen asleep with that kind of threat over their heads. Dr. George Currie, a student of Roman military discipline, wrote that fear of punishment "produced flawless attention to duty, especially in the night watches."

FACT #6: JESUS' APPEARANCES CONFIRMED Christ appeared alive on several occasions after the cataclysmic events of that first Easter . When studying an event in history, it is important to know whether enough people who were participants or eyewitnesses to the event were alive when the facts about the event were published. To know this is obviously helpful in ascertaining the accuracy of the published report. If the number of eyewitnesses is substantial, the event can he regarded as fairly well established. For instance, if we all witness a murder, and a later police report turns out to he a fabrication of lies, we as eyewitnesses can refute it.

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Evidence for the ResurrectionBy Josh McDowell

BACKGROUND The New Testament witnesses were fully aware of the background against which the resurrection took place. The body of Jesus, in accordance with Jewish burial custom, was wrapped in a linen cloth. After the body was placed in a solid rock tomb, an extremely large stone was rolled against the entrance of the tomb. Large stones weighing approximately two tons were normally rolled (by means of levers) against a tomb entrance.

A Roman guard of strictly disciplined fighting men was stationed to guard the tomb. This guard affixed on the tomb the Roman seal, which was meant to "prevent any attempt at vandalizing the sepulcher. Anyone trying to move the stone from the tomb's entrance would have broken the seal and thus incurred the wrath of Roman law.

But three days later the tomb was empty. The followers of Jesus said He had risen from the dead. They reported that He appeared to them during a period of 40 days, showing Himself to them by many "infallible proofs." Paul the apostle recounted that Jesus appeared to more than 500 of His followers at one time, the majority of whom were still alive and who could confirm what Paul wrote. So many security precautions were taken with the trial, crucifixion, burial, entombment, sealing, and guarding of Christ's tomb that it becomes very difficult for critics to defend their position that Christ did not rise from the dead. Consider these facts:

FACT #1: BROKEN ROMAN SEAL As we have said, the first obvious fact was the breaking of the seal that stood for the power and authority of the Roman Empire. The consequences of breaking the seal were extremely severe. The FBI and CIA of the Roman Empire were called into action to find the man or men who were responsible. If they were apprehended, it meant automatic execution by crucifixion upside down. People feared the breaking of the seal. Jesus' disciples displayed signs of cowardice when they hid themselves. Peter, one of these disciples, went out and denied Christ three times.

FACT #2: EMPTY TOMB As we have already discussed, another obvious fact after the resurrection was the empty tomb. The disciples of Christ did not go off to Athens or Rome to preach that Christ was raised from the dead. Rather, they went right back to the city of Jerusalem, where, if what they were teaching was false, the falsity would be evident.

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III.Sunday MorningA. The Quandary - Who will role away the stone?

1. Roman guard2. Roman seal3. The size of the stone - One and a half to two tons4. Yet, these women are determined to anoint Jesus body!

B. The Empty Tomb with Stone Removed1. The Angel2. The Message3. Tell His disciples AND PETER

C. The Unbelieving Disciples1. They refused to believe Mary2. They refused to believe the two who saw Him on the way

to Emmaus3. Jesus reveals Himself

D. The Great Commission

IV.Paul’s Helpful PerspectiveA. I am in Christ

B. I am in His death

C. I am in His resurrection!

IV.And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtorsA. Acknowledge my sin and thank God for forgiving me

through Jesus’ sacrifice on the crossB. Forgive and release others for their sins against me

1. Acknowledge that someone sinned against me and hurt me

2. Give the memory of the violation to God3. Cut them loose from all debt they owe me4. Acknowledge that bitterness has NO HOLD on me5. Lavish love on them and pray for God to bless them

V. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evilA. Put on the whole armor of God (Put on the Lord Jesus Christ)

1. The belt of truth (Mentally accept God’s truth over lies I have been hearing)

2. Breastplate of righteousness (Thank Jesus for giving me His righteousness which enables me to boldly enter His presence)

3. Shoes of preparation (readiness) of the Gospel of peace (Take time to digest the scriptures - committing them to memory)

4. Shield of faith (Step out on God’s truth for my situation)5. Helmet of salvation (Thank God that He has saved me

and remember that I am different than the world. Satan has no power over me except the power I give him by believing lies.)

