Easter 2011 – Easter Sunday

April 24th, 2011 (AM). By: Rod Earnshaw

Imagine that this morning you’ve gone to the doctor and she’s run a few tests, and she gives you some terrible news: you’ve got a fatal illness, a virus that mutates so often it’s totally unpredictable – it can lie dormant for years, or it can kill you in an hour.  It can lead to heart attack, stroke, cancer, dementia, even suicide.  As for treatment: forget it – drugs, therapy, diet, bed rest – nothing even slows it down.  Even if you live with no other purpose than to keep the progress of this virus in check, you will die – there’s no cure, and the corruption of your body has already begun[1].

Sounds awful doesn’t it?  Well, I’m no doctor, that’s not happening – but you don’t need a doctor to tell you that what I’ve described isn’t an illness, it’s life – life has all those properties, it always ends in death.

That’s a bit heavy isn’t it?  A bit of a downer on your morning… But that’s what makes Easter such a big deal, because there is a cure for death – resurrection, life after death.  If there’s no resurrection, death wins.  All we do or achieve amounts to nothing.  But if there’s a resurrection, if there’s life after death, if this life isn’t all there is; life isn’t meaningless.

And on the first Easter morning Jesus rose from the dead – Jesus Rose From the Dead! – proving that there is life after death, resurrection isn’t just possible it’s already begun.

If that’s true, it changes everything, and if it’s false then everything is empty.  These are massive claims, so today we’re going to look at the claims of the resurrection – and we’re going to come at it from the earliest written record we have – 1 Cor 15, the reading we heard earlier.  This is part of Paul’s letter to the church in Corinth, written about 20 – 25 years after Jesus’ death.  Just like today there were people saying that life after death was a mirage, just wishful thinking.  In this chapter Paul answers their concerns, showing not just that it happened, but also why it’s important.

His argument can be summarised in three points:

Christianity Stands or Falls on Jesus’ Resurrection.

Jesus Resurrection Guarantees our Resurrection; and

For Christians the Resurrection will be Glorious.

So those will be our points this morning.

Let’s get into it with point one:

Christianity Stands or Falls on Jesus’ Resurrection.

Look at verse 1:

¹ Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ² By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

In other words, LISTEN CAREFULLY.  Everything hangs on what Paul’s about to say, if we don’t get this right everything else is in vain.

Verse 3:

³ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins     according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day  according to the Scriptures,⁵ and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve.

If you’re going to sum up what Christians believe you need to include two things – Jesus died for our sins, and Jesus rose from the dead on the third day.   These are the two big ideas that make up the gospel, the message that Paul preached and that the Corinthians believed.  Both of these things were told before hand – hundreds of years before hand, by many different prophets that were all recorded in the Scriptures.  And both his death and resurrection were demonstrated by clear evidence – he was buried and after death he appeared to many of his disciples.

The point is you can’t take the resurrection out of Christianity.  If being a Christian means anything at all, it means believing in Jesus’ resurrection.  That was the message Paul preached – the gospel, the message that saves.  This is the gospel we have to believe if we are to call ourselves Christians.  You can’t call yourself a swimmer if you’ve never been in the water and you can’t be a husband without having a wife.  That’s a matter of definition – a husband is defined as a man who is married to a wife, a swimmer is someone who moves through water.   A Christian is defined as a person who believes that Jesus died and rose again from the dead.  That’s the gospel, that’s what Christians believe.  Do you call yourself a Christian?  A ‘good Christian’ isn’t someone who lives a moral life; it’s someone who believes the gospel.

Christianity is like a house built on two central pillars – Jesus’ death and his resurrection.  If you remove either of them, the whole thing comes crashing down.

That raises a bit of a problem in a sceptical, scientific age doesn’t it?  The resurrection isn’t the easiest thing to believe in.  Even at the time the disciples found it hard to believe – so how could we ever be convinced?

Well there is actually plenty of evidence we can consider – for instance Jesus was dead and buried, his tomb sealed and guarded by his enemies; but on the third day his body disappeared, and no one could produce it to disprove the claims he’d risen from the dead.   Or the evidence of the disciples’ behaviour – they ran and hid when Jesus was crucified, even denied they ever knew him, but just days later they were fearless, filling Jerusalem with the message that Jesus was alive.  How could these things be explained?

They said they’d met Jesus, talked with him, ate with him, touched him, even felt the wounds from his crucifixion.

Look at verse three again:

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. ⁶ After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, ⁸ and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.
That was quite a list of people who saw Jesus alive after he was dead and buried.  Not just one or two conspirators, or a couple of nutters; but whole groups, even crowds of people.

We can read about most of these appearances in the gospels and Acts.  But they hadn’t been written when Paul wrote this letter.  This tells us that the eye witness testimonies were well known from the beginning.  Remember these weren’t third or forth hand, certainly not urban legends – ‘my brother knew someone who spoke to someone who saw him’ or ‘my friend’s third cousin’s best mate was there’.   No, these witnesses were people they knew and respected, they were the leaders of the church.  Most of them were still around: the believers could ask them directly what they saw and heard.  Yes, some of the witnesses were already dead – but not by natural causes, they were put to death for telling this story of resurrection.  Within another couple of decades all of the disciples would be executed or imprisoned for believing in the resurrection – yet they stuck to their story.

