Summit Church

JESUS IS ALIVE & LIVES FOREVER MORE

• Mother, Katie and the Rabbit!• Jesus is the opposite to Katie’s rabbit! • He’s still Alive! His tomb is still empty!• Because His tomb is still empty, it should have a

significant impact on the way we live.• Did you know that Jesus is undisputed Champion of

the Universe? • How did He accomplish that coveted title? • Through His death and resurrection from the dead.

• When Jesus rose from the dead, He defeated His challengers—death, sin, and sickness.

• He crushed their hold over mankind. • Because He is alive we too can walk in that same

resurrection power!

• O, death where is your victory? O, death where is your sting? (1 Cor. 15:55)

• It has been removed through the resurrection!• Without question, the defining moment of the

Gospel story is the death and resurrection of Jesus.

• Let’s make several points about His death and resurrection.

1. Jerusalem • As far as God is concerned, it is the geographic

center of the world. • That is why there is so much conflict there today. • The spiritual warfare of the ages is centered in this

city.

• It is in Jerusalem, the City of Peace, that God completed the Promise He made to Adam, Noah, Abraham and all the prophets.

• Adam – Genesis 3:15 – And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise [crush] your head, and you shall bruise His heel." (NKJV)

• God starts with Adam and Eve. • Immediately after their fall in the Garden God

reveals His plan to set us free from sin and death. • He would send a Savior who would crush the head

of the devil or break his influence over mankind. • This sets in motion a process of redemption that

culminates 4,000 years later with Jesus at the cross.

• Abraham, Genesis 22:17-18 - 17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your Offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed Me.

• Who is this Offspring (singular) that God is revealing to Abraham?

• It is the same one who was the seed of the woman in Genesis 3:15.

• JESUS! • He was simply narrowing the focus here.• Later, God reveals that the Messiah would be a descendant

of King David.• He would be born in Bethlehem. • There are more than 300 prophecies in the Old Testament

pertaining to the birth, life, death, & rez of Jesus Christ.

• Now, it all culminates in the city of Jerusalem. • The city where Jesus’ earthly work would be

completed. • The power of the enemy would be crushed with His

death and resurrection. • It is also in this city that the Second Coming of Jesus

will take place. • Significant place to say the least.

2.The Crucifixion—the beginning of the end of the enemy’s reign of terror!

• Matthew 27:45-46 – At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. 46 At about three o'clock, Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" which means "My God, My God, why have You abandoned Me?"

• Today: My God, My God, why have You left Me alone?

• It was at that moment that Jesus, the sinless Lamb of God, the One who had known no sin became sin!

• The sins of the world were laid upon Him. • For a brief moment, that sweet fellowship that the

Father and Son had known for eternity was broken. • The Father could not look upon sin.

47 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought He was calling for the prophet Elijah. 48 One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to Him on a reed stick so He could drink. 49 But the rest said, "Wait! Let's see whether Elijah comes to save Him."

• They waited as life was slipping from Jesus’ life on the cross.

• He had become sin, so that you and I could become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus!

50 Then Jesus shouted out again, and He released His Spirit.

John 19:30 – When Jesus had tasted it, He said, "It is finished!" Then He bowed His head and released His Spirit.

3. 3:00 – What is the significance of 3:00?

• Jewish Tradition: at exactly 3:00 pm, an afternoon sacrifice was made for the sins of the nation.

• When the lamb was slain, a priest would climb to the pinnacle of the temple and blow the shofar announcing that the lamb had died.

• At the moment the shofar blew, Jesus shouted, It is finished!

• Next to He is Risen these are the greatest words ever uttered in history!

• The work for which Jesus had come was completed and His sacrifice had been accepted by the Father!

4. The Veil51 At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, 52 and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. 53 They left the cemetery after Jesus' resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

• Talk about power! So much power the dead rise!• The veil that was about 30 feet high and split from

top to bottom. • A feat that man could not have done easily. • I am sure this shook the priests. • There was now a new way to approach the Father. • It was no longer through the blood sacrifices of

bulls and goats, but it was through the Blood of Jesus Christ!

5. The Centurion54 The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, "This man truly was the Son of God!"

• This was a hardened man of war and how many crucifixions had he overseen? Countless!