6. Sword of the Spirit (Apply the Word to the lies I hear, and the situations I find myself in today.)

B. Run to the Lord for protection (You are my refuge, my fortress, my God in whom I trust!)1. I set my mind on things above, not on things of the earth2. God has set His love upon me3. He knows my name and will never leave me or forsake

meVI.For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the

glory foreverA. Make your faith declarationsB. Return to praise

This outline inspired by Henry Blackaby & Larry Lea

Life Group Questions for April 19-20, 2014

Message =He Got Up!

Ice  Breaker:  Tell  about  a  time  when  you  were  completely  surprised.    

Read  Mark  15:  40  -­‐‑  Mark  16:  8.

1. What  sticks  out  to  you  about  this  passage?

2. What  kind  of  courage  do  you  think  it  took  for  Joseph  of  Arimathea  to  ask  for  the  body  of  Jesus?

3. How  do  you  think  the  11  disciples  were  feeling  after  Jesus  died?    

4. Why  do  you  think  the  angel  told  the  women  to  tell  the  disciples  AND  PETER    that  Jesus  was  risen?    How  do  you  think  Peter  probably  responded  to  that  news?

5. Do  you  personally  struggle  to  believe  the  resurrection  of  Jesus?    Please  explain.

6. What  aspects  of  the  resurrection  give  it  credibility  in  your  eyes?

7. What  does  the  resurrection  mean  to  you  personally?

8. Pray  for  one  another.

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Prayer Guide

I. Our Father in Heaven, Hallowed be Your NameA. Picture Calvary and thank God you can call Him

Father by virtue of the blood of JesusB. Hallow (lift Him above everything in your life) the

names of God corresponding with the five benefits in the New Covenant and make your faith declarations

II. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done (God, what are you doing? How can I (others) get in on what You are doing?)A. Myself

• Give me awareness of how to meet others’ needs today• I choose to take the initiative to love others

B. My family (spouse, children, other family members)

C. My church (pastor, other leadership, faithfulness of people, the harvest)

D. My nation (city, state, and national political and spiritual leaders, the harvest)

III.Give us this day our daily breadA. Believe that God desires to provide for meB. Be specificC. Be tenaciousD. Talk openly about my worries and give them to HimE. Today’s needs - Tomorrow will care for itself

This outline inspired by Henry Blackaby & Larry Lea516

Personal Devotion PagesThe following pages are designed to help you enjoy a regular time alone with God. We have divided up the curriculum to help us grow wherever we are at in our relationship with God and in our knowledge of His Kingdom.

LEVELS: Since we are a Colorado church, we use skiing imagery to communicate the different levels of intensity and time involved in relating to God.

BEGINNER: If you are new in your relationship with God, we encourage you to try the exercises under this symbol:

INTERMEDIATE: If you have walked with God for some time and would like a little more challenge and more time involvement, try the exercises under this symbol:

ADVANCED: These exercises are for people who have walked with God for some time and display maturity in their relationship with Him.

These exercises provide a practical way to encounter God and His truth on a regular basis. There are no rules here. Please don’t hurry through the process. Slow meditation and memorization seems to soak in better than cramming.

Enjoy!

Benefit Sanctify

Spirit

Soundness

Success

Security

NameJehovah-TsidkenuJehovah-M’Kaddesh

Jehovah-ShalomJehovah-Shammah

Jehovah-Rophe

Jehovah-Jireh

Jehovah-NissiJehovah-Rohi

MeaningJehovah our righteousnessJehovah who sanctifies

Jehovah is peaceJehovah is there

Jehovah heals

Jehovah provides

Jehovah my bannerJehovah my shepherd

Day One1. Take  some  time  to  praise  the  Lord  for  who  He  is  and  enjoy  

thanking  Him  for  what  He  has  done  in  your  life  lately.

