The Resurrection Story

*this is a transcript of half of my message on Sunday, March 31st.

For full sermon video you can watch here (starts at 32 minute mark)—-> Coach Theo’s Resurrection Sermon 2024

The Cross Recap

Somehow after 15-18 hours of betrayal, exhaustion, trials and torture, Jesus still thinks of others, practices what he preaches and says, “Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do.”

There was repentance on the cross. A thief converted and asked to be remembered. Jesus assured him he would be with him in paradise.

In a statement of endearment, Jesus addressed his mother and asked John to take care of her.

Mary was in so much grief. The words from Simeon about a sword piercing her own soul now rung true.

Silence and darkness took over. “My God my God why have you forsaken me,” He cried out. As the sun went away, the curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom, showing that it was God who ripped it, not man. The old covenant was now fulfilled, in with the new.

Jesus thirsted and asked for something to drink. Perhaps to clearly communicate His last words in an exclamatory and victorious way, “It. Is. Finished.” Tetelestai. The work that I came to do is done! He said before, “My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work.” “To lay down my life for my sheep.” He gave up his spirit. They didn’t take it.

 “Into your hands I commit my spirit, He said. Then He breathed His last.

All looked hopeless.

The earth quaked and rocks were split. Even the soldiers knew they did something wrong. This wasn’t just another revolutionary or a lunatic hippie. This was the Son of God. They confessed as the lightning flashed and the thunder rolled. All those watching went home striking their chest. If you stood at the cross that day and didn’t now know, your heart was made of stone.

Two prominent Jewish men, Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were the ones who intervened to oil him up and wrap his body and take him to the tomb.

Don’t worry. Friday was terrible. But Sunday happened.

The empty tomb

That tomb was sealed and guarded. The Romans knew what was taught. Jesus said he would rise again.

Nothing could hold him in there. The stone wasn’t rolled away by angels so Jesus could get out. It was rolled away so people could get in and see that our God robbed the grave.

Jesus said, because I laid down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and I have authority to take it up again.

Mary Magdalene was the one who came to the tomb early in the morning before dark. That Sunday morning, she found the tomb empty. She reported back to Peter and John. John and Peter ran so fast. John loves to tell how he outran Peter. Peter went in first and saw the linen cloths. John came in, he saw and believed because scripture all started to make sense.

The news got back. The women and John and Peter told a lot of people, some thought it was just an idle tale. So He made his flesh and bones known.

Jesus entered a room with all the disciples. Let Thomas touch his wounds to believe. Ate broiled fish with them. He did what he said he was going to do. He died for our sins in accordance with scriptures. He was buried and He was raised on the third day in accordance with scriptures. He appeared to all the 12. And then more than 500 brothers and sisters.

He appeared to his own brother James, who didn’t believe prior to the resurrection. Now, he believed. So much so that he started calling himself a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

James was in the upper room at the day of Pentecost to received the power of the Holy Spirit. He was assigned the responsibility to build the first church in Jerusalem. It grew rapidly. He became known as James the just and old camel knees for how often I prayed for the forgiveness of people.

It was finished but the greatest comeback had just begun. It’s our turn now. He is alive so that we can live both now on this earth and for eternity.

When Jesus died on the cross & said it is finished, he meant God’s plan for salvation for you is complete.

All your sin, he took that.

All your addiction, he heals that.

All your pain, he gives you strength.

All your angst and anger, he can wipe it away.

None of us are good, not one.

But when He rose again from the grave, He conquered death, so that we shall live.

Through His resurrection power, we too can conquer the challenges we face in life, overcome sin, temptation, & every form of evil.

The greatest comeback includes our own holy comeback.

Jesus didn’t go thru all of that on earth for us to stay the same on earth.

To keep living in sin.

Making excuses.

To be mediocre

To be undisciplined.

He didn’t selflessly lay down his life so that we could keep selfishly living ours.

If you love me you will keep my commandments He said.

Like Judas we once betrayed, but unlike Judas we must choose to stay at the table.

Like Pilate we once spoke against Him, but unlike Pilate we must choose to resist the crowd.

Like the thief on the cross we were also dying, but unlike the thief, we’re still walking this earth.

Jesus thirsted for us physically and spiritually, what do we thirst for?

The world thirsts for money, status, and power. For comfort, luxury, and pleasure. For entertainment, pampering, and consumption. All of which will never truly satisfy.

He says come to Him and we’ll never thirst again. To thirst for righteousness and we’ll be blessed, happy, filled, satisfied, when we do.

It was finished. But it just begun.

The greatest comeback includes the great commission.

All that Jesus taught and did for His purposeful 33 years on this earth was passed on to the Apostles, disciples, and now us.

On the cross Jesus didn’t say “I am finished.” He didn’t look at the four woman and one disciple at the cross and say “we are finished.” He said, “it is finished.” The law was fulfilled. All sinners can indeed now be saved. His work on this earth was done.

Until He comes back one day, ours is not. We too must voluntarily lay down our lives in harmony with our Father’s will, in self-sacrifice for Him, and urgently take his message to the end of the earth.

The resurrection is not just good news for us but for the whole world. It is a message of hope, love, and eternal life that everyone needs to hear.

The greatest comeback includes our place in heaven.

Because He resurrected, so will we one day.

His victory over death means ours too. We have assurance that death is not the end.

In heaven there are many rooms. Jesus promised to prepare a place for us.

We too will be raised to eternal life, which gives us courage to face trials, tribulations, and tragedies of this life, knowing that our future is secure in Christ.

This world is not all there is. There is a paradise beyond this planet. We walk with a heavenly mindset, focused on things above.

Heaven-so illuminated from God’s glory like jewels, clear as crystal, that the sun and moon will be needed no more.

The paradise of the Garden of Eden will be restored: the river of the water of life flows freely and the tree of life is available once again…

Our earthly bodies will be no more. We will receive heavenly bodies.

He will wipe every tear… There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.

There will be no more separation, because death will be conquered.

No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no human mind can even conceive the things God has prepared for those who love him.

The best thing about heaven is the presence of our Lord and Savior. We will be face to face with the Lamb of God who loved us and sacrificed Himself so that we can enjoy His presence in heaven for eternity.

Because of the Resurrection, Death has been swallowed up in victory!

Do you believe? Do you love him? What’s your response?

What else do you need? You have available the eye-witness testimonies to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

This validates everything Jesus said and did. It confirms his identity as the son of God and validates his teachings. It gives us confidence that He is who He said He is.

The same is true today as it was then. Repent and believe and you will receive forgiveness of your sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Because Sunday happened, He is risen, He’s alive, He’s here, He’s dwelling within you as a believer, HE LIVES.

The risen Jesus speaks to Peter. Just like Peter denied him three times, now Jesus asks if Peter loves him three times. DO YOU LOVE ME?

Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.”

“Feed my lambs,” he told him. A second time he asked him, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Lord,” he said to him, “you know that I love you.”

“Shepherd my sheep,” he told him.

He asked him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was grieved that he asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”

“Feed my sheep,” Jesus said.

“Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.”

He said this to indicate by what kind of death Peter would glorify God. After saying this, he told him, “Follow me.”

And Peter did. For the rest of his life, until death.

Why? Because Sunday happened. The tomb was empty. Our resurrected king reappeared and made the greatest comeback. He is alive. No other God has done that.

Do you believe that? Do you love him?

Then Take his freedom. Take his love. Feed his sheep and follow him, wherever he takes you, even if you don’t want to go!

Finish

“Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Cor 15