• Yet, he saw something different in Jesus.

• Think about what this man had just witnessed:1. Jesus crawls onto the cross2. He does not curse them or anyone3. The spooky midday darkness4. The Earthquake5. Bodies rising from the dead

• I guess I might have reached the same conclusion!

6. The Tomb• Only the very wealthy could afford to have burial

tombs. • It had to be carved out of solid rock. • Building took time and mucho dinero to complete. • Here is the really interesting point about the tomb

Jesus used, the Old Testament states: • Don’t mix things that are not alike.

• For example, do not mix – two kinds of seeds – don’t have 2 different types of animals pulling a

plow – do not join a believer and an unbeliever in

marriage– do not put 2 people in a tomb who were not

related

• This rich man made a big decision. • If he allowed Jesus to use his tomb, he would never

be able to use it himself. • All that money and time he had invested into it!• He gave it to the Lord to demonstrate his love for

Jesus!

• What does that mean for us? • When asked, I hope to be able to give to the Lord

whatever I have at that moment! • No matter how costly could I do the same?• Have you reached that place in your life where you

would willingly lay it all down for Him if He asked? • That is what making Jesus your Lord is all about!

• 7. The Resurrection

Matthew 28:2-6 – 2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. 3 His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. 4 The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

5 Then the angel spoke to the women. "Don't be afraid!" he said. "I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He isn't here! He is risen from the dead, just as He said would happen. Come, see where His body was lying.

1. He is risen from the dead! • The other most powerful statement ever made! • He is alive!

2. Come, see where His body was lying.

• Here’s a point to remember: The stone was not rolled away so Jesus to get out of the tomb.

• Nothing could hold Him in that grave. • It was rolled away so we could look in and see that

the tomb was empty!

• It is not enough to say that the tomb is empty. • We have to personally look in and see for ourselves

that He is Alive! • Confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in

your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, and you will be saved (Romans 10:9-10).

• Many believers live today like He is still in the tomb.• They live powerless lives. • But, resurrection power is the greatest power

known to man. • There is no power greater because it brings life from

death.

• As a believer, we have the same power that raised Jesus from the dead living inside of us.

• Romans 8:11 – The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, He will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

• It is time to settle the issue once and for all! • We need to live in such a way that people around us

can see the Resurrected, Risen Lord in us!• Is He the risen Lord of your life? • Easter 2010 is a great time to settle that issue!

8. God’s Marriage Proposal• A Marriage Proposal during the time of Jesus.• An arranged meeting• Negotiate a bridal price which would be expensive. • Compared to buying a home today. • In those days, you didn’t rush into marriage. • The man had to be mature and responsible. • Might not be a bad practice to restore.

• After the bridal price had been settled, the young man would hand a cup of wine to the girl.

• He would say, This cup I offer to you. He was saying, I love you, and I offer you my life.

• Then, the girl had a decision to make. • Would she accept or reject his offer. • If she took and drank from the cup, she was saying,

I accept your life and love, and I offer you mine in exchange.

• On the night before Jesus was crucified, Jesus celebrated the Passover (Sedar) with His disciples.

• During this meal, there are 4 cups of wine that are lifted.

• During the 3rd cup, the Cup of Redemption or Salvation, Jesus says, This cup is the new covenant between God and His people—an agreement confirmed with My blood. As often as you drink it, do this in remembrance of Me (1 Corinthians 11:25).

• It is as if Jesus turns to the disciples and says, I love you! Will you be My spiritual bride? I offer you My life and love.

• The cup was then passed and each disciple took the cup and took a drink proclaiming, Yes, I accept Your proposal, and I give You my love and life in exchange.

• Each time we partake of the Lord’s Table, it’s as if we are renewing our wedding vows with Him.

• Remember the bride’s price was very expensive! • It cost Jesus His life at the cross. • He paid for us with His blood, and it was sealed by

His resurrection from the dead.

• As we come to the Lord’s Table, let’s remember all that Jesus did for us at the cross and resurrection.

• He has given us His life—new life—in exchange for ours.

• As you take the cup, remember your marriage to Him and renew your vows.

• Yes, Lord, I accept Your love and life, and I give You mine in exchange!

Summit Church

JESUS IS ALIVE & LIVES FOREVER MORE