And Paul reminds us that he was an eyewitness himself.  He wasn’t mates with Jesus and he was no fried of the disciples.  You probably know Paul’s story and so did the Corinthians – Paul was the enemy.  He hated Jesus and his disciples and he deliberately put them to death precisely for believing in Jesus’ resurrection.  He didn’t believe for one second that Jesus rose from the dead.  But then he met risen Jesus for himself, and he had to completely change everything he believed.

Paul’s conversion is so significant that the story’s told no less than five times in the book of Acts.  Twice when Paul is on trial for his life this is his defence –

‘I didn’t believe any of this talk about Jesus being alive after death, but then I met him and he turned my life upside down.  Now I have no choice but to say what I know.’

That’s his defence – he testifies in a court of law before the Roman governor Festus that he saw the risen Jesus.  I don’t think I need to tell you that’s not the sort of thing you’d bring up in a trial if it didn’t happen!  Paul can’t have thought it would help his case!  He might be a nutter, or he must have met Jesus after Jesus rose from the dead.

Paul’s a totally independent witness who corroborates the testimony of the other witnesses.  It’s natural to scoff at the idea that Jesus came back from the dead – all of the disciples did and so did Paul.  But the evidence convinced them – they met him, they couldn’t deny what they’d seen.  If you don’t believe in the resurrection you’ve got to deal with that evidence.  If you’re not convinced – grab a copy of this little book The Case for Easter – we’ve put a pile of them in the foyer.  Christianity stands on the fact of the resurrection, if you can disprove it, you pull out the foundations and all of Christianity falls – you don’t have to think about it ever again.  But if it’s true it’s got massive, massive implications.  SO check the evidence, make up your own mind.

That’s the first peg in Paul’s argument: Christianity stands on Jesus Resurrection – to be Christian is to believe Jesus rose from the dead, we believe it because he’s alive, he showed it by appearing to his disciples and to hundreds of church leaders.  Paul knew it because he saw Jesus with his own eyes.

So that’s point one – Christianity stands on Jesus Resurrection.  But Paul goes on to say that Jesus’ resurrection has massive ramifications for everyone who ever lived – because if Jesus has been raised from the dead then there is life after death.

This is Paul’s second point:

Jesus’ Resurrection Guarantees The Resurrection;

Like Christians today, Paul’s readers were looking forward to a Day of Judgment – they called it ‘The Resurrection’, or ‘the resurrection of the dead’ because on that day everyone would be resurrected to stand before God and face judgement – God would weigh up everything we’ve done and give us what we deserve.  Paul says you can’t separate Jesus’ resurrection from the Resurrection.

Have a look at verse 12:

¹² But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? ¹³ If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.

Paul takes it as a given that you can’t have one without the other.  If there’s no resurrection, then Jesus can’t have been raised – but by the same logic, if Jesus rose from the dead, then everyone must rise from the dead.  If Jesus is alive after death, then there must be life after death.  From verse 13 to 19 he lists off a whole array of ways that Christianity would ripped apart if we removed the resurrection.  He sums up in verse 19 – have a look at it:

‘If only for this life we have hope in Christ we are to be pitied more than all men’.

Some of you here this morning might be thinking – exactly!  That’s the first thing you’ve heard this morning that makes any sense.  Paul’s admitted it!

This is precisely what sceptics and atheists accuse Christianity of – it’s a hollow sham, it’s empty, pure illusion: there’s no heaven, no life after death because there’s no God.

Paul says that logic is sound except for one thing.  Jesus rose from the dead.  And if Jesus rose from the dead then there is life after death because Jesus is living it now; and there is a God because God brought Jesus back to life.

How can he be so sure?  Well Jesus’ resurrection and our resurrection are actually different parts of the same event.  Have a look at verse 20

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. ²¹ For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. ²² For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. ²³ But each in his own turn: Christ, the firstfruits; then, when he comes, those who belong to him.

Paul’s arguing that Jesus’ death and resurrection is the beginning of the final judgement – the judgment day.  He says if we imagine the judgement day as a sort of harvest, then Jesus’ resurrection is the first fruits –the early ripening fruit that comes ahead of main harvest.  In other words they’re all part of the same thing.  Just like the blossoms on the trees at the moment are the start of spring, Jesus’ death and resurrection was the beginning of the day of Judgement, the Resurrection.

How does that work – well if we think about it, it makes sense.  When Jesus died on the cross he was bearing the penalty for our sin.  Isaiah 53: 5 puts it this way:

He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Do you see what that implies?  The punishment we deserve was totted up in advance by God, and then put on Jesus instead of us.  That’s what the day of Judgement is all about – God weighing up what we all deserve and giving it to us.  But here it is happening way in advance – Jesus’ death is part of that final judgement.  Judgement day has already begun: our trial and execution have both happened without us.  Jesus stood in the docks while we were sentenced, and Jesus took our place while we were executed.  Jesus has already tasted the final judgement for us.

