To Never Die!

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26

C. S. LEWIS - Weight of Glory:

If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he can not imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

Christianity is not a religion of sorrow.

• Jesus
  • “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross”
  • A world of pain, disappointment & hurt are surrounded by a universe of joy!
• World
  • “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we will die.”
• Babies are born knowing how to cry but they have to learn how to laugh.
  • Laughter requires context
  • (incongruity-superiority-relief)

Death is Defeated!

“Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2

Christianity is not a religion of sorrow.

• Jesus
  • “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross”
  • A world of pain, disappointment & hurt are surrounded by a universe of joy!
• World
  • “Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we will die.”
• Babies are born knowing how to cry but they have to learn how to laugh.
  • Laughter requires context (incongruity-superiority-relief)

“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.” Hebrews 2:9-18

“who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear, though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him, called by God as High Priest “according to the order of Melchizedek,” Hebrews 5:7-10

Death Defeated

• Acts 2:23-24
• I Peter 3:18-19
• Ephesians 4:7-10

The Place of the Dead

• Sheol - <Hebrew> = Place of the dead
  • Either paradise or punishment
• Hades - <Gk> Place of the dead
  • Either paradise or hell
• Luke 16:19–31 – Jesus’ description
  • Lazarus & the rich man
  • Abraham’s bosom
    • The place of privilege, honor, intimacy
    • John at Jesus’ bosom at the Triclineum

Psalm 22
A prophetic Psalm – The suffering of one man brings blessing to the whole earth!

• Luke 24:44 – Jesus fulfilling the Psalms
• Vss 1- 21a – Prophetic description of the passion
• Vs 21b – Transition and descent into death
• Vss 22-31 – Message to the faithful

A Violent Grace
A song by Michael Card

He was born to die
so that I could be born to new life.
He suffered temptation
so I can experience victory.
He was betrayed
so I might know His faithfulness.
He was arrested and bound
so I could be rescued from bondage.
He stood trial alone
so that I might have an advocate.

He was wounded so
I could be healed.
He endured mockery
so I could know dignity and joy.
He was condemned
so the truth could set me free.
He was crowned with thorns
so I might crown Him with praise.
He was nailed to the cross
so I might escape judgment.

He was stretched between thieves
so I could know the reach of love.
He suffered thirst
so I can drink living water.
He said, “It is finished,”
so I could begin my walk of faith.
He was God’s lamb, slain,
so I could claim His sacrifice as my own.
He was forsaken by the Father
so I would never be rejected.
He chose the shame of weakness
so I can know the hope of glory.

He shed His blood
so I can be washed white as snow.
His heart was pierced
so mine could be made whole.
He died and was buried
so the grave could not hold me.
He rose again
so I might experience eternal life.
He is known by His scars
so I will take up my cross and follow Him.

 

It Is Finished

"Now it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. Then the sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two. And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, "Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.'" Having said this, He breathed His last." Luke 23:44-46

"Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and fore-knowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it" Acts 2:23-24

"For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit, by whom also He went and preached to the spirits in prison" I Peter 3:18-19

"But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore He says: "When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men." Ephesians 4:7-8

Now this, "He ascended"—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things. Ephesians 4:9-10

The Place of the Dead

• Luke 16:19–31 – Jesus' illustration
  • Lazarus & the rich man
• Sheol - <Hebrew> = Place of the dead – Either paradise or punishment
• Hades - <Gk> Place of the dead – hell.
• Abraham's bosom – The place of privilege, honor, intimacy
  • John at Jesus' bosom at the Triclineum

Faith's Forward Look

• Genesis 3:15
  • And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."
• Genesis 3:21
  • Also for Adam and his wife the LORD God made tunics of skin, and clothed them.

Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne, he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. Acts 2:30-32 (Psalm 16:10)

Faith's Backward Look

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved."He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:14-18

He Holds the Future
Matthew 28:1-6
The Hinge of History!

• The FACTS of Resurrection
• The FATHERS Interjection
• Our FAITHS Introspection

Is the New Testament reliable?

