Matthew 12:38-40– “One day some teachers of religious law and Pharisees came to Jesus and said, “Teacher, we want you to show us a miraculous sign to prove your authority.” But Jesus replied, “Only an evil, adulterous generation would demand a miraculous sign; but the only sign I will give them is the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was in the belly of the great fish for three days and three nights, so will the Son of Man be in the heart of the earth for three days and three nights.”
These religious leaders were not coming to Christ with a heart of humility, but with arrogance! SHOW US A SIGN!
Really what they were saying is “prove to us you are who you say you are.” Show us some credentials.
JESUS REPLY IS INCREDIBLE!
“The only proof I’m going to give you is absence of proof!”
“I’m going to die, I’m going to be three days in the heart of the earth!”
ABSENCE OF PROOF!
When there’s an absence of proof that God loves you, he’s about to show you his love!
When there’s absence of proof that God will deliver you, he’s about to deliver you!
When there’s absence of proof that God will provide for you, he’s about to provide for you!
WHEN IT APPEARS GOD IS UP TO NOTHING HE IS UP TO SOMETHING!
84% of people who never go to church believe that Jesus died and rose again. It’s a historical fact.
There are at least 15 historical references to Jesus meeting people, touching people, and talking with people after his resurrection!
One time he cooked breakfast for a group of people. Another time he talked to 500 people after he had risen from the dead.
HE IS RISEN!
AN ANGEL TO A WOMAN NAMED MARY MAGDALENE.
Matthew 28:5-6– “Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying.”
HE IS RISEN! – What does that mean for us today?
- Jesus is who He claimed to be.
John 14:6– “Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”
He is the resurrection and the life!
- Jesus does what He promises he’ll do.
“He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen.”
From the absence of proof, from his death, Jesus proved he was who he said he was!
- Jesus has the power to be who he claimed to be and to do what he promises
he’ll do.
Jon 10:17-18– “The Father loves me because I sacrifice my life so I may take it back again. No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”
WHY DOES ALL THIS MATTER TO US?
- My past can be forgiven!
Have you ever felt like you were going to have to spend the rest of your life in the penalty box?
Many people can’t get on with their present or their future because they’re stuck in the past!
Colossians 2:13-14– “You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross.”
Jesus Christ was nailed to the cross so I can stop nailing myself to the cross!
Mary Magdalene is a perfect example. In one place in scripture she was identified by Jesus as a person who had many sins. Another place says Jesus cast 7 demons out of her.
Yet in the resurrection story she is the first to encounter the resurrected Jesus and proclaim the message of the resurrection to the disciples!
JESUS DIDN’T COME TO RUB IT IN, HE CAME TO RUB IT OUT! THIS IS WHY THE RESURRECTION MATTERS!
- I can live today with hope!
Ephesians 1:18-20– “I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.”
HOPE IN GOD! “I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength!”
FRIENDS THE RESURRECTION MATTERS!
- I can know my future is secure!
Everybody has a deep longing to know about the future. Not just the future of this earth but the future of eternity.
1 Peter 1:3-5– “What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.”
You’re not truly living until you’re ready to die! “I have everything to live for, including a future in heaven!
You can’t really live until you’re ready to die!
CONCLUSION:
John 17:3– “Eternal life means to know and experience you as the only true God, and to know and experience Jesus Christ, the Son whom you have sent.”
“Sir Charles Laughton, famous for his readings of poetry and other literary passages, was attending a Christmas party with a large family in London. Well into the evening, the host decided that each person in attendance should read or recite a favorite passage, one that reminded them most of the Spirit of Christmas.
Laughton’s turn came near the end, and he recited, in his beautifully trained voice , the 23rd Psalm. Everyone applauded his effort, and the process continued. Within minutes, all had participated except one elderly aunt, who had dozed off in a corner of the room. She was particularly loved, and they gently woke her, explained what was going on, and asked her to take part. She thought for a moment. and then began in her shaky voice, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want….” The room hushed as she continued, and when she finished, tears were dripping down every face.
Upon leaving, one of the younger members of the family thanked Sir Laughton for coming, and remarked about the difference in the response of the family to the two “readings.” In one case appreciation; in the other, deep connection and involvement.
How do you account for it asked the young man, shaking his head. Sir Laughton looked at him and replied simply, I know the Psalm…..she knows the Shepherd.”
Friends, knowing the resurrected Shepherd, is so much more valuable than knowing about the resurrection.
Today do you “Know that you Know Him?”