2. Slowly  read  Mark  15:  40-­‐‑Mark  16:  8.

3. Take  a  few  minutes  to  pray  for  very  specific  needs  you  have  in  your  life.

 

Memorize  Isaiah  53:  10.

Memorize  Isaiah  53:  9-­‐‑10.

Memorize  Isaiah  53:  9-­‐‑11.

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After that, He appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking along on their way to the country. They went away and reported it to the others, but they did not believe them either. Afterward He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at the table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen. And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”

~Mark 16:12-15, NAS

Mark’s Gospel does not shed a very good light on the eleven disciples. Frankly, it paints them as the plain ol’ people that they were. These were not giants of spirituality due to some great inner ability that they possessed on their own. These were just plain people who sinned, messed up, and found it hard to believe.

If you are self aware enough to realize that you’ve sinned and made some grievous mistakes, then you probably relate to the eleven disciples.

God is not looking for people of great faith. He is looking for people who have faith in a great God. He takes us where we are. He accepts us as is. But He refuses to let us stay where we are. He will continually comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable.

Father, thank You that You completely accept me for who I am right now. Thank You also that You will not allow me to stay where I am. Thank You that You pursue me and graciously lead me to maturity and Christlikeness.

Day Five

Day Five1. Take  some  time  to  praise  the  Lord  for  who  He  is  and  enjoy  

thanking  Him  for  what  He  has  done  in  your  life  lately.  

2. Read  John  20  today.

3. Ask  God  to  speak  to  you  through  this  passage.    Write  in  this  space  what  He  says  to  you.    

4. Finish  your  Bible  memorization  today.

Day OneSome women were there, watching from a distance, including Mary Magdalene, Mary (the mother of James the younger and of Joseph), and Salome. They had been followers of Jesus and had cared for him while he was in Galilee. Then they and many other women had come with him to Jerusalem.

~Mark 15:40, 41, NLT

These obscure verses take place right after Jesus breathed his last. Mark gives us a glimpse into the traveling band of disciples who followed Jesus. Some of us may see Jesus traveling only with His twelve apostles, but this passage enlarges the picture.

Mark shows us a large group of dedicated women who followed Jesus. Unlike the male disciples, they did not run away from the Master after He was arrested. They kept their distance from Calvary, but were eyewitnesses to His unjust execution.

We know little of these women, except that, like Mary Magdalene, they had all probably been touched significantly by the love and authority of Jesus. They were all willing to travel with Him and care for Him while putting the rest of their lives on hold. I stand in awe of the passion of these women. They lived in the moment with Jesus of Nazareth, caring for nothing else but to be with Him and minister to Him. They were not in it for anything but a pure gratitude filled love.

Father, let me take up Jesus’ yoke and follow Him with no care but to be Your worshiper!

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Day Two1. Take  some  time  to  praise  the  Lord  for  who  He  is  and  enjoy  

thanking  Him  for  what  He  has  done  in  your  life  lately.  

2. Slowly  and  carefully  read  Mark  15:  40-­‐‑Mark  16:  8.

3. Meditate  on  what  impacts  you  about  this  story.

4. The  requests  for  specific  needs  you  asked  for  on  Day  One  may  require  persistence.    Ask  Him  to  meet  those  needs  again  today.

5. Continue  memorizing  and  meditating  on  the  scriptures  for  this  week.

Day FourSo they entered the tomb, and there on the right sat a young man clothed in a white robe. The women were startled, but the angel said, “Do not be so surprised. You are looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He has been raised from the dead! Look, this is where they laid his body. Now go and give this message to his disciples, including Peter: Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there, just as he told you before he died!”

~Mark 16:5-7, NLT

I’ve heard many scholars wax eloquently about these first three witnesses to the resurrection. Many talk of how confident God was in His message because He chose what the world of that day deemed as second class citizens to be His primary witnesses. Women were not given the value they are in today’s society. Yet, God chose these three to be His first witnesses.