Evidence for Resurrection

• Living Witnesses:
• The New Testament accounts of the resurrection were being circulated within the lifetimes of men and women alive at the time of the resurrection.
• Those people could certainly have confirmed or denied the accuracy of such accounts.
• The writers of the four Gospels either had themselves been witnesses or else were relating the accounts of eyewitnesses of the actual events.

I claim to be an historian. My approach to Classics is historical. And I tell you that the evidence for the life, the death, and the resurrection of Christ is better authenticated than most of the facts of ancient history . . .
--- E. M. Blaiklock, Professor of Classics Auckland University

The FACTS of Resurrection

1. Broken Roman Seal
2. Empty Tomb
3. Large Stone Moved
4. Roman Guards Go AWOL
5. Grave clothes Tell A Tale
6. Jesus' Appearances Confirmed
7. REAL PROOF: The Disciples’ Lives

There exists no document from the ancient world, witnessed by so excellent a set of textual and historical testimonies . . . Skepticism regarding the historical credentials of Christianity is based upon an irrational bias.
---Clark Pinnock, Mcmaster University

Hundreds of Witnesses!

If the New Testament were a collection of secular writings, their authenticity would generally be regarded as beyond all doubt.
--- F. F. Bruce, Manchester University

The FATHERS Interjection
Two Earthquakes!

• Matthew 27:50-54 > Access
• Earthquake!
• The earth shuddered at the death of Jesus!
• The veil of separation was rent from top to bottom.
• Matthew 28:1-6 > Resurrection
  • 2nd Earthquake:
    • The stone is rolled away
    • Life breaks forth and the dead are raised

Our FAiTHS Introspection

• Jesus is Lord over life’s question marks
  • Over uncertainties
  • Over seasons of confusion and disorientation
  • Over ignorance about where I’m headed.
  • All these piled up clouds of anxiety are scattered to the winds by the wild, sweet cry of joy that echoes through the centuries: He is alive! He is risen as He said!

“Anyone who can descend into death, conquer hell and the devil, touch bases with the earth and earthlings, and then spring heavenward into the glorious rule at the right hand of All Power on high deserves my vote of confidence about handling my future – and whatever it holds.
--- Jack Hayford

If you see God as creator,
you will admire Him.
If you see God as wisdom,
you will learn from Him.
If you discover God’s strength,
you will rely on Him.
But when He saves you,
you will worship Him!
--- Unknown

What is your response?

• John 20:26-31 - And after eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace to you!” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” And Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
• Psalm 73:25-26 - Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
• John 6:68-69 - But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

When Christ died He left a will in which He gave His soul to His Father, His body to Joseph of Arimathea, His clothes to the soldiers, and His mother to John. But to His disciples, who had left all to follow Him, He left not silver or gold, but something far better - His PEACE!
--- Matthew Henry

Welcome The King

John 12:12-15
The next day a great multitude that had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, took branches of palm trees and went out to meet Him, and cried out: “Hosanna!
‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ The King of Israel!”
Then Jesus, when He had found a young donkey,
sat on it; as it is written:
“Fear not, daughter of Zion; Behold, your King is coming, Sitting on a donkey’s colt.”

Palm Sunday Significance

• Zechariah 9:9 – Prophetic fulfillment
• 1st occurrence Jesus allowed public worship
• The beginning of the climax of Jesus’ ministry
• Season of the Feast of Passover
• Exodus 23:15; Leviticus 23:6
• The beginning of the “Priesthood of the believer”
• The Pharisee’s were threatened
• The people praised!
• The “lulov”
• John 12:12 – palms
• Matthew 21:8 – tender branches of the willow
• Mark 11:7 – the leafy branches like the myrtle
• Disciples received a foretaste of the glory to come!
• Though they still did not understand
• Daniel Ruettiger (Rudy) and his dream

His Triumphal Entry Into Jerusalem
King Yeshua

• Matthew 21:1-9
• Mark 11:1-10
• Luke 19:29-38
• John 12:12-15

Ezekial 1:10 - Four Fold Revelation of the Moral Nature of God

• Matthew – Messiah King
  • He comes to rule & reign
  • Lion – King of the beasts
• Mark – Jehovah's Servant
  • He comes to serve & suffer
  • Ox – King of the domesticated animals
• Luke – Son of Man
  • He comes to share & sympathize
  • Man – God’s highest creation “Kings & priests”
• John – Son of God
  • He comes to reveal & redeem
  • Eagle – King of the heavens

Be a Worshipper

• John 4:23-24 - The Father seeks worshippers
• Worshippers are givers
• Worshippers carry with them the fragrance of Christ
• Worship is an expression of love, adoration and praise to God with an attitude which acknowledges His Lordship.