We can’t avoid the conclusion – there will be a resurrection of the dead to judgement; and on that day either we’re saved through Jesus or we take the punishment ourselves.  We know that because it’s already begun.  Jesus’ resurrection and the day of judgement are all part of the same event.

We could think of time as like a train heading to a destination – that judgement day.  It might be like one of those enormous goods trains that seems to take ten minutes to go past – dom dom, dom dom… only this trains much longer, taking thousands of years not minutes.  And Jesus is in the driver’s seat – right up the front.  We’re sitting further towards the back – behind everyone one else who’s ever lived.  Jesus death and resurrection are like a bend that let’s us see the front of the train from the back, so we can see where the whole thing is headed.  Where is it going?  It’s following Jesus, it’s heading to a day of judgment.

So before we move on to the last point we need to pause here for a moment and consider what’s going to happen when God judges each of us.   Are you on God’s side, or are you heading for God’s punishment?  Do you know and trust the Lord Jesus, or are you living in rebellion against God?  If you aren’t trusting in Jesus, can I say to you in the nicest possible way – don’t be a fool, get on board with Jesus and get out from under God’s judgement.   You’ve heard about that course we’re running – Christianity Explored.  I think that’s brilliant, you can hear the facts, you can ask questions, you can tell us what you think, even why you think we’re wrong.  If it doesn’t stack up, you haven’t lost anything, but if it’s true, you’ve got everything to gain.  Grab this flier and sign up on the yellow slip – right now, and come back on the 5^th and check it out properly.

And, those of us who believe need to consider what this means for everyone we know.  Everyone is facing this – not just death, but God’s judgment.  We know that – it’s already started.  On the judgement day all God’s enemies will face terrifying punishment.  Only people who will trust and follow Jesus have any hope of escape.  So what about your mates, your neighbours, your family – how can they know, how can they escape God’s judgement if you don’t tell them?  Do you really believe God’s judgement is coming?  Who are you praying for?  Who are you telling the gospel too?  Who are you inviting to the Christianity Explored taster session?  Are you happy for God’s judgement to fall without warning on your mates, or are you going to do something to help them?

Paul makes it abundantly clear – God’s judgment is as sure as death itself, because it’s already started in Jesus – his resurrection guarantees the resurrection – Judgement Day!

So what will it be like, this life after death?  Well Paul tells us what it will be like if we’ve trusted in Jesus – and I’ve got to tell you it’s something worth looking forward to.

It’s Point Three:

For Christians the Resurrection will be Glorious.

Paul gives this 20 verses or so – we don’t have time to look at the details, so you’ll have to read it for yourself this afternoon – but the gist of it is the resurrection will be spectacular because we’ll be made like Jesus – incorruptible.  Have a look from verse 50:

⁵⁰ I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. ⁵¹ Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed– ⁵² in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. ⁵³ For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. ⁵⁴ When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” ⁵⁵ “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” ⁵⁶ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ⁵⁷ But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

At the moment we’re perishable, corruptible.  We grow old and die, we’re mortal.  But then we’ll be changed to be like Jesus – immortal, imperishable.  We’ll be us, we’ll be flesh and blood, but our bodies will be transformed in glory.  Do you hear that?  There’ll be no illness in heaven, no viruses, no injury, no aches and pains, no baldness, fading eyesight, arthritis, aging; there’ll be no death or decay, we will live forever.

Like Jesus we’ll be made fit to live in God’s presence.  God is so amazing that we’ll spend all of eternity marvelling that we can come close to him.   And the startling thing is that we’ll be changed so that even in the presence of God we won’t feel self conscious or ashamed or guilty or inadequate because we’ll be like him.

And then death will be fully defeated.  It will be no more – death itself will be put to death.  Death isn’t the end, it doesn’t get the last word, death is swallowed up in victory, death gives way to life, suffering gives way to joy, to power and glory and incorruptibility and eternal life!  Can you look forward to that?

That’s what makes the Christian life worthwhile, no matter how hard it might be.

Paul ends with the only response that makes sense.

Verse 58:

⁵⁸ Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain.

Two things the sure and certain hope of resurrection says to us:

1)    don’t let anything or anyone steal your hope.  The gospel of Jesus’ death and resurrection saves, everything else is a dead end.  So stand firm.  Don’t give up on the gospel, don’t give up on the resurrection, stick with Jesus;  and

2)    Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know your labour in the Lord is not in vain.

And that’s where I want to finish this morning.  Jesus really has been raised from the dead and he now sits at God’s right hand, transformed in glory.  And if we trust in him we’ll join him in glory and live in God’s presence in renewed bodies for all eternity.  That’s reality, that’s a future you can look forward to.

Let’s pray.

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[1] Thanks to Sam Harris for this illustration from his polemic against religion The End of Faith. Needless to say I think the resurrection of Jesus from the dead proves him wrong!