God always elevates what the world devalues. He did not choose the most eloquent and respected lawyers to be his witnesses, nor were any of his witnesses the pillars of society. They were all nobodies who were somebodies in God’s eyes.

While the eleven men who followed Jesus were wallowing in grief and confusion, the women got to see an angel announcing the resurrection. In addition, the angel gave grace to the grief stricken Peter, who probably felt the lowest of all the disciples after his denial. Yet, the angel mentioned him by name. The cross had obliterated Peter’s sin.

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Day TwoThis all happened on Friday, the day of preparation, the day before the Sabbath. As evening approached, an honored member of the high council, Joseph from Arimathea (who was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come), gathered his courage and went to Pilate to ask for Jesus’ body.

~Mark 15:42, 43, NLT

In this passage, we get to see another obscure player in the drama. Joseph was a man who was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. He probably hoped that Jesus would bring it with Him, but since He was now dead, he still sensed a need to honor the rabbi with a proper burial.

Little did Joseph know that he was fulfilling prophecy: His grave was assigned with wicked men, Yet He was with a rich man in His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was there any deceit in His mouth. (Isaiah 53: 9, emphasis mine)

The name Joseph means, He increases. Jesus’ life is book-ended with Josephs. His step father, Joseph was instrumental in bringing Jesus into the world, and Joseph of Arimathea will be instrumental in Jesus’ burial. Jesus’s influence increased in both cases.

I’m proud of Joseph of Arimathea. Mark tells us that he had to gather his courage to ask Pilate for the body. I’m sure going before the governor of an oppressive government was unnerving. But he was probably more afraid of his colleagues, the high council members. They were the ones instrumental in getting Jesus crucified. Standing up for Jesus at this point could mean expulsion from the council, or at least a black mark on his reputation. Yet, Joseph was probably led by the Holy Spirit to face his fears and pursue permission to bury Jesus. I hope that, when faced with such possible consequences, I will choose as Joseph did.

Day Four1. Take  some  time  to  praise  the  Lord  for  who  He  is  and  enjoy  

thanking  Him  for  what  He  has  done  in  your  life  lately.    

2. Read  Ma\hew  27:  55-­‐‑Ma\hew  28.    

3. Pray  for  people  you  love  that  you  would  have  the  courage  and  the  opportunity  to  invite  them  to  church.    Also,  keep  praying  for  specific  needs.  

4. Continue  meditating  on  and  memorizing  the  scripture  for  this  week.

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Day Three Day Three1. Take  some  time  to  praise  the  Lord  for  who  He  is  and  enjoy  

thanking  Him  for  what  He  has  done  in  your  life  lately.    

2. Read  Isaiah  53  today.

3. Bring  at  least  three  friends  or  loved  ones  to  the  Lord  and  ask  Him  to  bring  them  to  repentance  and  faith.    Ask  Him  to  show  you  how  you  can  boldly  love  them  and  speak  the  words  of  Jesus  into  their  lives.      

 4. Continue  meditating  on  and  memorizing  the  scripture  for  this  

week.

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The next evening, when the Sabbath ended, Mary Magdalene and Salome and Mary the mother of James went out and purchased burial spices to put on Jesus’ body. Very early on Sunday morning, just at sunrise, they came to the tomb.

~Mark 16:1, 2, NLT

The Jewish Sabbath begins on Friday afternoon at dusk. Jesus had died just before dusk that day and because of the Sabbath laws, the women were unable to anoint Jesus’ body for burial before the Sabbath began.

The Sabbath then ended on Saturday at dusk, so the women went and purchased the needed spices for Jesus’ burial.

As they came to the tomb Sunday morning, they were wondering who would remove the stone for them so that they could anoint His body. They arrived to find the stone already moved aside.

As these women followed Jesus during His ministry, each day must have been filled with wonder and surprise as Jesus defied reality with His authority to heal and perform miracles. They probably believed the days of wide eyes and wonderment were over since He was dead.

Jesus never, no never, ceases to amaze. Even after death, He defied the natural order of things.

Jesus, I desire to walk with You so closely that I can daily experience the wonder of Your love, power, and authority.

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