Definition of Praise

• Praise is adoration directed towards God or an expression to others about God.
• Praise is usually dynamic, vocal and often loud.
• Praise is being preoccupied with Who God is and What He has done.
• Praise is energetic acclamation accompanied with singing, shouting, proclaiming, dancing, playing musical instruments, and other external forms.
• Praise involves the emotions.
• Praise is a weapon for spiritual warfare (II Chronicles 20:20-28).
• Worship means "to ascribe worth or value, or to count worthy;" that is, "to acknowledge that God is worthy."
• Worship is conversation between God & man. This is a lifestyle, a dialogue that should go on constantly in the life of a Christian.
• Worship is giving to God our total self.
• Worship is the outcome of the fellowship of life between the Creator and man in response to God's love.
• Worship is one's expression of love, adoration and praise to God with an attitude which acknowledges His supremacy and lordship.
• Worship means to "feel in the heart."
• Worship is the ability to magnify God with our whole being --- body, soul, and spirit.
• The heart of worship is the unashamed pouring out of our inner self to the Lord Jesus Christ in affectionate devotion.
• Worship is extravagant love and communion with God that can only be experienced by His own.
• Worship is usually intimate, involving communion & fellowship.

Praise & Worship Contrasted

Celebration	Contemplation / reflection
Loud	Still and quiet
Warfare	Wonder & Majesty
What He has done	Who He is
Receiving favor or things	Giving honor
God's command	Our willingness
Arises from seeing His acts	Arises from knowing Him
Happiness	Holiness and humility
Expresses "Thank You!"	Expresses "I Love You!"

10 Different Postures of Praise & Worship

• The Laughing Mouth
  • Psalm 126:2a "Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with joyful shouting"
• The Singing Mouth
  • Psalm 89:1 " I will sing of the lovingkindness of the LORD forever; To all generations I will make known Thy faithfulness with my mouth.”
  • Psalm 105:2 " Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; Speak of all His wonders."
• The Bent Knee
  • Psalm 95:6 "Come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the LORD our Maker."
• The Bowed Head
  • Nehemiah 8:6 " Then Ezra blessed the LORD the great God. And all the people answered, "Amen, Amen!" while lifting up their hands; then they bowed low and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.”
  • II Chronicles 29:30b " So they sang praises with joy, and bowed down and worshipped.”
• The Clapping Hands
  • Psalm 47:1 "O Clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy."
• The Shouting Voice
  • Psalm 95:1 "O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation.”
  • Psalm 98:4-6 "Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises. Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre; With the lyre and the sound of melody. With trumpets and the sound of the horn Shout joyfully before the King, the LORD."
• The Lifted Hands
  • Lamentations 3:41 "We lift up our heart and hands Toward God in heaven”
  • Psalm 28:2 " Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to Thee for help, When I lift up my hands toward Thy holy sanctuary."
• The Prostrated Face
  • I Kings 18:39 "And when all the people saw it, they fell on their faces; and they said, "The LORD, He is God; the LORD, He is God.”
  • Revelations 11:16-17 "And the twenty-four elders, who sit on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshipped God…"
• The Uplifted Head
  • Psalm 24:7 "Lift up your heads, O gates, And be lifted up, O ancient doors, That the King of glory may come in!"
• The Dancing Body
  • Exodus 15:20 "And Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dancing.”
  • II Samuel 6:14 "And David was dancing before the LORD with all his might, and David was wearing a linen ephod.”
  • Psalm 149:3 "Let them praise His name with dancing; Let them sing praises to Him with timbrel and lyre."

He is the King of Glory!
Psalm 24:10

Priestly Access

• Comparing Old & New
• Leviticus 16:2 “the LORD said to Moses: “Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the ark, lest he die; for I will appear in the cloud above the mercy seat.
• Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”